EFSL Coordinator (Environment, Food Security & Livelihoods)

Oxfam in Algeria – Sahrawi Refugee Camps

Oxfam has operated in the Sahrawi refugee camps since 1975 and has established itself as a key humanitarian actor in the area. Oxfam has developed a multi-sectoral approach spanning WaSH, Food Security and Youth, with a cross-cutting commitment to advocacy and to the humanitarian, development and peace nexus.

To reduce widespread dependence on humanitarian aid, especially food distributions, as well as to encourage more sustainable and efficient access to nutrition, Oxfam is working with over 500 Sahrawi refugee families to improve small-scale, agro-ecological farming. Oxfam seeks to establish self-sustaining associations of farmers to collectively sell their produce on the local market. Through its support to families, Oxfam is piloting several water-efficient, innovative irrigation techniques to optimize agricultural production in the harsh desert environment.

The majority of Sahrawi refugees remain dependent on humanitarian aid while the nutrition status worsens across the camps. Oxfam’s food security program promotes access of vulnerable refugees to fresh produce, complementary to the WFP dry food basket. In conjunction with broad distributions, Oxfam maintains its distribution of gluten-free flour to the celiac population in the camps.

Oxfam's program to strengthen the Food and Nutrition Security of refugees has for years focused on distributing food, especially fresh products, awareness raising on good food consumption and conservation practices and supporting local agricultural production.

In order to complement its action in strengthening of Food and Nutritional Security for refugees, Oxfam in Algeria is seeking a project Officer, to contribute to set up the various field activities of the Food Security Department.

Job Purpose

The EFSL Coordinator provides strategic leadership and oversight for Oxfam’s Emergency Food Security and Livelihoods (EFSL) programme in the Sahrawi refugee camps. The role combines programme design, strategic planning, partnership management, donor engagement, innovation, and team leadership. The Coordinator ensures that Oxfam’s EFSL interventions are technically sound, financially accountable, and aligned with the organisation’s broader humanitarian and development strategy.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership and Programme Development

• Lead the design, planning, implementation and monitoring of Oxfam’s EFSL portfolio, ensuring strategic coherence across projects (f.i. family and school gardens, hydroponics, “One Tree per Tent”, agroecology, cash and livelihood initiatives).

• Contribute to country-level strategy development, identifying priorities, synergies and opportunities for scaling.

• Facilitate the design and lead the team of analysis of new proposals, concept notes, and donor submissions in close coordination with the Funding, MEAL and Technical teams.

• Ensure that Oxfam’s EFSL programming integrates humanitarian principles, protection, gender, climate resilience and innovation.

• Supervise financial management of all EFSL budgets, ensuring accuracy, forecasting and compliance with donor and Oxfam requirements.

2. Coordination, Representation and Partnerships

• Represent Oxfam with Sahrawi authorities, UN agencies, donors (WFP, ECHO, AICS, SIDA, etc.), and partner NGOs.

• Strengthen partnerships with national and local actors, promoting joint planning, co-implementation and capacity sharing.

• Ensure coordination with other Oxfam departments (WASH, Protection, MEAL, Logistics, HR, Finance) and external clusters. Contribute to Oxfam MENA EFSL sector’ learning process.

• Contribute to external communication and advocacy related to food security, livelihoods and climate adaptation.

3. Team Leadership and Capacity Strengthening

• Manage, mentor and develop a multidisciplinary EFSL team (Officers, Project Officers, and Assistants).

• Build team capacity on program quality, innovation, financial management, and monitoring frameworks.

• Promote a culture of accountability, inclusion, and continuous learning within the EFSL department.

• Identify and nurture leadership potential among national staff, ensuring succession and sustainable management structures.

4. Innovation, Learning and Knowledge Management

• Lead the integration of innovative, climate-smart and water-efficient technologies adapted to desert contexts.

• Promote pilot initiatives and research partnerships with local institutions and universities.

• Document lessons learned, best practices and evidence-based results for internal and external sharing.

• Encourage adaptive management based on regular analysis, monitoring results and contextual changes.

5. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

• Ensure that MEAL systems effectively capture results, impacts and learning.

• Supervise the preparation of high-quality reports for donors and internal use.

• Contribute to country-level learning and evidence generation for advocacy and policy dialogue.

Job Requirements :

Essential

• University degree in agronomy, environmental sciences, rural development or related fields.

• Minimum 5 years’ management experience in NGOs in food security/livelihoods.

• Proven financial management skills (budget design, monitoring, reporting).

• Experience in applying humanitarian principles, integrating protection and producing impact reports.

• Excellent coordination and diplomacy skills with local authorities.

• Languages: Arabic Hassania or Spanish, and English or French.

• Nationality : Sahrawi or Algerian.

Desirable

• Knowledge of innovative farming in arid contexts (hydroponics, agroecology, composting).

• Familiarity with WFP/ECHO procedures.

Organisational Values

• Accountability – We take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable.

• Empowerment – Everyone involved with Oxfam should feel they can make change happen.

• Inclusiveness – We embrace diversity and believe everyone has a contribution to make.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to apply:

If you believe your qualifications meet the requirements, please send a CV and cover letter explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile before December 10th , 2025.