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 19 organizations (affiliates) working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries.
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*Background
In line with it’s focus on Transforming conflicts and crisis and Transformative partnerships, Oxfam since late 2017, has been working closely with other organizations to play a convening, connecting and supporting role, and to provide technical and financial support to strengthen refugee networks. Oxfam has over this period convened and co-convened various meetings bringing together representatives from refugee-led organizations.
In May 2018, Oxfam in Turkey organized and hosted a Refugee Congress that brought together representatives from refugee-led and host community organizations from many of the world’s major refugee hosting countries, to build common policy positions for collective influencing work.[1] In June 2018, when the first ever summit of refugees, organized by and for refugees, was convened in Geneva, Switzerland, Oxfam provided financial as well as technical support. **
In November 2019, Oxfam provided technical and financial support for the GRN-Africa Chapter to convene the first ever Africa Refugee Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The meeting included 72 refugees, from 14 nationalities living in 11 different host countries. Through extensive discussions, participants identified priority challenges faced by refugees in the continent, as well as solutions. They also formed a 13-member steering committee tasked with developing a strategic plan and taking forward the work of the network.
In addition to our support for building and growing refugee-led networks, Oxfam has consistently supported advocacy by refugees. We have funded, facilitated, and accompanied refugee advocacy in Geneva. We have supported refugees to write and publish opinion pieces, allowing them to share their unique perspectives in writing. We have also advocated for their participation in key meeting and discussion spaces that generally are dominated by INGOs and UN agencies.
Oxfam is also leading INGOs in the move towards providing direct funding to RLOs. In Ethiopia, we are piloting projects to fund refugee-designed initiatives and to support refugees to formalize organizations. In Uganda, Oxfam has provided a wide-ranging financial support through different donors and technical support to refugee led organization since 2018. We currently have partnerships with 8 RLOs, providing them training and networking opportunities, and direct funding to support their efforts on peacebuilding, COVID-19, livelihoods, and advocacy. We are committed to building the capacity and resilience of national and local organizations and have seen the critical role that RLOs can play, particularly in addressing sensitive issues such as peaceful co-existence, access to natural resources, public health and strengthening livelihood related skills including the COVID-19 response within the refugee settlements.
Oxfam in HECA is therefore looking for a qualified consultant to work with Refugee Led Organizations (RELON-Kenya, RELON-Uganda and Global Refugee Network); with special support to Kenya, to advance policies more favorable to refugees, particularly their active engagement and participation, through building national and continental networks of refugees that support each other in their work and advocacy.
*The Assignment
i) Ensure that appropriate legal status and clear, rational governance and accountability structure are in place to provide a strong foundation for building the network.
ii) Ensure that work is driven by and in accordance with a strategy that is developed and supported by members.
iii) Facilitate the establishment of appropriate staffing and facilities to support progress in network strengthening and consistent engagement of member organizations.
iv) Undertake Advocacy work to advance policies more favourable to refugees, particularly their active engagement, agency, and participation in addressing their concerns and needs.
v) Support member organizations to have enhanced visibility and opportunities for networking at country, regional and global levels.
vi) Support member organizations have increased opportunity for funding.
vii) Facilitate the capacity strengthening of member organizations in specific areas.
Please read the Terms of Reference for more information and how to apply.
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 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 is an equal opportunities employer, committed to diversity within the workplace.
[1] https://www.refugeecongress2018.org/