The Role

Oxfam International Oxfam International’s Africa Platform is looking for a Director of Programmes and Influencing to ensure that Oxfam has a coherent, innovative and ambitious ONE programme, including humanitarian, and influencing strategy in line with the Oxfam 2030 global strategic framework.

The position is also accountable in mobilizing key resources, alliances and partnerships to execute on the strategy to save lives, build resilience and deliver impact at scale toreduce economic, climate and gender inequality in Africa.

The Director of Programmes and Influencing will provide strategic leadership to the thematic leads in the programmes and influencing team that will lead in many of the areas like climate change, gender, economic justice, the emerging digital world among others and will have competencies in these specific thematic areaslinked to the global strategic goals and horizon themes

Who we’re looking for a person with

Leadership over Strategy Development & Execution and One Programme Approach

• Lead the development of OiA Programme, including Humanitarian, and Influencing Strategy and ensure effective execution
• Work with the Africa Deputies Directors, the Director will support leadership in the countries, the SAF Cluster and the OI-AU Liaison Office to develop appropriate ways of working
• Explore opportunities for regional and multi-country programmes, advocacy and campaigns engagement that add value to the achievement of the programme goals

Human Resource Management

• Have oversight responsibility of humanitarian strategy in Africa and be accountable and responsible for CAT One humanitarian response
• Manage the largest number of staff and teams within the one Oxfam in Africa structure, ensuring Oxfam’s People management practices are upheld such as goals setting, holding various check ins, performance management, team coordination, knowledge sharing, staff development and innovation and ensuring disciplinary procedures

Program Quality and Impact at Scale

• Ensure a proper implementation of programmes aligned with this Planning and contribute to develop the Strategy to achieve the GSF 2030
• Guide and support countries to develop programmes that show the leap that is expected in our programme ambition.
• Ensure adequate resourcing allocated within budgets to balance properly the long term

 humanitarian and influencing work including advocacy and campaigns regional level. 

Strategic Partnership

• Lead the strategy development for Oxfam to initiate and maintain a wide range of strategic and transformative partnerships
• Build relationships with external stakeholders and allies including donors, government representatives and other civil society organisations to increase impact.
• Forge meaningful links between local to global (also south-south)

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Drive the development and implementation of Feminist Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning within national and regional long-term programmes and humanitarian in general and influencing and campaigning initiatives.
• Support capacity building across countries and at the regional level.
• Support regional networks to establish an environment of data driven and evidence-based decision making, learning, sharing, storytelling, such that a knowledge management culture is encouraged and implemented

Experience, Knowledge & Competences

• In-depth understanding of the economic, political, and social causes and dynamics of poverty, vulnerability and inequality and a familiarity with policy issues related to the creation or reduction of poverty, vulnerability and inequality.
• Clear understanding of what represents sustainable and effective development action.
• Multi-year work experience in more than one country in the region.
• Excellent inter-personal and collaboration skills, particularly in cross-cultural contexts
• Superb judgement that ensures the delivery of a coherent strategy and policy and grows Oxfam’s reputation across the region.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with experience of external representation strategies, lobbying, advocacy, and campaigning
• Strong influencing skills – engages and collaborates, with cultural and interpersonal sensitivity.
• Excellent written and verbal communication across a range of audiences.
• Fluency in English and other languages particularly French is highly desirable

What we offer

At Oxfam, we believe that every aspect of our work can lead to a positive outcome. If you have the same opinion, together with the ability to meet the challenges involved, this role offers scope for immense personal fulfilment – as well as outstanding opportunities to develop your career.

Oxfam is committed to providing a fair compensation package and to providing a flexible, supportive, working environment

How to apply

Please upload an up to date CV and a covering letter, clearly explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile

Kindly note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted- usually within 2 weeks of the closing date.

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.

We are an international confederation of 21 organizations (affiliates) plus the Oxfam International Secretariat, working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries.

All our work is led by our core values: Empowerment, Accountability, Inclusiveness, Courage, Solidarity and Equality.

Our commitment to safeguarding

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. 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.

Note: All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and may be subject to appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam International Secretariat also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, if a job applicant has been employed by another member of the scheme, we will request information from that organization about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedure