Protection Assistant at RefuSHE

Purpose of the role  

• The Protection Assistant makes sure young refugee women in the Angaza program are safe and can get the protection services they need, so that risks such as gender-based violence, exploitation or lack of documents do not stop them from taking part in training, apprenticeships and business.  
• The role identifies women with protection needs and refers them to specialist services (GBV response, legal, health), then follows up. It also supports safe spaces, engages families and communities, and helps make all program activities safe and inclusive.  

Key responsibilities  

• Screen participants for protection risks during recruitment, using the program's intersectional vulnerability assessment, and flag women who need support.  
• Identify women facing protection concerns, such as gender-based violence, exploitation, threats to safety or missing documents.  
• Refer women to specialist services, including GBV response, legal aid, health and psychosocial support, using survivor-centred and confidential procedures.  
• Follow up on every referral to make sure the woman received the service, and record the outcome.  
• Keep an up-to-date directory of protection service providers in each program location.  
• Work with the Safeguarding Officer to help women get or renew documents, such as refugee IDs, work permits and business permits, that they need to work or run a business.  
• Help set up and run safe spaces and peer support groups for participants.  
• Work with Psychosocial Counsellors so women with both protection and mental health needs get coordinated support.  
• Run awareness sessions for participants on rights, GBV prevention, safe work, labour rights and how to report abuse or exploitation.  
• Hold sessions with families and community members to reduce harmful gender norms and build support for women's participation in training and business.  
• Check that training venues, apprenticeship placements and workplaces are safe for women, and report any risks.  
• Report any safeguarding concern involving staff, partners, mastercraft persons or employers to the Safeguarding Officer straight away.  
• Support the participant feedback and complaints mechanism, including helping women raise concerns safely.  
• Keep accurate, confidential case records and share anonymised protection data with the MEAL team.  
• Write monthly protection reports and contribute to quarterly and annual reports.  
• Support the Women Ambassadors Groups (WAGs) and community structures to identify and refer protection cases.  
• Take part in protection working groups and referral networks, such as UNHCR and county coordination meetings, when asked.  
• Carry out other related duties assigned by the supervisor.  

Qualifications  

• A diploma or degree in Social Work, Community Development, Sociology, Gender Studies, Law or a related field.  
• At least 2 years of experience in protection, GBV or case management, ideally with refugees, women or young people.  
• Knowledge of survivor-centred approaches, GBV case management and referral pathways in Kenya.  
• Knowledge of refugee rights and documentation in Kenya, including the Refugees Act, 2021.  
• Training in psychological first aid or safe identification and referral of GBV survivors is an advantage.  
• Experience running community awareness sessions.  
• Understands safeguarding, PSEA and data protection, including the Kenya Data Protection Act, 2019.  
• Good record-keeping and basic computer skills (Word, Excel).  
• Fluent spoken and written English and Kiswahili.   
• Empathetic, discreet, non-judgemental and able to keep information confidential.  
• Committed to gender equality, disability inclusion and refugee rights.