Legal Protection Officer with a University degree in law and human rights

Job Title:    Protection Officer – Legal

Organisation: Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

Duty Station:  Uganda

Reports to:  Protection Team Leader

About US:

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a private, independent, humanitarian organization working on all aspects of the refugee cause in more than 36 countries throughout the world. The aim of DRC is to protect refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) against persecution and to promote durable solutions to the problems of forced migration, on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. DRC works in accordance with the UN Conventions on Refugees and the Code of Conduct for the ICRC and NGOs in Disaster Relief.

Job Summary:  The Protection Officer-Legal will support the quality, timely implementation of legal assistance project activities in compliance with DRC standards and budgets.

Key Duties 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
• 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 Team Leader, 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 Kiryandongo programme to relevant international framework, conventions, and national legal documents and articles.
• Under the supervision of the Protection 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 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 DRC Kiryandongo Protection Team Leader 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 Kiryandongo 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 Team Leader 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, Skills and Experience: 

• The ideal candidate for the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) Protection Officer – Legal job opportunity should hold a University degree in law, human rights or related fields
• A post graduate diploma in legal practice
• At least six (6) 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.
• Fluent English. Knowledge of the local languages spoken in the operation area is an asset.

How to Apply:

All candidates should apply online at the link below

Click Here

Deadline: 17^th January 2019