ICLA Officer (Housing, Land & Property) at Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a non-governmental, humanitarian organization with 60 years of experience in helping to create a safer and more dignified life for refugees and internally displaced people. NRC advocates for the rights of displaced populations and offers assistance within the shelter, emergency food security, and water, sanitation and hygiene sectors.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: ICLA Officer (Housing, Land & Property)

Job Identification: 16072
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Employment Type: Contract
Job Category: Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance
Duration of contract: 3 Months (Renewable)
Grade Level: Grade 5 in NRC's grading structure
Reporting line: ICLA Coordinator

Responsibilities
Generic:

• Ensure adherence with NRC policies, tools, handbooks and guidelines
• Implement delegated CC projects according to plan of action
• Ensure that project targets beneficiaries most in need, and explore and asses new and better ways to assist
• Promote and share ideas for technical improvement
• Actively facilitate and maintain Liaison and collaboration with relevant local and national authorities and stakeholders and represent NRC in relevant forums/cluster/working groups.
• Promote the rights of IDPs/returnees in line with the advocacy strategy 
• Involve and inform communities and community leaders about the activities to ensure accountability. 
• Break down the annual operational plans into weekly, monthly and quarterly implementation plans
• Prepare periodic progress reports and other documents as required
• Perform any other professional duties as requested by the ICLA Coordinators, ICLA Team Leaders,  ICLA PDM and ICLA Specialist.

Specific:

• Facilitate the Provision of HLP legal assistance i.e. HLP title documents, HLP documentation for shelter rehabilitation beneficiaries, Cash for rent beneficiaries, FSL, WASH and other Co-competencies.  
• Negotiate access to land and HLP dispute arising from interventions with landowners or local authorities to realize beneficiaries’ housing, land and property rights.
• Review and outline legal and policy frameworks governing HLP rights of displaced persons, returnees and host communities from a domestic legal perspective. Compile up-to-date information on relevant HLP laws, procedures, and practices.
• Outline the normative framework of international, regional, and national policy on HLP rights as applicable to Northeast Nigeria.
• Identify and document specific challenges facing IDPs, returnees and host communities in exercising their HLP rights. This includes gender, age, diversity issues and how they relate to HLP violations.
• Map HLP issues in areas of return providing an overview of the nature of issues, the effects, who is affected and the current response considering IDPs, returnees, and host communities. Conduct field visits to capture the views of beneficiaries including women and of key stakeholders (statutory, customary, and religious authorities, protection actors, etc.).
• Provide recommendations to effectively protect HLP rights of IDPs and host communities as well as to address programmatic gaps for NRC to address HLP issues affecting displaced and host communities.
• Advocate for recognition of the HLP rights of displaced persons particularly security of tenure - when engaging with building owners, local authorities and humanitarian partners.
• Conduct HLP and eviction monitoring to ensure ongoing security of tenure for beneficiaries.
• Work with the M&E team to undertake assessments & evaluation of HLP activities, and contribute to monthly progress reports on activities on the activity info 5Ws platform of the PSNE, highlighting any technical or operational successes.
• Support the HLP AoR Coordinator in procurements, logistics and taking minutes of HLP monthly meetings/sharing minutes of meetings.  
• Support and integrate gender, protection and advocacy priorities into ICLA programme design
• Contribute to the development of the ICLA strategy, technical SOPs / guidelines and Macro LFAs for Nigeria
• Contribute to the development of funding proposal, project budgets and donor reports 
• Contribute to coordination  and management of the  ICLA project implementation (activities, budget and project documentation) in line with proposals, strategies and donor requirement
• Work closely with Technical Assistants and ensure transfer of relevant skills for quality program implementation
• Implement the legal assistance programs including HLP , CDR and identity documentation activities innovatively to adapt to location and context, in line with proposals, strategies and donor requirements and optimise opportunities for synergies
• Contribute to the planning procedures and tools for implementation of ICLA projects in line with proposals, strategies and donor requirements
• Document project achievements and deliverables 
• Provide technical assistance to the ICLA Program Development Manager and contribute to the development of a quality ICLA program in line with the Nigerian context.
• Carry out any other duties as assigned as are necessary.

Qualifications
Generic professional competencies:

• Must possess a Bachelor of Law Degree and must have been called to the Nigerian Bar (be able to practice as a lawyer in Nigeria) and be conversant with international humanitarian and Human Rights law 
• Experience from working in a humanitarian context, especially legal experience is valued
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
• Minimum 3 years’ experience from practice as a lawyer and experience from working in the field of humanitarian assistance is an advantage.
• Must have a good knowledge of the laws and policies governing HLP issues and Identity documentation.
• Excellent communication skills - written and spoken - in English required. 
• Fluency in one or more of the national/regional languages (Hausa and Kanuri preferred)
• Must be willing to work as a team member, take direction, and share technical skills with colleagues and counterparts
• Computer literacy in word processing and spreadsheets is required, 
• Must be able to work under pressure.

Context / Specific skills, knowledge and experience:

• Knowledge of the context in Nigeria
• Experience with humanitarian activities.

What’s in it for you?
Join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility:

• At NRC we think creatively. We encourage ideas and give responsibility to all employees at all levels, to help solve the complex issues that we face.
• You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative. 
• Learn on the job: NRC's collaborative working style favours the exchange of good practice and lessons learnt. At NRC, employees learn on the job and are encouraged to look for opportunities to develop new competencies.
• NRC managers prioritise the quality work and the competency development of their staff. This entails giving newcomers a good start, following up, training and mentoring employees to allow them to perform well in their current job, and offering learning and development programmes.

Application Closing Date
30th September, 2024 (03:27 PM).

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• This position is open to Nigeria Nationals only. 
• We invite applications from all qualified and interested candidates.
• Candidates are encouraged to apply early, as applications may be screened prior to the vacancy deadline.
• Female candidates are strongly advised to apply.