Sarah Kimeu
Humanitatian/Communication Specialist
Nairobi, Nairobi Province,30
Summary
Dedicated and detail-oriented professional with extensive experience in refugee resettlement and project management. Proven track record in compliance monitoring, training, and reporting. Adept at managing complex resettlement cases, coordinating with multiple stakeholders, and providing support for high-quality, timely project execution. Strong skills in cross-cultural communication, data analysis, and team management, ensuring adherence to organizational policies and guidelines.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
2
2
Languages
Work History
Senior Caseworker
Church World Service
9 2022 - Current
- Conduct comprehensive interviews with refugee applicants to collect biographical data and assess resettlement eligibility, ensuring compliance with United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) guidelines
- Supervise and review caseworker outputs, ensuring adherence to resettlement protocols and providing feedback for continuous improvement leading to 90% improvement in team efficiency
- Prepare detailed reports for United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) interviews and manage post-interview follow-ups to address pending issues
- Organize and deliver training for new and existing staff on resettlement procedures and case management best practices
- Provide accurate information to persons of concern regarding resettlement processes and policies
- Coordinate logistical support for resettlement missions, ensuring smooth operations and compliance with organizational standards
- Lead Field Team Missions and served as Point of Contact (POC) with external partners on field-based activities involving logistics to support refugees
- Conduct thorough case management of protection-related refugee case expedites within the RSC Africa pipeline
- Worked with partners and other units to ensure expedite cases are processed efficiently and in line with expedite-related (Standard Operating Procedures) SOPs
- Provide training on how to interview at-risk individuals, minors, victims of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and other marginalized persons through drafting and updating SOPs and other training material.
Caseworker
Church World Service
10.2021 - 09.2022
- Conducted pre-screening and AOR (Affidavit of Relationship) interviews following USRAP SOPs, ensuring thorough and accurate case documentation
- Worked with internal and external partners such as HIAS, USCIS, Refugee Processing Center (RPC), US Embassy and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) sharing workflow and processing pipeline information
- Assisted USCIS during adjudication circuit rides, including pre and post-adjudication reviews and logistical coordination
- Facilitated remote interviews, effectively managing applicant data and communication with interpreters
- Drafted deferrals and information memos to partner agencies to clarify and expedite refugee resettlement cases
- Provided essential support in preparing travel arrangements and documentation for resettlement to the US.
Case Processing Assistant II
Church World Service
06.2021 - 10.2021
- Managed the refugee case processing pipeline using the START database, ensuring compliance with RSC Africa standards
- Conducted quality checks on case files, resolving issues to facilitate smooth processing
- Applied in-depth USRAP knowledge in managing the refugee case processing pipeline through adhering to RSC Africa standards and policies
- Conducted regular quality checks on the Case Processing Assistants’ work through reviewing the cases that they had worked on
- Resolved pending holds on cases in ordered to facilitate the forward movement of cases within the pipeline
- Assisted in developing materials in conjunction with training unit in order to improve understanding of the USRAP process
- Coordinated travel and departure arrangements for refugees accepted for resettlement
- Coordinated travel logistics and provided administrative support for resettlement workshops, missions and meetings
- Provided administrative support for resettlement-related training activities, including organization of resettlement workshops and meetings as required
- Developed training materials and supported resettlement-related training activities.
Case Processing Assistant
Church World Service
05.2018 - 06.2021
- Managed refugee cases identified for resettlement to the USA via creation of new cases in the START database
- It is the internal system used to track and monitor refugee case processing within the USRAP
- Requested assurances from US based resettlement agencies, completed travel packets for refugees departing the country of asylum
- Corresponding with refugee applicants and partners to obtain additional information in response to their inquiries among other roles
- Coordinated travel and departure arrangements for refugees accepted for resettlement.
Social Media Marketing Manager
Metz Photolab
05.2017 - 05.2018
- Managed the studio’s social media handles through content creation and responded to client inquiries both online and in person
- Managed customer relations through organizing studio bookings, dissemination of information and taking clients’ feedback, growing the company’s online audience via creating and running promotions/campaigns on the social media platforms
- Used Google Analytics and insights to track the preferences of the company’s online audience, relaying these insights and client feedback to the relevant departments to enhance improvement of the company’s products and processes
- Occasionally captured and edited studio photos.
Social Media & Studio Manager
Sun Africa Studios
11.2016 - 05.2017
- Managed the studio’s social media handles through content creation and responded to the client inquiries online in a timely and professional manner
- Coordinated studio bookings, collected clients’ feedback and relayed them to the relevant departments in the company
- Ensured that clients got their invoices and deliverables on time through my organization of the company’s filing system, feeds and updated clients’ sensitive information such as accounts, receipting etc
- Into the client database
- Ensured that any complaints received from clients were addressed effectively and in a timely fashion
- Handled calls and collected feedback from clients and service providers and wrote blog posts for the company website.
Intern
Standard Media Group
07.2016 - 11.2016
- Posted news stories and breaking news on the social media pages
- Wrote articles for the company’s various publications and packaging adverts for marketing on the company’s social media platforms.
Education
Master of Arts in Development Communication -
Status: Ongoing
- Continuing education in Development Communication
Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Electronic Media -
Status: Completed 2016
- Awarded Dean's List Award
Certificate in Microsoft Office -
Skills
Project Management
Compliance Monitoring
Training and Development
Data Analysis
Refugee Case Management
Cross-Cultural Communication
Team Leadership
Stakeholder Coordination
Reporting and Documentation
Proficiency in MS Office
Individual Counseling
Multicultural Sensitivity
Accomplishments
- Developed trainings on Prescreening, DNA processing, Case and field processing and management that serve as educational tools on the Organization’s e-learning platform.
- Developed and implemented a work plan management system, significantly improving task tracking and staff output during remote work.
- Served as a Point of Contact for several assignments, receiving outstanding performance ratings for communication and job knowledge.
- Authored articles for The Standard Group’s publications, contributing to public awareness on social issues.
- Led social media initiatives at Metz Photolab and Sun Africa Studios, boosting customer engagement and followership significantly.
References
Available upon request.
Training
- UNDSS BSAFE Security Training
- UNDSS Preparing and Responding to Active Shooter Incidents
- UNHCR Course on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation & Abuse
Timeline
Caseworker - Church World Service
10.2021 - 09.2022
Case Processing Assistant II - Church World Service
06.2021 - 10.2021
Case Processing Assistant - Church World Service
05.2018 - 06.2021
Social Media Marketing Manager - Metz Photolab
05.2017 - 05.2018
Social Media & Studio Manager - Sun Africa Studios
11.2016 - 05.2017
Intern - Standard Media Group
07.2016 - 11.2016
Senior Caseworker - Church World Service
9 2022 - Current
Daystar University - Master of Arts in Development Communication,
Daystar University - Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Electronic Media,
Global Institute of Business Studies - Certificate in Microsoft Office,