ROVING REGIONAL PROTECTION ADVISOR

Annual Salary and Benefits: In line with Oxfam values

Internal Job Grade: International, C1

Contract type: Fixed Term –

Reporting to : Regional Humanitarian Coordinator

Staff reporting directly to this post : none

Key relationships/interactions –

Location : The candidate should ideally be based in one of the MENA countries and hold the right to work on that country (Tunisia, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Tunis, Morocco, Algeria, Syria, Yemen, OPT, Turkey). Candidates working from home in other locations where these is an Oxfam affiliate will also be considered if they have strong experience in the MENA region.

Shaping a stronger Oxfam for people living in poverty.

Oxfam Purpose: To work with others to find lasting solutions to poverty and suffering

Team Purpose: To ensure Oxfam has the management, technical and logistical capacity to both scale up and to respond rapidly to major humanitarian emergencies anywhere in the world

Job Purpose: To support the development and implementation of Oxfam work by providing specialist advice and support on humanitarian protection.

Dimensions

• Coordination of and delivery of agreed plans or strategies. Input to strategic plans and processes at country, region and global thematic level (e.g. safe programming, self-referral and community-based protection)
• Representation in coordination meetings and external relationships
• Impact and influence global, regional and country teams across sectoral specialties.
• Works as part of a technical advisory team. Providing specialist advice or specific skills to team.
• Collaborates with other teams and departments
• Management tasks are complex and non-routine within a specialized function.
• Requires the ability to analyze and communicate complex information to a wide audience and to communicate complex concepts and issues in a relevant and meaningful way to other Oxfam staff.
• Decision-making requires significant levels of judgement based on technical and management experience, generally advising line management or the program team.
• Role is variable with well-defined targets and/or minimum standards and is both proactive and reactive.
• To play active role in lobby and advocacy on issues related to programs through personal contacts and co-ordination of allies and campaign (e.g. RIC).
• To support public campaigns based on agreed plan of action and objectives.
• Impact is on own department/Region, and through the impact of the team’s work on technical quality of Oxfam’s humanitarian work on the whole of Oxfam, e.g. on the international profile of the organization.

Job Responsibilities

Technical

• Provide remote and in country specialist protection advice and support to Oxfam’s country programs in the MENA region and strategic technical input to regional and sub-regional analysis and programming.
• Analyze regional protection dynamics and support the development of country-specific protection analyses and strategies to include safe programming, conflict sensitivity, best practices, gender aspects, and risk management ensuring coherence with Oxfam’s global protection objectives.
• Provide regional oversight on capacity-building of protection partners in line with Oxfam’s global goals for the development of national humanitarian capacity.
• Ensure that protection responses address the gender dimensions of crises and fulfil Oxfam’s global commitments on preventing and responding to GBV.
• Represent Oxfam externally; develop alliances and strategic partnerships with regional protection actors including participation in the work of the regional Protection Cluster/coordination mechanisms and other platforms (e.g. durable solutions).
• Support advocacy and campaigning on protection issues within the context of Oxfam’s Rights in Crisis Campaign and contribute to evidence-based analysis on regional, sub-regional and thematic priorities (e.g. forced displacement and migration).
• Engage with the regional Gender and Safeguarding advisor to provide joined up support on Safe Programming and Protection including GBV prevention and response to countries
• Provide specialize capacity building sessions on Oxfams approach to Safe Programming to country teams

Leadership

• Take a leadership/coordination role in Oxfam’s internal Protection Peer Group/Community of Practice and contribute to Oxfam’s global strategic thinking on protection including carrying on specific country, regional or thematic learning reviews, RTEs and evaluations. As required a percentage of time would be allocated to global issues in support to the GHT global thematic work.
• Lead or contribute to global, regional and sub-regional projects on thematic protection issues in line with Oxfam’s global goals (i.e. partner capacity-building; GBV prevention and response, safe programming, self-referral and community-based protection etc) including developing proposals for restricted funding**.**
• Lead staff capacity-building on protection issues within the MENA region in coordination with regional and GHT capacity-building initiatives
• Lead, coordinate, manage and facilitate Oxfam MENA regional Protection peer working group exchanging ideas, technical expertise, organizing learning sessions and exchange visits

Support to Regional Humanitarian Coordinator

• The role may be asked to support the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator on certain tasks related to fulfilling the role of the RHC ToR, that are within the capacity of the candidate

Other

• Eager and required to adhere to Oxfam’s principles and values as well as the promotion of gender justice and women’s rights
• Understanding of and commitment to adhere to equity, diversity, gender, child safety and staff health and wellbeing principles.
• The post holder will be expected to undertake regular travels in the region, be deployed as much as needed to support MENA countries and may be seconded to protection country programs if required.

Job Requirements

Essential

• A minimum of 5 years involvement in humanitarian response work, preferably in field-based protection work in conflict or insecure environments as well as experience of working in a senior advisory role in a humanitarian context.
• Experience working in the MENA region and understanding of the culture and context of the Middle East.
• Strong conceptual and practical understanding of protection issues and specifically Oxfam’s approach to and role in protection work including advocacy
• Knowledge and understanding of protection at the field level, including the constraints, sensitivities and risks associated with such work
• Analytical skills and strategic thinking
• Understanding of key thematic issues for Oxfam: GBV in conflict, displacement and refugee issues, livelihoods and protection
• Strong understanding of gender-related aspects of protection work. Commitment to gender equity, diversity and equal opportunities
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Fluent in English. Fluency in Arabic is highly desirable.

Desirable

• Experience of providing support to field programs
• Experience of staff development and training skills

Education:

• Master’s in human Rights, International Humanitarian law, refugee themes

Key Attributes:

• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to cultural differences and gender issues, as well as the commitment to equal opportunities.
• Ability to demonstrate an openness and willingness to learn about the application of gender/gender mainstreaming, women’s rights, and diversity for all aspects of development work.
• Commitment to Oxfam’s safeguarding policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible.

Organizational Values:

• Accountability – Our purpose-driven, results-focused approach means we take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable. We believe that others should also be held accountable for their actions.
• Empowerment – Our approach means that everyone involved with Oxfam, from our staff and supporters to people living in poverty, should feel they can make change happen.
• Inclusiveness – We are open to everyone and embrace diversity. We believe everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences.