Project Officer At HIAS Refugee Trust of Kenya

HIAS Refugee Trust of Kenya (HRTK) – Kenya Office

Vacancy Notice – Open to Kenyan Nationals Only

Job Title: Project Officer

Report to: Gender and GBV Program Manager

Grade: 6

Duration: 1 Year Contract with possibility of renewal subject to availability of funding and performance

Location: Nairobi

Introduction:

HIAS is an international non-profit organization that stands for a world in which refugees find welcome, safety, and opportunity. HIAS’ operation in Kenya was established in 2002 with the mission to serve the most vulnerable refugees through community-based protection including psychosocial support, Gender Based Violence (GBV) Prevention and Response, resilience building and the provision of durable solutions.

Organizationally, HIAS is guided by its Refugee Rights Framework. This rights-based approach, based on international human rights and humanitarian and refugee law and practice, provides a programming framework for HIAS’ focus on refugee protection. HIAS’ programming impact seeks to ensure that forcibly displaced people become contributors to society through the realization of their legal and civil rights and social and economic rights, to include 1) the right to protection from harm, violence and discrimination, 2) the right to recovery from the shock of displacement, and 3) the right to economic self-sufficiency and inclusion.

The overall goal of HIAS’ global GBV Prevention and Response programming is for forcibly displaced refugee women, girls, sexual and gender minorities to pursue their potential and to access their human and legal rights, free from violence and oppression. This means HIAS GBV programming works to ensure;

(1) Forcibly displaced women, girls, sexual and gender minorities face a reduced risk of GBV,

(2) Survivors of sexual and physical violence have access to coordinated psychosocial, health, and legal services,

(3) Family, community, and institutions support refugee women, girls, sexual and gender minorities in accessing and using their rights.

HIAS Kenya seeks to recruit a project officer who will implement a project, whose goal is: ‘Improved access to, and uptake of, Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) refugees of reproductive age in Nairobi’. The project seeks to contribute to:

· Improved enabling environment among LGBTQ refugees in Nairobi

· Enhanced capacity of LGBTQ refugees to address their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) issues

· Enhanced capacity for LGBTQ community-based organizations (CBOs) to advocate for their SRHR in Nairobi

Key duties and responsibilities:

· Support HIAS Kenya institutional strengthening activities through coordination of

trainings for HIAS Staff, partners, Trainer of Trainers (ToTs) from the LGBTQ refugee and asylum seeker community, LGBTQ-led CBOs and SRHR-focused agencies on SRHR, sexual and gender diversity, Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and capacity building of the CBOs to advocate for their increased access to SRHR services and information

· Map out and train healthcare and frontline service providers from facilities providing LGBTQ-friendly youth services and train them (including community leaders) on handling and addressing the SRHR needs of LGBTQ refugees

· Enhance knowledge, skills and capacities of HIAS staff and partners in GBV to identify the most vulnerable women and girls in the refugee community who are sexual and gender minorities

· Assist in protection mainstreaming by providing insight in protection interventions for the LGBTQ population

· Ensure safety and capacity of staff responding to GBV incidences within the community through provision of safety information

· Facilitate access to local support networks within the Kenyan LGBTQ community and organizations

· Maintain and develop relationships with Key stakeholders and partners to advocate for rights of sexual and gender minorities from the refugee and asylum seeker community

· Contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of programs with partners for protection, medical and psychosocial needs of the LGBTQ refugees

· Enhance community based protection mechanism and support for the vulnerable LGBTQ community including LGBTQ survivors of GBV

· Develop monthly budget request, track projects’ progress and ensure timely activity implementation according to work plan and the budget

· Closely work with social/case workers, community workers and protection monitors to ensure that regular assessment of needs of vulnerable LGBTQ refugees and asylum seekers are met

· Coordinate the social/case worker to implement payment of National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) premiums, provision of cash-based transport allowance to LGBTQ CBOs for access to SRH services, provision of personal protective equipment (PPEs) and hygiene packs to the LGBTQ refugee and asylum seeker community

· Facilitate access to, and referrals for, appropriate medical/health services for the sexual and gender minority refugees and asylum seekers that is inclusive of counselling, HIV testing and administration of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

· Process referrals and action plans for support services for GBV survivors to other agencies.

· Conduct timely follow up on referrals and support services provided to LGBTQ GBV survivors, ensuring that they receive the assistance recommended

· Contribute in the development of project proposals, concept notes and sector publications

· Perform other duties as and when required

Required qualification:

· Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Gender Studies, Community Development, Legal Studies and/or other related fields of study. **

Desirable experiences:

· Minimum of 3 years’ previous job experience related to LGBTQ protection.

· Demonstrated experience working directly with LGBTQ refugees who are survivors of GBV

· MUST have a demonstrated understanding of diversity and inclusion for persons of diverse Sex, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SSOGI).

· Good knowledge of Human Rights principles and doctrines

· MUST have experience with operationalizing GBV principles, knowledge of international humanitarian standards for GBV prevention and response.

· Experience working with persons of diverse Sex, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SSOGI).

· Training in gender equality and/or SRHR.

· Experience working with refugees and asylum seekers is an added advantage

Required skills and competencies:

· Proficiency in English and Swahili

· Computer literacy is a must, with strong knowledge of Access, Excel and Word

· Ability to work in a team, maintain confidentiality and respect for diversity, uphold integrity, respect and accountability

· Self-starter with the ability to work with minimal supervision in a culturally diverse team

· Excellent Analytical, Communication and Report writing skills

· Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective working relations with staff, beneficiaries and other stakeholders

· Ability to maintain one’s composure while under pressure

· Knowledge of Accountability to affected populations

· Persons who identify as LGBTQ are encouraged to apply