Market Development Investment Officer

Oxfam is committed to ridding the world of poverty. We have a conviction that people are well capable of building a livelihood without poverty on their own, once given the chance to do so. Which is why we support local projects in developing countries, why we lobby governments and companies to take into account the interests of the poorest people, and why we campaign to involve the public also in our work. Within the Oxfam confederation we work together as 19 Oxfam affiliates, with the final aim to end the injustice of poverty.

Oxfam invites applications from experienced candidates with strong analytical skills and conceptual paths for the following position:

Market Development Investment Officer

40 hrs per week – 12 months (renewal subject to funds)

Estimated start date: ASAP

Based in Ramallah with travel Gaza

Purpose of the job:

As a member of the Integrated Market Development Program across the Occupied Palestinian Territory (IMD-OPT) project funded by DANIDA and SDC and under the direct supervision of the National Program Manager, the Investment Officer will be responsible for the direct assessment (business and financial), analysis, implementation, and management of the project financial facilitation models and help ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency of investment interventions.  You will provide sustainability advisory services to help Palestinian SMEs (focused on Agriculture) do more and do better. You will liaise with implementing partners, producer organizations, and the private sector.  This will include sharing with all stakeholders Oxfam’s on-the-ground understanding, and helping all sides understand each other's areas of expertise. You will coordinate and deliver agreed plans and monitor the project’s participation in agribusiness investments and provide collaborative advisory services to ensure outcomes meet our social and environmental criteria – especially our commitment to gender equality and women's rights.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Delivery and implementation

• Contribute to developing and/or supporting the development of business plans and financial models of the project’s investment initiatives that are supportive of small-scale producers (SSP).
• Build and manage relationships with stakeholders/actors, including communities, producer organizations, key private sector companies, investors, and national and local NGOs as be agreements and strategies.
• Pro-actively share information within the IMD-OPT project and the wider Economic Justice Program at Oxfam and ensure that team members are coordinating effectively over activity planning.
• Assist in ensuring adherence to Oxfam quality standards and integration of best practice as well as adherence with donors and contractual requirements.
• Provide and facilitate technical support, training, and information to partners’ staff to enable them to effectively use Oxfam resources as well as best practices in participatory investment planning, feasibility, budgeting, delivery, monitoring, evaluation, impact assessment and learning.
• Ensure implementation of Oxfam's gender diversity, and equal opportunities policies throughout programming.

Manage Oxfam’s risk

• Ensure that budgets are drawn up for all investment activities and that costs are kept within budget, providing a monthly financial summary and quarterly analysis of trends.
• Be aware of and respond to sensitivities of operating within the national/regional context.

Communicating Oxfam's work and contributing to the regional programme

• Represent Oxfam in coordination meetings with stakeholders relevant to business modelling and investment readiness.
• Regular communication with program partners and the private sector.
• Share information within the region and to other Oxfam colleagues related to the project business facilitation.

Reporting

• Produce quality programme reports (financial and narrative): monthly, quarterly, and annually for Oxfam and its donors and ensure that these meet stipulated deadlines.
• Support in ensuring that quality financial reporting on restricted funding is done according to donor guidelines and timelines.

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Technical Skills, Experience & Knowledge

Essential

• A good masters level qualification in economics/agricultural economics/agribusiness/development management or other development sector related to rural livelihoods.
• Significant and demonstrable experience in development and monitoring of business development services, including business planning and financial services, to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises preferably in the agriculture/rural sector.  
• Good project management and reporting skills, and analysing complex financial proposals and challenging them as needed.
• Demonstrated ability in budget development, monitoring, and management of financial resources efficiently.
• Understanding and experience working with market facilitation for small scale producers.
• Direct experience of working with farmers and agri producers, preferably on developing farmers' organizations, ideally in the oPt or Middle East context, and strong awareness of their strengths, weaknesses, and organizational culture.
• Excellent analytical, conceptual, and strategic planning skills.
• Demonstrated capacity in integrating gender equity and diversity concerns in programming.
• Excellent communication capacity and proactive approach to building relationships with key external/internal contacts.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic.
• Ability to rapidly analyse situations, identify problems, risks, opportunities, and trends, and to take realistic and balanced decisions accordingly, consulting appropriately.
• Capacity to work sensitively and in a participatory manner with diverse actors.
• Competent to work with significant levels of autonomy and authority.
• Ability to manage complex workload and meet deadlines.
• Proven decision-making and people management capability.

Desirable:

Of course, at the heart of this role will be building strong relationships with a range of stakeholders, so your presentation, negotiation, influencing and communication skills will need to be significant. If those skills have seen you already build a network of relevant investment and development contacts that you can bring to the table, it would be a valuable bonus.

Salary

The employee will be contracted by Oxfam with a competitive, fair and comprehensive pay and benefits package that is justifiable to our donors. Salary range 126,309 – 189,463 ILS gross per annum, for a 40 hour contract. Salary offered will be subject to funding available and competences.

Application procedure

Interested candidates can apply for the job application online through Apply Now - تقدم الآن لهذه الوظيفة 

by no later than October 4th 2018:

Oxfam is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those that are suitable to work within our values are recruited to work for us.