Position: Legal Officer (2)

Job Location: Marib (City-Al Wadi) at the community centers and in the field.

Duration of Assignment: 6 months( July-December2023)
Report to:  Activity Coordinator
Deadline: 06 July 2023

This position is open to internal applicants only. Applicants must be legally present in Marib at the time of application, recruitment, and hiring unless HA makes an online interview.

Background

Human Access for Partnership and Development (HUMAN ACCESS) is a non-governmental, independent, non-profit, humanitarian, developmental, charitable, voluntary, and community-based organization. It was established in March 1990 by an elite of volunteers and social personalities as a voluntary non-governmental organization that implements its programs, projects, and services according to periodic plans, a deliberate and renewed strategy, and a method of work based on the scientific methodology to be an effective link between donors and beneficiaries. Human Access is UNHCR’s implementing partner in Marib and other cities. HUMAN ACCESS is characterized by a strong and renewed relationship with development partners at home and abroad, and it has joint efforts with official and popular authorities. It is also distinguished by a tangible presence in many charitable and humanitarian events and activities. During its period of operation, which extends for about three decades, the association obtained several memberships in various organizations and bodies.

The association is a member of the Department of Public Information for the Non-Governmental Organizations of the United Nations (DPI-NGO), a member of the Arab Union for Voluntary Work, and an active and accredited partner to various international organizations, the most important of which are the World Food Program (WFP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

HUMAN ACCESS has also obtained membership in many local, Arab and international organizations and networks working in various fields of volunteer and humanitarian work. It in addition obtained the international quality certificate ISO 9001: 2008 as a culmination of its institutional work.

 This project is for IDPs and entitled:’Provision of life-saving protection services to IDPs and conflict-affected populations in Marib—-545’

Safeguarding at Human Access is committed to the community members we work with and the beneficiaries we serve. As part of this commitment, Human Access has zero tolerance for violations of our Code of Conduct (Sexual Abuse of Beneficiaries and Community Members (PSEA),  Child Safeguarding Policy,  PSEA Misconduct Policy, Discrimination, Harassment Policy, and Anti-Fraud and Corruption).

Equal Employment Opportunity

Human Access is an equal-opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact. 

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

The Position Summary

The main responsibility of Legal Counsellor is to provide legal support to persons in need, by implementing UNHCR IDP legal assistance program in accordance with relevant Standard Operating Procedures, standards and policies, with the aim of providing quality, timely and effective legal responses to the needs of populations of concern.

IDP legal assistance includes (a) legal awareness raising by sensitising displaced communities and families on their fundamental rights and procedures to access legal and civil services (particularly on family, civil and HLP matters such as evictions; (b) individual counselling, mediation and, if required, legal representation (non-criminal cases); (c) facilitation of issuance of ID documentation to IDPs and facilitating their access to other critical civil documentation such as birth certificates.

The legal counsellors will be stationed at a community centre or join mobile teams on rotational basis.

Main responsibilities:

  • Provide legal counselling and mediation support to IDPs on legal issues including family, civil and HLP matters (particularly evictions), civil status documentation;
  • Facilitate the issuance of legal documentation to IDPs; particularly, Identity Cards. This will include providing counselling to PoCs without IDs; compiling lists of individuals without IDs for submission to CRA;
  • Coordinating with local CRA branches, in line with the procedure agreed between UNHCR and central CRA and facilitate application and receipt of IDs at CRA branches;
  • Counselling and improving IDPs’ access to legal and civil documentation such as birth/death certificates and marriage/divorce documents;
  • Sensitize IDPs on their fundamental rights and procedures to access legal and civil services through legal awareness raising sessions in the Community Centres or via mobile activities;
  • Raise awareness of Protection Monitors, Community-Based Protection Networks (CBPNs) and other relevant staff members of the Community Centres on IDP’s fundamental rights and procedures to access legal remedies;
  • When necessary, provide legal representation to IDPs on family, civil and HLP matters (particularly evictions);
  • Provide support to case managers when legal issues arise;
  • Refer legal representation cases for criminal matters to the specialized agencies/NGOs/entities when required;
  • Liaise with local authorities and local communities to identify the most common legal issues pertaining to IDPs and their relation with hosting communities;
  • Compile monthly reports – along a suggested template by UNHCR - on the implementation status of the Legal assistance activities;
  • Keep the Protection Officer in the Community Centre and UNHCR FO protection staff informed of the development and challenges of the implementation of the legal assistance programme, regularly and in a timely manner;
  • Stay abreast of the local legal and protection context;
  • Criminal issues and/or custody issues will NOT be addressed and will be referred to the relevant partners or authorities for legal representation when required;

Working Modality:

 Legal assistance will be provided at the Community Centre as well as through field visits/mobile teams.

Required profile:

  • BSc. Degree in Law
  • Holds a license to practice law
  • Proven legal experience with minimum of 2 years, with qualification to represent clients in Court
  • Excellent analytical, negotiation, and communication skills
  • Administrative and managerial skills
  • Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information
  • Solid Computer skills and competency in word, Excel as a minimum
  • excellent Arabic language is essential and English preferable.

How to apply for the job

Click the link to fill out the form