Protection Assistant- Legal - Baa'j

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DRC - Danish Refugee Council

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Application deadline 1 year ago: Monday 22 Aug 2022 at 23:59 UTC

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Contract

This is a DRC - National contract. More about DRC - National contracts.

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency. DRC has been operating in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for over a decade, running a combination of emergency, livelihood, protection and advocacy programmes through Country Offices (COs) in Algeria, Libya/Tunisia, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey with a Regional Office (RO) in Amman. DRC has 17 offices and approximately one thousand staff members across the MENA region. Following an internal HQ restructuring, from 1st January 2018 the region is focusing on the Middle East, hence Algeria, Tunisia and Libya will transition to a new region during the course of 2018, while Yemen will join the Middle East region.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies: Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback. Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation. Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly. Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with DRC’s vision.

Overall purpose of the role:

  • Provision of legal aid services including legal information dissemination, counselling, assistance, and representation to beneficiaries in Baaj.
  • The Protection Assistant (legal) will also be responsible for maintaining their case data within relevant legal trackers and databases, following up on referrals, and contributing report inputs.
  • Assist the Protection Officer -Legal in ensuring quality of the planning, implementation and follow up on legal services provided.

Geographic scope: Baaj (Iraq)

This role has a focus on Baaj and ensures compliance to DRC procedures and guidelines within DRC Iraq and Tel Afar area office. The role contributes to the implementation of protection strategies in Baaj, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks.

Responsibilities:

Technical

  • Provide legal services, in line with DRC Iraq guidance and standard operating procedure (SOP) to community members of different ages (youth, adults and older persons), sex (men and women) and abilities (including people with disabilities).
  • At all times, respect information management principles and guiding protection principles to ensure the confidentiality and quality of services provided.
  • Disseminate accurate and impartial information to the beneficiaries through individual counselling, collective/group sessions, advisories, and leaflets.
  • Identification of people in need of individual legal aid (legal counseling or legal representation) and ensure timely response, through static and mobile activities (as relevant).
  • Identification of vulnerable people in need of individual protection support (case management and/or individual protection assistance), ensure timely referral and coordinate on multidisciplinary response.
  • Report urgent and high-risk cases to Protection Officer (legal) and Protection Team Leader (legal)
  • Undertake individual sessions providing legal information and legal counseling as per the established work plan.
  • Provide legal representative services to qualifying individuals, including for civil documentation and housing, land, and property issues. Where appropriate and agreed with the Team Leader, support local advocacy and mediation for the mutual resolution of legal cases (e.g. eviction threats, property disputes).
  • Assess whether selected beneficiaries qualify for financial assistance under the legal aid program fund to cover costs related to resolving legal issues.
  • Update and maintain legal case files on individual developments, ensuring the timely entry of accurate data, following DRC Standard Operating Procedures and ensuring clients’ data and confidentiality are protected.
  • Conduct regular visits to targeted field location and provide inputs for an up-to-date service mapping of the service providers operating in the area.
  • Participate in internal and external trainings, as requested by the Protection Officer (legal aid) and Protection Team Leader.
  • Support capacity building activities of community groups, civil society organizations and local NGOs.
  • Assist Protection Team Leader and Officer in maintaining constructive relationships with relevant legal entities (CAD, courts, etc.), local government institutions, and other local service providers, in coordination with the other team members; report any changes to these relationships/policies to Team Leaders.
  • Remain up-to-date on legal procedure and policy developments, providing Legal officer with situation reports as needed.

Administrative

  • Ensure all legal aid activities are recorded and documented accurately and in a timely fashion on DRC Iraq’s IM system.
  • Maintain legal aid case files up to date and ensure information management principles are respected at all times.
  • Provide inputs to internal/external reports at the request of the Protection Team Leader and Project Manager – Protection, or to support evidence-based advocacy initiatives.
  • Support MEAL team with implementation of evaluations and surveys.
  • Produce activity reports as required by Protection Officer (legal aid).
  • Support Protection Officer (legal aid) with administrative tasks including purchase requests to supply chain.

Other

  • Ensure compliance with DRC guidelines and policies on HR, admin, finance, and supply.
  • Ensure adherence to DRC national staff policy guidelines and Code of Conduct.
  • Ensure compliance with DRC AGD policy and AGD programmatic minimum standards.
  • Ensuring compliance with the zero-tolerance to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policy.
  • Perform any other relevant tasks as requested by the Protection Officer (legal) and Protection Team Leader.

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience)

  • Minimum 1 year of relevant work experience in the legal sector, with experience in Companies law, Labor law & workers' rights. Internship/work experience accrued during legal studies is also accepted.
  • Experience in working with NGOs is preferred.
  • Experience in facilitation of legal awareness session and the delivery of legal counseling to vulnerable groups is preferred.
  • Understanding of protection principles, protection minimum standards
  • Excellent IT skills (Microsoft Excel, Outlook, Word and PowerPoint)
  • Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality and always prioritize the safety and dignity of beneficiaries.
  • Ability to work flexible hours.
  • Fluency in Arabic; Ability to communicate and write in English.
  • Candidates with contextual understanding and legal experience will be given preference over English language requirements.

Education: (include certificates, licenses etc.)

University Degree in Law

Languages: (indicate fluency level)

  • Arabic
  • English is asset

    Key stakeholders: (internal and external)

  • DRC staff

  • Persons of concerns.
  • Other actors working staff.

We offer Contract length: 8 months (with the possibility of extension) Salary Band: I Start date: 1st of Sep, 2022. Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Nationals; please refer to drc.ngo under Vacancies. .

DRC Iraq is committed to promoting inclusive work environment according to our Age, Gender and Diversity approach (AGD). We aim to have more diversified leadership structure creating opportunities for qualified women to take on managerial roles. We also continuously work to make our workplace more accessible for persons with specific needs. We offer benefits related to psychosocial support, health insurance, maternity, paternity leave, child sick leave and lactation break. As part of our commitment to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion, we strongly encourage applications from female candidates, persons living with disability, as well as representatives of minorities.

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: drc.ngo