This is a part time post, 2.5 days per week, starting in August 2015 for one year (with the possibility of extension). As MRG does not have any organisational base in Kenya and therefore it is likely that this post will be filled on a consultancy basis, with the post holder responsible for all tax and national insurance payments.
Do you have at least three years’ experience of advocacy and lobbying work in a national context, including formulating strategies, attending high level Government meetings and drafting advocacy submissions? Are you knowledgeable about Kenya’s national legal system and political processes? Do you have strong communication skills in both English and Kiswahili?
MRG is looking to recruit an Advocacy Officer based in Kenya to help us achieve our mission to realise the rights of minorities and indigenous peoples around the world through the use of litigation, legal empowerment, legal tools and other advocacy. Specifically, the post-holder will work with a range of stakeholders – including local partners, lawyers, international partners and other local and national stakeholders – to develop and then lead on a cohesive and effective national advocacy plan to see the implementation of those successful legal decisions and judgments in Kenya in which MRG is involved. This will involve working closely with communities to build and apply their advocacy skills and support them in inputting into Kenya’s national legal and policy development.
We are seeking an individual who has detailed knowledge of international human rights and minority rights law, and a good understanding of the situation of minority and indigenous communities in Kenya. Candidates must have experience of advocacy and lobbying work in the Kenyan context, and should have in the past worked closely with small or emerging civil society organisations (CSOs). At least one year of project management work is an essential requirement for this post.

A: Purpose of the job:
The main purpose of the job is to help MRG achieve its mission to realise the rights of minorities and indigenous peoples round the world, through the use of litigation, legal empowerment, legal tools and other advocacy. Specifically, the post-holder will work with local partners, lawyers, international partners and other local and national stakeholders to develop and then lead on a cohesive and effective national advocacy plan to see the implementation of successful legal decisions and judgments in Kenya in which MRG is involved. This will include working closely with communities to build and apply their advocacy skills and support them in inputting into Kenya’s national legal and policy development.

B: Main duties and responsibilities
1.Advocacy and legal implementation work:
The tasks include, but are not limited to:
• Working with local community partners, lawyers, experts and other collaborating organisations as well as MRG staff to develop an appropriate legal and advocacy strategy to see concrete progress towards implementation of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights ruling in the Endorois case;
• Subsequently lead on implementing the strategy, working closely with the Endorois’ representative organisation, the Endorois Welfare Council;
• Support Endorois leaders to carry out advocacy activities as well as at times to personally carry out advocacy activities (e.g. draft briefings, draft parliamentary questions, arrange and attend meetings with decision makers, speak on panels, attend roundtables, brief journalists)
• Monitor local policy and legal developments related to land, indigenous peoples rights and minorities, and support local communities – including the Endorois and the Ogiek – to participate in any consultation processes, including seeking and participating in high level Government meetings;
• Support Endorois, Ogiek and possibly other communities to understand and comply with requirements of any new legislation relating to recognition of land rights (such as, under the current Community Land Bill);
• Organising and participating in community consultation meetings to keep local community appraised of developments and to gather their views on different options;
• Manage budgets as delegated by the Head of Law, and work with in-country partners to ensure activities are run on time, on budget and meet MRG quality standards;;
• Ensure gender is fully mainstreamed in the strategy, in consultation processes and all activities whether directly run or run in partnership with local organisations;
• Assist with the identification of new opportunities for MRG’s in-country advocacy and legal work;
• Assist with maintaining and developing relationships with third party organisations interested in our in-country advocacy and legal work, including NGOs, foundations, bar associations, law firms, barristers’ chambers and similar organisations;
• Draft log frames, programme proposals and budgets for new advocacy and related work, draft reports to donors and other fundraising related documents.

2.Financial / programme management:
• Drafting reports on activities and preparing financial and narrative reports to donors;
• Managing elements of the project budgets;
• Liaison and meetings with donors in Kenya (as delegated by Head of Law or fundraising team members);
• Contributes to the evaluation of MRG activities.

3. General
• Undertake such other tasks as may reasonably be requested by the Head of Law;
• Regular liaison with the London office, including but not limited to the Head of Law, and attend relevant training and meetings;
• Liaison with Africa based staff including those working on capacity building, media, legal work, advocacy and other work to maximise synergies and mutual internal sharing and learning;
• Respect and work towards full implementation of MRG’s gender and equal opportunities policies in all the work involved in this post;
• Local travel will be required.

4.Confidential information
Responsible for maintaining confidentiality as the job holder will be entitled to a very high level of access to confidential information pertaining to MRG’s strategies, detailed financial information, and also access to sensitive external information which may impact on MRG’s activities.

5. Degree of supervision
The job holder will be expected to report to the Head of Law any variation from agreed plans and schedules, and to report regularly on the programme and project’s progress.

6.Working conditions
The job holder will be based in Kenya, either Nakuru or Nairobi, as specified above. Applicants must have or must swiftly be able to obtain permission to live and work in Kenya MRG would expect the job holder to work from home and will cover only the costs of reasonable communications and consumables. Local travel will also be necessary, and reasonable costs will be covered (maximum budget 100 EUR per month for all communications and travel costs). The job holder may need to travel to the UK and must be able to obtain a UK business visit visa to do so. Travel within the UK, USA or Europe to carry out advocacy, visit donors, to give or receive training may also be necessary. The job holder is required to maintain the pace of work which may at times be high, and will need to manage several tasks simultaneously.
The work will involve sensitive and careful work with communities and a variety of NGOs in complex and insecure environments.
Although the primary purpose of this post is as described above, the post holder may be required to work partly or wholly on other areas of MRG’s work. This is to allow MRG to move staff away from work which is un-funded or under-funded or is no longer a priority for the organisation, to work on areas which have more funding, are growing or which are understaffed. This will normally involve the post holder in carrying out tasks similar or identical to those listed in this job description but applied to different programmes or projects.

HOW TO APPLY:
Qualified candidates should send a completed application and equal opportunities form by email torecruitment@mrgmail.org by Tuesday 18 August at 18.00 (East Africa Time, EAT).
Should you have any queries about the post, please contact the email above.