Job Openings at Hias Refugee Trust of Kenya

Grade: 5

Reporting to: Gender & GBV Program Manager

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

Job Summary

HIAS seeks to recruit a Social worker who will be expected to contribute towards meeting the project’s overall goal, which is to assist in promoting and enhancing the rights of refugees through efficient case management. He or she will assist in provision of social interventions and assistance to the most at risk and vulnerable LGBTIQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer) refugee clients and children. The social worker will be required to conduct through assessments and case management including follow up to ensure clients and children are receiving the services allocate.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

1.) Case work and management

• Facilitate individual case management for sexual and gender minority clients.
• Assist in the organization and facilitation of the reception of new arrivals; e.g. intake forms, briefing and information dissemination
• Conduct case assessments of LGBTIQ refugees and keep track of socio-environmental risks faced by sexual and gender minority refugees;
• Implement and monitor merit based social assistance informed by vulnerability assessments in individual cases in accordance with HIAS’ Standard Operating Procedures with timely updates to the psychosocial panel;
• Determine beneficiaries’’ progress and work on an exit strategy that allows them to earn a livelihood and to provide for themselves and their dependants/significant others.
• Increase knowledge and exposure of the Kenyan sexual and gender minority’s movement to the problems of sexual and gender minority refugees, thus awakening their concern for a broader approach in their advocacy and future programming.
• Assist in facilitating external referrals, appointments and follow-ups
• Facilitate access to local support networks within the Kenyan sexual and gender minority community
• Coordinate and network with other LGBTI local organization to strengthen GBV service uptake and response.
• Ensure regular updates in the gender based violence information management system (GBVIM)

2.) Community outreach and community activities

• Assist in conducting awareness and sensitization campaigns in the communities
• Assist in assessing, identifying and analyzing community sensitive intervention geared towards building resilience and self-reliance
• Conduct support groups, committee meetings and participate in community forums
• Establish and maintain networks with existing community structures and other partners for referral and networking purposes
• Conduct mapping exercise for all sector agencies and link with them for collaboration and support in provision of required services

3.) Reporting

• Update client’s information into the data entry sheet and provide a periodic analysis of the data.
• Prepare periodic reports on client’s progress and prepare a final report of all the activities;
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Qualification Required

• A University Degree in Social Work, Community Development, Gender and Development Studies
• At least 3 years working experience in the field of Social Work.
• Experience in working with LGBTIQ NGOs or LGBTIQ refugees will be an added advantage.

Skills & Competencies

• Good knowledge of prevention and response to Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV)
• Experience in capacity building including facilitation of diversity and inclusion, community based training and awareness raising
• Good knowledge of Nairobi and its environs
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Knowledge of Computer Applications
• Ability to work in a demanding and high pressured environment
• Persons who identify as LGBTIQ are encouraged to apply

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Grade: 5

Reporting to: Protection Program Manager

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

Introduction

HIAS is an international nonprofit 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.

HIAS works with communities’ natural systems in order to optimize support for Persons of Specific Needs. This approach enables HIAS to meet the safety, psychosocial, economic, and justice needs of PSNs; facilitate their access to appropriate care. HIAS Kenya is seeking to recruit a Case Worker who will be expected to contribute towards promoting and protecting the rights of persons with specific needs among the refugee community. The Case Worker will also serve as a resource and focal point for HIAS Kenya and implementing partners on technical matters related to PSNs service provision for urban refugees

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Promote and protect the rights of the most vulnerable refugees.
• Promote and protect the rights of the most vulnerable refugees.
• Assist in the development and implementation of the HIAS Kenya program strategy
• Research, development of training curricula and conduct presentations on a need to basis in line with the program goals and objectives
• Follow up on cases and provide refugees counseling and feedback on the status and processing of individual cases;
• Assist in preparation of project related reports.
• Assist in organization and facilitation of Community-Based activities including empowerment
• Assist in protection mainstreaming by providing insight in protection interventions for the PSN (Persons with Specific Needs) population
• Participation in co-ordination meetings
• Facilitate establishment of community based protection mechanism and support for the vulnerable persons with specific needs
• Ensure ongoing case management and documentation of protection violations
• Follow up on cases and provide partners and refugees counseling and feedback on the status and processing of individual cases
• Produce accurate, detailed and timely reports highlighting objectives, achievements and impact on project activities.
• Ensure weekly, monthly and quarterly reports are analyzed, compiled and submitted to the Protection Program Manager for sharing.
• Performing other duties as and when required

Required Qualifications

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

Desirable Experiences

• Minimum of 1-2 years’ previous job experience related to refugee protection.
• Demonstrated experience working directly with refugees who are PSNs
• MUST have a demonstrated understanding of key principles of community engagement
• Good knowledge of human rights doctrine
• Training and capacity building experience, particularly using participatory techniques for training related to refugee protection.

Required Skills and Competences

• 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 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