Baseline Survey Consultant at Oxfam

Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty.

One person in three in the world lives in poverty. Oxfam is determined to change that world by mobilizing the power of people against poverty.  Around the world, Oxfam works to find practical, innovative ways for people to lift themselves out of poverty and thrive. We save lives and help rebuild livelihoods when crisis strikes. And we campaign so that the voices of the poor influence the local and global decisions that affect them. In all we do, Oxfam works with partner organizations and alongside vulnerable women and men to end the injustices that cause poverty.

Overview of the pjoject

Kenya has the largest economy in East Africa and the third largest in sub-Saharan Africa.[1] Agriculture and mining are big drivers of Kenya’s economy- agriculture provides a livelihood for most Kenyan people.

Despite it’s potential, Kenya has disproportionate levels of poverty, 82 per cent of the population works in the informal sector. Profitable operations are often owned and controlled by a few individuals and big companies, who dominate policy processes to protect their own interests. Rural communities, already struggling against a changing climate, lack voice and power to defend their land and benefit from (global) trade and value chains – either through increased national state revenues being reinvested in rural livelihoods or better jobs incomes for communities in mining and agriculture.

FAIR for ALL aims to achieve fundamental, systemic change through a paradigm shift in the roles of the state and the market. This means moving away from the dominance of the market and towards more responsive and responsible states, citizens, companies, and investors. It requires challenging vested interests, tackling power imbalances and helping to build new economic models and principles that put people and the planet before profit.

The project seeks to ensure that communities (with a key focus on grassroot women) from Taita Taveta, Turkana and Kwale counties where gemstones, gold and mineral sands respectively are mined, fully benefit from the sector’s value chain and have the space to meaningfully engage private sector and government in securing benefits from these resources.

Activities will be based on strengthening the capacity of communities and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to meaningfully engage private sector players in the mining sector and holding the government to account on the governance of the sector, revenue raising, allocation and utilization as well as maximize their public engagement in realization of their rights throughout the value chain. This also entails considering land, human rights and environmental issues throughout the value chain.

The Role

The specific objectives of the baseline study are:

• To provide a situational analysis of the current status and dynamics of artisanal mining value chains, practices, policies /frameworks, influential stakeholders and status of the civic space.
• To establish benchmark on key outcome indicators for comparison and analysis upon program completion.
• To assess the current capacities of CSOs, women miners, youth, and men in relation to their;

               (a)  Perceptions, attitudes, behaviors, practices and influencing skills,

               (b)  thematic knowledge – specifically on trade, fiscal and value chain regulations, and mining rights,

• Organizational operational capacities in relation to Oxfam policies including integrity, safeguarding and capacity assessments and its civic space monitoring tool.

What we are looking for

The desired specification and qualities of the consultant(s) are as hereunder:

• At least a master’s degree in Social Sciences (A PhD in Environmental and Natural Resources would be an added advantage) for the lead consultant and a minimum of bachelor’s degree on the relevant academic areas for research assistants.
• In-depth knowledge and experience on using participatory research methods (household survey, key informant interviews and focus group discussions).
• High quality skills and demonstrated experience in similar baseline study, particularly on gender and/or women’s rights.
• Demonstrated understanding of constitutional and policy environment, national strategies and programs, county integrated development plans and strategies, and women’s economic empowerment.
• Familiarity with feminist approaches to women economic empowerment.
• Familiarity with the targeted county context.
• Strong analytical, communication and report writing skills.
• Good spoken and written communication skills in Kiswahili and English.
• Proven experience of using participatory methods for data collection and analysis in programme evaluation.
• An added advantage if they have experience in Gender and Extractives.

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

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

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

 All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers 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 procedures.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.