Gender-Responsive Education Officer 153 views0 applications

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is ministry of the Society of Jesus, incorporated as an international non-governmental organisation with a mission to accompany, serve, and advocate for the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people. The organisation was founded in November 1980 and now has a presence in over 56 countries. JRS undertakes services at national and regional levels with the support and guidance of an international office (IO) in Rome. The style of JRS service is human and spiritual, working in situations of greatest need, seeking the long-term well-being of refugees and displaced people while not neglecting their immediate or urgent needs.
The main services provided are in the field of education, reconciliation, livelihood activities and psychosocial support. Currently, more than 724,000 individuals are direct beneficiaries of JRS projects. In Kenya, JRS has two projects: an urban refugee project in Nairobi focussing on Education and Livelihoods and field project in Kakuma Refugee Camp focussing on Education, Integrated psychosocial inclusive Education programme in Centres and Safe Shelters.

JRS Kenya is seeking to recruit Kenyan nationals for the position of Gender-Responsive Education (GRE) Officer to be based in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana County.

Job Function

Reporting to the Secondary Education Coordinator, the Gender-Responsive Education (GRE) Officer will provide technical oversight, planning, coordination, and implementation of Gender-Responsive Education project in Kakuma. The staff will play a pivotal role in promoting gender equality, equity, participation of males and female learners, and ensuring that policies, programs, and practices consider the diverse needs of all individual learners within the schools managed by JRS in the camp.

Duties and responsibilities.

The individual recruited for this position will be expected to carry out the following duties:

1. Access and Learning environment

• Develop strategies to reduce gender discrimination and barriers on access to education in partnership with stakeholders.
• Support community leaders to address different gender concerns of safety and well-being in/on the way to school.
• Promote gender sensitive facilities and services in school such as WASH and classroom facilities.
• Ensure that the schools are gender responsive, classroom, school yard, office, infrastructure, etc.

2. Gender-Responsive Teaching and Learning

(classroom Language, lesson planning, T/L materials, classroom setups, classroom management)

• Capacity building of teachers and other education personnel on gender-responsive pedagogy
• Develop strategies that will promote participation of males and females in teaching learning process.
• Ensure teaching methods that take into account the specific learning needs of males and females.
• Monitor implementation of gender-responsive pedagogies in school.
• Design and coordinate training activities on Gender-Responsive education for educational personnel and JRS Kakuma staff.
• Support teachers to develop, procure, adapt, and utilize Gender-responsive teaching learning materials.
• Organize and conduct regular in-service training for teachers on gender-responsive pedagogies.

3. Education and training of Teacher, Other Education Personnel and structures

• Support education administrators to promote gender balance in recruitment of incentive staff and education personnel.
• Capacity building of Parents Associations (PAs) and School Board of Management (BoM) on gender-responsive school management practices (that will ensure election and participation of females in school structures)
• Work with Guidance and Counselling teachers, GBV focal point teachers and School counsellors to ensure delivery of Gender-Responsive Psychosocial Support (PSS) to learners and other educational personnel.
• Capacity building of students Council on gender-responsive student management practices.
• Conduct sensitization forums targeting community leaders and other education personnel on importance of enrollment of girls in school.
• Educate and train others within an organization and learning institutions fostering awareness and understanding of gender-related topics.

4. Students’ participation in co- and extra-curricular activities

• Promote participation of females and males in school extra and curriculum activities such as clubs and societies, Interschool sports and game, Education symposiums and forums, etc.
• Support mentorship programmes and role modeling for female learners including spearheading career talk, fairs, and Job shadows for female learners.

5. Resource Mobilization and MEAL

• participate in development of project Concept Notes, Proposals and needs assessment related to Secondary Education as necessary from time to time.
• Coordinate preparation and submission of periodic (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, and annual) reports of activities, evaluations, recommendations, and action plans.
• Document and develop monthly participation and outcomes; analyses results and prepares recommendations.
• Tracking the achievements of key project gender milestones and indicators
• Documenting and sharing change stories, best practices and innovations for scale up.

6. Collaboration with Stakeholders:

• Facilitate and support the establishment of a Gender-responsive Education Technical working group in Kakuma.
• Represent the organization in technical working Groups in the camp.
• Work with national and international institutions, government bodies, civil society organizations (CSOs), and other actors across the development sector to promote gender-responsive education.

Qualifications and experience.

Education and experience

• Bachelor’s degree in education.
• At least 4 years’ proven experience in working and implementing advocacy, gender, women empowerment, and protection programs.
• Master’s degree in gender studies will be an asset.
• Experience of community-based or community mobilization work in a humanitarian context is a strong advantage.
• Demonstrated experience and commitment to working with marginalized communities.
• Experience of working in refugee schools or with refugee community in the camp or urban set up.

Skills and competencies

• Communication Skills: Effective communication with community members, leaders, and partners.
• Facilitation Skills: Ability to organize meetings, workshops, and seminars.
• Monitoring and Reporting: Proficiency in tracking progress and documenting impact.
• Advocacy: Advocating for community needs and mobilizing support.
• Environmental Knowledge: Understanding of environmental conservation and sustainable practices.
• Computer literacy skills: Mastery of office software (MS Word, Excel, and Power Point) required.
• Knowledge of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Familiarity with SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 4 (Quality lifelong education) experience working with various stakeholders.
• Problem solving skills: Excellent listening and problem-solving skills.
• Proposal writing skills: Superior writing skills, including proven ability to conceive and write grant proposals and donor reports.
• Passionate for inclusive education and girl’s education program
• High level of integrity.
• Ability to tolerate cultural, educational, and religious diversity in the workplace.
• Able and willing to live, work, travel in fast-paced and environment adhering to strict security guidelines.

Core values and ethics.

• Commitment to JRS’s mission, vision, and values; ability to convey with enthusiasm JRS’s role in accompanying and serving forcibly displaced people and to advocate for their right to protection and a life in dignity.
• High integrity, honesty, and confidentiality; ability to deal tactfully and discreetly with people, situations, and information.
• Acceptance of diversity and inclusion as a core value

Terms and Conditions

Contract is for One year, renewable, with an initial probationary period of Three months. The JRS remuneration policy is aligned with the JRS ethos to offer effective and professional services and at the same time express solidarity with the people served.