GBV Project Officer at HIAS Refugee Trust of Kenya

Reporting to: Gender and GBV Program Manager

Job Grade: 6

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

The GBV Officer will be expected to implement designed strategies on prevention and response to Gender Based Violence amongst refugees in Kenya. 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, and sexual and gender minorities. The officer will be responsible for contributing to the timely and quality implementation of GBV related activities and GBV case management for the urban refugee community. Additionally, the officer will be expected to also focus on reducing risk and mitigating consequences of GBV as a result of COVID-19 by strengthening community safety, response and awareness.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

1. 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).
2. Conduct community dialogues on safety and wellbeing of GBV survivors and those at risk of GBV within the refugee community.
3. Conduct timely follow up on referrals and action plans, and support services provided to GBV survivors, ensuring that the survivors receive appropriate and timely assistance.
4. Enhance knowledge, skills and capacities of staff and partners in GBV to identify the most vulnerable women and girls in the refugee community including sexual and gender minorities in the community.
5. Support Community Outreach Workers in identification and referral of GBV Cases for psychosocial support and any other interventions related to refugee assistance.
6. Capacity building of community members to implement GBV response services and deepen their understanding of the root causes of violence against women and girls.
7. Engage in advocacy initiatives with partner agencies working with urban refugees in prevention of VAW/G
8. Develop monthly budget request, track projects’ project progress and endure timely activity implementation according to work plan and the projects’ budget.
9. 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
10. Conduct link and learn forums through online platform like webinar and zoom targeting beneficiaries of the project, refugee led CBOs and other stakeholders.
11. Conduct interviews with refugee women and girls to understand the prevalence of existing and emerging issues affecting them during COVID-19.
12. 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.**
13. Manage and coordinate multi-purpose cash assistance identified vulnerable refugee women and girls.
14. Identify new strategies in responding to VAW/G among the urban refugees during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
15. 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.
16. 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
17. Conduct link and learn forums through online platform like webinar and zoom targeting beneficiaries of the project, refugee led CBOs and other stakeholders.
18. Conduct timely follow up on referrals and action plans, and support services provided to GBV survivors, ensuring that the survivors receive appropriate the assistance.
19. Support qualitative assessments through Focus Groups Discussions (FGD) to better understand the risks of GBV and map out service support structures for GBV survivors.
20. Engage with the refugee community representatives to understand needs and gaps in Gender-based Violence programming.
21. Implementation of adolescent and youth friendly activities SRHR geared towards increasing awareness of and access to SRHR services for refugees and the host community.
22. Contribute to the development of project proposals, concept notes and sector publications.
23. Any other role as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications

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

Desirable Experiences

1. Minimum of 3 years’ previous job experience related to GBV response.
2. Demonstrated experience in working directly with refugees who are survivors of GBV.
3. 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.
4. MUST have experience with operationalizing GBV principles, knowledge of international humanitarian standards for GBV prevention and response.
5. Experience working with Gender Based Violence Information Management System (GBVIMS) preferred.
6. Training in gender equality and/or SRHR.

Required Skills and Competences

1. Proficiency in English and Swahili
2. Computer literacy a must with strong knowledge of Access, Excel and Word
3. Ability to work in a team, maintain respect for diversity, uphold integrity, respect and accountability
4. Self-starter with an ability to work with minimal supervision, in a culturally diverse team
5. Excellent Analytical, Communication and Report writing skills
6. Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective working relations with local staff, beneficiaries and other stakeholders
7. Ability to maintain one’s composure while under pressure
8. Knowledge of Accountability to affected populations