GBV Project Officer at HIAS Refugee Trust of Kenya

HIAS Refugee Trust of Kenya (HRTK) - Kenya Office

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Job Title:          GBV Project Officer (1 Position) Kenyan Nationals Only

Job Grade:        6

Reporting to     Gender and GBV Program Manager

Location:         Nairobi

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

Introduction

HIAS is an international not for profit organization with a vision for a world in which refugees, displaced persons and asylum seekers find welcome, safety and freedom. HIAS operation in Kenya was established in 2002 with the mission to serve the most vulnerable refugees through protection, resilience, economic inclusion and provision of durable solutions.

Organizationally, HIAS is guided by its Refugee Rights Framework. This rights-based approach, based on international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law and practice, provides a programming framework for HIAS’ focus on refugee protection. This framework prioritizes programming impact that ensures forcibly displaced people realize their potential and become contributors to society, with this impact being achieved through the realization of legal and civil rights and social and economic rights including through 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 uses a survivor-centered, community-based approach. Our programs consider the voices and needs of survivors and prioritize their leadership in program design and implementation. HIAS works with   communities’ natural systems in order to optimize support for survivors, building partnerships to promote and protect the rights of survivors, women, girls, sexual and gender minorities. This approach enables HIAS to meet the safety, psychosocial, economic, and justice needs of survivors; facilitate their access to appropriate care; and empower communities to lead efforts that challenge beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that perpetuate or condone violence against women, girls, sexual and gender minorities in the community.

The GBV Project Officer will be expected to implement the UNTF COVID-19 project that focuses on strengthening response of Ending Violence Against Refugee Women and Girls (EVAWG) in Nairobi as a result of the pandemic.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Support HIAS Kenya institutional strengthening activities through coordination of trainings for HIAS Staff and partners in response to Ending Violence Against Refugee Women and Girls (EVAWG).
• Enhance knowledge, skills and capacities of staff and partners to   maintain and adapt EVAW/G interventions to be able to identify the most vulnerable women and girls in the refugee community.
• Support Community Outreach Workers in identification and referral of GBV Cases for psychosocial support and any other intervention during the pandemic. 
• Work closely with UNHCR’s toll- free hotline in responding to refugee psychological or psychosocial counseling needs by ensuring that clients’ cases are handled within minimal timelines.
• Conduct interviews with refugee women and girls to understand the prevalence of existing and emerging issues affecting them during COVID-19.
• Ensure safety and capacity of staff responding to GBV incidences within the community through provision of Safety information, /PPE kits, masks, gloves and sanitizers to prevent exposure to COVID-19.
• Engage in advocacy initiatives with partner agencies working with urban refugees in prevention of VAW/G during COVID-19.
• Develop monthly budget request, track projects’ project progress and endure timely activity implementation according to work plan and the projects’ budget.
• Manage and coordinate multi-purpose cash assistance identified vulnerable refugee women and girls.  
• Identify new strategies in responding to VAW/G among the urban refugees during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
• Implement a safe remote reporting mechanism, which allows women and girls to report GBV incidences through WhatsApp messaging allowing access to critical support without risking personal safety.
• Closely work with case workers, community outreach workers to ensure that regular assessment of needs of refuge women and girls are met in responding and preventing GBV
• Conduct link and learn forum through online platform like webinar and zoom targeting beneficiaries of the project, refugee led CBOs and other stakeholders
• Conduct timely follow up on referrals and action plans, and support services provided to GBV survivors, ensuring that the survivors receive appropriate the assistance,
• Support qualitative assessments through Focus Groups Discussions (FGD) to better understand the risks of GBV and map out service support structure for GBV survivors
• Engage with the refugees’ community representatives to understand needs and gaps in Gender-based Violence programming with a priority focus on the voices and leadership of refugee’s survivors. 
• Contribute in the development of project proposals, concept notes and sector publications.

Required Qualifications

• Applicant should have either a Bachelor’s degree in Gender Studies, Community Development Studies, Social Science and/or other related fields of study

Desirable Experiences

• Minimum of 3 years’ previous job experience related to GBV response.
•  Demonstrated experience in working directly with refugees who are survivors of GBV
• MUST have an in-depth technical expertise on Gender Based Violence related issues, response and prevention and a demonstrated understanding of a survivor-centered approach.
• MUST have experience with operationalizing GBV principles, knowledge of international humanitarian standards for GBV prevention and response.
• Experience working with Gender Based Violence Information Management System (GBVIMS) preferred.

Required Skills and Competences

• Proficiency in English and Swahili
• Computer literacy a must with strong knowledge of Access, Excel and Word
• Ability to work in a team, maintain respect for diversity, uphold integrity, respect and accountability
• Self-starter with an 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 local staff, beneficiaries and other stakeholders
• Ability to maintain one’s composure while under pressure