ICLA Officer – NRC (Norwegian Refugee Council)
Legal
NRC (Norwegian Refugee Council)
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent, humanitarian, non-profit, non-governmental organization that provides assistance, protection, and durable solutions to refugees and internally displaced persons worldwide. The majority of our more than 4000 staff members are national employees in NRC’s projects in over 30 countries in Africa, Asia, America, and Europe.
The NRC Ethiopia program was established in June 2011 to assist Somali refugees in Dollo Ado and Eritrean refugees in Shire. NRC quickly became a leading shelter agency in Ethiopia and designed the government-approved transitional shelter for Dollo Ado beneficiaries. NRC is improving the living conditions of refugees in the selected camps through the provision of Shelter and Education (Youth Education Pack & Alternative Basic Education) while continuing to explore other relevant core competencies in line with emerging needs for refugees. NRC mainstreams gender and protection throughout all program activities and is an active, evidence-based advocate with a view to enhance the situation of NRC’s target groups.
Role and responsibilities
The purpose of the ICLA Officer position is to ensure the qualitative implementation of the Information, Counselling, and Legal Assistance (ICLA) programme in Bambasi, with a particular focus on implementing activities related to Housing, Land and Property (HLP), civil documentation and Identity documents issues. The following is a brief description of the role.
Generic responsibilities
- Ensure adherence with NRC policies, tools, handbooks and guidelines
- Implement delegated ICLA project portfolio according to plan of action
- Prepare and develop status reports as required by management
- Ensure proper filing of documents according to SSD policy
- Ensure that projects target beneficiaries most in need, and explore and asses new and better ways to assist
- Promote and share ideas for technical improvement
- Liaise and collaborate with relevant local authorities and other key stakeholders
Specific responsibilities
- Support and conduct research, assessment and studies under its portfolio, to inform information provided and guide counselling sessions with beneficiaries.
- Assess ICLA issues related to legal identity, civil documentation and housing, land and property (HLP) at 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
- 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
- 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.
- Responsible for monitoring and tracking the project deliverables and outcomes including preparation of reports in relation to budget, workplans and resources at field level.
Generic professional competencies:
- Minimum 3 years’ experience from working as a Project Officer in a humanitarian/recovery context
- Previous experience from working in complex and volatile contexts
- A University degree in law is a 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
- Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
- Fluency in English, both written and verbal
Context/ Specific skills, knowledge and experience:
- Good knowledge of the area and context in Benishangul Gumuz Region
· Strong communication, interpersonal, analytical and negotiation skills
- Some familiarity with laws, procedures and practices operative in the Benishangul Gumuz Region is an advantage, particularly laws and procedures related to Housing, Land and Property (HLP)
- Ability to prioritise responsibilities, carry out multiple tasks simultaneously, and meet deadlines
- Experience in working with government authorities
- 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 local languages is an advantage
Behavioural competencies
- Planning and delivering results
- Empowering and building trust
- Communicating with impact and respect
- Handling insecure environment
