Protection Specialist - Legal Aid 

Duty Station [Sana’a or Aden]

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.
The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.
All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.
DRC has been operating in the Middle East (ME) region for over a decade, running a combination of emergency, livelihood, protection and advocacy programmes through Country Offices (COs) in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey with a Regional Office (RO) in Amman.

DRC Yemen’s response

Throughout its nine field offices and a workforce of 450 staff, DRC upholds its main programmatic objectives to provide immediate and life sustaining assistance, to strengthen the protective environment, and to reduce displacement related risks and vulnerabilities by promoting self-reliance at household and community level.

About the job

Overall Purpose of the role:

Under the supervision of the Protection Manager (Country Office), the protection Specialist - Legal Aid is responsible to oversee and provide technical guidance to DRC legal teams and its partners. To this end, the protection Specialist - Legal Aid  will support the harmonization and roll-out of legal tools and guidelines, quality assurance and reporting systems, strengthen legal referral pathways, and advance legal advocacy.

Responsibilities: 

Program Development

• Develop and review existing information materials regarding legal services, civil documentation, Housing, Land and Property (HLP), family law, and other relevant legal issues to DRC’s legal aid program.
• Under the supervision of the Protection Manager (Country Office), produce, roll out and adapt technical products based on identified needs, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and technical guidance notes.
• In collaboration with the Protection Manager (Country Office), make recommendations for the strategic direction and design of DRC’s legal aid program and drive innovative approaches to legal aid programming in Yemen.
• Based on identified gaps, develop tools and approaches to strengthen access to legal identity and HLP rights for diverse population groups, including women and marginalized groups.
• Feed into the Protection Strategy and proposal development by providing legal context analysis, prioritization of legal needs, and identifying appropriate interventions in line with community consultations.
• Framework to ensure harmonization of approaches, tools, and standards of legal aid activities (awareness, counselling, and assistance) amongst all field offices.
• Regularly and pro-actively monitor and analyze ongoing trends in Yemen and the region as related to legal programming, and provide regular updates and analysis on how it affects legal programming, including the monitoring of laws relevant to DRC’s protection program.
• Produce analytical reports to inform legal programming and document lessons learned from program implementation to feed into program adaptation and advocacy efforts.
• Support in the development of MEAL tools relevant to legal aid programming.

Technical Support and Capacity Building 

• Provide regular technical support and supervision to DRC’ legal teams.
• In coordination with Protection Project Managers and under the supervision of the Protection Manager (Country Office), assess training and development needs within the DRC and its partners' legal team members.
• Develop and implement the capacity building plan in coordination with the relevant colleagues.
• Provide technical support to area teams (as relevant) on the recruitment of legal staff roles.
• Develop and roll out a standardized induction package (for use by area teams) to ensure consistent information and standards on legal SOPs and tools are applied by new staff.
• Conduct field monitoring visits (including shadowing of teams) for job-coaching and support as well as to develop a thorough understanding of area-specific legal procedures and challenges for the DRC legal team.
• In collaboration with the Protection Project Manager at area levels, support DRC’s legal teams and its partners to achieve program objectives and targets.

Coordination and Representation 

• Represent DRC in relevant inter-agency coordination groups and technical committees, including the Legal Aid Working Group and HLP Working Group.
• Strengthen referral pathways within the Protection/legal program, with other DRC sectors, and external service providers to also ensure that legal assistance is mainstreamed across different areas of programming within DRC.
• Explore opportunities to strengthen programme integration with other sectors, including economic recovery/livelihoods sectors (e.g., labour law).
• Support identification and development of strategic partnerships on legal, in collaboration with the Partnership Coordinator, including the development of technical capacity-building plans.
• Support Protection Manager (Country Office) and Advocacy Coordinator in the development of position papers and other information products to inform response and advocacy.

Other

• Any other duties relating to the nature of the job as directed by the line manager.
• Maintain positive work relationship within the team, and promote team-building efforts in coordination with the line manager.
• Must adhere to DRC’s mission, values, code of conduct including respect for the principles of neutrality, do no harm and non-discrimination.
• Must treat all partners and beneficiaries with dignity and respect.

Experience and technical competencies:

About you:

Experience and technical competencies:  

• Minimum 4 years of proven professional legal experience in Yemen while being registered to the Yemeni Bar Association.
• Excellent understanding of the national legal framework related to refugees and national legal framework and policies related to civil status, family law, criminal law, employment law, and Housing Land and Property (HLP) law.
• Significant technical experience in Legal Aid Programming (including in the provision of legal counseling, and legal awareness raising).
• Experience interacting with judicial, security, and administrative authorities.
• Experience working in an international organization.
• Good understanding of humanitarian and do no harm principles.
• Excellent analytical and report-writing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct trainings on legal matters.
• Experience in coordination across agencies and sectors.
• Experience in internal and external representation.
• Demonstrated intercultural sensitivity and motivation.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to quickly develop good insight and understanding of the conflict, the human rights situation, and the political environment of the program country.
• Experience working in partnership with national/local NGOs and civil society organizations is essential.
• Ability to work in a deadline-driven environment and undertake a proactive approach.
• Willingness to travel regularly as needed.

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.  
• Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.  
• Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.  
• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.  
• Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

Education:

• Degree in Law.

 Languages:

• English (fluent)
• Arabic (native)

Key stakeholders: 

• Protection Manager (Country Office)
• Protection Project Manager
• Partnership Coordinator
• Protection Specialists
• DRC Legal Teams
• DRC Protection Teams
• Local authorities 

DRC Partners and relevant I/NGOsWe offer:

Contract length: 6 months contract, and renwal based on availability of funding.
Band: G- non-manager
Duty Station: Sana’a or Aden.
Start date: 15 Jan 2025
Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment.