Legal Officer

Founded in 1956, The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a humanitarian, non-governmental, non-profit organization providing direct assistance to conflict-affected populations – refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs) and host communities – in more than 40 countries around the world. DRC has been implementing emergency response projects in Tanzania since the onset of the Burundi refugee crisis in 2015 in three refugee camps in the Kigoma Region at the border with Burundi. DRC’s integrated projects for refugees, asylum seekers and host communities comprise sectors such as Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM), Protection (CBP, PSN, GBV, CP and Legal), Shelter and infrastructure, and Economic Recovery.

Overall purpose of the role:

The legal officer will provide litigation support to PoCs on humanitarian cases, assistance and offer legal analysis/training to refugees in urban area – Dar es Salaam. Will strengthen capacity of legal support in supporting legal practitioners representing POCs in need of international protection. Legal officer will work closely with legal assistant on raising awareness to POCs on child protection, GBV, refugees’ rights, child’s rights, help desk and juvenile court.

Main Responsibilities:

• Reviews domestic violence police reports and establishes contact with the victim(s) to check on their status/safety. Educates the victim(s) on the criminal process and the role of the legal criminal advocate.
• Provision of adhoc assistance for asylum seekers to facilitate transport, accommodation of PWS in Dar
• Ensure monthly cash assistance for urban refugees are prepared timely.
• Lead on PDM for cash assistance provided to refugees/asylum seeker who received cash.
• Acts as a liaison between the victim(s) in domestic violence criminal cases and the prosecutors and courts, coordinate interviews, meetings, court appearances and relay victim input.
• Represent POCs in mobile court, juvenile court, and planning visitation to prisoners Dae es Salaam.
• Drafting legal submission and making legal representation of PWS and community members during court sessions in cases of GBV and child protection.
• Making mediation and negotiation in cases such as card splitting, neighborhood conflict and family conflict.
• Assists PWS seeking orders for Protection and attends court hearings when needed.
• Performs crisis intervention advocacy and social service referrals when necessary and accompanies law                enforcement with follow-up calls on Assessment of GBV survivors.
• Work with other stakeholders to facilitate preparation and commemoration of international days.
• Serves as a link between the DRC and the judicial/legal communities.
• Providing legal advice, trainings on child labor and trafficking to PWS when litigating legal issues.
• In collaboration with case management officer, linking GBV survivors to psychosocial social support and livelihood opportunities.
• Take over any other task designated by the Manager, Protection Coordinator and Team Leader to ensure proper functioning of the Legal department.
• Ensure DRC’s accountability commitments are mainstreamed into all protection activities.
• Any other tasks required by his/her supervisors in the limit of his/her expertise.

About you

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
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• 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 our vision and values.

Qualifications and Experience

• Experience of more than two years in humanitarian context.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience working in INGO, with additional knowledge of human rights law and international refugees’ law.
• Able to work in challenging environment and meeting deadline.
• Flexible, team player and independent
• Technical understanding of core protection concepts, and response strategies in line with best practices.
• Experience working in protection in an integrated manner with other humanitarian sectors of intervention.
• Experience working with displaced or conflict affected populations.
• Strong planning, organizational and problem-solving skills with the ability to work both independently and within a team.
• Integrity, strong work ethic, and ability to consistently meet deadlines under pressure.
• Strong interpersonal skills and commitment to learning and implementing organizational policies and procedures.
• Full proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel.

Education

• University degree in Law, and certified legal officer.
• Must complete and pass the law school of Tanzania.

Languages:

• Excellent proficiency in written and spoken English and Swahili,
• knowledge of Kirundi is an advantage.

Position Information

Employment category: Grade H

Reporting to: Legal Team Leader

Technical line manager: Protection Manager

Direct reports: N/A

Unit/department: Protection

Location: Dar es Salaam

Key stakeholders: (internal and external)

• DRC Protection staff, refugees and donors
• Local Government (refugee camp) and host Community representatives.
• Community groups.
• Other NGOs and relief actors.
• MoHA, police, immigration

Providing equal opportunities  We are committed to creating an inclusive and positive work environment based on mutual respect for all employees. All applicants are considered for employment without attention to race, age, ability, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other factor. At DRC we celebrate diversity and appreciate our employees for the people they are and their unique skills, backgrounds, and perspectives. We encourage all interested candidates to apply.

DRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff within its programs. As such, we strongly encourage national and diaspora candidates to apply for this position. However, candidates should take into consideration that DRC cannot employ, under an international contract, a national of the country in which he or she will be working (in this case, the  United Republic of Tanzania)

Promoting high standards : DRC’s capacity to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, IDP’s and other persons of concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. DRC conducts thorough and comprehensive background checks as part of the recruitment process.