The Outreach Program is StARS’ main point of contact with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in the Greater Cairo area. The outreach team identifies CBOs, collects information on their services and needs, and works with the CBOs to improve refugees’ knowledge of UNHCR procedures and access to services. It also seeks to disseminate its findings with the broader StARS community to ensure that we are meeting refugees’ needs.
The Refugee Legal Aid Program (RLAP) provides advice and representation to refugees seeking recognition by UNHCR through refugee status determination (RSD) procedures in Egypt and assists refugees in accessing resettlement to safe third countries.
Role
Under the supervision of the Outreach Director and the RLAP Director, the Community Outreach Legal Officer is responsible for outreach to refugee communities regarding the work of St. Andrew’s Refugee Services (StARS), and specifically RLAP’s work on issues relating to protection, RSD, and resettlement. The Community Outreach Legal Officer will be charged with expanding RLAP’s work in community outreach, as well as coordinating with other StARS programs as a part of the StARS Outreach Team. The Community Outreach Legal Officer is a member of a team of approximately six Outreach staff and 25 legal staff, and reports to the Outreach Director and the RLAP Director.
Responsibilities
All duties are carried out under the supervision of the Outreach Director and the RLAP Director.
Legal
- To maintain good working knowledge of RLAP procedures and intervention criteria in protection, RSD, and resettlement matters.
- To maintain good working knowledge of UNHCR guidelines, processes, and procedures.
- To prepare and facilitate workshops and training sessions for refugee communities.
- To adhere to the Nairobi Code of Ethics, the StARS Policies and Procedures Manual, and the StARS Code of Conduct.
Programmatic
- To assist the RLAP Director in development and implementation of team policies and procedures with a focus on the development of RLAP’s community outreach efforts.
- To build and maintain relationships with psychosocial and education staff, and StARS operational partners, particularly in relation to coordinating outreach to communities.
- To provide case reporting data to the RLAP Director as requested to accurately report work to senior management, funders, and others.
- To attend and contribute to RLAP meetings, Outreach meetings, and other staff meetings.
- To build and maintain strong relationships with refugee communities in Cairo.
- To communicate with refugee communities, other service providers, and UNHCR to facilitate the provision of accurate information and advice leading to the fulfillment of refugee rights.
- To help community members, leaders, and individuals/families/groups understand StARS’ services and its role.
- To work closely with the Outreach Director to improve the understanding of legal refugees’ related issues among refugee communities and CBOs.
- To provide regular feedback to the Outreach Director on visits, meetings, workshops, and trainings for refugee communities.
Policy/Advocacy
- To assist the RLAP Policy & Advocacy Officer in advocacy with embassies, external rights advocates, and UNHCR regarding the situation of urban refugees.
- To monitor policies and external developments affecting refugees in Egypt, paying special attention to particularly vulnerable or marginalized groups.
- To advocate, particularly with UNHCR, on salient protection issues relating to urban refugees.
Finance/Administration
- To maintain accurate financial records with respect to expenses, transportation have been used to facilitate outreach activities. as per StARS financial rules.
- To undergo probation and regular performance appraisals.
- To meet twice a month with the RLAP Director regarding case management and self-care.
- To attend internal and external outreach meetings as appropriate.
Communication/Reporting
- To communicate regularly with the RLAP Director and Outreach Director, reporting on all major issues and developments in the field and within RLAP.
- To submit activity reports as requested.
- To promote information sharing within RLAP and StARS on all issues affecting the populations we serve.
- To maintain strong communication and effective coordination with outreach coordinators and utilize their key understanding of target communities and regularly exchange information with them.
- Maintain strong communication with key CBO staff, keeping in mind necessary cultural sensitivity.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications & Experience
The ideal candidate will be energetic, articulate, and comfortable interacting with diverse segments of society. She or he will have demonstrated a firm commitment to human rights and refugee issues.
Essential qualifications
- English being the official language of StARS, the Community Outreach Legal Officer must be fluent in oral and written English.
- Strong communication skills across different cultural backgrounds, both orally and in writing.
- Demonstrated commitment to and sensitivity toward vulnerable or displaced people.
- Demonstrated ability to think clearly under pressure.
- Ability to work well independently and in a team.
- Ability to think creatively, take initiative, and problem-solve.
- Willingness to travel at night to/from community meetings in refugee communities.
- Ability to adapt to changed circumstances.
- Ability to live and work in a fluid security environment.
- Diplomatic skills and sensitivity to perceived biases.
- Organized, self-motivated, and reliable.
- Positive attitude and sensitive manner when dealing with persons, particularly in advocating for survivors of violence, trafficking, torture, and SGBV.
- Punctual, able to prioritize work, multi-task, and meet deadlines.
- Interpersonal skills including conflict resolution, consensus building, and intuitive listening.
- Education: university degree in a related field (political science, international development, international law, development studies, Middle East Studies) OR a qualified lawyer in any jurisdiction (J.D., LLB or equivalent). In lieu of these educational requirements, applications will also be accepted from candidates with a minimum of one year of experience conducting outreach activities with displaced communities.
Desirable Characteristics
- Fluency in a refugee language. Failing this, experience working with interpreters.
- Knowledge of UNHCR guidelines and procedures, especially RSD procedures utilized by UNHCR Egypt.
- Knowledge of the general protection situation and vulnerabilities of refugees in Egypt.
- Demonstrated ability to create and run workshops and trainings.
- Life and work experience in the Middle East, particularly in Egypt, and/or with an urban refugee population.
How to apply:
Interested applicants should send a cover letter and CV to [email protected]. Please write “Community Outreach Legal Officer” in the subject line.
More Information
- Job City Cairo
