Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty.

Oxfam’s vision is a just world without poverty. We are a confederation of 17 Oxfam affiliates working in over 90 countries, all working as one Oxfam on goals that support our shared vision. We want a world where people are valued and treated equally, enjoy their rights as full citizens, and can influence decisions affecting their lives.

Oxfam was established in Rwanda in the 1960s. Its reputation and expertise in Rwanda puts it in a strong position to take forward a strategy that contributes to its overall vision – a just Rwanda without poverty – and to stage interventions in line with its mission – to ensure that poor men, women and youth enjoy equal rights and benefit from fair and inclusive development.

Oxfam’s Country Strategy (OCS) launched in 2015 for implementation until 2020, identifies four key pillar programmes to attain the set objectives: Humanitarian response and preparedness, Sustainable Livelihood, Participatory Governance and Gender Justice.

We are currently recruiting for experienced Rwandan national for the position of:

Networks and Influencing Coordinator

Location: Based in Kigali – with travels countrywide

Salary:  Competitive

Duration: One year (renewable)

Availability: Immediately

Level: National C2

JOB PURPOSE

Networks and Influencing Coordinator will be responsible for overseeing the project titled:’’ A strengthened network for greater impact’’, a 4-year regional project in Rwanda funded by European Union and jointly implemented by OXFAM, FEMNET and partners.

The coordinator will lead Oxfam team in designing and implementing high quality and sustainable policy and influencing initiatives in line with Oxfam’s commitments under the EU Programme Action through innovative programme approaches and models that meet the needs of targeted women’s rights networks and partners under the following components:

1. Enhancing effectiveness and impact of the targeted country umbrella organizations working on women’s rights at continental, regional and country levels to influence policies on women’s rights and gender equality.
2. Building the capacities of Oxfam Rwandan partners and women’s rights organisations in policy advocacy and influencing on women’s rights and gender equality at national and regional levels, holding government accountable to implementing Maputo Protocol, gender commitments under 2030 Agenda for sustainable Development and Africa Agenda 2063.
3. Improving collaboration, networking and sharing of information between Rwanda’s women’s rights networks and their members and providing transformative leadership in support of women’s rights.

The Networks and Influencing Coordinator, -in close coordination with the Head of Programmes and country program team- will catalyze the growth and development of the project in Rwanda and provide hands on support to mainstreaming learning from this project into the work of local and regional FEMNET partners and across Oxfam’s One programming and policy influencing areas. The position also provides support to thought leadership, effective coordination and resource mobilization in line with the project for local FEMNET partners and to Oxfam in Rwanda’s country strategy.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical, Leadership and Management                                                                            

• Coordinate the delivery of the “Network for Greater Impact’’ project portfolio in the country (with support from Oxfam colleagues assigned to this project (finance, advocacy, MEL) and build strong linkages with regional and global FEMNET/Oxfam project stakeholders; making direct visits and working with other staff, local partners and constituent communities in planning, implementing and tracking progress against plans and milestones; Provide leadership and direction to the project and to local FEMNET partners and ensure that targets and objectives are achieved in line with project proposals, donor rules and regulations and guidelines.
• Establish excellent working relationships with FEMNET Partners in Rwanda and work closely with them to support their capacity and organisational development over the four-year programme – and other strategic needs as identified through a formal SWOT process in the project’s first year.
• With support from FEMNET/Oxfam and in-country Advocacy and Influencing colleagues support FEMNET local partners in the planning and coordination of the lobby and advocacy components of the project, including through outreach to international, regional and national stakeholders and ensure linkages and synergies with other FEMNET and Oxfam global campaigns;
• With support from FEMNET/Oxfam and in-country MEL colleagues, ensure that the project in Rwanda learns from and contributes to the regional programmes feminist learning ethos and approach and delivers high-quality learning, including research, review and evaluations;
• Build pro-active and positive relationships with donors, government officials and academia to promote the “Strengthened Network for Greater Impact’’ programme and Oxfam’s partnership with FEMNET
• Work with FEMNET colleagues to identify opportunities and resources to grow and sustain the programme and its impact – and be involved in the development of new proposals for donor funding where relevant;
• Overseeing Oxfam’s systems and liaising with other teams to meet Oxfam programme management and compliance standards.
• Maintain financial and programmatic management, monitoring, evaluation and learning as per Oxfam rules and procedures.

Policy and advocacy, lobby and influencing                                                                                 

• With FEMNET members, develop influencing, advocacy and lobby strategies and operational plans following the “Strengthened Network for Greater Impact’’ programme theory of change, and project goals to maximize impact of Oxfam and FEMNET’s collective Influencing work.
• Develop a follow up mechanism and lobbying strategy to influence the policy and law makers and continuously maintain the liaison with them.
• Support alliance-building, including with women’s rights organisations and other civil society organizations and strengthen organizational capacity and sustainability of new and growing networks.
• Build FEMNET partner and WRO skills in advocacy and campaigning risk analysis, transformative leadership and monitoring of complex change.
• Work with FEMNET partners to support their coordination influencing, campaign, lobby and advocacy components of the project.
• Support Women’s Rights Organisations (WROs) to influence decision making processes, law reform and implementation and use direct influence of global, regional and national level duty bearers in alliance with WROs.
• Work with FEMNET partners to support peer-to-peer learning on gender equality and women’s rights across women’s organizations and other civil society organizations.
• Initiate and strengthen liaison with key stakeholders including academia, UN agencies, policy makers, private sectors and media.
• Promote women’s agency and transformative leadership across the “Strengthened Network for Greater Impact’ project.

Project Conceptualisation and Business Development             

• Support FEMNET members to review and plan the project and contribute to its growth.
• Leverage evidence gathered through the work for influencing (policy, campaigning and advocacy) working with partners, local and regional influencing networks.
• Provide overall substantive and strategic guidance and operational management of the project including planning, approval, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
• Ensure partnership coordination and linkage between programme outcomes and project components.
• Develop, implement and review quarterly and annual programme work and project activities that contribute to achievement of project outcomes at thematic and project levels, in association with FEMNET members and other stakeholders.
• Manage Oxfam’s relationships with and sub-grants to FEMNET members.
• Works with FEMNET members to represent the ‘Strengthened Network for Greater Impact’ project in relevant fora (JDAF, Ministerial and International NGOs Network working Groups, policy forums, national and international meetings, etc.), at the request of the Line Manager, giving appropriate and high-quality technical representation of the programme.

Required Technical skills, knowledge and Experience:

• University Degree and/or Masters in Social Sciences, Organisational Development, Mass Communication, Law, Education and, or relevant disciplines.
• A minimum of five years of practical working experience in civil-society organisational capacity development and network building and accompaniment work with exceptional interpersonal skills to support this (e.g. experience of coaching, mentoring, organisational culture and governance development and accompaniment).
• Strong knowledge of national and international women’s rights laws, polices, strategies, principle and standards.
• Strong experience (minimum 5 years) in supporting, working or investing in the building of complex networks of collaborating parties.
• Being conversant with the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), gender commitments under 2030, Agenda for sustainable Development and Africa Agenda 2063 regarding gender equality and women’s rights.
• Proven record of working with government as a partner, private sector, academia and media or in influencing national and local government policies and practices.
• Strong background in managing research projects, policy advocacy including lobby and negotiation.
• Sound understanding of the Rwanda political economy and global context with theoretical understanding on gender and social change process.
• Ability to liaise, network with wide range of women’s rights networks at national, regional and global levels.
• Excellent information gathering, analytical and conceptual thinking skills; able to understand complex issues and translate them into simple, workable actions and plans.
• Strong coordination, facilitation and influencing skills, with ability to build strong, credible relationships and to communicate with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Excellent and demonstrated communicational, motivational persuasive skills and eloquent public speaker with strong writing skills in English, preferably with a history of writing for popular campaigns, influencing materials and donor reports.
• Ability and willingness to travel at grassroots, districts and international level.
• Ability to work independently with minimum guidance, manage time efficiently, willingness to work under pressure, plan and prioritise work accordingly and follow a flexible time schedule.
• Demonstrated financial management, budgeting, expenditure tracking and financial reporting experience, with previous responsibility for complex projects/programs
• Commitment to and knowledge of creating a partner-led operational environment, with an ability to implement a programmatic approach that is focussed on developing and supporting partner organisations to achieve direct impact and results relating to programme objectives.
• 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 undertake Oxfam’s safeguarding training and adherence of relevant policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible.
• Note to candidates: Shortlisted candidates will be assessed on our organisational values and attributes at the interview stage. The successful candidate(s) will be expected to adhere to our code of conduct. We encourage candidates to read and understand our code of conduct here.
• All successful candidates will be screened through Refinitiv World-Check One to comply with counter terrorism and financial sanctions regulations.

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation. All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

How to apply 

As part of your online application, please upload your up to date CV with contact details (phone and email address) of your most recent line manager as part of your referees and a covering letter explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile.

The closing date for this vacancy is 1^st July 2019

About us

Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty. That means we tackle the inequality that keeps people poor. Together we save, protect and rebuild lives. When disaster strikes, we help people build better lives for themselves, and for others. We take on issues like land rights, climate change and discrimination against women. And we won’t stop until every person on the planet can enjoy life free from poverty.

Oxfam GB is a member of international confederation of 19 organisations working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries.