Protection Interpreter and Language Access Consultant (On-Call Pool)

The Protection Interpreter Consultant will provide accredited, high-quality, trauma-informed consecutive interpretation and translation for non-national victims of human trafficking (VoTs)—primarily Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Somali nationals.

Operating across the organisation's residential facilities and border operational points, the interpreter enables clear communication during intake assessments, legal/police interviews, medical evaluations, and psychosocial counseling. The Consultant works under strict neutrality, robust security clearance, and data confidentiality standards to support social workers in survivor-centered care.

To safeguard survivors and uphold legal standards, all applicants must pass strict background checks and hold recognized certifications before roster deployment:

• Professional Certification:

○ Must hold a recognized Certification in Translation/Interpretation (e.g., from a recognized university, national translation association, or certified language institute). ○ Formal accreditation or certification in Humanitarian, Court, or Medical Interpreting is mandatory. ● Background Vetting & Clearance: ○ Valid Certificate of Good Conduct (Police Clearance Certificate) from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

○ Comprehensive background screening to verify political neutrality and lack of affiliation with human smuggling, trafficking networks, or political regimes that survivors may be fleeing. ● Professional References: ○ Submission of three (3) professional references from humanitarian organizations, legal aid groups, courts, or medical institutions attesting to interpretation accuracy, ethical conduct, and trauma-informed practice. KEY CONSULTANCY DELIVERABLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Trauma-Informed Interpretation:

○ Provide verbatim, first-person consecutive interpretation during social work intake, medical triage, legal aid sessions, and police/DCI interviews.

○ Maintain absolute linguistic neutrality, refraining from summarizing, filtering, judging, or offering personal advice to the victim. ● Document Translation:

○ Translate critical shelter documentation, consent forms, emergency signs, and rights notifications between English/Swahili and target languages (Amharic, Oromo, Tigrinya, or Somali). ○ Translate foreign identity papers, travel documents, or written statements needed for legal and repatriation processes. ● Cultural & Contextual Guidance: ○ Offer non-intrusive cultural context to the social work team regarding idioms, regional nuances, or social taboos without compromising session objectivity. ● Confidentiality & Safeguarding Compliance: ○ Sign and adhere strictly to the program’s Code of Ethics, Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), and Kenya’s Data Protection Act (2019).

○ Participate in required pre-session trauma briefings and post-session debriefings with the social worker to mitigate vicarious trauma.

Candidates must demonstrate native or near-native fluency in English/Swahili AND certified competency in at least one of the following language sets:

• Option A: Amharic
• Option B: Afaan Oromo (including Borana)
• Option C: Tigrinya
• Option D: Somali (Standard Maxaa and/or Maay dialect)
• Option E: Juba Arabic
• Option F: Luganda
• Option G: Ng’akarimojong (Karamojong)
• Option H: Ateso (Teso)
• Option I: Hadiyyisa (Hadiyya) and Kambaatissa (Kambaata)

• Contract Type: Service-level agreement on an on-call basis, with both in-person and remote (telephone/video) engagement options.
• Remuneration: Hourly or daily professional fee structure based on actual hours deployed for interpretation or per-word rate for written document translations.

Apply through Dira HR Solutions' online application form and select this position. The full job description is linked from the form. Dira and its client never charge candidates any fee. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.