Uganda: Legal officer

Terms of Reference

LEGALOFFICER

Duty Station: Rhino Camp

This position is based in Arua district Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement and covers all refugee and non refugee locations. It is non family post and requires travel within the region.

Position and Reporting Line:

The Legal Officer is responsible and reports to the Community Services & Protection Coordinator.

General Objectives

The Legal Officer’s (LO) primary function is to ensure quality implementation of the legal assistance component and synergy with the larger protection and community services components which constitute the overall DRC programme.

Specific tasks and responsibilities:

Coordination and representation

• Develop relationships with a range of key stakeholders including donors, Local Government and other stakeholders on this specific thematic area.
• Coordinate and follow up with legal service provision and service providers.
• Representation of DRC and active participation in the local working groups and any other meetings as requested.
• Close co-ordination in project implementation with partners, especially UNHCR legal officers and other UN agencies and national/international NGOs, including referrals, protection gap analysis, and advocacy.

Project development, implementation and reporting

• Ensure the day to day implementation of the legal assistance activities
• Identify and train para legal staff members,
• Support the preparation of refugee legal dossier in coordination with OPM and UNHCR and when applicable represent them in courts.
• Ensure information dissemination to Persons of Concern on legal issues
• Support and guide the development of relevant IEC materials and ensure the dissemination of main information on legal concerns for refugees and host community.
• Under the supervision of the Protection and Community Services Coordinator, contribute to the strengthening of the thematic area in DRC programming. Also identify legal assistance gaps with a view to generating ideas for future projects with strong impact
• Support the protection assessment and ongoing risks analysis in order to design adequate integrated protection responses.
• Provision of technical support to staff members in linking DRC Rhino/Arua programme to relevant international framework, conventions, and national legal documents and articles.
• Under the supervision of the Protection and Community Services Coordinator, ensure that all the approaches and tools are developed in synergy with the overall DRC’s protection initiatives at the programme level.
• Work closely with the other programme components to maximize programme output and impact.
• Ensure quality implementation, monitoring and evaluation for this related component in West Nile.
• Make sure that all the legal assistance work adheres to protection standards and principles as well as DRC guidelines and accountability standards.
• Develop advocacy points based on assessment of situation and risks.
• In collaboration with Rhino camp Programme Coordinator and Protection and Community Services Coordinator proactively contribute to quality and timely monthly, quarterly and annual reports.

Staff development and management

• Provide technical and programmatic leadership for the DRC protection staff members and community based mechanisms in Rhino Camp operational area.
• Develop staff performance measurement and targets and appraise them based on the set targets, as needed.
• Conduct daily field visits to support field staffs - mentoring - through technical back stopping and to train duty bearers.
• Uphold DRC’s code of conduct and principles of accountability.

Logistics /Finance

• Support the Protection and Community Services Coordinator to monitor financial commitments and expenditures against budgets and provide timely feedback on budget follow ups.
• Initiate procurements and ensure their execution
• Plan and coordinate proactively logistics and movements of staff from and to different clusters.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Laws or any other related fields
• Professional legal at least 3-5 years’ experience Must have a good analytical approach, team player, hardworking, energetic and enthusiastic Able to perform well under pressure and tight deadline

Applications should be in English and include the following:

1. A cover letter (1 page) in which you explain why you are interested in the position and how you meet the qualities and qualifications criteria and salary expectations.
2. Concise and accurate CV (maximum 3 pages). The CV should include information about your qualification, relevant training courses, Work experience, name and contact details of 3 relevant references.

Please send your Cover letter, CV and Academic certificates by email toadministrator@drcuganda.orgby 21^st September 2017 5:00pm clearly indicating position name in the subject line.

We thank applicants for their interest in the position however; only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.