Heshima Kenya
Position: Legal & Advocacy Officer
Department:Advocacy – Programs
Term: Full-Time 2-year renewable contract
Position Description: Heshima Kenya is an NGO based in Nairobi, Kenya dedicated to identifying, protecting and empowering unaccompanied refugee minors, especially adolescent girls, through our specialized shelter, education and advocacy programs.
Position: Legal & Advocacy Officer
Department:Advocacy – Programs
Term: Full-Time 2-year renewable contract
Position Description: Heshima Kenya is an NGO based in Nairobi, Kenya dedicated to identifying, protecting and empowering unaccompanied refugee minors, especially adolescent girls, through our specialized shelter, education and advocacy programs.
Along with working with
Government of Kenya Agencies, and National and International multi-agencies
involved in protection of refugee rights, the post holder will support staff in
service delivery and safety planning regarding the urban refugee population.
The Legal Advocacy Officer also assists in the development of a best practices framework for refugee protection, research projects, and policy positions that further illuminate the needs and challenges experienced by urban unaccompanied refugee minors and young refugee women.
The Advocacy Officer reports directly to the Senior Programs Manager.
Primary Responsibilities:
The Legal Advocacy Officer also assists in the development of a best practices framework for refugee protection, research projects, and policy positions that further illuminate the needs and challenges experienced by urban unaccompanied refugee minors and young refugee women.
The Advocacy Officer reports directly to the Senior Programs Manager.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Assist refugees
with legal advice, and where necessary refer them to other partners for
legal support and representation.
- Conducts
Refugee Rights/Obligations Awareness Campaigns and facilitates Human Rights
Education within the broader community.
- Conducts
monthly and quarterly Rights Awareness Outreach/Workshops/meetings with
refugee communities and other stakeholders including Government
departments.
- To advocate for
refugee rights, both verbally and in writing, in a range of settings
including in civil and criminal proceedings and with criminal justice
professionals and systems.
- To recognize,
respect and address the needs of refugees who face particular barriers
when accessing the advocacy services, including those from diverse ethnic
and cultural backgrounds, LGBTQ communities, disabled people, women with
complex needs and other hard to reach groups.
- Responsible for
providing legal advice pertaining to asylum procedure and protection of
refugees; assisting asylum seekers and refugees to exercise basic human
rights and access public services and opportunities; promoting asylum
seekers’ and refugees’ rights to fair procedure in terms of refugee law.
- Identifying
gaps in the refugee and child protection space and unfavorable policies
and practices, and thereafter advocating for a positive shift in refugee
policies.
- Lobby and
advocate for a more conducive Protection space, targeting key institutions
such as health institutions/facilities, educational institutions and
social service agencies for asylum seekers and refugees to access to the
rights enshrined in the Constitution and the Refugee Act.
- Analyze
government shifts and trends on immigration policies. Assess incoming
political intelligence for relevance to and impact on asylum and
protection space in Kenya. Analyze and revise organization’s working
environment and policy framework in relation to refugee rights.
- Lead the
development of new print and communication materials for the
organization’s Refugee Rights & Advocacy Programme;
- Design and
implement field research for advocacy purposes and write reports;
- Collect data,
statistics and all other relevant information for reporting and public
awareness purposes;
- Write monthly,
quarterly, mid-year and yearly reports of programme activities;
- Draft
professional letters, proposals, submissions and memorandums;
- Produce monthly
content for publication for Heshima Kenya newsletter(s) and the website
and for posting in websites of URPN and UNHCR.
Person Specification Qualifications:
- Hold a first
degree in Law or in Human Rights field- Master degree in law would be an
added advantage.
- At least 5
years relevant practical experience in providing legal assistance
especially to refugees and asylum seekers;
- Possess
in-depth knowledge of the Kenya Constitution, Kenyan Refugee Law, Policies
& legislation, International Refugee Law and Conventions, and the
asylum seeking process.
- Be conversant
with the legal context of the urban refugees.
- Excellent
communications skills – spoken and written.
- Superior
judgment in identifying and responding to contentious issues and well
developed analytical, problem solving and legal drafting skills.
- Demonstrated
ability to conduct thorough research into complex and varied legal and
policy issues, write reports and submissions.
- Ability to
develop policy and legal documents.
- Ability to work
in a fast-paced environment, and set and meet deadlines.
- Computer
literacy (proficiency in MS Word, e-mail, PowerPoint – ability to draft or
edit PowerPoint presentations).
- Excellent
organizational and time-management skills.
- Team leadership
skills and results oriented; honest, trustworthy and respectful; easily
delegable and capable of delivering high quality and timely results with
limited supervision; self confident and a self-starter; ability to work
under pressure and meet strict deadlines.
How to Apply:
Your application should be send to the address below indication the position applied for in the email subject by close of business Friday 30th September 2016.
Your application should be send to the address below indication the position applied for in the email subject by close of business Friday 30th September 2016.
It should include a cover
letter & a detailed CV (as one PDF document) with your contact details,
details of current and expected remuneration and the names and contacts of
three professional and work referees.
Please note that we do not charge fees for receiving or processing job applications.
Please note that we do not charge fees for receiving or processing job applications.
Heshima Kenya is an equal
opportunity employer.
NB. All applications should only be send through the email.
Heshima Kenya
P.O Box 63192 – 00619
NB. All applications should only be send through the email.
Heshima Kenya
P.O Box 63192 – 00619
Nairobi Kenya
Email: hr2016@heshimakenya.org
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Email: hr2016@heshimakenya.org
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.