Policy Advisor, Land Rights (18 hours; 0,5 FTE) At Oxfam Novib

Do you want to fight for equality? Tackling inequality at its roots, together with colleagues, our partner organizations and activists in more than 90 countries? To change the systems behind it, once and for all!

Oxfam Novib stands behind the people who stand up for equality. Together, we fight for a world where everyone has equal opportunities, regardless of gender, ethnicity or skin color. A world where everyone feels safe; where income gaps are shrinking instead of growing, where climate change is tackled in a firmer and more honest way.

Equality is the common thread in our work and projects, both internally and externally. We recognize that our team of colleagues can become even more diverse, and that only with a diverse team can we gain a broad perspective on the world. Therefore, we want to encourage everyone who hesitates to apply, no matter the reason. Our aim is to create an environment where everyone not only feels welcome, but where diversity is embraced and celebrated. Let’s strive together to build a team that offers a rich variety of perspectives, enabling us to achieve an inclusive and inspiring work environment.

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Job description

The Policy Advisor Land Rights will be part of the GREEN Climate Resilient Communities Unit (CRC). The CRC unit supports the interest of 500 million smallholder farmers and indigenous communities that feed 90 percent of the population in the developing world. When their crops fail, millions go hungry. They are on the frontline of climate change, living in some of the most vulnerable landscapes. Our programs and partners support them to voice their demands, find local solutions, promote agro-ecology, and locally led adaptation, manage natural resources sustainably, protect their land rights and achieve food security.

Land is the first asset smallholder farmers invest in. Small-holder farmers’ livelihoods, as well as their identity and culture, are intrinsically linked to their territories. Secured land rights are vital for farmers to invest in adapting their production system to an ever-changing climate, which is increasing pressures on the remaining fertile lands. CRC programs support local solutions, mobilize civil society, influence duty bearers on the changes we need to fix our agri-food system and the role of just land governance in that. Farmer communities working via farmer field schools to breed the seeds and crops they need, have expressed clear needs to foster land governance and rights.

The policy advisor leads with technical advice, policy notes and training, in the developing and implementing of national level land rights strategies by Country Offices and partner organizations. Strategies to support rural women and their communities, in having secured land and resource rights, inclusive local land governance, and sustainable management of natural resources. This with the aim to recognize, claim and protect the legal recognition of both individual and collective land tenure rights of small holders’ farmers and indigenous groups, with a specific focus on women and other vulnerable groups. You will contribute to policy dialogues and generate knowledge and evidence.

You will report to unit head of CRC as line manager and to the seeds for resilience program manager on program delivery.

Key responsibilities

• Provide internal and external (thought) leadership on national strategies aimed to integrate land tenure and natural resource governance, especially for and with women & youth.
• Project manage the daily implementation and oversee the budget of land rights parts of seeds program in close cooperation with country offices and partner organizations.
• Strengthening capacities and opportunities of local communities to influence agenda at national level, particularly on the linkages between just land governance, climate justice, and just agri-food systems.
• Lead the exchange, learning, evaluation and innovation of land rights and natural resources governance, ensure quality of documentation and building of evidence to inform (national) policy debates; share these with program stakeholders internally and externally.
• The policy advisor will ensure and facilitate inclusive co-creation process with the related Oxfam structures (regional platform, country teams), regional and national partners.
• Develop new integrated program elements and reach out to donors and partners for joint fundraising related to policy influencing.
• Ensure that the program follows Oxfam Novib’s organizational priorities especially regarding systemic change, gender and youth participation and feminist leadership.

Required skills and experience for the position

• A master’s or bachelor’s degree in a relevant field; preferably in climate resilience and adaptation, natural resource governance, land rights.
• Experience in land rights, land and natural resource governance, land use management advocacy work on land and natural resource rights, preferably in Africa and ideally in relation to climate adaptation, agriculture & food security, gender and conflict transformation.
• At a minimum five (5) year experience working in relation to development cooperation and/or humanitarian work in developing countries, ideally in the NGO or policy sector.
• Experience working with local CSOs and/or stakeholders and capacity strengthening.
• Strong written and oral communication and advisory skills, including training/facilitation skills, with proven ability to build relationships with a diverse range of local, national, and global stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver results in complex multi-disciplinary structures, prioritize under pressure, meet deadlines, and hold yourself and others to account.
• Fluency in English, both verbal and written; Fluency in French and Spanish would be an asset.

Working at Oxfam Novib

• All our work is guided by our core values: Empowerment, Accountability, Inclusiveness, Courage, Solidarity and Equality.
• At Oxfam Novib, we work according to the Feminist Principles – Oxfam Policy & Practice.
• Oxfam Novib is committed to offer you a motivating work environment at our offices in The Hague.
• Working from an Oxfam office in the global South can be considered based on candidate’s background and possibility to travel to program countries and the Netherlands.
• Qualified candidates residing in the Netherlands, or other EU/EEA countries and who are willing to relocate to the Netherlands at their own expense and responsibility, are encouraged to apply.
• Oxfam Novib is unable to provide visa sponsorship at this time.
• We offer a one-year contract from start (including a 1-month trial period) for , with the possibility to extend.
• Oxfam Novib offers an attractive and honest benefits package, including a year-end allowance and yearly pay increase from the Collective Labor Agreement. Moreover, we offer complementary options to choose from. The salary range for this position is set in scale 10 with a salary range between € 3.469,- and € 5.339,- gross depending on experience, based on 36 hours a week.
• We are currently working hybrid (50% in the office in The Hague and 50% at home).
• Oxfam Novib is based on the power of difference. That is why we aim to attract a diverse mix of talented people who share our standards, values and principles, and who are committed to prevent and eliminate any type of misconduct.
• We have an active policy against sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, any form of abuse of power or lack of integrity and financial misconduct. This subject will be covered in our application and selection process.