JOB PURPOSE: The primary focus of the role is to deliver a regional project aimed as promoting women leaders and local women led organisations’ influence over and decision making within humanitarian response.
Oxfam in MENA has secured funding to deliver a research and advocacy project, intended to identify blockers and enablers to Women Led Organisations and Women Leaders’ full participation in decision making in humanitarian responses. As the Regional Research and Advocacy Lead for Feminist Local Humanitarian Leadership, you will deliver the key components of this regional initiative, leading Oxfam’s efforts in MENA to ensure that local women are placed at the decision-making tables in humanitarian responses across Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Palestine. You will lead on a research initiative, conducted at the country level and coordinate a regional learning event on addressing blockers and enablers to local women and their organisations’ leadership in humanitarian response. You will create an evidence-based advocacy strategy, and facilitate events that aim to elevate the role of women in leadership within the humanitarian sector. Your work will focus on promoting local women’s leadership in shaping humanitarian action in the region. The postholder will collaborate closely with the Regional Gender Lead, and Regional Humanitarian Policy lead, as well as a variety of other internal stakeholders, and ensure alignment of the project activities with OXfams global and regional strategies.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (Technical, Leadership, People and Resource management)
Key Responsibilities:
Research and Analysis
- Conduct in-depth research to understand the barriers and enablers for local women’s leadership in humanitarian decision-making in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Palestine. This should be done at the country level and involve multiple stakeholders and a desk review.
- Develop high-quality, evidence-based research paper for publication, and reports that highlight the importance of local women’s participation in leadership roles within the humanitarian sector.
- Provide actionable recommendations for integrating more local women into decision-making roles in the humanitarian response, ensuring their voices are heard at every level of crisis management.
Facilitation and Capacity Building
- Lead and facilitate workshops and dialogues focused on empowering local women to take up leadership positions in humanitarian response and decision-making processes at country level, in OPT, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon and at regional level
- Ensure that these facilitation processes are participatory, inclusive, and designed to build local women’s confidence and skills in leading humanitarian efforts.
Advocacy and Policy Influence
- Lead advocacy campaigns and initiatives that promote the inclusion of local women in leadership and decision-making roles in humanitarian action.
- External engagement with Donors, think tanks, and all other stakeholders
- Work closely with Oxfam’s regional teams and partners to ensure the integration of gender equality and women’s leadership into Oxfam’s regional humanitarian strategies.
- Build and maintain strategic relationships with key regional and international stakeholders, including UN agencies, government officials, local organizations, and other humanitarian actors, to influence policy changes that increase local women’s participation in decision-making.
- Engage with multiple stakeholders within Oxfam and Externally to coordinate and lead a lobby tour at capitol level, based on the evidence gathered at country level on women’s leadership in humanitarian response.
Regional Event Coordination
- Coordinate and facilitate a regional event focused on amplifying local women’s leadership in humanitarian contexts, providing a platform for local women leaders to share experiences and strategies.
- Ensure the event is designed to foster collaboration, learning, and is a safe space
- Oversee the event logistics, ensuring that it aligns with Oxfam’s mission to elevate local women’s voices and contribute to sustainable, gender-sensitive humanitarian leadership.
Monitoring, Reporting, and Documentation
- Track and monitor progress on initiatives aimed at increasing women’s participation in decision-making within humanitarian contexts.
- Prepare comprehensive reports for donors, partners, and internal stakeholders on the outcomes and impact of research, advocacy, and capacity-building activities.
- Document key lessons learned, success stories, and challenges related to local women’s leadership in humanitarian response and share findings within Oxfam and the wider humanitarian community.
- Support qualitative and quantitative Monitoring and Evaluation efforts for the regional project.
ESSENTIAL
Qualifications:
- Education: Master’s degree in International Relations, Gender Studies, Humanitarian Affairs, Political Science, Research methods and Statistics, or a related field, or substantial relevant experience
Experience:
- At least 5 years of experience working in humanitarian response with a focus on gender and local leadership
- Proven experience in leading research, producing quality papers, and advocating for policy changes in the humanitarian sector.
- Expertise in understanding the social, political, and cultural barriers that hinder women’s leadership in humanitarian settings in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Palestine.
Skills and Competencies:
- Strong data analytical and research skills with the ability to produce high-quality, impactful reports and policy briefs.
- Experience with Monitoring and Evaluation
- Excellent facilitation, training, and public speaking skills, particularly in gender-sensitive and culturally diverse contexts.
- Proven experience in developing or contributing to advocacy strategies that influence humanitarian policy and practice.
- Deep understanding of feminist principles, gender equality, and women’s empowerment in humanitarian contexts and particularly in MENA Region
- Ability to engage effectively with a range of stakeholders, including local women leaders, civil society organizations, governments, and humanitarian actors.
- Fluency in both English and Arabic (spoken and written); additional languages are an advantage.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships, trust, and collaboration among diverse groups.
- A demonstrated commitment to social justice, gender equality, and Oxfam’s core values.
Desirable
Experience designing and facilitating workshops and training for local women, particularly in conflict-affected regions, with a focus on leadership development and decision-making.
How to apply
Please upload an up-to-date CV and a covering letter, clearly explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile via Oxfam International Secretariat careers page.
Kindly note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted- usually within 2-3 weeks of the closing date.