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Governance Project Officer
Dakar
PROJECTS OFFICER FOR GOVERNANCE PROGRAMME
Contract type -
Fixed-term, 2 years
Reporting to -
Head of Programs
Staff reporting to this post -
N/A
Locations -
Dakar, Senegal
Annual Budget responsibility -
TBC
Job family
Programme
Job Grade -
D1
Salary scale
xxx
Shaping a stronger Oxfam for people living in poverty
Job Purpose
To contribute to the Governance programme implementation in Senegal. Focus will be on promoting good governance of public finances, extractives resources, social accountability, citizenship and participation development and civil society empowerment.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities
Key responsibilities of the Advocacy and Governance Project Officer include:
Strategy and Planning
• Contribute to the formulation and implementation of Oxfam in Senegal strategy, under the leadership of the Head of Programs,
• Provide strategic directions on Oxfam strategic positioning and engagement in specific governance schemes; Specifically develop technical notes, based on country experiences to guide CO in their discussions around governance registries such as but not limited to governance of public finances, extractives resources, social accountability, citizenship and participation development and civil society empowerment, women and youth empowerment,
• Actively support country annual action planning/budgeting with staff and partners,
• Provide strategic feedback, comments to corporate documents and contribute to corporate processes including writing and reviewing annual reports, evaluation reports, policy and other strategic documents,
• Ensure the highest degree of participation of the poorest, women, and youth in all phases of the country strategy, governance program and project cycle,
Influencing, Advocacy and Networking
• Support the Country office to engage in a broader policy dialogue on above topics,
• Engage with key ministries and other relevant stakeholders on policies reforms and legal and regulatory frameworks review, as determined by Governance Programme Manager,
• Leverage global or regional political advocacy to support national policy reform campaigns and from the national to the regional and global level,
• Network actively with key people and agencies working on governance issues, mainly public finances accountability and civil society empowerment, with members of Oxfam-International and more broadly with other INGOs, LNGO and mass organisations in Senegal
• Actively engage in discussions with partners and other stakeholders on fostering external funding opportunities and where needed support the development of programs with partners and others
• Facilitate the networking between Oxfam partners and relevant external actors like knowledge & research institutes and initiate and facilitate reports and any publications in this area.
Technical inputs
• Provide technical support to the Governance Programme in registries such as but not limited to governance of public finances, extractives resources, social accountability, citizenship and participation development and civil society empowerment, women and youth empowerment,
• Provide technical and strategic guidance to Country Office in the formulation of strategies, resource mobilization and in the design and implementation of governance projects, programmes, campaigns and initiatives, including support to building a policy dialogue on governance with host government and their development partners,
• Directly manage the projects entrusted to him/her including budget, project partners, consultants and all administrative related matters,
• Closely coordinate with designated partners to seek for effective interfaces to stimulate local contributions, efficient methods of project implementation and alternative funding sources for the programme, to help ensure financial, technical sustainability and in order to encourage local ownership of the projects,
• Support the identification, development and management of the portfolio of designated local partners,
• Prepare grant applications for review and approval,
• Work closely with designated partners for quality in project development and grant management,
• Coordinate with other Programme staff to pilot specific models in designated project areas with a view to disseminate and/or institutionalise relevant methodologies in a larger scale;
• Ensure that projects reflect Oxfam principles of gender equity, participation, and partnership
• Facilitate knowledge exchange amongst partners and staff
• Support other on-going initiatives relevant to Governance led by other units within the Office
• Undertake technical assistance missions to support field level initiative.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
• Maintain direct contacts with designated partners for the monitoring, evaluation and development of partners programmes & their organizational capacities.
• Initiate and facilitate activities concerning knowledge & information management with designated local partners to strengthen the effectiveness and implementation of programmes and lessons learned.
• Conduct regular monitoring visits, write analytical progress reports including sections on follow up, and evaluation of grants, analyse projects and recommend appropriate actions as necessary
• Provide for the appraisal of project progress reports, ensure feedback to partner organizations & monitoring of agreements, and ensure registration in our administrative system
• Contribute to effective meetings in Oxfam which stimulates learning across teams. Co-operate and exchange learning with various staff in the home office and other country programmes on all issues of relevance
• Share information for ensuring high levels of transparency in management of the projects including financial transparency and high standards of accounting and financial reporting, to Oxfam, donors and local stakeholders;
• Contribute to the country office's reports to the other levels of the confederation
Local Capacity Building
• Contribute in developing capacity of designated partners and provide coaching so that they can be effective in program delivery and lead local activities following predefined methodologies,
• Participate in Identifying human resource development and organisational development needs for local partners in implementing programmes. Seek training, consultants, exchange and other support opportunities to meet those needs and build capacity of partners, especially in support of the long-term management of development in the area;
•Other tasks as required and assigned by the supervisor or the senior management
Technical Skills, Experience & Knowledge
Essential
• University degree in a discipline relevant to the specific areas mentioned in relation to development cooperation, preferably in Economics/Law or Social Sciences
• At least 5 years demonstrable recent work experience with NGOs and community-based organizations in Senegal and/or West Africa; on Governance, public policies issues
• Sound experience in programme management and negotiation, including participatory approaches, organizational analysis & partnership, networks, grant management & program development.
• Analytical thinking skills, abilities to influence others and to achieve results
• Excellent communication skills in French and English
• Good understanding and practical experience in application of equity issues (Gender and diversity)
• Strong understanding on sustainable development issues and rights-oriented approach
• Excellent social skills, team player; pro-active and willingness to learn.
• Excellent research skills, including desk and field research
• Able to travel to programme/project areas on a regular basis
Desirable:
• Knowledge and experience with civil society advocacy and campaigns strategy
• Good understanding of other different themes (Livelihood, DRR, CCA, humanitarian)
Key Behavioural Competencies (based on Oxfams 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.
Strategic Thinking and Judgment
We use judgment, weighing risk against the imperative to act. We make decisions consistent with organizational strategies and values.
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.