ThaiNGO

POLICY COORDINATOR

MEKONG WATER GOVERNANCE PROGRAM

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Shaping a stronger Oxfam for people living in poverty.

Context

Oxfam is an international confederation of 19 organizations networked together in 97 countries. As part of a global movement for change, we are working together to end world poverty and injustice. We work with thousands of partners in countries around the world and employ staff in a wide variety of posts. We work directly with communities and we seek to influence the powerful to enable the most marginalized to be improve their lives and livelihoods and have a say in decisions that affect them.

Working at Oxfam is so much more than just a job. As an Oxfam employee, consultant, or volunteer, you will join a team of dedicated and passionate professionals working to save lives, help people overcome poverty, and fight for social justice.

The Mekong Regional Water Governance Program

Oxfam has been implementing the Mekong Regional Water Governance Program in the Mekong region over the last decades. The governance of water resources is of critical importance to the future of the Greater Mekong region, which covers Cambodia, Thailand, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Myanmar and China (Yunnan Province). Decisions over how the water resoruces are developed, managed and shared will influence whether growth will be inclusive and equitable, or will further marginalise millions of people.

Oxfam’s Asia Water Governance Program has multiple projects that contribute to sustainable development of water resources in key river basins, in South Asia, Mekong and the Salween basins. The Mekong Water Governance Program aims to have more inclusive, equitable water governance that reduces the impact of climate change and increases social accountability to citizens in the Greater Mekong Basin. The program envisions that communities living along the Mekong and Salween River basins are able to realise their rights to sustainable livelihoods.

The Mekong Inclusion Project 2 aims to bring more sustainable livelihoods to riparian communities through access to river resources and the enviromental services they provide. The Inclusion Project 2 is supported by the Australian government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. It is jointly delivered by Oxfam and International Rivers. The project has three key domains of change:

1. Social inclusion, Gender equality and women’s leadership

2. Civil society engagement and networking

3. Government and the Private Sector

The program aims for regional impact at country, regional and institutional levels. It is managed by the Mekong Project Management Unit (PMU). This work seeks to influence changes at the community and civil society level, as well as changes in policies and practices at the national and trans-boundary level regarding water resource governance and sustainable energy.

Job Purpose

The position is responsible for leading and coordinating the delivery of policy work under the Inclusion Project, including facilitating policy strategy development with partners and networks, and support work with partners and on behalf of the consortium to influence targeted regional and national actors on priority water governance issues in accordance with program priorities.

The position will coordinate policy analysis, develop Inclusion Project public positions and policy briefs for agreement across the consortium in the region, and help coordinate the identification of the strategic research for the program.

The role is expected to have a strong focus on leading gendered and inclusion analysis and advocacy.

Core Responsibilities

Project Specialty:

• Advise on and contribute to the program and project planning and implementation and coordinate policy influencing (at appropriate levels) into plans

• Work with consortium partners to develop a regional policy influencing strategy and plan that delivers on program goals and outcomes and is coordinated and has synergy with the other projects under Oxfam’s Water Governance Program and IR’s regional program work.

• Coordinate and implement the regional policy influencing agenda, including:

  • Support country teams to ensure a coherent approach that enhances and coordinates across national level work and policy plans

  • Coordinate with other regional team members to help determine and provide input to the content of policy dialogues.

  • Coordinate with, support and advise partners, regional allies, and other Oxfam regional programs to provide input on policy priorities and agendas

• With MEAL staff, support collection and analysis of evidence of policy outcomes and the effectiveness of consortium and partners’ influencing and advocacy strategies

• Produce, coordinate and commission policy briefs on key issues, promoting the experience of partners and communities and clearly communicating policy positions and recommendations to external audiences

• Support monitoring and advise the project management on the development and change in development partners and Mekong country governments’ policies on water governance and gender

• Identify and advise management on emerging opportunities, risks and challenges for policy influencing (including identifying and advising on potential influencing work that will contribute to Inclusion Project policy objectives that should be conducted outside the project remit and funding)

• Ensure that regional and national policy influencing work is culturally and politically sensitive, informed by and linked to the consortium’s work with civil society and communities

Business Services

• Advise, initiate and contribute to the development and periodic review of Oxfam policies relating to Natural Resource Management and Water Governance in the Mekong

• Advise internal key stakeholders on policy and political aspects regarding water and resource governance and in sectoral disciplines related to the Inclusion Project

Management

• Provide strategic leadership in area of expertise especially regarding policy and political analysis throughout the Mekong region

• Coordinate delegated accountabilities for project risks and report regularly

• Contribute to the implementation and compliance of Oxfam administrative, health, safety and security policies and frameworks

• Accountable to the Consortia Project Manager; and works closely with policy staff in International Rivers, and Oxfam within the Mekong regional program.

Representation and Relationships

• Represent the consortium’s advocacy and policy priorities and positions to decision makers, policy makers, development practitioners and opinion formers including staff of international financial institutions, government agencies and intergovernmental bodies

• Participate in relevant external debates, networking and dissemination of learning and analysis amongst allied organisations and community groups in pursuit of agreed policy influencing strategies and priorities

• Build networks and collaborate with local and international organisations working in the same scope of work.

Job requirements

Key Selection Criteria

• Advanced knowledge and experience in some of the below water governance issues in the Mekong region; including gender, hydropower, energy, fisheries, water pollution and transboundary river basin management

• Analysis skills and experience in monitoring and evaluating policy outcomes

• Coordination and facilitation skills in working with civil society partners and networks, private sector actors,

• Experience conducting stakeholder and power analysis and developing and coordinating/implementing policy and advocacy strategies to influence decision makers

• High level of skill in representation, liaison, negotiation and networking with different internal and external stakeholders on policy issues, including civil society, government and the private sector

• Analysis and written and oral communication skills in English (and Mekong language competency preferred), and experience producing evidence-based policy recommendations, policy briefs, reports and communication materials tailored for specific audiences

• Experience and ability to work in a cross-cultural setting, with in-depth knowledge of Mekong regional development key institutions and actors, and ability to operate within politically sensitive environments

• Experience promoting gender-responsive and socially and environmentally responsible business practice by private companies

• Leadership skills and the ability to motivate others, initiative and capacity to work as a member of a team

• Ability to work remotely and experience using virtual meeting technology across cultures and language groups

• Resilient with the ability to be self-motivated and to demonstrate initiative in achieving objectives

• Relevant computer skills, including experience in using project management software tools, PowerPoint, Word and Excel.

Organizational Values and Organizational culture

• Accountability – Our purpose-driven, results-focused approach means we take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable. We believe that others should also be held accountable for their actions.

• Empowerment – Our approach means that everyone involved with Oxfam, from our staff and supporters to people living in poverty, should feel they can make change happen.

• Inclusiveness – We are open to everyone and embrace diversity. We believe everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences.

• Organizational culture of Cambodia is feedback, can do attitude and walk the talk. Staff should adhere to these organizational cultural values to collaborate and contribute to the wellbeing of the organization.

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

Travel

Participation and support for partner meetings and workshops will require frequent travel within the Mekong region and occasional travel outside the region. In the immediate future it is anticipated that there will be minimal travel possible, and most work will be conducted from home or office, and using remote meeting technology.

Applications

Those who are interested in this post, please apply through our recruitment website:

https://career2.successfactors.eu/career?company=OxfamNovibP by November 30, 2021 at 23:59 ICT.

Applications should include the updated CV and a covering letter, no more than two pages, stating their motivation for the post and how they think their experience would enable them to undertake this post.

ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED