Thematic Advisor, Local Value Chain Development (32- 36 hours/week)

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 Thematic advisor Local value chain development 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.

The CRC’ seeds for resilience program based on the former SD=HS program, supports smallholder farmers – especially women, and youth – to have the capacity to access, develop and use plant genetic resources – in conjunction with agro-ecological practices and land rights – to improve their food and nutrition security. The seeds program fosters women’s leadership, support rural communities and their allies to voice their demands and influence government and private sector decisionmakers. The program is implemented via several grants in countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia and has activities at global level related to influencing, knowledge creating and linking& learning.

Your role will be to strengthening local value chains of (agro-ecology) products to improve food security and income for (female) farmers with national (farmer) organizations, rural communities and their allies. You will support national partners and their rural community networks to improve local value chains by developing financial services and supporting local business development; improve with national partners local value chains and incentivize production of diverse crops, crop varieties and local food plants (LFPs) and highlight the benefits of using/conserving locally available agrobiodiversity; develop, share and innovate materials to enhance local value chains, livelihoods, and incomes for (female) smallholder farmers; contribute to strategies and project proposals to enhance and improve the seeds program.

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 the development, diffusion, learning and implementation of knowledge of the program to improve local values chains and food security for rural female farmers.
• Project manage the daily implementation of the local value chain of parts of seeds program in close cooperation with country offices and partner organizations.
• Take responsibility for the assigned budgets related to local value chain development, elaborate proposals for the planning of the effective and efficient use of these resources, monitor the expenditures and reports on this to the project lead.
• Engage, advise and influence external and internal stakeholders on local value chain development and strengthening local markets (feasibility studies, competitiveness analysis, etc.)
• Design knowledge publications, ensure quality of documentation and training materials; share these with program stakeholders internally and externally; lead the exchange, learning, evaluation and innovations related to local value chain development.
• Develop new integrated program elements and reach out to donors and partners for joint fundraising related to local value chain development.
• 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:

• Master’s degree in agro-economics, agriculture marketing, or agri-business development
• Strong understanding of and experience in agricultural & food systems, agro-biodiversity management, local value chains and food system development and marketing, in the Global South.
• At least 5 years of experience working with local organizations and especially women and youth to improve local value chains, marketing related to agrobiodiversity, food security in the context of climate change.
• Experience in working with and from a gender transformation perspective.
• 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 availability 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), 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.