Asylum Access is a US-based international non-profit organization dedicated to making refugee rights a reality in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Asylum Access achieves this mission by providing pro bono legal information, advice and representation directly to refugees in their first countries of refuge, and by advocating for the rights of refugees worldwide. Asylum Access Tanzania is the Tanzania office of Asylum Access and predominantly serves urban refugees in Dar es Salaam. AATZ envisions a world where refugees are seen as people with rights, not just people with needs. AATZ believes that by empowering refugees to assert their human rights, it can support the creation of effective, lasting solutions for refugees around the world.
Refugees United (RU) is an independent, non-political, non-religious NGO dedicated to helping refugees reconnect with missing family members and friends completely free of charge. To this end, RU has developed an on-line tracing tool and database at www.refunite.org, where users can create a profile and conduct a family search. AATZ and Refugees United have formed a partnership to promote the services of both organizations through a joint project. AATZ is therefore soliciting applications for the position of RU Fellow to assist with the implementation of this project.
RU Fellow Job Description
This is a full time position (Monday – Friday, 8:00AM to 5:00PM) that may require occasionally work during evenings or weekends. In the long-term future, the position may require occasional travel to refugee camps. The salary is non-negotiable: $150 U.S. per month. The position will be reviewed at the end of 2 months to determine whether the position will be increased or reduced.
Core Duties
The following is a list of core duties an applicant must be able to perform in order to meet minimum qualifications for this position:
1. Create RU Profiles
a. Discuss risks and benefits of RU profile with clients without unduly pressuring clients to use the service
b. Keep accurate logs and take responsibility for printing or revising logs as necessary
c. Plan and schedule RU profiles consistently to meet weekly and monthly project goals
d. Learn to create profiles using the RU website in Swahili, English and French (with the aid of a translated screenshot, if necessary)
2. Attend all Outreach Events
a. Assist with administrative duties related to outreach events, such as participant registration, check-in, check-out, and RU profile creation.
3. Monitor Refugee Resource Room
a. Be available to assist refugees using resources, such as computers, phones, reference books…etc., in the Refugee Resource Room.
b. Monitor refugee resource use and enforce AATZ resource use policies to minimize theft, damage and inappropriate use of resources. Ensure all resources are locked securely in the office safe at night.
4. Set up Refugee Resource Room
a. Assist with price negotiation and purchase of furniture, electronics… etc.
b. Assist with organizing the tracking of all purchases: keep accurate receipts and update Budget Tracking spreadsheets
c. Assist with electronics set-up, software installation
Preferred Duties: Dependent Upon Experience
The following is a list of duties which AATZ would prefer an applicant be able to perform. These preferred duties will be assigned to the RU Fellow only if the individual has the skills and experience necessary:
5. Assist with Planning
a. Assist in the creation of a step-by-step plan to fulfill existing project agreement requirements.
b. Participate in planning sessions to identify best practices and new outreach opportunities.
c. *Note: New ideas are welcome, however, a commitment to meeting the requirements of the existing project agreement with RU must take priority.
6. Assist with Expense Tracking
a. Take responsibility for training and reminding all AATZ staff to obtain receipts for all project purchases, and to fill out required forms
b. Input receipt amounts into Budget Tracking Spreadsheets
c. Draft and update Budget Tracking Spreadsheets for monthly reports
7. Assist with Project Management
a. Assist with recruiting, training, and managing of Refugee Ambassadors Team. This team will be a group of refugees who will spread news of RU and AATZ services to other refugees in camps or Dar es Salaam.
b. Take responsibility for communicating weekly with individual ambassadors by phone, and assisting them with problems and concerns
c. Be able to motivate and organize the team of ambassadors by leading or mediating monthly group meetings
d. Ideally, will have existing permit to access the refugee camps and willingness to occasionally travel to camps to organize and monitor Refugee Ambassador Team activities.
8. Reports
a. Assist in the drafting of sections of monthly report to RU and Asylum Access Headquarters in San Francisco.
b. Potentially take over the role of RU Project Manager in the future (6-12 months)
9. Know Your Rights Training
a. Applicants with a legal background may assist AATZ staff with training Refugee Ambassadors on legal topics, such as International Refugee Law, Tanzanian Refugee Law, Refugee Rights and Obligations, UNHCR and MHA policy…etc.
Required Competencies
1. Excellent English and Swahili language skills: Must be able to communicate clearly with both AATZ Staff and refugee clients.
a. Additional language skills in French are strongly preferred. Lingala, Kirundi or other African languages would be useful as well.
2. Comfort using computers: Must be able to use Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel to create and update project logs and expense tracking documents, and to assist refugee clients in the Resource Room. Must be able to use Outlook to regularly communicate by e-mail.
a. High degree of proficiency preferred, however, AATZ will consider applicants with a willingness and ability to learn quickly. AATZ may be willing to purchase educational software to assist RU Fellow in learning Word and Excel, and to increase typing proficiency.
3. Outstanding Organizational Skills: Must be able to keep track of scheduling, receipts, profile logs and other tasks as necessary. Must be able to assist with planning outreach events. Must be a self-starter who observes tasks that need to be completed and completes them without waiting to be told.
4. Patience and Enjoy Working with People: Must be able to comfortably and respectfully interact with large numbers of people with various backgrounds (education, religion, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender…etc.). Must interact with emotionally distressed refugees while keeping a calm, professional, and patient demeanor.
5. Team Player with Leadership Potential: Must be willing to work as a member of a team and have the judgment to know when to follow and when to lead. This position will report directly to the RU Project Manager, and also report to the Legal Services Coordinator and Country Director as necessary. This position may, in the future, also involve taking a leadership position: recruiting, training and managing the Refugee Ambassador Team.
6. Commitment to the Mission of AATZ: The purpose of Asylum Access Tanzania is to help refugees become empowered and to realize their rights. Must interact with refugees in a respectful manner and be committed to the cause of promoting refugee and human rights in Tanzania.
Application Instructions
This position is available immediately. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Interested applicants should prepare an application including a (1) resume, (2) short English-language writing sample (1-5 pages), and (3) cover letter addressing how the applicant meets the required competencies, and his or her ability to perform the duties described above. E-mail applications to Ms. E. Rania Rampersad, Esq., RU Project Manager, at rania@asylumaccess.org.
Alternatively, applications may be delivered in person to the Asylum Access Tanzania office in Mikocheni A, off Coca Cola Road by the Osama Bajaj station. (You may call one of the office phones for more precise directions: +255 788 609 094, +255 769 609 094, +255 718 109 094.) The application deadline is Friday, 1 April 2011.
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