Legal and Advocacy officer at Heshima Kenya

Position Overview:

Reporting to the Director of Programs, the Legal Advocacy Officer shall be responsible for the implementation of RefuSHE advocacy and policy activities and for informing, influencing and documenting advocacy work with the program beneficiaries and partners. The position works closely with the other URPN members to coordinate national and county level advocacy activities; ensuring participation and emphasis on the role of refugees in the process. The position will be accountable for developing networks and linkages with UN Agencies, CSOs and Government line ministries and other organs for the attainment of refugee rights and social entitlements with specific focus on unaccompanied and separated children under RefuSHE care and responsibility, building up strategies and messages for communication at different levels; and capacity building of refugee and host community structures in Advocacy skills and to ensure that advocacy reporting is regular from all fronts. The position works closely Community Outreach/SGBV and Livelihood Manager and the SGBV Coordinator in coordination of community based activities and responses at the same time paying keen attention to support for RefuSHE persons of concern in the GEP and Safe House.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist UAMs/UASC in acquisition of necessary documents to obtain asylum seekers/refugee status/recognition in the country vide recognition by UNHCR and RAS. Explain the process of obtaining registration and renewal of documents as well as resettlement process to AUSCs/UAMs
• Assist UASCS through the appeal process of obtaining asylum seekers /refugee status where a case has been rejected
• Provides legal advocacy for SGBV/SEA survivors
• Oversee RefuSHE cases requiring court interventions and/or Children’s Department and other tribunal’s involvement
• Leads the process of strategizing, planning and co-ordination for building an enabling environment for the UASCs and successfully implements RefuSHE advocacy and policy work at the County and National level ensuring refugees community involvement and empowerment
• Builds a sustainable system of support for refugee community especially Unaccompanied and separated Children under RefuSHE care and responsibility, Women and Youth in Urban areas through advocacy and referrals for actions against violations of their rights in line with International conventions, Regional and National covenants and laws
• Keeps abreast of legal and advocacy developments on refugee issues at the National, Regional and International arena and ensuring that these are considered in the development and implementation of the planned interventions within RefuSHE programs
• Develops networks and linkages with UN Agencies, URPN, National Assembly, and other State level authorities and concerned stakeholders for both RefuSHE and refugee community and participate in framing policy development and national guidelines on refugee protection issues.
• Participates in the SGBV Working Group with UNHCR and ensures proper documentation and communication of all meeting minutes and progress reports.
• Facilitates state and county governments level engagements by RefuSHE
• Develops strategies to ensure information and initiatives from RefuSHE, Refugee community groups and URPN advocacy work inform national policy initiatives on refugee matters
• Advises the CD and senior management team on legal compliance issues in regards to Kenya’s laws and regulations; represent Heshima Kenya’s legal best interests if and when necessary
• Participates in capacity building of community structures, partners and government line departments in advocacy skills and coordination mechanism with county and national governments, and UN Agencies; and take initiatives to strengthen referral pathways and linkages for RefuSHE persons of concern
• Leads in developing policy frame work for RefuSHE to increase knowledge on priority issues related to refugee children and community in general and supports program managers and other stakeholders to translate this into better policies, guidelines and programming decisions
• Contributes to learning and sharing processes within RefuSHE; assists in the identification of relevant advocacy and policy directions and builds consensus among staff on key issues
• Participates in monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of RefuSHE policy and advocacy strategies and revising the strategy based on specific needs
• Plays a pivotal role in creating legal literacy and awareness for UASCs, Youth and women and other relevant stakeholders of the organisation
• Liaises with the Country Director to track and address media advocacy along with building the capacities of the refugee community to interact with media
• Conducts events and campaigns on major advocacy issues related to the area of programme with a view to create awareness among the refugees and host community in urban areas
• Takes lead in organizing key events in the Human Rights calendar at Heshima Kenya including, Day of the African Child, World Refugee Day, 16 Days of Activism and other internal observances
• Contributes to RefuSHE conceptual understanding of legal and ethical issues, as well as rights based programming, including providing inputs to programs for incorporating these issues
• Supports the program team in addressing issues like safety and security of UASCs/UAMs and refugee women on an on-going basis (including issues of discrimination, SGBV/SEA and xenophobia along other issues of priority)
• Develops, collates and disseminates advocacy resources, and provides advocacy guidance to the program team and refugee community.
• Identifies key areas for research on relevant policy, SGBV and livelihoods issues and opportunities to implement such research in collaboration with program managers and monitoring, evaluation, research and learning manager and persons of concern
• Manages processes for sharing lessons and drawing out experience from legal advocacy, outreach/SGBV/livelihoods project, including synthesising learning from monitoring and evaluation, and responding to policy opportunities emerging from the RefuSHE program work in collaboration with URPN members
• Extends support to the senior management team for new programs development, including the development of concept notes and project/program proposals
• Being a middle management team member, contributes to the organisational strategic planning process and participates in the planning, development and implementation of the overall RefuSHE operational plan and the aligned programs work plans
• Represents RefuSHE at various policy forums: state, national and international fora as may be delegated by the Country Director from time to time
• Ensures coordination and appropriate linkages on advocacy and policy work with URPN and contributes to the collaboration with the other aligned regional and International Alliances. Relay updates to staff
• Strictly follows the organisational operational plan and individual activity plan and proactively contributes to the delivery of the strategic objectives of the organization; ensuring adherence to quality and timeliness of the deliverables
• Undertakes other responsibilities/duties not outlined above which are commensurate with a role of this nature in the humanitarian sector and which have been discussed and agreed between the line manager/superiors and the post holder.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:

• First degree in law specializing in human rights and be registered to practice law in Kenya and a member of law society of Kenya.
• A second degree in advocacy and or Master’s degree in social sciences will be desirable.
• At least four to six years of progressively responsible program/project management experience in the humanitarian, development and/ or other relevant sector
• Minimum three years of middle management experience in an NGO, or government institution
• Minimum four years of experience in developing and leading policy and advocacy work on refugee issues focusing on Unaccompanied and Separated Children and young Women and Sexual and Gender Based Violence Survivors
• Strong commitment to refugee rights and SGBV and livelihood activities as well as good understanding of relevant issues.
• Experience of working with multiple stakeholders in the civil society, private sector and the government at different levels
• Demonstrable track record of significant accomplishments in policy and advocacy work.
• Robust understanding and experience of direct project implementation and interface with vulnerable and marginalized refugee populations in urban areas
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of partnerships and/or donor environment, donor relations and reporting.
• Experience of providing technical support to, and capacity building of not for profit organizations, government institutions and community based structures
• Sound understanding of the principles of NGO support, particularly around refugee issues
• Strong commitment and a good understanding of policy issues around refugee rights and protection.
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work effectively in teams as well as independently
• Ability and willingness to undertake field trips and community meetings, home visits within areas where RefuSHE persons of concern are domiciled
• Conversant with English and Kiswahili languages
• Good understanding of legal advocacy, development issues and challenges facing refugees in Kenya and the great lakes and the surrounding countries
• Understanding about INGO reporting procedures and knowledge of donor’s strategies and policies
• Good understanding of legal and ethical issues around humanitarian sector
• Must be a Kenyan citizen; knowledge of refugee language desirable (Somali, Amharic, or Oromo etc)