Vacancy: Legal Program Associate

Coalition On Violence Against Women (COVAW) is a Kenyan based non-profit making women’s rights organization committed to working towards a society free from all forms of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

Purpose: This position provides an opportunity in building capacity towards legal response to violence against women, and to support program initiatives. The position will also provide an opportunity to improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes for women in Narok County by addressing gender inequalities that are sustained by social norms, attitudes and cultural practices, as well as aid in legal redress to issues arising to survivors of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).

Duties and Responsibilities include:

• Provide legal advice to COVAW programs and clients
• Oversee case management and client record management.
• Train and work with law enforcement officers, health workers and other service providers on prevention and response to gender based violence.
• Conduct capacity building for staff, beneficiaries, partners and stakeholders while working with law enforcement officers, health workers and other service providers on prevention and response to gender based violence.
• Support the design of advocacy and communications activities and campaigns.
• Documentation of project activities and expenditures for internal and donor reporting and monitoring while ensuring accurate and timely reporting of program activities and financial expenditure in accordance with donor rules and COVAW policy.
• Participate in innovative resource mobilization and fund raising to support the program.
• Represent COVAW in meetings and forums with stakeholders.
• Support the implementation of projects on Movement Building and Community Activism (MBCA), Female Genital Cutting(FGC), Sexual and Gender Based Violence(SGBV) and Women and Girls with Intellectual Challenges and other related interventions in Narok County.
• Identify, support and work with custodians of culture, community activists and paralegals on community mobilization approaches that address gender based violence (SASA approach).
• Conduct community dialogue forums to create awareness on gender based violence including harmful cultural practices.
• Design and produce a range of information, education and communication materials to support awareness raising activities and campaigns, including community murals.
• Develop project work plans and monitoring tools to guide implementation
• Prepare accurate and timely reports of all program activities and expenditures
• Manage project budgets in adherence to donor and organizational rules and policies.
• Undertake full operational responsibility over COVAW’s assets in use.
• Flexibility and willingness to travel, work long and irregular hours.

Performance Standards

• Strong commitment to COVAW’s values and principles.
• Adherence to project rules and policies.
• Adherence to work-plans, timelines and deadlines.
• Outputs and outcomes of the projects achieved and documented.
• Display innovativeness and creativity in implementation of program.
• Accurate, timely and high quality progress reports and project documentation, including photographs.
• Project funds utilized in cost effective manner that demonstrates value for money.
• Project funds fully accounted for in line with donor rules and organizational policies.
• Enhancing team work and mutual respect between colleagues and project partners.

Required Qualifications and Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in law, a qualified advocate of the High Court.
• Legal Practice/ Representation and Court attendance practice experience.
• Work experience with communities and in project management.
• Experience with gender work and sexual and reproductive health rights.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize, set and meet goals.
• Strong communication, presentation and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in the field, under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Computer Literacy (including excel skills).
• Ability to demonstrate excellent writing and analytical research skills.
• Passionate about women’s rights, high energy with a sound grasp of the Kenyan legal framework as well as international standards
• Experience in coordination of legal support programs.
• Experience in working as part of a team with internal, external and multi-sectoral stakeholders.
• Good communication and public speaking skills.
• Ability to work with diverse people and cultures.
• Self-starter, able to work independently but able to consult effectively, prioritize and handle multiple tasks simultaneously.The successful candidate must also demonstrate COVAW values as follows. Integrity, Dignity, Courage, Solidarity and Commitment