Protection Officer - GBV Legal Officer

Reference Number: 173367

About Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

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 GBV Legal Officer will ensure that the GBV survivors receive the proper legal assistance including case management, legal counseling, legal awareness, and legal aid in the court of law based in Nyarugusu Camp. The GBV legal officer will work under the direct supervision of the GBV Team Leader and the guidance and support of the Protection Coordinator and Protection Manager. The role also involves liaising with stakeholders, including law enforcement, judiciary bodies, and community structures to enhance access to justice for survivors. She/he will work closely with other GBV team members, DRC sectors, and implementing partners. The position reports to the GBV Team leader.

Responsibilities and Tasks

Program Responsibilities

• Adhere to GBV guiding principles to ensure the safety of the survivors and their children; and staff involved at all times, respect the confidentiality of the information provided by GBV survivors if using interpreters, interpreters must be trained on respecting confidentiality, and conduct interviews in private settings. Maintain a non-judgmental manner and respect the survivor's decision.
• Provide legal counseling for GBV survivors regarding potential avenues of legal response; Respect the right to be informed on the details of the legal procedures, including available options, time frame, and the consequences.
• Provide and facilitate legal access to all GBV Survivors who opt for legal action including accompanying and escorting GBV Survivors to Police stations and Court whenever requested i.e. by ensuring GBV Survivors and witnesses summoned to court attend court sessions; Respect the right to legal aid, including the right to refuse legal aid at any time prior or -depending on the type of the crime committed- during the legal process.
• Coordinate with the Prosecutor, pre-court legal counseling, and preparation support to GBV Survivors, witnesses, and medical experts before court sessions i.e. District Courts, Primary Courts.
• Continually update the GBV Psychosocial Officer about the survivors’ case and link the survivor with the caseworker for ongoing psychosocial support or referral to additional services.
• Monitor GBV survivor’s overall security risk as a result of pursuing legal action; ensure the survivor is protected against any risks of further offense that the alleged offender may cause and link the survivor with the Psychosocial Officer / GBV Case Workers to provide adequate response/referral to ensure needs and security concerns of the survivors are met.
• In collaboration with the GBV Team leader and Protection coordinator monitor the situation of the survivor even after the finalization of legal proceedings to prevent retaliation or secondary victimization at the hands of the perpetrator, the perpetrator’s family, or friends, as well as address stigmatization by the community.
• Conduct different trainings for different groups in the camp on Tanzanian and international law, as it relates to women and girl’s protection from GBV to the Police, Community watch team, women’s representatives, Zone Leaders, religious leaders, other community representatives, service providers and implementing partners.
• Conduct legal information dissemination or other targeted legal activity in different zones in the camp to increase awareness of preventing and responding to GBV incidents.

Data Collection and Reporting

• Monitor all cases sent to court by using a tracking system as well as follow-up.
• Contributing to developing, drafting, and updating legal guidelines, and training materials on GBV related to Tanzanian law and/or international law.
• Ensure proper and safe legal documentation, case information, data security, and storage. Utilization of GBVIMS consent form, legal intake form, and action plan. All forms must be used accurately and appropriately, strictly follow data protection protocol and confidentiality, and maintain confidentiality concerning client information at all times.
• Track indicators and analyze data on all legal counseling, and legal access, including those where legal action is not pursued or has been pursued but subsequently failed.
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• Prepare and submit timely and quality monthly and weekly, donor reports as per the donor requirements, including assisting in proposal input on access to justice gaps, and needs.
• Support and work closely with the GBV Team leader on program data collection.

Coordination

• Following up on cases with law enforcement bodies to ensure that the rights of the survivor are promoted and protected throughout the legal process,
• Advocate with court officials where there are gaps in dispensing the justice system,
• Link and coordinate with other service providers to ensure integrated approaches to access to justices e.g. TRCS, MSF, Judiciary, etc.
• Participate in coordination meetings with Legal actors to smoothen the process of access to legal justices for GBV Survivors, including conducting weekly meetings with Gender and Child Desk Police, SGBV WG, and CP WG to build capacities on survivor centers while handling cases.
• Supervise and capacitate paralegal refugee staff including GBV and Tanzania Law through training, daily mentoring, and weekly meetings, including managing refugee staff planning and budgeting.

Experience and Technical Competencies

• At least 3 years of relevant work experience
• Having experience working in a humanitarian context will be an advantage
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and respect for people with specific needs and other vulnerabilities.
• Ability to work in a multicultural context as a flexible and respectful team player.
• Ability to provide technical support, training, and supervision to Assistants.
• Excellent writing, reporting, and analytical skills.
• Excellent organizational and planning skills as well as communication and interpersonal skills.
• Punctuality and respect for applicable rules and procedures.
• Self-motivation, goal/result-orientation and teamwork.
• Flexibility, creativeness, tolerance and maturity;
• Computer/IT literacy (OS Windows, MS (Word, Excel in particular), etc

Education

Bachelor's degree in law from a recognized University

Languages

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

Information

Employment category: Band H
Reporting to: Protection Legal Team Leader
Technical Line Manager:Protection Manager
Direct report: N/A
Unit/department: Protection
Location: Nyarugusu/Kasulu
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

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s 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 our vision and values.

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.

Application and CV

Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications, sent together with a CV, will be considered. DRC only accepts applications sent via our online-application form on www.drc.ngo under JOB.