Introduction
DRC is an international non-governmental organisation, which promotes and supports durable solutions for refugees and internally displaced people in more than 30 countries world-wide.
DRC has established an operation in Pakistan in December 2010 in order to contribute to the flood recovery response, as well as part of a regional program addressing Afghan displacement in close coordination with its programmes in Afghanistan, Iran and Tajikistan. DRC office in Pakistan is established in Peshawar with approximately 50 national and international staff.
Programme components include support to Afghan refugees through Protection and Livelihood activities. DRC has a long-term view to its programming in Pakistan and expects to grow significantly in a relatively short period. The current DRC projects are funded by international recognised donors such as ECHO.
Position Summary
The Legal Officer will provide legal assistance and advice to refugees in urban and rural settings in DRC areas of operation. This will include, but is not limited to, refugee status; resettlement procedures; voluntary repatriation; and other legal stay arrangements. All activities will be conducted in a accountable manner in line with DRC’s Code of Conduct and in accordance with the implementation of the organisation’s wider protection activities.
Organisational Position
The Legal Officer will be based in a Legal Clinic in Hazara Division and will work as part of the Protection team under the direct supervision of a Project Coordinator. The position may also require some travel to the field.
Responsibilities and Tasks
- Provide legal advice and assistance to Afghan refugees; including but not limited to refugee status; resettlement procedures; voluntary repatriation; and other legal stay arrangements through individual legal counselling, and referral of legal documentation cases to relevant bodies
- Follow up on individual protection cases with partner organisations
- Maintain good working relations with implementing partners, INGOs, NGOs and UN agencies, and government authorities
- Conduct legal research as required
- Ensure the highest standards of integrity and confidentiality when working with individual protection cases and sensitive information, including the access and storage of documentation
- Provide interpretation and translation support of legal documents as required
- Write activity reports including legal analysis
- Deliver trainings on human rights; asylum law; refugee status; resettlement; and other legal issues pertaining to the refugee situation to relevant stakeholders and duty bearers
- Prepare protection information in user-friendly formats for communities and stakeholders
- Assist in the planning, design and implementation of protection awareness-raising activities for refugees, communities and NGOs, in consultation with the target audience and Protection team
- Accurately and responsibly document information and share with appropriate partners, including UNHCR and ECHO, with approval of senior management
- Work within an agreed work plan and ensure timely attention to priority tasks
- Ensure compliance with M&E tools and strategy
- Play an active role in developing new protection strategies within the organisation
- Perform any other protection duties as required,
- Provide advice and assistance to DRC protection team to ensure that all activities are conducted within international and human rights framework.
- Keep up to date with legal developments regarding refugees in Pakistan and the wider region including Afghanistan when relevant,
- Provide interpretation and translation support of legal documents as required
- Write activity reports including legal analysis
- Deliver trainings on human rights; asylum law; refugee status; resettlement; and other legal issues pertaining to the refugee situation to relevant stakeholders and duty bearers
- Prepare protection information in user-friendly formats for communities and stakeholders
- Assist in the planning, design and implementation of protection awareness-raising activities for refugees, communities and NGOs, in consultation with the target audience and Protection team
- Accurately and responsibly document information and share with appropriate partners, including UNHCR and ECHO, with approval of senior management
- Work within an agreed work plan and ensure timely attention to priority tasks
- Ensure compliance with M&E tools and strategy
- Play an active role in developing new protection strategies within the organisation
- Perform any other protection duties as required.
NOTE:
Female potential candidates from Hazara division with knowledge and Pashto language (speaking,listening/understanding) skills will be given preference.
Only shortlisted candidates will be called for Test/Interview.
No TA/DA will be admissible to the candidates called for Test/Interview.
| Education |
Must |
Degree |
Degree Level |
Country |
Description |
 | LLB/LLM | Masters Degree | Pakistan | Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in social sector |
| Skills |
| Must |
Title |
Level |
Description |
| Skill, Knowledge and Experience | Excellent | Interpersonal and Management Skills,
Communication and Report Writing Skills,
Command on MSOffice and other Comouter Softwares,
Experience of working within the context of human rights and refugee law,
Understanding of displacement context and previous experience working with displaced communities,
Prior experience working protection issues at the community level,
Knowledge and skills of Pashto language (speaking, listening, understanding). |