Job Description

 Job Title: ICLA Officer 

 Reporting to:  ICLA Team Leader

 Supervision of: ICLA paralegals

Job Based at: BG-Metekel  with frequent travel to other field locations

Preferred Candidate: Only Female Candidates Resident at Assosa/ Metekel

All NRC employees are expected to work in accordance with the organization’s core values: dedication, innovation, inclusivity and accountability. These attitudes and beliefs shall guide our actions and relationships.

Role and responsibilities

The purpose of the officer position is to ensure the qualitative implementation of the Information, Counselling, and Legal Assistance (ICLA) programme in Metekel Zone, with a particular focus on implementing programming related to Housing, Property (HLP), civil documentation and Identity documents issues.

The ICLA officer is responsible for the implementation of project plans, policies and solutions. S/he contributes to issue resolutions, research and analysis activities and planning and day to day implementation of activities. The Legal Officers are responsible for assisting in monitoring and tracking the project deliverables and outcomes including preparation of highlight and checkpoints reports in relation to budget, schedule and resources at field level. This role also ensures compliance with methodologies, change management process, security policies, and quality assurance policies and procedures.

Generic responsibilities:

The following are key generic responsibilities:

• Ensure adherence to NRC policies and donor requirements
• Develop annual activity and work plans
• Promote and share ideas for improvement and necessary changes in activities
• Cooperate with relevant partners and local authorities
• Initiate and implement ICLA programming in the zones
• Ensure proper filing of all project documents
• Prepare and develop progress reports as required by management
• Ensure that projects target beneficiaries most in need, and explore and asses new and better ways to assist
• Demonstrate commitment to NRC’s mission, vision and value

Specific responsibilities

The basic specific responsibilities are as follow:

• Support and conduct researches, assessment and studies under its portfolio, to inform information provided and guide counselling sessions with beneficiaries.
• Assess ICLA issues (including HLP issues) in IDP sites as well as in return and/or relocation sites and work collaboratively with local authorities to address these issues
• Conduct Group Information Session to beneficiaries on issues and procedures that regulate enjoyment of civil documentation, identity documents and HLP rights, provide case specific counselling and/or legal assistance as required
• Assist beneficiaries to obtain documentation and/or corroborative evidence regarding land ownership and other legal identity documents.
• Provide facilitated negotiation and other CDR approaches to beneficiaries where disputes arise between them and other members of the community or local authorities
• Compile up-to-date information on relevant HLP laws, procedures, and practices.
• Help design and conduct legal identity, HLP, and CDR workshops with relevant stakeholders.
• Where relevant, ensure shelter stakeholders – i.e. NRC, displaced owners, displaced tenants and/or local authorities – understand and agree to enter into and abide by NRC’s Shelter agreements, and ensure that all documentation in relation to these agreements is available before implementation of shelter rehabilitation works
• Where relevant lead mobile group information sessions, designed to raise awareness and provide information to displaced persons and host community, on access to civil documentation, legal identity documents, and related issues.
• Provide beneficiaries who require more detailed information on civil documentation, legal identity documents, and related issues with mobile counselling services and technical assistance
• Undertake regular monitoring & evaluation of activities, and contribute to monthly progress reports on activities, highlighting any technical or operational successes
• Input and update beneficiary data into ICLA’s case management tools.
• Work with relevant line bureaus, local administration and other humanitarian organizations operating in the region to ensure effective targeting is done to select the most vulnerable beneficiaries.
• Adhere to ICLA policies, donor agreements, work plans, budgets and procurement plans.
• Adhere to NRC’s Human Resource, Financial, Logistics & Security policies and procedures, and coordinate with these support departments to ensure timely implementation of ICLA activities.
• Any other task relevant to the position as requested by the line manager.

Professional competencies

The skills, knowledge and experience that are expected from the position holder are as follow:

 Generic professional competencies:

• Experience from working in a humanitarian/recovery context
• Previous experience in the humanitarian sector in Beninshangul Gumuz is an asset
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
• Strong communication, interpersonal, analytical and negotiation skills
• Ability to prioritise responsibilities, carry out multiple tasks simultaneously, and meet deadlines

Job Requirements

Context/ Specific skills, knowledge and experience:

• A university degree in law is a very strong asset; a social sciences degree with a paralegal qualification and/or a background in protection related work may be considered in lieu of a law degree for exceptional candidates
• Some familiarity with laws, procedures and practices operative in the Somali region, particularly laws and procedures related to HLP.
• Some experience in working with government authorities and vulnerable beneficiaries
• Protection work experience with an INGO is an asset
• Proven skills and experience in case management and conflict resolution
• Advanced computer skills, especially in Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Amharic

How to Apply

All employees of the Norwegian Refugee Council should be able to adhere to our Codes of Conduct and the four organizational values: Dedicated, innovative, inclusive and accountable.

Interested candidates who meet the above criteria are invited to send in their application letters including updated curriculum vitae with day-time telephone number and contact details of three work-related referees only through www.ethiojobs.net and Work with us | NRC (If it is possible, attach photocopies of the most relevant educational certificates/testimonials). Applications should reach NRC latest by January 04, 2021 at 5:00 pm. 

NB: only shortlisted candidates shall be contacted.

“Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply and on-the-job training will be provided!