Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards

Brussels-based Protection International [PI] is looking for a Regional Programme officer based in Nairobi, Kenya – French-speaking.  PI is an international non-profit organization researching strategies and security management tools that protect human rights defenders and sharing its expertise in this area with people at risk for their human rights work all around the world. PI sees human rights defenders as agents of change who form a pillar of free and just societies. In many parts of the world, HRDs face threats from state and non-state actors for their human rights work. PI works with human rights defenders to develop strategies tailored to their profile and context.

The Role
PI Regional Programme officer is responsible for implementing PIs work in the region of the East and Horn of Africa and the wider African continent (except DRC) under supervision of the Representative. The RPO will have a focus (but not work exclusively) on French-speaking African countries. The PI RPO is part of a team of four, based in Nairobi. (S)he travels regularly in the region and occasionally beyond.

Key responsibilities:

Capacity Building

1. To accompany partners in building their capacity to manage their security and protect their sources and the people whose rights they defend;
2. to propose improvement of PI’s capacity building approach and tools with an eye for the specific requirements of local, national and regional context;
3. To actively monitor and evaluate change, positive or negative.

Research
1. Undertake research on issues related to the way HRDs protect themselves, the State and its duty to protect and the ways of other actors with a stake in the protection of HRD;
2. To capture lessons learnt and best practices in HRD protection in suitable formats and share within PI for internal learning and strategic use with external stakeholders.

Lobby and advocacy
1. To contribute to the development of advocacy activities and documents in coordination with the PI Representative;
2. To liaise with other regional, national and/or local HRDs organisations with a view to establishing or reinforcing relationships and possibly developing partnerships;
3. To undertake advocacy activities before national, regional and international authorities;
4. To liaise with NGOs, international organisations and bodies working in the region on the protection of human rights defenders.

Monitoring and evaluation
1. To analyse the situation of HRDs and HROs at risk in EHA and other sub regional countries covered by the project and provide security advice;
2. To collaborate and prepare reports for the PI Representative on programmatic and thematic topics;
3. Monitor and evaluate PI projects and partners with a view to document and learn from the process.

General responsibilities
1. To contribute to the timely update of the organisation security plan and abide by it;
2. To keep abreast of the political situation in the country and contribute to the organizational political analysis.

Skills and experience (selection)

• University degree in law, human rights, political science, social sciences or related field;
• Experience in human rights work of at least 3 years;
• Experience in the practical delivery of training preferably adult learning;
• Experience with local human rights organisations and human rights issues;
• Field mission experience;

Location: The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya with frequent travels in the sub-region of the East and Horn of Africa.
Languages: Fluency in spoken and written French and English are a precondition. Kiswahili will be positively valued.
The offer: One-year, renewable contract with six month probation period. Contract conform Kenyan labour law. Competitive remuneration

To apply for the position please send your resume, cover letter and names and contact details of 3 references before 4 April 2014 to the following email: ikihara[at]protectioninternational.org. Include your name in the file name of your application documents, e.g. John_Smith_CV.doc. Do not attach any certificates or references at this stage of the recruitment process. Include the following subject line in your email: Application for PI Regional Programme Officer EHA.

Further information about the activities of Protection International can be obtained from http://www.protectioninternational.org. Female candidates are especially encouraged to apply.

http://protectioninternational.org/2014/03/20/call-for-applications-pi-is-looking-for-french-speaking-regional-programme-officer/