Regional Extractive Industries Coordinator, West Africa at Oxfam

Job Purpose

The West Africa Extractive Industries Program Coordinator will support Oxfam to develop programming on extractive industries in countries across the region (including links to civil society in countries where Oxfam does not have a presence).The position will coordinate Oxfam country programs in WAF on strategies, program design and fundraising opportunities. The position will help Oxfam country staff implement and monitor programs, identify and overcome obstacles, facilitate technical and research assistance and help ensure consistency of messaging and approach. The position will help promote intra and cross-regional learning among affiliates to strengthen program implementation.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

· Work closely with country program staff and coordinating with regional teams in supporting the development of programs on extractive industries

· Assist country programs in campaigning and advocacy, including designing and executing technical assistance projects

· Support the completion of extractives context analysis in countries where this does not exist, including stakeholder mapping, and analysis of the critical extractives issues

· Identify fundraising opportunities and support proposal development

· Facilitate extractive industries program (including advocacy, campaigning and gender) capacity-building and training.

· Support the monitoring and execution of restricted funding projects.

· Design and execute cross-program learning exchanges.

· Support regional influencing work at ECOWAS, WAEMU and AU level, in coordination with regional policy leads

· Participate in monitoring and evaluation of emerging country extractive industries programs.

· Represent Oxfam regionally on extractive industries issues, networking and relationship building with partners, allies, funders, ‘targets’, academics, researchers, civil society.

· Contribute to Oxfam’s ‘worldwide influencing network’ by connecting West African organisations working on extractive industries, including gender and extractive industries, into Oxfam programming (particularly influencing) work in WAF and globally, particularly in Oxfam countries that are home to mining companies.

· Collaborate with peer and cross-functional management teams to execute plans.

Technical Skills, Experience & Knowledge

Essential

· A university degree in Law, Economics, social or environmental sciences or other relevant fields.

· Sound experience, in advocacy, international development, human rights and/or environmental fields, at least two of which are specifically dedicated to program and/or advocacy work on extractive industries issues

· Experience in policy dialogue, advocacy and lobbying with government and private sector actors and proven ability in social research and macro policy analysis.

· Strong communications and IT skills in a variety of media. Ability to use new technology and social media to convey complex ideas in thoughtful, creative ways, and ability to tailor communication to a variety of different audiences

· Fluency in written/oral English or French and working knowledge of the other one

· Enthusiasm for and commitment to Oxfam International’s values and mission, and commitment to promoting gender equity and the interests of marginalised people in all advocacy work

· Ability and willingness to travel including in remote and conflict affected areas

Desirable

· Experience of carrying out or contracting extractives industries program and influencing capacity building and training for civil society organisations is a strong advantage

· A deep understanding of extractive industries issues and trends, globally and particularly in West Africa with experience of developing multi country/team work would be an advantage

· Existing relationships to global and regional extractive industries networks is an advantage.

Key Behavioural Competencies (based on Oxfam’s Leadership Model)

Competencies

Description

Decisiveness

We are comfortable to make transparent decisions and to adapt decision making modes to the context and needs.

Influencing

We have the ability to engage with diverse stakeholders in a way that leads to increased impact for the organisation We spot opportunities to influence effectively and where there are no opportunities we have the ability to create them in a respectful and impactful manner.

Humility

We put ‘we’ before ‘me’ and place an emphasis on the power of the collective, nurture the team and play to the strengths of each individual. We are not concerned with hierarchical power, and we engage with, trust and value the knowledge and expertise of others across all levels of the organization.

Relationship Building

We understand the importance of building relationship, within and outside the organization. We have the ability to engage with traditional and non-traditional stakeholders in ways that lead to increased impact for the organisation.

Listening

We are good listeners who can see where deeper levels of thoughts and tacit assumptions differ. Our messages to others are clear, and consider different preferences.

Mutual Accountability

We can explain our decisions and how we have taken them based on our organizational values. We are ready to be held to account for what we do and how we behave, as we are also holding others to account in a consistent manner.

Agility, Complexity, and Ambiguity

We scan the environment, anticipate changes, are comfortable with lack of clarity and deal with a large number of elements interacting in diverse and unpredictable ways.

Systems Thinking

We view problems as parts of an overall system and in their relation to the whole system, rather than reacting to a specific part, outcome or event in isolation. We focus on cyclical rather than linear cause and effect. By consistently practicing systems thinking we are aware of and manage well unintended consequences of organisational decisions and actions.

Strategic Thinking and Judgment

We use judgment, weighing risk against the imperative to act. We make decisions consistent with organizational strategies and values.

Vision Setting

We have the ability to identify and lead visionary initiatives that are beneficial for our organization and we set high-level direction through a visioning process that engages the organization and diverse external stakeholders.

Self-Awareness

We are able to develop a high degree of self-awareness around our own strengths and weaknesses and our impact on others. Our self-awareness enables us to moderate and self-regulate our behaviors to control and channel our impulses for good purposes.

Enabling

We all work to effectively empower and enable others to deliver the organizations goals through creating conditions of success. We passionately invest in others by developing their careers, not only their skills for the job. We provide freedom; demonstrate belief and trust provide appropriate support. We give more freedom and demonstrate belief and trust, underpinned with appropriate support.