Closing date: 21 Apr 2017
International Division, Global Humanitarian Team
JOB FAMILY: Programme Technical**
SALARY: A competitive package is available
LEVEL: Global Level C1 (or C2 development post)
CLOSING DATE: 21st April 2017-03-31
We are recruiting for an urgent humanitarian vacancy. Applicants therefore might be asked to attend an interview before the application deadline and applications will be reviewed on the rolling basis.
OXFAM PURPOSE: To work with others to overcome poverty and suffering
TEAM PURPOSE: Oxfam’s Public Health team provides advice and support to the Global Humanitarian Team, Regional Management Centres and country programmes to enable them to respond effectively and appropriately when implementing humanitarian water, sanitation , health and hygiene (WASH) programmes.
JOB PURPOSE: To work with others to support communities affected by emergencies, mobilising them to act to protect themselves from threats to their life, health and dignity.
BACKGROUND: Oxfam is committed to providing timely humanitarian assistance to those affected by conflict and natural disasters and to increasing programme impact by strengthening the effectiveness and accountability of our humanitarian work.
The Global Humanitarian Team provides advice and support to countries and regions on humanitarian programming, including Disaster Risk Reduction, preparedness and response, post emergency recovery and resilience. Support with management and administrative services is also provided to enable country and regional offices to mount major operational relief programmes.
HSPs are deployed by the GHT from their home base to work in Oxfam’s humanitarian programmes around the world. While the length of each deployment will vary, the post holder is likely to be working in field programmes for at least nine months in each year.
Oxfam’s public health interventions focus on WASH and the post holder will lead and manage field base Community Mobilisers who work closely with communities, assisting them to be active partners in Oxfam’s WASH programmes.
This post is being offered initially on a secondment or fixed term contract for 1 year to cover the long term leave of the permanent post holder. Depending on the level of skills and experience of the successful candidate, it could be offered as a C1 or C2 Development post for the right individual.
KeyResponsibilities:
The post holder may be required to do some or all of the following during deployments, depending on the context.
Support Oxfam’s Humanitarian response programmes
As part of a multi disciplinary team, carry out rapid and ongoing assessments of the public health risks faced by communities affected by emergencies. Make recommendations for response interventions which are consistent with Oxfam’s policies and guidelines.
Identify and assess the current resources and capacity of national counterparts, humanitarian agencies and government authorities to respond to the public health needs arising from the emergency and develop flexible modalities for working in partnership with them.
Lead and task manage a team of PHP staff and community volunteers to implement and monitor appropriate health promotion interventions in emergency contexts. Budget design and tracking for sectoral activities may be part of the remit of the post holder.
Implement health and hygiene promotion initiatives appropriate to the context. This will involve strategy development and exit planning where appropriate and the delivery and monitoring of a structured Information, Education and Communication plan for community level and mass communications.
Working in close collaboration with engineering colleagues to ensure that technical and social aspects of water and sanitation and malaria control programming are closely integrated and with food security and livelihoods colleagues to maximise the potential for cohesive programming
Work with others to ensure that gender, protection and HIV mainstreaming issues are addressed in public health initiatives.
Involve women and men in the affected populations in the assessment, planning, implementation and monitoring of public health activities and play a key role in ensuring that communities are informed and consulted about Oxfam’s work and have opportunities to give their views on, and influence programme activities.
Contribute towards planning and proposal writing in order to provide clear objectives and establish indicators for monitoring and evaluating the programme including indicators relating to participation and gender.
Contribute to programme advocacy by ensuring that local community views and experiences influence national initiatives.
Capacity building
Recruit and supervise public health promotion staff when on deployment. This may involve the writing of job profiles, work schedules, objective setting and appraisals.
Build the capacity of Oxfam staff and partners through mentoring and coaching , on the job supervision and informal and formal training. Contribute to the joint facilitation of inter-agency training initiatives where appropriate.
In selected countries, support country teams to build the resilience of communities to disasters focusing on DRR and more self sustaining approaches to WASH.
In selected countries, support country teams with developing a socio – cultural analysis of the local population to enable them to engage communities more effectively in WASH
Programme learning and reporting
Write regular reports adhering to Oxfam reporting formats at intervals to be decided by the programme co-ordinator. A short final report is required at the end of each deployment.
Document and disseminate good practice examples from programme deployments
As appropriate, support field based action research to explore new approaches to working with communities and delivering WASH.
Contribute to programme learning reviews and evaluations when required.
Coordination and representation
Where requested act on occasion, as the local project manager in the absence of the substantive post holder.
Coordinate public health activities within Oxfam and external agencies. and if appropriate provide briefings to Oxfam staff and supporters and to the media in agreement with the programme manager, the Oxfam Humanitarian Department and Media Office.
Represent Oxfam at national level to other agencies and authorities, including the WASH cluster where this is operating and at other inter-agency forums and where appropriate, play a lead role in developing WASH strategy and technical standards.
Contributing to programme quality standards
Ensure that work aims to meet Sphere Standards and adheres to Oxfam’s guidelines and protocols
Ensure that accountability to affected communities is central to ways of working and promotes the full and equal participation of women.
Be familiar with and abide by Oxfam's Code of Conduct and other regulatory codes such as the Red Cross Code of Conduct, Partners in Aid Code, Oxfam International protocols and the Inter- agency Field Co-operation Protocol.
When not on assignment, the post holder may:
- Undertake research or written assignments to contribute to institutional learning
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
Essential:
Graduate qualification or equivalent in one of the following, or a related discipline: social sciences, environmental, public or preventive health, anthropology, community development.
Substantial overseas experience of which part should include recent experience of emergencies, ideally in WASH.
Experience of working in a participative way with communities; strong counterpart/ capacity building skills
Strong assessment, analytical and planning skills.
Experience of task managing small teams and of training and capacity building.
Good communication and interpersonal skills. Sensitivity to cultural differences and the ability to work in a variety of cultural contexts and communicate with a diverse range of people .
Sound understanding of the importance of gender and participation in programme Implementation; sensitive to the needs of displaced and disadvantaged populations.
Committed to humanitarian principles and quality standards for Humanitarian response
Good spoken and written English; demonstrated ability to learn another language. It would be an advantage if the candidate is able to communicate fluently in Spanish, French or Arabic
Ability to work well under stress and to tolerate harsh living environments on occassions
Desirable:
Ability to work effectively under stress in emergency situations, in a leadership role and/or as part of a team. Experience of having led or coordinated inter-agency initiatives would be an advantage.
Ability to work effectively independently with minimal support on research assignments in line with Terms of Reference provided.
Familiarity with a range of computer programmes
All applications must be made through the Oxfam website. Please follow this link:
https://jobs.oxfam.org.uk/vacancy/5897/description
All applications must be submitted in English with an English CV
How to apply:
All applications must be made through the Oxfam website. Please follow this link:
https://jobs.oxfam.org.uk/vacancy/5897/description
All applications must be submitted in English with an English CV