Kenya: Protection Officer- Nairobi

Job Purpose/Objective

Under the guidance of the Protection Manager, the Protection Officer will support the implementation of the Protection Program focusing on urban refugees, asylum seekers and local host communities in Nairobi and other designated areas. The Protection Officer will support the delivery of coordinated policy, lobby, advocacy efforts and analysis across the IRC’s priority issues. He/She will monitor the protection situation of IRC clients under the BILLY Project, refer urgent protection concerns to appropriate/specialized service providers and work directly with identified individuals/families with complex but less urgent protection concerns to develop and implement an action plan in accordance with their needs, capacities and goals. The Protection Officer will also support the Protection Manager in awareness raising, trainings and capacity strengthening of community members/groups, government entities, partners and IRC staff. The Protection Officer will report to the Protection Manager.

Responsibilities

Program Development

• Prepare and maintain updated detailed program and activity work plans.
• Apply technical knowledge and skills to implement and deliver program activities.
• In close coordination with the livelihoods team, identify cases requiring administrative, registration and legal advice or assistance.
• Provide accurate advice to clients in accessing personal documentation and relevant procedures and in certain cases, provide assistance in accessing these documents by administrative support.
• Work with the Protection Manager to establish appropriate Standard Operating Procedures for the identification, referral and response to individual administrative, registration and legal cases.
• Maintain complete, accurate and confidential records of client assistance and ensure proper and updated documentation related to each individual case.
• Refer individual clients with urgent protection problems to appropriate case management service providers.
• In coordination with the Protection Manager, intervene with different institutions and service providers to help clients to access needed resources and services.
• Undertake literature/legislation reviews related to the protection of refugees and forced migrants in Kenya, prepare reports outlining the findings and recommend potential next step for the IRC to support.
• Design and implement awareness raising campaigns targeting Kenyans, community leaders and government authorities on forced migrants’ rights.
• Support the Protection Manager in delivering trainings on issues related to the protection of refugees and other forced migrants to multiple stakeholders, including government authorities.
• Support the Protection Manager in lobby and advocacy actions aimed at advancing the rights and promoting better laws for refugees, asylum seekers and other forced migrants in Kenya.
• Contribute towards protection program development and proposal writing.

Partnerships and Coordination

• In coordination with the Protection manager, develop and maintain effective working relationships with multiple stakeholders- including community leaders, I/NGOs, UN agencies, the government, donors and IRC team members.
• Develop and maintain linkages with legal aid service providers for the referral of clients.
• Undertake protection monitoring (spot observations, focus group discussions, household interviews, key Informant interviews and individual interviews) and with respect for principles of confidentiality, ethical information gathering and age/gender/diversity mainstreaming.
• Liaise directly with communities, local institutions, the government and local partners on protection issues to ensure coordination and effective implementation of activities.
• Undertake/participate in coordination, and information sharing activities with the government, UN agencies, international organizations, national NGOs and donors.
• Collaborate closely with the Protection Manager on the development of information materials on administrative requirements and processes.
• Contribute to the maintenance of an up-to-date service mapping of the service providers and support coordination of the IRC’s National Gender Based Violence and Child Protection Service Providers Map, http://www.gbvkenya.org/.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Ensure implementation of the agreed upon work plans and share relevant information and direction to improve quality and achieve timelines.
• Support the Protection Manager in assessing progress (against project objectives) and identify implementation issues, provide solutions and implement modifications as required.
• Contribute to the IRC and donor reports as per set schedules (monthly, quarterly and annually) on grant activities, indicators and achievements.
• Maintain an up to-date activity tracking tool of all client referrals, assessments, trainings and other protection related activities.
• Work closely with the IRC operations colleagues (supply chain, finance and grants) to ensure compliance of program activities.

Other

• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

Professional Standards

All IRC staff are required to adhere to THE IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in the field of law, political science or social sciences.

Required Experience & Competencies:

• At least 3 years of program experience in protection programming in a humanitarian context with protection/human rights focus.
• Experience of working with refugees, asylum seekers and other forced migrants desirable.
• Experience in training multiple stakeholders in areas related to protection, human rights and refugee law.
• Experience analyzing information on the legal environment, and using this analysis to inform programming and advocacy.
• Desirable knowledge of national human rights and local legal aid networks and the protection community operating in Nairobi preferred
• Strong capacity to build partnerships and to work with both local and international partners.
• Ability to handle sensitive information and maintain confidentiality, respect, non-discrimination and safety of clients at all times.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, cultural sensitivity, flexibility, ability to improvise, excellent relationship-building, effective in representation and liaison with external actors, team player and comfortable in a multi-cultural environment
• Ability to work under pressure and to handle sensitive situations diplomatically
• Good computer skills (Microsoft Word and Excel).
• Fluency in English and Kiswahili is required.

To apply follow link below;

https://rescue.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?site=1&id=980