Background Information on Oxfam International

Oxfam International is a confederation of 21 affiliates working alongside thousands of partners and allies across 79 countries to address the root causes of poverty and inequality. Together, we advocate for social justice and a world where all people have the power and opportunity to thrive. At the core of Oxfam’s strategic framework is our commitment adopting an implementing a feminist approach across all facets of our work, recognizing that ending poverty and injustice demands a deliberate dismantling of systems rooted in patriarchy, colonialism, racism, neoliberalism, and imperialism.

Background Information on this Assignment

Decolonial feminist organizational change and development involve shifting not only policies and procedures but also the culture, values, and power dynamics embedded within the organization. This consultancy will help Oxfam examine its internal practices, promoting shifts toward shared leadership, collective decision-making, and transformative accountability. This journey aligns with Oxfam’s Global Strategic Framework (GSF) and the Horizon 2 Roadmap for 2024, which envision Oxfam as an confederation that embodies and champions decolonial feminist values in both internal and external spaces.

The primary objective of this consultancy is to support Oxfam in beginning a transformative feminist organizational change process grounded in decolonial feminist approaches. This initial phase will lay the foundation for long-term change by embedding and cultivating practices that counter colonial, patriarchal, and hierarchical practices and structures while prioritizing shared feminist leadership, inclusion and equity.

Through this consultancy, Oxfam seeks to:

• Foster a Decolonial Feminist Organizational Culture: Establish the groundwork for a cultural shift that aligns with the practice of Oxfam’s internal values and feminist principles with decolonial feminist approaches, fostering an environment where feminist leadership, racial justice and anti-oppressive practices can thrive, from the individual to the organizational level.
• Develop an Action Plan for Embedding Decolonial Feminist Approaches: Create an actionable plan, with clear indicators and milestones, and accountability framework to guide Oxfam’s decolonial feminist organizational change journey in the coming years, deepening its commitment to decolonial feminist practices.
• Nurture the power, capacity and skills of members of the Decolonial Feminist Collective[1] as Change Agents: Position the Decolonial Feminist Collective as a central space for community building and organizational change, connecting its work with organizational leadership and decision-making processes to drive sustained and meaningful transformation.

Scope of Work

This consultancy is organized into two interconnected components that will support and inform each other, creating a cohesive pathway for change. Component 1 focuses on assessing Oxfam’s organizational culture and structure and developing a decolonial feminist narrative that articulates a vision for transformation for the confederation. This narrative will serve as the guiding framework for the Action Plan that will be developed in Component 2 by the Decolonial Feminist Collective. The collective’s work, informed by this foundational narrative, will further drive Oxfam’s transformation, aligning practices with our decolonial feminist vision.

Component 1: Organizational Assessment and Narrative Development for Embedding Decolonial Feminist Practices in Culture and Structure

Objective: To assess Oxfam’s current structures, practices, and organizational culture with a decolonial feminist lens and identify pathways for transformative feminist organizational change.

Expected Activities:

1. Development of a Cohesive Decolonial Feminist Narrative

• Conduct a review of existing frameworks, strategies, and approaches within Oxfam and other organizations leading in decolonial feminist practice.
• Collaborate with Oxfam teams and stakeholders to craft a comprehensive narrative that builds a cohesive and clear decolonial feminist vision for Oxfam. This narrative will clarify Oxfam’s commitments to equitable resource redistribution, inclusive decision-making, and decolonial feminist ways of working, serving as the cohesive framework for all future strategies.
• Engage with diverse perspectives across Oxfam’s global structure through interviews, focus groups, and discussions to ensure the narrative reflects voices from across the organization, especially from the Global South (Global South Affiliates and Country, Regional and Cluster Offices).

1. Synthesis of Key Insights and Reflection Pieces

• Develop a series of think pieces based on the narrative and assessment findings. These reflections should critique current practices and propose new approaches rooted in decolonial feminist principles, providing critical insights into Oxfam’s evolving role in decolonial feminist organizational change.

1. Socialization Package and Knowledge Dissemination

• Create a socialization package, including tools, resources, and communication materials, to facilitate staff engagement with the narrative. This package will support a unified understanding of Oxfam’s decolonial feminist commitments and the collective journey ahead.

Deliverables:

1. A cohesive Decolonial Feminist Narrative articulating Oxfam’s vision for resource redistribution, decision-making, and decolonial feminist ways of working.
2. Analysis report summarizing findings from the organizational assessment from a decolonial feminist lens.
3. Reflective think pieces critiquing existing practices and suggesting decolonial feminist approaches.
4. Socialization package with tools, resources, and communication materials to engage staff with the narrative.

Component 2: Feminist Facilitation and Accompaniment for the Decolonial Feminist Collective

Objective: To provide support, facilitation, and capacity-strengthening for Oxfam’s Decolonial Feminist Collective, enabling them to lead the development of an actionable plan grounded in the decolonial feminist narrative created in Component 1. This action plan will detail the roadmap for embedding decolonial feminist approaches across Oxfam.

Expected Activities:

1. Facilitation of the Decolonial Feminist Collective

• Accompany the Decolonial Feminist Collective and facilitate regular (every six weeks) engagement sessions from January to April/May 2025 to build solidarity, align on priorities, and nurture collaborative decision-making, sharing power and cross-sectoral and departmental collaboration.

1. Action Plan and Accountability Framework Co-Development

• Collaborate with the Collective to co-create a roadmap and action plan, identifying milestones and strategic priorities for embedding decolonial feminist approaches across Oxfam.
• Develop an accountability framework, with baseline indicators and key learning questions for the two-year period (2025-2027), guiding Oxfam’s journey and progress in embedding decolonial feminist approaches.

Deliverables:

1. Facilitation of the Decolonial Feminist Collective meetings, happening every 6 weeks or so.
2. Co-created action plan document, informed by the cohesive narrative, with specific priorities and milestones.
3. Accountability framework with indicators and learning questions.

Duration AND TIMELINE of the Consultancy

The consultancy will span six months, from November/December 2024 to April/May 2025 (6 months), with all activities conducted remotely and online. The exact amount of days will be estimated by the consultant(s), but they will need to be available for facilitating the meetings of the Decolonial Feminist Collective happening every 6 weeks or so.

Qualifications

The ideal consultancy team will bring a diverse set of skills and experiences to support Oxfam’s journey. We particularly encourage applications from individuals or organizations based in or with substantial experience in the Global South.

Deep Knowledge, Expertise and Practical Application of Decolonial and Intersectional Feminist Theories

• Demonstrated expertise in and commitment to decolonial feminist frameworks, praxis and ways of working, with a track record of centering anti-colonial, anti-racist, anti-neoliberal, and queer-affirming approaches.
• Experience working with decolonial feminist and anti-oppression frameworks that critically examine systems of power and privilege. This includes familiarity with methodologies that address and dismantle systemic inequalities related to colonialism, patriarchy, racism, neoliberalism, and other forms of structural oppression.

Decolonial Feminist Organizational Development

• Proven experience leading decolonial feminist transformation and organizational development processes in large, complex organizations, especially within INGOs.
• Demonstrated skill in analyzing complex organizational structures and understanding how systems of power operate within them, integrating power analysis and proposing systemic interventions aligned with decolonial feminist practices.
• Familiarity with decolonial feminist organizational models

Feminist Facilitation of Online Communities and Spaces

• Strong facilitation skills to ensure inclusive participation, power sharing, and shared decision-making across diverse teams and cultural contexts.
• Substantial experience working in or with Global South partners, with a commitment to enabling Global South actors’ agency, self-determination, autonomy and power.
• Proficiency in virtual platforms and tools, with experience engaging geographically dispersed teams.

Knowledge Translation and Strategic Learning

• Skilled in capturing and documenting learnings from organizational development and change processes, with an emphasis on surfacing insights that challenge dominant paradigms and center Global South perspectives and knowledge.

Language Proficiency

• Proficiency in English and at least one additional language relevant to Oxfam’s work, such as Spanish, French, Portuguese, or Arabic.

Budget

This budget is expected to cover all consultancy fees and any other expenses required to fulfill the terms of the contract.

[1] The Decolonial Feminist Collective at Oxfam is a transformative initiative dedicated to embedding decolonial feminist approaches across the organization. Formed as a cross-confederation effort, the Collective serves as a space to bring together diverse perspectives, promoting systemic change by addressing the interconnected dimensions of power, colonial legacies, and patriarchy that impact Oxfam’s work internally and globally. It engages with key areas including organizational culture, structure, programming, and advocacy, aiming to foster inclusive, anti-racist, and feminist practices throughout Oxfam’s operations and influence. Acting as a community and catalyst for change, the Collective will connect with organizational leadership, decision-makers, and communities of practice, championing shared ownership and collective accountability. The Collective will help guide Oxfam’s journey in advancing justice, redistributing power, and promoting solidarity with the Global South.

How to Apply:

Please submit your expression of interest to ssc.consultacy@oxfam.org , Oxfam International,by [29th November 2024].

• CV(s) of all team members
• An 2-page outline of the proposed process and timeline to complete all activities.
• A detailed financial proposal with daily rates and anticipated expenses
• Examples of similar assignments completed
• Two professional references

Applicants are advised to submit their applications as soon as possible. Expressions of interest will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and suitable candidates will be contacted promptly

Note: Oxfam International reserves the right to accept or reject any application and to cancel the consultancy process at any time without liability or obligation.