The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights is an independent National Human Rights Institution established through the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights Act, 2002. It is the State’s lead agency in the promotion and protection of human rights.
The Commission fulfils it’s mandate through a number of strategies, including Research and Compliance, Human Rights Education, Complaints and Investigations, and exercise of quasi-judicial powers. The Commission’s main office is in Nairobi with two regional offices in Wajir and Kitale. Officers may serve in the Head Office or in any of the regional offices.
The Commission is inviting applications for the following positions in its various programmes:
Principal Human Rights Officer (Public Education and Training Department)
Ref: HR/PET/10/01
Location: Head Office, with occasional field travel
Duration: Five years contract (renewable)
Key duties and responsibilities
Providing leadership in the Public Education and Training Department
Mainstreaming human rights education and training in all Commission’s programmes/projects
Designing and implementing human rights education and capacity building strategies and programmes for policy makers, law enforcements offices, media, judicial officers etc.
Developing training manuals for various target groups
Designing and delivering various training modules for stakeholders
Designing and implementing strategies for entrenchment of human rights into formal curricula of learning institutions and law enforcement.
Training of Human Rights networks, including at community level
Entrenching Human Rights into various training curricula and government policies
Developing strategies for mainstreaming human rights into government and civil society programmes
Quality assurance of all the programme outputs and preparation of all programme reports, ensure adequate flow of information and present the department in various commission meetings
Training and Public Education on Human rights issues
Managing and supervising programme staff and convening periodic meetings of the programme
Skills, Experience & Academic Qualifications
Masters Degree in a relevant Social Science field
Good understanding of human rights and human rights based approaches to programming
Eight years experience in human rights/social justice work, Public Education experience with at least three years at a supervisory level
Principal Human Rights Officer (Redress Department)
Ref: HR/RED/10/02
Location: Head Office, with occasional field travel
Duration: Five years contract (renewable)
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Head of the Redress/Legal Services Department.
Scrutinize, analyze and advise on all petitions referred to the Redress Department for the possibility of legal resolution or other forms of redress.
Utilize Alternative Dispute Resolutions (ADR) mechanisms for redress of human rights violations.
Undertake and coordinate identified Public Interest litigation on human rights matters.
Undertake and/or supervise all of the Commission’s legal requirements, including interpretation of constitutional, legislative and human rights instruments.
Undertake legal research, drafting and advice on redress options.
Prepare legal opinions and advice as and when required.
Draft and/or coordinate preparation of all contracts for the supply of goods and services.
Maintain and manage a database of external lawyers for the commission.
Represent the Commission in legal suits and/or supervise the same with external lawyers.
Undertake and/or coordinate the Commission’s Public Inquiries on identified human rights matters. Draft, develop and implement the strategic work plan for the Redress/Legal Services Department in conjunction with the other programmes of the Commission.
Quality assurance of all the programme outputs and preparation of all programme reports, ensure adequate flow of information and present the department in various commission meetings.
Manage and supervise programme staff and convening periodic meetings of the programme.
Skills, Experience & Academic Qualifications
Masters Degree in Law, preferably with a concentration in International Human Rights Law.
An Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with a current practising certificate.
Eight years post-admission experience in litigation and human rights/social justice work, with at least three years at a supervisory level in a busy firm or organisation.
Demonstrable knowledge of and exposure to international, regional and national human rights instruments and jurisprudence including approaches and techniques to address violations.
Experience in strategic litigation and conducting of public inquiries.
Working knowledge of Kiswahili highly desirable.
Investigator/ Senior Human Rights Officer
Ref: HR/COM/10/03
Location: Head Office with frequent travels to the regions
Duration: Five years contract (renewable)
Key duties and responsibilities:
Undertake human rights preliminary and further investigations on violations reported and initiated by the Commission.
Interview complainants and record comprehensive statements for follow up in investigations.
Document and report on the human rights violations in 1 above
Train Commission Staff on investigation of human rights violations
Undertake ad hoc human rights investigations and document incident mapping and analyses
Liaise with the Kenya police and other security agents on various investigations
Supervise and guide investigations by officers of the Commission.
Skills, Experience & Academic Qualifications
A Masters degree in Social Sciences from any other relevant field
Training and knowledge in undertaking and documenting human rights violations.
Six years’ experience with at least two years at a supervisory level in reputable organisations.
Relevant working experience in human rights investigations
Investigator /Human Rights Officer
Ref HR/COM/10/04
Location: Head Office with frequent travels to the regions
Duration: Five years contract (renewable)
Key duties and responsibilities:
Assist in undertaking human rights preliminary and further investigations on all violations reported and/or initiated by the Commission.
Interview complainants and record comprehensive statements for follow up in investigations.
Document and report on the human rights violations in 1 above
Undertake ad hoc human rights investigations and document, incident mapping and analyses
Liaise with the Kenya police and other security agents on various investigations
Any other duty that may be assigned by the supervisor.
Skills, Experience & Academic Qualifications
A degree in Social Sciences from any other relevant field
Training and knowledge in undertaking and documenting human rights violations.
Four years experience with at least two years at a supervisory level in reputable organisations.
Relevant working experience in human rights investigations
In addition to the above qualifications, the suitable candidates for all the above positions should possess the following Skills and Attributes;
Good understanding on human rights issues
Very good report writing, facilitation and presentation skills
Good organizational, analytical and research Skills
Flexibility and adaptability to different scenarios
Ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines
Excellent computer skills in all computer packages
Excellent interpersonal, networking skills and communication skills and ability to work as part of an interprogrammatic team.
Excellent oral advocacy and communication skills.
KNCHR is an equal opportunity employer which offers a competitive remuneration commensurate to qualifications and experience.
If you possess the above qualities for any of the positions, please send your application clearly indicating the position, and the Ref No on both the letter and envelope, together with a detailed CV, a daytime telephone contact, and names and telephone contacts of three referees to reach us by 26th November 2010 to:
The Commission Secretary,
Kenya National Commission on Human Rights
Lenana Road, CVS Plaza, 1st Floor
P. O. Box 74359-00200
Nairobi.
Email: recruitments@knchr.org
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) Job Opportunities
