Job Vacancy: Education Officer
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Salary: 70,000 – 80,000 KShs per month (depending on experience of the applicant), basic medical insurance
Answers to: Xavier Project Kenya Education Director
Position for nationals only
Profile: Xavier Project is an international NGO working Kenya and Uganda. We aim to provide opportunities to refugees living in urban areas in Kenya and Uganda who are otherwise excluded from the means to live a fulfilled and dignified existence so that they will be able to take back control of their lives and make a positive change whether to their new communities or to their country of origin.
Xavier Project is primarily an education focused NGO, and while we have media and livelihoods programmes educational interventions make up the core of our activities within these programmes.
Xavier Project is registered as a local NGO in Uganda, an international NGO in Kenya and a company and charity in UK. All operations are in Kenya and Uganda, but a majority of funds are raised in UK.
We have a three way partnership agreement between the branches of Xavier Project and one executive team primarily based in the Xavier Project headquarters in Nairobi. Xavier Project currently employs 25 permanent staff and has an annual income of $250,000 which has been increasing by 50% every year since its founding in 2008.
Background: Urban refugees in East Africa face unique challenges. Culturally, it is difficult to assimilate into their new communities as they can be victims of xenophobia and can struggle from language differences. They cannot easily find jobs in a saturated and often nepotistic job market.
There are administrative barriers to economic sustainability such as the challenge of obtaining work permits, and the rejection of foreign qualifications from employers and institutions. At present many refugees in Nairobi or Kampala do not have access to quality, relevant education delivered in a safe environment and their opportunities in education lag behind those of their local counterparts.
In both Kampala and Nairobi there are over 10,000 refugee children who are not in formal education, amounting to around 50% in Nairobi and 60% in Kampala. 80% of those in formal education are not happy with the quality of the education they are receiving.
Added to this, most urban refugees are hoping to be resettled in developed countries, yet they know very little about the resettlement process, and their chances of being resettled. Less that 5% of urban refugees are resettled in any given year. Many refugees believe that the more vulnerable they are, or appear to be, the more likely their chances are of being resettled.
The pursuit of resettlement combined with the unique challenges faced by refugees leads to a negative attitude by refugees towards integration into their new community. This has a corrosive impact on the whole community. However, there are positive opportunities for refugees to take up in Kampala and Nairobi, whether offered by the government, NGO agencies or refugee run grass-roots organisations. Given their chances of resettlement it makes sense for refugees to make the most of the opportunities available to them in their host countries, such as education, livelihoods and vocational prospects offered by agencies.
What is more, a more positive attitude and better communication among the refugee population should lead to vital innovation from refugees themselves.
Tamuka media programme is educating refugees on the opportunities available to them and enabling them to communicate with each other and the wider world. Among other ambitions, the education programme is enabling refugees to receive an education that is more relevant to their challenges and their ambitions.
Meanwhile, our livelihoods programme is enabling refugees to access affordable loans and learn the business skills they need to grow their careers.
Job Description and Expectations: Xavier Project is looking for an education officer who will run the sponsorship programmes of Xavier Project in Kenya. Xavier Project has just become the education partner of UNHCR so we will be sponsoring around 135 students in secondary school, around 70 children in pre-primary, and 200 supporting 200 pupils with primary levies.
Job functions will include:
- Paying school fees.
- Managing Xavier Project’s relationship with sponsor student’s families, including carrying out home visits.
- Managing Xavier Project’s relationship with schools that sponsor students attend.
- Assessing the progress of students
- Arranging the distribution of uniforms and other school requirements.
- Co-ordinating holiday programmes during school holidays for Xavier Project’s sponsor students.
- Keeping a written record of activities and contact with sponsor students and schools.
- Other tasks given by the Education Director.
Requirements
Essential:
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline
- Experience in managing people/teams
- At least 5 years’ experience in either project management, communications, field work, fundraising or advocacy, ideally in the NGO or education sector
- Excellent communication skills in English (both written and oral)
- Good knowledge of MS Office
- Ability to work sensitively with refugee population or demonstrated experience working with marginalised communities
- Excellent organisational skills
- Experience in managing budgets
- Willing to travel within Kenya
Desired:
- Master’s degree in a relevant discipline
- Competent in Kiswahili
- Experience in managing people from various backgrounds
- Experience working in a tough environment with vulnerable people
- Knowledge of the Kenyan education sector
- Demonstrated success in fundraising
- Experience in writing reports and strategies
- Experience in government and private sector engagement
- Strong understanding of the challenges faced by urban refugees
Expectations of Xavier Project: The Xavier Project staff is a small and tight community and a strong support network is offered to all members. We are diverse and relatively young crowd representing seven nationalities.
Xavier Project is committed to ensuring that all staff members enjoy their work and gain valuable experience and skills that will enhance their impact now and in the future, whether with Xavier Project or not. As such as we run regular staff capacity building programmes and encourage all staff members to pursue opportunities which will help them to grow individually.
To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter highlighting why you would like to apply for the job to Edmund Page at jobs@xavierproject.org by 19th December with the email title KENYA EDUCATION OFFICER.
Please also include the names and contact details of two referees.
For more information on what we do please visit www.xavierproject.org and www.tamuka.org
Xavier Project is an equal opportunity employer and therefore does not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, origin, sex, sexual orientation or disability.
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