Kenya: SGBV Advocacy Officer

Organization: Heshima Kenya

Country: Kenya

Closing date: 03 Dec 2015

Heshima Kenya is an NGO based in Nairobi, Kenya dedicated to identifying, protecting and empowering unaccompanied refugee minors, especially adolescent girls, through our specialized shelter, education and advocacy programs. The advocacy coordinator will manage advocacy services, in line with Heshima Kenya, international, regional and national refugee policies and procedures. The post holder will support staff to deliver support and safety planning to survivors of domestic violence and, sexual and gender based violence. The job involves working with international and national multi-agencies involved in protection of refugee rights. The post holder will also be responsible for programs report writing, proposal development and ensuring that contractual and other funding requirements are met fully and that Refuge’s high quality standards are maintained. The Advocacy Officer also helps to lead in the development of a best practices framework, research projects, and policy positions that further illuminate the needs and challenges experienced by urban unaccompanied refugee minors and young refugee women. The Advocacy Officer reports directly to the Senior Programs Manager.

Primary Responsibilities:

1. To manage the delivery and development of high quality advocacy services to victims of domestic violence and SGBV survivors, in accordance with Refuge’s operational policies and procedures


2. Participate in the design and implementation of program and project evaluation, including reviewing final monthly and quarterly program progress reports.


3. To ensure Refuge’s Casework Management and Quality policies are implemented, ensuring that a high quality service is being provided and that case records are clear professional and up to date


4. To ensure that all services are sensitive and responsive to the needs of the SGBV victims and children using them, that user feedback is gathered systematically, recorded and acted upon and that the policies, procedures and philosophy of Refuge services are understood fully and implemented by staff.


5. To advocate, both verbally and in writing, in a range of settings including in civil and criminal proceedings and with criminal justice professionals and systems


6. To recognize, respect and address the needs of service-users who face particular barriers when seeking help to access the advocacy service, including those from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, LGBT communities, disabled people, women with complex needs and other hard to reach groups.


7. Actively participate in working groups within the urban refugee protection network, national and regional groups. Relay updates to staff


8. Refer children requiring legal support to partner organizations offering legal support to refugees


9. Take lead in organizing key international and national human rights events ensuring high visibility of Heshima Kenya during the occasions.


10. Prepare policy briefs, recommendations for research project with support of other staff.

Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in Law preferably with a specialization in Human Rights Law.

• 3-5 years of professional experience, preferably working with urban refugee populations and /or with refugee children and women at-risk

• Significant proven experience in providing emotional and practical support to survivors of SGBV

• Understanding of multi-agency partnership structures and response mechanism to SGBV survivors

• Demonstrable strong written and verbal communication skills; to be able to write reports, deliver presentations, and support others in their writing skills, and to communicate with stakeholders in a clear and effective way

• Evidence of the ability to develop, sustain and evaluate joint work between agencies, including establishing good working relationships negotiating effectively

• Evidence of the ability to build and develop supportive relationships with abused women and their children maintaining professional boundaries

• 1-2 years working at the program management level, including leading or assisting with designing and implementing projects

• Strong background knowledge of Kenya’s refugee crisis

• Must be a Kenyan citizen; knowledge of refugee language desirable (Somali, Amharic, or Oromo)

• Skilled at carrying out program needs assessments and program development

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

• Excellent reporting and organizational skills

• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft software package

• Must have strong organizational skills and is skilled at working as a member of a team

• Have a Certificate of Good Conduct.

How to apply:

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Interested candidates meeting the above qualifications should send an application letter indicating their current & expected salary and a detailed CV with day time telephone contact to reach the undersigned on or before Thursday 3rd December 2015.

The Country Director, Heshima Kenya. P.O Box 63192-00619. Nairobi/ Email: hr2015@heshimakenya.org with a cc to info@heshimakenya.org. Clearly state the subject of the email as SGBV Advocacy Officer.

Note: HK is any equal opportunity employer. Only shortlisted candidates will be conducted.