Uganda: Legal Officer

Job Description

Position Description

Title : Legal Officer

Category : Program

Location : Kiryandongo.

Date : 15^th January 2018.

Background

DRC is an International non-governmental organization, which promotes and supports durable solutions to the problems faced by refugees and internally displaced people all over the world.

In Uganda, DRC assists the refugees from neighboring countries mainly DR Congo and South Sudan in the South West, West and West Nile region of the country. DRC’s assistance to refugees have been both emergency assistance to address the short term influxes from the neighboring countries as well as to address the sustainable solutions for the refugees. DRC is also the lead of a Consortium (Save the Children, ZOA, and CEFORD) for implementation of an EU Trust Fund project in Adjumani, Kiryandongo and Rhino camp

Purpose

The main purpose of this position is to support the quality, timely implementation of legal assistance project activities in compliance with relevant rules, laws, instruments, and DRC standards and budgets.

Key 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
• 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 Area manager, 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.
• Provide technical support to staff members, linking DRC Kiryandongo’s programme to relevant international framework, conventions, and national legal documents and articles.
• Under the supervision of the Area manager/team leader, 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 optimize 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 the Area manager 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 Adjumani 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 Area manager 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.

Personal Specifications

Essential:

• A University degree in law, human rights or related fields
• A post graduate diploma in legal practice
• Minimum of four (4) years’ experience working with vulnerable communities, basic needs and distribution programming experience, and/or advocacy programmes.
• Experience of managing and supervising staff.
• Experience of working with UN or Non‐Governmental organizations.
• Good communication skills and ability to conduct training and awareness.
• Understanding of gender, protection and human rights.
• Computer skills.
• Good organizational and people management skills.

Preferable:

• Knowledge of the local languages spoken in the operation area is an asset.
• Familiarity with Monitoring & Evaluation for UN-funded projects desired.

Applications should be in English and include the following:

• 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

• 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 to administrator@drcuganda.org by 28^th January 2018 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.