Community Advocate

Innovative Human Rights NGO Seeks Community Advocate

About Asylum Access

We are human rights advocates who support forcibly displaced individuals and communities as they reclaim their rights, agency and power.

Our unique combination of legal empowerment, policy advocacy and global systems change creates conditions in which refugees can live safely, move freely, work legally and go to school. Our work transforms the traditional approach of endless humanitarian handouts to a sustainable solution that honours refugees’ freedom, dignity and autonomy, and equips them to make choices about their own lives.

Asylum Access’ global team and family of local civil society organisations advocate to make human rights a reality for refugees throughout Africa, Asia and Lan America. Our national organisations are led and staffed primarily by community members in those countries, and there is strong mutual trust and respect between us and our clients. On the international stage, we work with established institutions to shift the global system to uphold and promote refugees’ human rights. We can help catalyse and lead systemic transformation because, uniquely among NGOs in the refugee response sector, we focus exclusively on rights and governance.

Department Description

Asylum Access Malaysia's Community Outreach (CO) Department works on the front lines with refugee communities to inform and empower them to use their knowledge and skills to improve their situation in the country of refuge. Through the Community Legal Empowerment and Protection (CLEP) tools, we build the capacity of our clients to advocate for and exercise their rights and to take full advantage of the services and support that is available to them. The Community Outreach Team also works closely with other service providers for refugees needs, employers on employment disputes, non-governmental organisations and also government stakeholders in resolving refugees’ disputes. Internally, the CO team facilitates services with other departments at AAM, both by gathering information from community members that will enhance our legal services work as well as by assisting clients who are unable to visit our office.

Position Description

Asylum Access Malaysia is looking to recruit a Community Advocate to support our vibrant Labour Rights team. The incumbent will assist AAM’s Labour Rights Team to support refugees by providing access to employer dispute mediation and workshops about their rights. Working refugees will be empowered to stand up to any instances of abuse or exploitation that they, or anyone else in their community, may face. In addition to supporting individual case mediation and resolution, the incumbent will conduct Community Legal Empowerment (CLEP) workshops in the community. These play an important role in empowering refugee workers to obtain information about employment laws and create awareness to address workplace rights violations.

Key Responsibilities

Community Outreach and CLEP:

• Conduct Community Workshops and KYO’s in refugee communities around Klang Valley, with the potential for a further workshops in other provinces;
• The CA is responsible for initiating, organising, conducting and completing all tasks related to the KYO workshop;
• The CA will conduct workshops as agreed upon by the CO manager, and based upon AAM deliverables as well as community need,
• In addition the CA may be asked to participate in assisting in other team members workshops as needed,
• Provide basic information about RSD, UNHCR procedures, Malaysian law and human rights to asylum seekers and refugees in the community;
• Undertake and promote advocacy and information sharing in relation to topics concerning the communities
• Communicate ideas and information to community members using interactive teaching methods;
• Invite attendees and arrange venues for each workshop or KYO; develop and enhance participatory teachings in the workshops and KYO’s.

Labour Rights:

• Assist Labor Rights program by conducting screening, exploring options for solutions and liaising with government authorities if needed for Labour Rights cases
• Work closely with the Labour Rights Programme Officer in consultation with the Community Outreach Manager to strengthen the strategies and execution of support pertaining to labour rights and disputes as well as to carry out other work rights related programs.

Advocacy:

• Facilitate awareness raising and engagement in refugee-led advocacy throughout communities.
• Capture all additional activities that promote advocacy in communities and maintain records of this work in the CW work log.
• Support AAM’s Youth Network programme and work closely with community partners in building capacity and leadership within the refugee youth community.

Case work:

• Community Advocates are required to identify and screen highly vulnerable cases per week with the intent of referral to Protection, ED, or LS, via the CW’s community connections.

• Provide basic information to clients on RSD/UNHCR procedure and Malaysian law;

• Collect the information of asylum seekers or refugees who have been arrested by immigration police due to immigration issues;

• Monitoring ongoing and emerging issues faced by communities

• Build good relationships with community leaders and help AAM’s Community Outreach Team to contact them when they have an outreach or training in the community;

• Conduct home or site visits with members of AAM’s Community Outreach or Legal Team, when needed;

• Develop positive working relationships with Malaysian landlords, local authorities and / or service delivery agencies, when possible;

• Keep detailed records of all interactions, captured by RIPS, or for situations where this would not apply, the CW work log.

Administration:

• Maintain AAM’s client record systems;
• Ensure that digital client files are up to date with all relevant documents scanned and recorded;
• Fill in work-logs regularly and promptly;
• Attend regular check-ins with the Community Outreach team and manager.

Reports to: Community Outreach Manager of AAM

Minimum Qualifications

• Fluent in English and Farsi, including solid writing skills in both languages

• Proven experience in community work and community support.

• Demonstrated knowledge of the local context in the area of migration and refugee rights.

• Solid case management skills; ability to manage multiple cases simultaneously, lead projects to completion and take initiative;

• Good knowledge of Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Drive, Calendar, Docs) and Microsoft Office;

• Interest in international human rights and/or refugee rights and/or related issues;

• Ability to work with diverse individuals and groups;

• Motivation towards Asylum Access Malaysia's mission, vision and approach to work;

• Ability to organise and work with diverse and multicultural teams;

Preferred Qualifications

• At least 2 years' experience in community work.
• Experience in case management on humanitarian or human rights issues.
• Knowledge of Malaysian labour law and other relevant laws.
• Experience in networking with government and non-government agencies
• Proven experience in building relationships and networks
• Willingness to work under pressure and with a high degree of autonomy;

Salary and Benefits

The position comes with a competitive non-profit salary, and a robust benefits package including paid time off and professional development funds. The salary scale ranges from RM 2800 to RM 3000 per month depending on experience.

Hours and Location of Work

We anticipate this position will require 40 working hours per week, with the occasional requirement to work outside of normal business hours for events, workshops, and other work-related commitments. Flexible hours are required in this position in order to respond to emergencies within the community.

Asylum Access is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We value the expense of those who have experienced displacement, and encourage people with such lived experience to apply. For more information about our organisation, visit www.asylumaccess.org_._