In 2003, DRC became one of the first organisations to provide humanitarian assistance in the country. Today, DRC continues to provide humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable displacement-affected families, including IDPs, returnees, and host communities in Basra, Baqubah, Jalawla, Gatoon, Baghdad, Muqdadiya, Balad, Aziz Balad, Samarra, Mosul, Duhok, Tel Afar, Baa’j, Sinjar, and Erbil.

Find more about DRC operations in Iraq here: Iraq | DRC Danish Refugee Council

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified candidate with the relevant experience and skills for the Protection Officer – Legal Aid role in Iraq.

About the job

• Under the supervision of the Protection Team Leader (Legal), Protection Officer (Legal) will be responsible for the provision of legal aid services, including legal information dissemination, counseling, assistance, and representation to beneficiaries in Anbar – Fallujah.
• Protection Officer (Legal) will also be responsible for maintaining case data within relevant legal trackers and databases, following up on referrals, and contributing to report inputs. Additionally, the role involves ensuring the quality of planning, implementation, and follow-up on legal services provided, and supporting the Protection Team Leader (Legal) in capacity building and providing technical support to Protection Assistants (Legal).

Responsibilities:

Programming and operations

• 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).
• Disseminate accurate and impartial information to the beneficiaries through group awareness sessions in DRC’s operation areas.
• Undertake individual sessions providing legal information, legal representation and legal counseling as per the established work plan.
• Conduct legal protection discussions with varied target groups – using an age, and diversity perspective.
• Provide legal documentation services through (CAD), including issuing IDs and birth certificates.
• Conduct field visits to assess the legal protection needs and concerns of the target population, with attention to people with specific needs.
• Identify and refer Extremely Vulnerable Individuals and People with Specific Protection Needs for assistance according to DRC pre-defined criteria.
• Conduct field visits to identify local NGOs, INGOs, social centers, and local institutions providing support to the local population to establish a mapping of existing services.
• Keep case files up to date to ensure quality and accuracy of the information, following DRC Standard Operating Procedures and ensuring beneficiary’s data are protected.
• Remain up to date on legal procedure and policy developments, update guideline documents as needed.
• Maintain the legal database updated and consistent and support the data analysis of legal case data in a safe and ethical manner.
• 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, undertake 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 locations and provide input for an up-to-date service mapping of the service providers operating in the area.
• Lead in selecting volunteers to be community mediators and provide technical training on ADR according to ADR SOPs.
• Follow up with Protection Assistants regarding ADR activities to keep track of ADR sessions and provide them with regular technical support.
• Lead on induction and initial protection training of newly recruited Protection Assistants (Legal Aid).
• Train and supervise the work of Protection Assistants (legal aid), ensuring accuracy, quality, and timeliness.
• Participate in internal and external training, as requested by the Protection Team Leader (Legal).
• Conduct capacity building activities of community groups, officials, civil society organizations and local NGOs.
• Draft team workplan based on urgency and prioritization criteria, and in coordination with other protection teams.
• Provide and submit monthly or weekly work plans for Legal Assistants to Protection Team Leader (Legal).
• Provide feedback to Protection Team Leader on protection issues, trends, risk and gaps in response to continuously improve service delivery.

Coordination and representation

• Maintaining effective working relationship with relevant stakeholders including relevant legal entities (CAD, courts, etc.), local government institutions/municipalities, (I)NGOs, community leaders and service providers; report any changes to these relationships/policies to Team Leaders.
• In coordination with the other team members, regularly brief and report to Protection Team Leader on coordination and representation efforts.
• Remain up to date on legal procedure and policy developments, providing Legal officer with situation reports as needed.
• Maintain up-to-date mapping of the service providers operating in the area and when necessary, coordinate with the Case Management team and CBP/PSS team.

Logistics/Finance/MEAL

• Plan and coordinate proactively logistics and movements of staff from and to different operational areas. Support protection assistants (legal) with financial procedures (cash advances, settlements, documentation) required during implementation.
• Ensure all legal aid activities are recorded and documented accurately and in a timely fashion on DRC Iraq’s IM system.
• Maintain up to date legal aid case files, oversight of legal tracker (if designated legal focal point) and ensure information management principles are respected at all times.

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 policy and 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 Team Leader.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have at least 2 years of relevant experience. Moreover, we also expect the following:

Essential:

• Minimum 2 years of relevant work experience in the legal sector, with experience in personal status law, Labor law & workers’ rights.
• Prior experience or familiarity working with persons of concern (including internally displaced persons, returnees and refugees).
• 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.
• Candidates with contextual understanding and legal experience will be given preference over English language requirements.

Desirable

Education:

• University Degree in Law and member or Iraqi bar association

Languages:

• Fluency in Arabic;
• Ability to communicate and write in English.

Key stakeholders: (internal and external)

• DRC staff
• Persons of concerns.
• Other actors working staff.

Location: Anbar – Fallujah subdistrict with moving to surrounding area .

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 uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

WE OFFER

• Contract Length: Untill 30 April 2025
• Salary Band: H (non-management)
• Start Date: 1 November 2024
• Comprehensive health insurance for staff, spouse, and up to two children under 18.
• Personal Accident insurance coverage in the event of work-related accidents during working hours.
• Psychosocial support for staff and family members.
• Learning & Development opportunities for professional growth.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for National Staff.

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 31 August 2024

Note: Females are strongly encouraged to apply

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo.