Protection Associate at HIAS Refugee Trust of Kenya

POSITION SUMMARY:

HIAS seeks to recruit a Protection associate who will support the organization in the implementation of HIAS projects in serving refugees, improve the realization of refugees' rights, including the LGBTQI+ community, through legal and policy changes, and improve social inclusion.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Strengthen the capacity of duty bearers to create faith-informed counter-narratives in favour of LGBTQI+ inclusion, address, and act for inclusive legislative and policy reforms for the LGBTQI+
• Support in research on legal and policy challenges facing the LGBTQI+ community by collecting information and data relevant to the LGBTQI+ refugee community.
• Train service providers and stakeholders, e.g, health care providers, journalists, on how to respond to LGBTQI+ persons’ needs and equip them with knowledge on legal provisions and on language for reporting on LGBTQI+ issues.
• Support in the provision of psychosocial, social, and legal support for LGBTQI+ persons.
• Conduct dialogue sessions with stakeholders and faith actors on LGBTQI+ inclusion.
• Carry out social assessments and keep track of socio-environmental risks faced by refugee  LGBTQI+ persons, to ensure timely mitigation of risks. Open files for clients and ensure that case management is in line with HIAS SOPs and other sector standards.
• Assess, identify, and analyze community-sensitive interventions geared towards building resilience and self-reliance among refugee LGBTQI+ persons.
• Strengthen community participation and accountability by engaging community outreach workers and community leaders to assist in identifying and selecting beneficiaries most in need within the community.
• Update the client’s information in the case management system and provide a periodic analysis of the data.
• Maintaining robust networks with LGBTQI+ refugee-led organizations to augment their capacities and harness community-based protection initiatives.
• Prepare periodic reports on the client’s progress and prepare a final report of all the activities.
• Perform other related duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in law, Social Work, Gender Studies, Community Development Studies, and/or other related fields of study.
• Minimum of 1-2 years’ previous job experience related to refugee protection.
• Previous experience interacting with LGBTIQ persons in a professional context
• Experience working with procedures and principles related to the protection of displaced people (refugees, asylum seekers, or IDPs), especially in GBV, strongly desired
• Experience in counselling asylum seekers or refugees strongly desired
• Sound knowledge of SSOGI issues, especially in Kenya/East Africa.
• Knowledge of International Refugee Law and Human Rights Law, and the ability to apply the relevant legal principles
• Understanding of and links with the LGBT community groups and activists, and human rights protection and/or advocacy experience
• Knowledge of Accountability to Affected Populations is an added advantage
• Knowledge of PSEA and Anti-Fraud.