North Africa Director – OXFAM عودة إلى الفرص

Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty. This means that 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 organisations (affiliates) plus the Oxfam International Secretariat, all 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.

Oxfam is looking for a

NAF (North Africa Sub Region) Director

Grading, Salary:          Int grading B1; Oxfam Novib’s scale 711, salary between EUR 4047 and EUR 6225 gross.

& other Benefits:         In line with Oxfam values and with the seniority of the position and relevant job market.

Contract type:              Fixed term 2 years initially with possible renewal

Reporting to:                Oxfam Int. Regional Director, Middle East & North Africa (MENA)

Location:                      Tunis, Tunisia

Deadline application:  22 September 2021

Starte date position:   February 2022

Job Purpose

To contribute to Oxfam’s Global Strategy and develop and implement the North Africa’s sub-regional Strategy, by providing vision and strategic direction to all of Oxfam’s work in the North Africa (NAF). The strategy will build on Oxfam’s added value in the sub-region and define the new NAF identity. This includes Oxfam’s humanitarian response and preparedness, long term development programme design and implementation, and influencing work whilst focussing on Oxfam’s partnership principles.

The NAF Director will be responsible and accountable for the strategic direction and effective management of the NAF sub-regional programme, ensuring development, continued improvement in quality and impact of programmes and effective financial and human resource management in line with Oxfam Policy.

With support from the Affiliate and Regional management team, the NAF Director will implement the Oxfam 2030 Vision and lead the transition of the 4 North Africa country programmes to a one NAF sub-regional program. This vision aims to create a stronger Oxfam that is globally coordinated and relevant in every location in which we work.

The NAF Director has overall responsibility for the Oxfam International programme in North Africa and is accountable to the NAF sub RGG (sub-Regional Governance Group).

Context and Oxfam Programme in North Africa

Oxfam thinks there is an added value in establishing a North Africa office to replace the current four Country Offices in the sub-region. In order to make such an office efficient Oxfam will have to focus its interventions. Influencing with a targeted supporting program on the ground, and a significantly reduced physical presence of Oxfam staff, whilst working via established partnerships will have to be the direction of travel in NAF. Egypt, which Oxfam listed as a phase out country, will be incorporated in the program via keeping connections with civil society in the country. Working via partners and applying partnership principles will be core in the entire sub-region.

The NAF office will be challenged to reduce its operations costs. The Sub-region intends to achieve greater program impact and efficiency. It should not just be the sum of the work of the existing entities in different geographical spaces with different names. The shared geography, economics, politics, demography, history etc. are important factors for bringing them together under one sub-regional strategy, particularly with a focus on the future. Issues such as migration, climate change, civic society space, gender justice and inequality are shared themes in the sub-region. These commonalities are the foundation for the new operating architecture. The NAF sub-region, when established, will have to draft a sub-regional strategy that brings the shared interests and strengths together and is clear about the added value of the sub-region to the wider MENA region and Oxfam globally.

Generating evidence is essential for doing influencing work both at country level and at Sub-Regional level. Programs should follow an integrated approach to change. The new entity is proposed to focus on:

• Inequalities: fiscal justice, access to income especially for youth, dignified work. Migration is seen as a fundamental topic in this but it is necessary to define concretely how Oxfam will work on migration in the Sub-Region.  And so is climate change.
• Gender justice: Gender Based Violence, women empowerment, social protection.
• Civic space.
• Humanitarian response in South West Algeria with WESA refugees and preparedness to respond to emerging humanitarian needs in NAF.

NAF realizes that sub-regional and/or multi country level programmes will bring the greatest added value. Country level interventions are majorly important but should be in support of the regional desired rationale and be tailored to countries’ contexts. But also, the other way around: sub-regional interventions should be in support of country programs. In order to be an influential actor, the NAF Sub-Region, has to define a Sub-Regional agenda that connects the NAF Sub-Region to other influencing agendas (Europe, Africa, Middle East).

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Accountability

• Accountable to the Oxfam International Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Regional Director, for managing the transition of the country programmes to a single NAF unit, and the delivery, effective management (which includes budgets and plan), monitoring and evaluation, and learning from, the NAF sub-regional programme.
• The programme will also be shaped by advice and guidance from the NAF sub Region Governance Group (RGG) which is composed of representatives of Oxfam Affiliates supporting the North Africa programme.

Strategy

• Responsible for the establishment of the NAF sub-regional office, including developing a detailed mandate and structure.
• Leads the development of a comprehensive NAF change management plan and its implementation.
• Works in collaboration with the current Country Directors in the transitioning and or phasing out of existing programmes in the respective North Africa countries (Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria).
• Responsible for developing and implementing the Oxfam North Africa sub-region strategy.
• Builds and maintains good relations with other units within Oxfam, such as the individual affiliates, the MENA Regional Platform, and the Africa Unit.
• Provides strategic leadership and management of Oxfam’s programme in the sub-region including all development, advocacy, and humanitarian programming to maximise our influence and impact.
• Successfully leads the One Oxfam Structure.
• Ensures that gender equity (or women’s rights), active citizenship and civilian protection and strong attention to influencing are reflected in all aspects of Oxfam’s work.
• Investing in a strong application of Oxfam’s partnership approaches, including capacity building and handing over implementation of work to partners.

People Management

• Line manages the NAF senior management team, including the current Country Directors until their positions are phased out per ultimately 31 March 2022, and manage the work in the countries which will include staff, budgets, funding and programme.
• Ensures that managers and staff in the sub-region work in accordance with Oxfam’s policies and procedures, including but not limited to the Code of Conduct, Performance Management, Security, Health and Safety and local legislation.
• Creates and supports an environment which results in strong partnerships, influence, knowledge sharing and innovation.
• Responsible for talent management and development of Oxfam staff, and the creation of a learning and nurturing working environment.

• Ensures that safeguarding training and handling of safeguarding complaints from Oxfam staff and associates are managed effectively in the subregion.

Public Engagement

• Takes the lead in representing Oxfam and the country programmes in the NAF sub-region, at national and global levels, including in the media. Builds influential relationships and develops networks for effective change, both internally and externally, and is committed to maximising our influencing capability.
• Accountable for ensuring that appropriate tools and technology are in place to allow a strong flow of positive and consistent programme content to influence and communicate with internal audiences and external stakeholders including but not limited to government, media, donors, nongovernmental sector and supporters.

Programme and Delivery

• Develops and implements a NAF strategy based on the priorities in the sub-region as defined in the North Africa outline document.
• Works closely with partners in the region in order to develop and deliver high quality programmes.
• Plays an active role in drawing on learning from across Oxfam and external sources and sharing evidenced based learning with others.
• Ensures overall leadership of disaster preparedness, mitigation and management including humanitarian response activities for Category 2 emergencies.
• Accesses and uses shared services for advice and support.
• Contributes to and maximises use of the Knowledge Networks to share strategic thinking and learning more widely as well as within the NAF Team to ensure that programming builds on learning and is evidence based, innovative and agile to respond to opportunities for change.
• Develops appropriate strategies to seek out and maintains funding sources, and proactively leads on seeking and diversifying funding sources.
• Ensures Oxfam minimum standards on program quality, including influencing, are being met in the NAF programme.
• Is accountable for all donor relations and contract management in the subregion.

Technical Skills, Experience & Knowledge

Management and Leadership

Essential

• Proven track record of leading and motivating multi disciplinary, geographically remote teams and operations across a number of locations.

• Significant senior leadership and management experience in the development and delivery of high-quality program, influencing and humanitarian strategy, with and through partners or directly, in one or more challenging locations.
• Experience of managing complex change processes and relationships involving a wide range of both internal and external multi-cultural stakeholders across a variety of disciplines and geographical areas.
• Demonstrated experience in being a leader in promoting women’s rights and gender equity.

      Desirable

• A high degree of self awareness and an understanding of how to drive and support excellent team performance and individual development in line with Oxfam’s values and policies.
• North Africa experience or knowledge.

Representation and Communication

Essential

• Proven track record of success in representing an organization with partners, government agencies, private sector organizations, media and donors at senior level: nationally and globally.

• Demonstrable ability to convey complex messages in an appropriate manner to broad and diverse audiences.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to motivate, influence and negotiate.

Desirable

• Proven track record of success in advocacy and influencing.
• Demonstrable experience of working with the media and an ability to represent the organisation in the media if required.

Finance and Funding

Essential

• Ability to maximise fundraising from diverse institutions, both local and international.

• High level financial and asset management skills to steer and efficiently manage the operational budget across a number of locations.

Risk and duty of care

Essential

• Experience of managing security, risk and legal compliance within an INGO context.
• Proven track record of making sound judgements in uncertain and pressurised situations.
• Able to anticipate and manage risks that could threaten the organisation’s reputation, operational viability and security.

Desirable

• Able to fulfil agreed standards in disaster preparedness, mitigation and management including humanitarian response activities for Category 2 emergencies.
• Experience of crisis management and security management.

Strategic Analytics

Essential

• Ability to manage the development of, and contribute to, the high-level analysis of factors driving poverty, marginalization and vulnerability in developing country contexts.

• Ability to ‘think politically’ understanding motivations, pressures, power dynamics and challenges faced by colleagues, partners, decision makers and other actors; and the ability to generate effective strategies to influence them.

Desirable

• Proven analytical skills, with the ability to:
  • Take and manage calculated risks based on evidence-based assumptions.
  • Think strategically, to maximise adaptability and agility.
  • encourage forward thinking, new ideas and learning from experience beyond the country and sub-regional program context while acting within a global framework.
• Good level of IT literacy and an understanding of how new developments in technology can positively contribute to the aims of an INGO.

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.

Other

• Eager and required to adhere to Oxfam’s principles and values as well as the promotion of gender justice and women’s rights and feminist principles.
• Understanding of and commitment to adhere to equity, diversity, gender, child safety and staff health and wellbeing principles.

Travel

• Ability to travel away from home, within the NAF sub-region and periodic travel abroad for global meetings.

Languages

• Fluent in written and spoken English and French essential and Arabic desirable.

Behavioural competencies (based on Oxfam’s Leadership Model)