Workshop Facilitator - Refugee Rights in East Africa

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 honors 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 organizations advocate to make human rights a reality for refugees throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America. Our national organizations 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 better uphold and promote refugees’ human rights. We can help catalyze and lead systemic transformation because, uniquely among NGOs in the refugee response sector, we focus exclusively on rights and governance.

Department Description

The Partnerships Department is responsible for building and supporting partnerships that help transform the refugee response sector into one that is transparent, accountable, equitable and that ultimately leads to greater respect, protection, and promotion of refugees’ human rights. The Department works together to explore opportunities to partner with local civil society actors including refugee-led organizations around the world as we engage with powerful institutions and processes to make them more inclusive; catalyze campaigns towards greater equity and accountability in the refugee response sector; and partner with local CSOs and RLOs in strategic countries for capacity bridging initiatives that strengthen our collective pursuit of refugee human rights on the ground.

Asylum Access has been building partnerships with CSOs in refugee-hosting countries since 2013. We are deeply committed to meaningful participation, refugee leadership and building equitable partnerships with our local partners, including refugee-led organizations. Our partnerships with CSOs and RLOs span from Colombia, Kenya, Uganda, Lebanon, and Jordan Egypt, Indonesia, including through the Resourcing Refugee Leadership Initiative. Our collaborations with partners include joint advocacy and fundraising, coalition-building and campaigns, and capacity-strengthening initiatives; with the aim of further enabling our partners to achieve their priorities.

Contract Description

Asylum Access is looking to conduct a two-day advocacy workshop with our partner local/national civil society organizations in Uganda and Kenya. To support this training, Asylum Access seeks to contract an experienced facilitator to support the proper preparation, process and facilitation of the training. The ideal candidate has experience facilitating discussions around social justice issues, especially around forced displacement and believes deeply in the leadership of national and local civil society, including organizations led by affected communities, in advancing access to rights and opportunities.  They will also ideally have some knowledge of refugee issues in East Africa and globally; a deep understanding of the political context in East Africa particularly in relation to refugee rights advocacy; strong communication, organizations and analytical skills and basic understanding of how key international actors operate.

Key Responsibilities:

1. In preparation of the workshop:
   1. Work with Asylum Access and its Partners in Uganda to conduct a 2-day advocacy workshop for local CSOs/RLOs, including:
      1. Developing an inspiring, inclusive, and effective program of the  workshop, that will lead to meeting the set objectives.
      2. Supporting in developing a detailed agenda, providing advice and/ or instructions to resource persons and session presenters on session flow and design of interactive activities, and use of participatory methods and online visualization and collaboration tools.
2. Throughout the workshop:
   1. Based on the adopted methodology and workshop schedule, the Facilitator shall ensure the effective facilitation of the 2-days workshop including:
      1. Assuring consistent use of appropriate visualization and collaboration tools/ platforms (both offline and online)
      2. Facilitating ice-breaking, energizers and team-building activities
      3. Timekeeping and keeping in control of the agenda
      4. Introducing plenary sessions
      5. De-briefing all participants at end of each day
      6. Supporting break-out group work by checking-in and answering questions, if these come up
3. After the workshop:
   1. The facilitator will develop a brief consolidated report on the key discussions, learning points, decisions, and action points of the meeting, including the meeting evaluation

Deliverables

1. Development of the detailed agenda through working closely with the participants within five days of hire.
2. Facilitation of a 2-days workshop- Dates to-be confirmed
3. Brief consolidated report giving an evaluation of the training, outcomes and recommendations within one week after the training.

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in effective, inclusive facilitation of in-person, online and hybrid workshops in a multi-cultural and multi-stakeholder environment
• 3-5 years of working experience on social justice issues, with a preference for experience working directly on forced displacement issues and some understanding of the refugee context and framework in Eastern Africa, including the role and positions of key domestic and international actors.
• Proven experience working directly with vulnerable communities in a trauma-informed manner.
• Upholds the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in their work and engagement with others.
• Effective working relationships with multilaterals, international and local NGOs (including refugee-led organizations). Demonstrated past engagements with international and local NGOs working on refugee issues and human rights in Eastern Africa.
• Proven experience of producing high-quality and concise workshop reports (samples required upon request).
• Creative and capacity to think out of the box and strong collaboration and problem-solving skills, including effective and proactive communication with colleagues.
• Basic working knowledge of computer applications such as Google Meets, Zoom and Microsoft Teams
• Fluent in written and spoken English (fluency in Luganda and Swahili is a plus).
• Experience working with minimal supervision and in a remote capacity.

Reports to: Associate Director of Partnerships

Salary and Benefits

This is a contractor position. The contractor will be paid a lump sum amount to be agreed between Asylum Access and the contractor. There are no organizational benefits associated with this position.

Hours and Location of Work

This position will ideally be based in Uganda. We are open to individuals and organizations with the combination of skills and experience applying for this position. We estimate that this position will require around 80 hours of work, with a final report to be produced one week after the training workshop is conducted..

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by May 19, 2023. The shortlisted candidates will be contacted one week after the application deadline.

Asylum Access is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We value the expertise of those who have experienced displacement, and encourage people with such lived experience to apply.

For more information about our organization, visit www.asylumaccess.org_._