All NRC employees are expected to work in accordance with the organization’s core values: dedication, innovation, inclusivity and accountability. These attitudes and believes shall guide our actions and relationships. 

Roles & Responsibilities:

The purpose of the officer position is to assist with day-to-day implementation of the Information, Counselling, and Legal Assistance (ICLA) programme in the Somali region, with a particular focus on implementing programming related to Housing, Land, and Property (HLP) and legal identity and civil documentation issues.

Generic responsibilities

• Ensure adherence to NRC policies and donor requirements
• Develop annual activity and work plans
• Promote and share ideas for improvement and necessary changes in activities
• Cooperate with relevant partners and local authorities
• Initiate and implement HLP programming in the Somali region
• Ensure proper filing of all project documents
• Prepare and develop progress reports as required by management
• Ensure that projects target beneficiaries most in need, and explore and asses new and better ways to assist
• Demonstrate commitment to NRC’s mission, vision and value

Specific Responsibilities

• Conduct a legal analysis of HLP issues in the Somali region to inform information provided and guide counselling seeions with beneficiaries.
• Assess HLP and legal identity and civil documentation issues in IDP sites as well as in return and/or relocation sites and work collaboratively with local authorities to address these HLP issues
• Conduct Group Information Session to beneficiaries on issues and procedures that regulate enjoyment of HLP rights and legal identity and civil documentation provide case specific counselling and/or legal assistance as required
• Assist beneficiaries to obtain documentation and/or corroborative evidence regarding land ownership and other legal identity documents.
• Provide facilitated negotiation and other CDR approaches to beneficiaries where disputes arise between them and other members of the community or local authorities

• Compile up-to-date information on relevant HLP laws, procedures, and practices.
• Help design and conduct legal identity, HLP, and CDR workshops with relevant stakeholders.
• Where relevant, ensure shelter stakeholders – i.e. NRC, displaced owners, displaced tenants and/or local authorities – understand and agree to enter into and abide by NRC’s Shelter agreements, and ensure that all documentation in relation to these agreements is available before implementation of shelter rehabilitation works
• Where relevant lead mobile group information sessions, designed to raise awareness and provide information to displaced persons and host community, on access to civil documentation, legal identity documents, and related issues.
• Provide beneficiaries who require more detailed information on civil documentation, legal identity documents, and related issues with mobile counselling services and technical assistance
• Undertake regular monitoring & evaluation of activities, and contribute to monthly progress reports on activities, highlighting any technical or operational successes
• Input and update beneficiary data into ICLA’s case management tools.
• Work with relevant line bureaus, local administration and other humanitarian organizations operating in the region to ensure effective targeting is done to select the most vulnerable beneficiaries.
• Adhere to ICLA policies, donor agreements, work plans, budgets and procurement plans.
• Adhere to NRC’s Human Resource, Financial, Logistics & Security policies and procedures, and coordinate with these support departments to ensure timely implementation of ICLA activities.
• Any other task relevant to the position as requested by the line manager.

Generic Professional competencies

• Experience from working in a humanitarian/recovery context
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
• Strong communication, interpersonal, analytical and negotiation skills
• Ability to prioritise responsibilities, carry out multiple tasks simultaneously, and meet deadlines

Context/ Specific skills, knowledge and experience

• A university degree in law is a very strong asset; a social sciences degree with a paralegal qualification and/or a background in protection related work may be considered in lieu of a law degree for exceptional candidates
• Minimum 3 years relevant work experience.
• Some familiarity with laws, procedures and practices operative in the Somali region, particularly laws and procedures related to HLP.
• Some experience in working with government authorities and vulnerable beneficiaries
• Protection work experience with an INGO is an asset
• Proven skills and experience in case management and conflict resolution
• Advanced computer skills, especially in Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Somali.

 Behavioral competencies

• Diplomatic
• Ability to work under pressure and with limited supervision in a challenging environment
• Pro-active, goal-oriented and results driven
• Flexible and creative
• Excellent communication skills
• A sense of humor