The Danish Refugee Council (DRC), an international non-governmental organization (NGO), has been providing relief and development services in the Horn of Africa since 1997. DRC promotes and supports solutions to the problems faced by refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs), and migrants. The organization has offices across the region and has been operational in Ethiopia since 2009.  With funding from bilateral and multilateral donors, DRC is currently implementing a range of activities across Ethiopia and Djibouti, including WASH and shelter provision, child and youth protection, gender-based violence response, awareness-raising of migration risks, protection monitoring of migration routes, and livelihoods support for returning migrants or those at-risk of migration.

OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:

The Legal officer, under the supervision of Protection Team leader (social cohesion and Legal) will undertake protection and legal activities within the project framework. The legal officer will be engaged in the provision of legal aid service including legal information dissemination, counselling, assistance, and facilitation of representation to the target population. In addition, the officer will take on any additional protection activity as required by the Protection Team Leader to meet the project objective.

Responsibilities:

• Carry out activities focusing on legal support according to work plan and allocated budget in accordance with international and national laws and regulations;
• Develop a work plan for the implementation of activities focusing on Legal service provision within the framework of the project;
• Conduct rapid assessment to identify the legal service need and concern of the target population and frame response according to the identified need;
• Conduct information dissemination on the legal rights and procedures with a focus on issues affecting the target population through community outreach;
• Provide legal counseling/advice to the project beneficiaries and targeted communities in Gambella DRC project areas (refugee camps and host community kebele);
• Develop and disseminate IEC materials with key messages on legal rights and procedures and available legal and protection services to the target population.
• Facilitate access to Legal aid service in partnership with Gambella university to individuals needing legal representation.
• Implement standardized legal case management procedure;
• Keep record of all project activities, beneficiary cases and other legal and protection activities both in hard and soft copy.
• Organize capacity building training to government stakeholders and community-based structures on relevant international refugee laws and national laws and procedures;
• Organize legal protection campaigns through different techniques.
• Engage with DRC finance, administration, and supply chain team as needed to facilitate implementation of project activity;
• Support protection related advocacy initiatives;
• Maintain and share updated information on international laws, national laws and procedure;
• Perform other relevant duties, as needed or requested by Protection Team Leader.
• Undertake/provide financial legal assistance to vulnerable target beneficiaries.

Reporting

• Prepare and submit progress reports of activities to protection team leader;
• Keep up to date record of legal cases (both in soft and hard copy) and provide update as needed.

Coordination

• Liaise and build partnership with community leaders, local authorities, humanitarian organizations operating in the area and other relevant actors to achieve project objective;
• Establish working partnership with Gambela university law faculty – legal aid service;
• Collaborate with DRC country protection program towards integrated programming.

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master

DRC’s core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.

Requirements

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience)

• Minimum 2 years work experience in the legal sector, preferably in a humanitarian context;
• Prior Experience working with persons of concern including refugees, internally displaced and/ or returnees;
• Experience and familiarity with Ethiopia’s judicial system;
• Experience with informal justice systems is an asset;
• Familiarity with international laws focusing on refugee rights;
• Understanding of protection principles and protection minimum standards;
•  Ability to clearly express one’s thoughts, to analyze and present information clearly and concisely.
• Ability to set priorities and show initiative, to work independently and as part of a team.
• High level of personal initiative, analytical and problem-solving skill;
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to develop and maintain working relationships across the organization.
• Commitment to learning and implementing organizational policies and procedures
• Good proficiency in Microsoft Office packages.

EDUCATION: (include certificates, licenses, etc.)

• University degree in social sciences, law, social work, international development, or other relevant field from a recognized institution.

LANGUAGE:

• Excellent proficiency in written and spoken English, Amharic and local language.