Oxfam America

Non-Profit/NGO

Oxfam America is making strides towards gender equality by aligning its internal policies with feminist values and decolonial principles. The organization is dedicated to creating a work environment where care responsibilities are shared equally among caregivers and parents, regardless of their gender.

Our Commitments

How It’s Going

  • 1

    Parental leave for fathers

    Our Action: Oxfam ensures that fathers have access to non-transferable, paid parental leave, encouraging shared parenting responsibilities.
  • Done
  • 2

    Family-friendly policies

    Our Action: The organization promotes a workplace culture that supports all family structures and needs, offering flexibility and accommodations as needed.
  • Done
  • 3

    Educational programs for men

    Our Action: Oxfam invests in creating and nurturing spaces focusing on men and open to all staff educates on the importance of care work and the need to challenge harmful gender stereotypes.
  • Done
  • 4

    Promoting care equality

    Our Action: Initiatives are in place to foster an environment where care work is valued equally regardless of gender.
  • Done
  • 5

    Tracking care indicators

    Our Action: Oxfam monitors and tracks indicators related to care work to ensure accountability and progress.
  • In Progress
"When I heard about [the Men and masculinities] group being launched I knew that Oxfam needed this, and now five years later I know that I needed it too.”
Oxfam employee

About Oxfam's Commitments

These policies are crucial as they help bridge the gap between Oxfam’s feminist values and its internal practices. By promoting care equality, Oxfam aims to reflect on and address power and patriarchy within its organizational culture, thereby enhancing its ability to fight inequality globally. It contributes to our commitment to be a feminist, anti-racist, decolonial organization in the making.  

“[The program has] made the participants better people and leaders within the organization. It’s not about doing it for women. It’s about them being a better leader in the organization by active listening and self-accountability. And championing these issues. I see how they conduct themselves, how they behave with their teams, and how they are contributing to the strategy and the external vision. I feel that’s the biggest change. I don’t think we would have been able to do this without this group.”

Challenges and Solutions:

This is messy work. It takes time, intention, and learning. Oxfam has encountered challenges in aligning its expressed culture with the lived experience of its employees. A significant challenge is expanding the concept of care beyond parental leave to encompass a broader culture of care. To address these issues, Oxfam advocates for mutual learning and accountability, seeking to share its journey and learn from others in the field. Our commitment to MenCare 50/50 reflects this. 

Contact Information:

For more details on Oxfam’s initiatives and their journey towards gender equality, please reach out to Sebastián Molano at sebastian.molano@oxfam.org.

Learn More:

Explore Oxfam’s comprehensive approach to gender justice and equality on their website.