Job Vacancy: Education Officer
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Salary: 70,000 – 80,000 KShs per month (depending on
experience of the applicant), basic medical insurance
Answers to: Xavier Project Kenya Education Director
Profile: Xavier Project is an international NGO working
Kenya and Uganda. We aim to provide opportunities to refugees living in urban
areas in Kenya and Uganda who are otherwise excluded from the means to live a
fulfilled and dignified existence so that they will be able to take back
control of their lives and make a positive change whether to their new
communities or to their country of origin.
Xavier Project is primarily an
education focused NGO, and while we have media and livelihoods programmes
educational interventions make up the core of our activities within these programmes.
Xavier
Project is registered as a local NGO in Uganda, an international NGO in Kenya
and a company and charity in UK. All operations are in Kenya and Uganda, but a
majority of funds are raised in UK.
We have a three way partnership
agreement between the branches of Xavier Project and one executive team
primarily based in the Xavier Project headquarters in Nairobi. Xavier Project
currently employs 25 permanent staff and has an annual income of $250,000 which
has been increasing by 50% every year since its founding in 2008.
Background: Urban refugees in East Africa face unique
challenges. Culturally, it is difficult to assimilate into their new
communities as they can be victims of xenophobia and can struggle from language
differences. They cannot easily find jobs in a saturated and often nepotistic
job market.
There are administrative barriers to
economic sustainability such as the challenge of obtaining work permits, and
the rejection of foreign qualifications from employers and institutions. At
present many refugees in Nairobi or Kampala do not have access to quality,
relevant education delivered in a safe environment and their opportunities in
education lag behind those of their local counterparts.
In both Kampala and Nairobi there are
over 10,000 refugee children who are not in formal education, amounting to
around 50% in Nairobi and 60% in Kampala. 80% of those in formal education are
not happy with the quality of the education they are receiving.
Added to this, most urban refugees
are hoping to be resettled in developed countries, yet they know very little
about the resettlement process, and their chances of being resettled. Less that
5% of urban refugees are resettled in any given year. Many refugees believe
that the more vulnerable they are, or appear to be, the more likely their
chances are of being resettled.
The pursuit of resettlement combined
with the unique challenges faced by refugees leads to a negative attitude by
refugees towards integration into their new community. This has a corrosive
impact on the whole community. However, there are positive opportunities for
refugees to take up in Kampala and Nairobi, whether offered by the government,
NGO agencies or refugee run grass-roots organisations. Given their chances of
resettlement it makes sense for refugees to make the most of the opportunities
available to them in their host countries, such as education, livelihoods and
vocational prospects offered by agencies.
What is more, a more positive
attitude and better communication among the refugee population should lead to
vital innovation from refugees themselves.
Tamuka media programme is educating
refugees on the opportunities available to them and enabling them to
communicate with each other and the wider world. Among other ambitions, the
education programme is enabling refugees to receive an education that is more
relevant to their challenges and their ambitions.
Meanwhile, our livelihoods programme
is enabling refugees to access affordable loans and learn the business skills
they need to grow their careers.
Job Description and Expectations: Xavier Project is looking for an education officer who will run the sponsorship programmes of Xavier Project in Kenya. Xavier Project has just become the education partner of UNHCR so we will be sponsoring around 135 students in secondary school, around 70 children in pre-primary, and 200 supporting 200 pupils with primary levies.
Job functions will include:
- Paying school fees.
- Managing Xavier Project’s relationship with
sponsor student’s families, including carrying out home visits.
- Managing Xavier Project’s relationship with
schools that sponsor students attend.
- Assessing the progress of students
- Arranging the distribution of uniforms and
other school requirements.
- Co-ordinating holiday programmes during school
holidays for Xavier Project’s sponsor students.
- Keeping a written record of activities and
contact with sponsor students and schools.
- Other tasks given by the Education Director.
Requirements
Essential:
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline
- Experience in managing people/teams
- At least 5 years’ experience in either project
management, communications, field work, fundraising or advocacy, ideally
in the NGO or education sector
- Excellent communication skills in English
(both written and oral)
- Good knowledge of MS Office
- Ability to work sensitively with refugee
population or demonstrated experience working with marginalised
communities
- Excellent organisational skills
- Experience in managing budgets
- Willing to travel within Kenya
Desired:
- Master’s degree in a relevant discipline
- Competent in Kiswahili
- Experience in managing people from various
backgrounds
- Experience working in a tough environment with
vulnerable people
- Knowledge of the Kenyan education sector
- Demonstrated success in fundraising
- Experience in writing reports and strategies
- Experience in government and private sector
engagement
- Strong understanding of the challenges faced
by urban refugees
Expectations of Xavier Project: The Xavier Project staff is a small and tight
community and a strong support network is offered to all members. We are
diverse and relatively young crowd representing seven nationalities.
Xavier Project is committed to
ensuring that all staff members enjoy their work and gain valuable experience
and skills that will enhance their impact now and in the future, whether with
Xavier Project or not. As such as we run regular staff capacity building
programmes and encourage all staff members to pursue opportunities which will
help them to grow individually.
To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter highlighting why you would like to apply for the job to Edmund Page at jobs@xavierproject.org by 19th December with the email title KENYA EDUCATION OFFICER.
Please also include the names and
contact details of two referees.
For more information on what we do
please visit www.xavierproject.org and www.tamuka.org
Xavier Project is an equal opportunity employer and therefore does not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, origin, sex, sexual orientation or disability.