Launched in February 2019, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Feteh (Justice) Activity in Ethiopia provides flexible, rapid technical assistance response to its Ethiopian partners in the process of legal and judicial reform. Feteh’s partners include the Federal and Regional Attorney General’s Offices; the Federal and Regional Supreme Courts; the House of Peoples’ Representatives; constitutionally mandated democratic and human rights institutions such as the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, the Ethiopian Institution of the Ombudsman and the Public Defender’s Office; civil society organizations, legal and academic institutions, and the media.

Background

With Feteh’s financial and technical support, the Ethiopian Law Schools’ Association (ELSA) was established and registered on August 18, 2021, to foster cooperation between law schools and to create an open and independent forum for experience sharing and taking actions to strengthen legal education in Ethiopia. ELSA’s consolidation will contribute to the development and improvement of Ethiopian law schools, as well as the overall state of legal education in the country. In accordance with its annual work plan, Feteh intends to recruit a qualified Project Officer to support ELSA in establishing its office and staffing, and managing its projects.

Assignment

The main objective of this short-term consultancy is to strengthen ELSA’s technical and human capacities to effectively implement projects. Based on ELSA’s specific request, Feteh intends to engage a local consultant who will be seconded as Project Officer to lead and coordinate the establishment of ELSA’s office, and staffing, and to manage its projects.

Tasks

The Project Officer, under the overall guidance of the Chairperson of ELSA’s Executive Committee, will perform the following activities:

• Plan, organize, lead, monitor and implement all ELSA’s activities;
• Lead and coordinate the development of ELSA’s program design, strategy, and implementation plans;
• Lead and coordinate the preparation of ELSA’s project proposals and project implementation;
• Organize ELSA’s annual general meeting, quarterly executive committee meetings, and other meetings as ELSA deems necessary;
• Develop the human resources’ handbook, and the finance, procurement and property administration manuals of ELSA;
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with ELSA’s partners and stakeholders, and nurture effective strategic partnerships to identify any changes in priorities, new reform initiatives and strategies to implement ELSA’s objectives;
• Establish and maintain collaboration/partnership with relevant stakeholders, including government institutions, civil society organizations, media, private sector, development partners and other partners;
• Ensure that appropriate systems and working procedures are in place for the implementation of ELSA’s objectives;
• Manage and coordinate any ELSA staff under his/her supervision;
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and yearly reports for ELSA; and
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Committee of ELSA.

Deliverables

• Monthly, quarterly and yearly reports.
• Project proposals on priority areas identified by ELSA.
• Human Resource Handbook.
• Finance, Procurement and Property Administration Manuals.
• Minutes of ELSA’s meetings, consultations, notes and outcome statements.
• Communication materials reviewed and/or developed.

Supervision

The Project Officer will work full time under the direct supervision of the Chairperson of ELSA’s Executive Committee while carrying out this assignment, and will contractually report to Feteh’s Chief of Party and Deputy Chief of Party during this assignment.

Level of Effort

Subject to USAID approval, the Level of Effort for this short-term consultancy will be an initial period of six (6) months, with a possibility of extension for an additional period of six (6) months subject to commendable performance during the first 6-month engagement. The authorized work week is five (5) days per week and eight (8) hours a day.

Location 

The Project Officer will work at ELSA’s Head Office in Addis Ababa, with travel outside of Addis Abeba as required. 

Job Requirements

Education

Law degree, and preferably also an LLM degree.

Experience

At least 8 years of progressively responsible experience in legal education

Other Requirements

• Very good background in project management and relevant experience in supporting institutional capacity building activities
• Broad understanding of the Ethiopian legal system and current reform initiatives in the country
• Excellent interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to cultivate relationships with relevant Ethiopian government institutions
• High degree of organization, professionalism, integrity, trustworthiness and flexibility
• Computer literate
• Fluency in Both written and spoken Amharic and English

How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants can apply through CLICK HERE