NRC recruits 01 ICLA Specialist Burkina Faso Ouagadougou

About Us

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. We work in crises across 31 countries, providing emergencies and long-term assistance to millions of people every year. We stand up for people forced to flee, advocating their rights. NORCAP, our global provider of expertise, helps improve international and local ability to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from crises. NRC also runs the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre in Geneva, a global leader in reporting on and advocating for people displaced within their own country.

Employment with NRC may lead to employment in or deployment to Regions, Countries, Areas or Offices that may be host to considerable health, safety and security risks. NRC takes this very seriously and we have procedures in place to reduce known risks, but will never be able to take away all risks. NRC requires staff members who travel on an international contract to the field to undergo an medical examination with our medical provider. Employees must produce a Health Clearance Certificate before departure stating that there are no relevant health concerns. If staff are unable to provide this, NRC reserves the right to terminate the Contract of Employment.

Context Norwegian Refugee Council has been operating in Niger and Burkina as one mission since 2019. The organization has been in Burkina Faso until 2017 when it handed over its operations to other organizations. However, due to the ongoing crisis in Niger and Burkina Faso, the organization decided to provide its support to the numerous displaced populations and host communities in both countries.

Niger has been facing multiple crises and vulnerabilities (climatic, demographic, security and health) having dramatic consequences on the lives of populations whose humanitarian needs are increasing considerably and whose access to basic social services is seriously compromised. According to the Country Humanitarian Needs Assessment for 2021, an estimated 3.7 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, including 51% women, 55% children and 4.2% children with disabilities. There are approximately 555,000 people in need of education and 1.4 million in need of protection. The organisation started its operations in Niger in Tillabery with an Education Programme. It quickly moved to Maradi where the organisation is now providing a multi-sector response, mainly in education and ICLA. NRC extended its ICLA response to meet the growing needs in Tillabery.

Likewise, Burkina Faso is facing a multifaceted and complex crisis due to the increase in activities carried out by armed groups, inter-community tensions, chronic food and nutritional insecurity, floods and violent winds and finally to the health crisis linked to COVID-19. As of 31st August 2021, 1.423.378 IDP were recorded all over the country by CONASUR. NRC is providing an integrated programme in three regions in Burkina Faso namely Centre Nord, Sahel and Nord.

The Norwegian Refugee Council is seeking for a talented, motivated and qualified Information Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) Specialist who will actively contribute to the development and implementation of the ICLA program strategy in its operations in Niger and Burkina Faso. The candidate will strongly represent the organization on issues and ensure quality programming. All NRC employees are expected to work in accordance with the organisation’s core values: dedication, innovation, inclusivity and accountability. These attitudes and believes shall guide our actions and relationships.

Role and responsibilities The purpose of the ICLA Specialist position is technical development of the ICLA programme, provision of strategic direction and quality assurance, and developing the ICLA strategy. The ICLA Specialist is responsible for mentoring; training and capacity build staff on ICLA technical capacity.

Generic responsibilities:

• Develop ICLA strategy, technical guidance and Macro Logframes that are aligned with regional and global strategies and priorities
• Compliance with and adherence to NRC policies, guidance and procedures
• Contribute to fundraising, develop and revise funding proposals, budgets and donor reports
• Identify trends, technical standards and donor priorities
• Follow up on compliance with contractual commitments within ICLA, ensure high technical quality and synergies in project implementation
• Provide technical direction and project implementation support
• Ensure that key learnings are extracted from ICLA implementation, and incorporate them in ICLA programme and staff development processes
• Provide systematic training and build capacity of technical staff
• Represent NRC in relevant forums/clusters, including with national authorities and donors
• Promote the rights of IDPs/returnees in line with the advocacy strategy

Specific responsibilities:

• Lead the development of the ICLA strategy for Burkina and Niger, and contribute to the NRC Burkina/Niger advocacy strategy
• Ensure design and implementation of high quality ICLA interventions
• Identify country programme priorities, problems and challenges from an ICLA perspective and adopt a problem solving approach, solving them in collaboration with other core competencies, support department, and senior management
• Lead on assessment design and analysis for ICLA
• Assess and analyze context, identify constraints, opportunities, and priorities of the ICLA core competency
• Identify, monitor and evaluate risks, constraints, technical issues related to ICLA implementation for timely action by relevant management authority
• Enable and guide the mainstreaming of gender, protection and environment into the ICLA strategies and operational practices
• Lead on ICLA concept note and proposal developments as well as fundraising initiatives
• Support and contribute to multi sector donor reports, narrative and financial
• Support in the recruitment of ICLA staff and development of their work roles and responsibilities
• Train, mentor and capacitate ICLA staff on technical procedures applied in PCM
• Promote culture of shared learning within the ICLA core competency and across core competencies
• Contribute to the strengthening of the position of NRC in Burkina and Niger with regards to ICLA thematic; liaising with relevant authorities, UN agencies, donors, other NGOs and partners, and protection sector actors
• Ensure the coordination of HLP and Civil Documentation working groups under the national protection clusters in Burkina and Niger

Competencies

Generic professional competencies for this position:

• Minimum 4 years of experience within legal assistance / human rights / displacement area of expertise in a humanitarian/ recovery context
• Strong understanding of relevant human rights frameworks, including refugee rights, IDP rights and humanitarian law
• Solid knowledge of and experience applying protection principles within humanitarian responses
• Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
• Knowledge about own leadership skills/profile
• Professional Fluency in French and advanced level of English, both written and verbal

Context/specific skills, knowledge and experience:

• Background in law / human rights / protection is desirable
• Experience with project development, especially from an emergency and post-emergency phases
• Experience in working with ECHO, DFID, NMFA, SIDA and UN agencies such as UNHCR, UNICEF etc;
• Knowledge of the displacement contexts in Niger and Burkina Faso
• Experience in capacity building and community mobilization;
• Experience in advocacy and protection work within ICLA/legal assistance sector
• Experience with coordination mechanisms (cluster and sectorial)
• Strong communication, representation, analysis, drafting and negotiating skills

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What We Offer

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to join our work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility: At NRC we think outside the box. 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

• 12 months fixed term contract
• Grade 9 in NRC scale
• Duty Station: Ouagadougou with 50% travelling
• An opportunity to match your career to a compelling cause
• A chance to meet and work with people who are the best in their fields

The role is open to international candidates who can show a commitment to NRC and being part of a challenging, but important mission to make a difference.  

Find the full job description here.

APPLY before 31/10/2021 at this link.