Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year. We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to: do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts. join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility. be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.

Protection / ICLA Officer – Job Description

Responsibilities and Duties

Generic Responsibilities

• Implement NRC’s ICLA (Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance) programme policy at office level.
• Ensure ICLA is integrated into relevant programme activities.
• Train and advise NRC staff and partners on ICLA-related matters.
• Collect, analyse and report programme data as required.
• Consult field teams and provide recommendations on ICLA actions and response mechanisms.
• Represent NRC in relevant protection and shelter cluster meetings.
• Coordinate and cooperate with relevant government, humanitarian and protection partners.
• Monitor local and national developments relevant to refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons.
• Provide briefings to NRC staff on relevant contextual and protection-related developments.
• Remain alert to security implications associated with NRC activities, particularly those relating to protection and human rights concerns.

Specific Responsibilities

• Ensure ICLA project activities are implemented in accordance with:
  • Approved project proposals.
  • Donor requirements.
  • NRC policies and procedures.
  • International standards.
  • Applicable national laws.
  • Local customs and practices.
• Serve as the focal person for needs assessments and beneficiary selection.
• Provide oversight throughout the project cycle, including:
  • Project implementation.
  • Monitoring.
  • Verification of completion.
  • Evaluation.
• Lead ICLA project activities and provide beneficiaries with information and advice on relevant processes.
• Conduct awareness-raising and information sessions on ICLA thematic areas.
• Support capacity-building programmes for local authorities.
• Apply participatory and inclusive approaches throughout project implementation.
• Promote and strengthen local capacities wherever possible.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the legal and protection situation affecting:
  • Refugees.
  • Returnees.
  • Internally displaced persons (IDPs).
  • Host communities.
• Interpret and apply relevant national and international laws and principles.
• Assist in developing and implementing ICLA case-management systems and databases.
• Support the preparation and regular updating of service-provider mapping within the area of responsibility.
• Conduct information, counselling and legal assistance sessions for beneficiaries.
• Assist in conducting needs assessments using:
  • Focus group discussions.
  • Questionnaires.
  • Surveys.
  • Stakeholder interviews.
• Prepare and distribute documents containing relevant legal and protection information for target communities.
• Establish and maintain positive relationships with beneficiaries.
• Regularly visit communities and maintain frequent contact with beneficiaries to understand their needs and concerns.
• Document needs-assessment findings and prepare relevant reports and documentation.
• Meet regularly with relevant actors and stakeholders to coordinate activities.
• Attend relevant coordination and field-level meetings.
• Identify opportunities for ICLA awareness raising, outreach and community engagement.
• Assist in planning and conducting awareness and outreach sessions.
• Identify training needs among beneficiaries, stakeholders and partners.
• Develop and deliver relevant training sessions where required.
• Assist with research and information-gathering activities.
• Support strategic reviews, monitoring and evaluation exercises.
• Identify emerging protection and ICLA needs and recommend appropriate interventions.
• Collect and analyse information on government and NGO policies relating to refugees and displaced populations.
• Monitor the operating context through regular field visits and access.
• Identify issues affecting refugees and other vulnerable populations that relate to ICLA themes.
• Contribute to the development of NRC’s:
  • Country strategy.
  • ICLA action plans.
  • Activity plans.
  • Sector priorities.
• Supervise, evaluate and appraise ICLA community-based teams within the assigned area of responsibility.
• Manage day-to-day activities at the ICLA centre.
• Monitor activity-related finances in accordance with NRC financial regulations.
• Participate in relocation activities for people moving to settlements.
• Participate in the distribution of core relief items to relocated populations.
• Ensure effective general management of the Reception Centre.
• Receive and support donor missions, visitors and other official delegations.
• Perform other relevant duties assigned by the MCC Manager, ICLA Coordinator, ICLA Specialist or Adviser.

Qualifications and Requirements

Education

• University degree in:
  • Law.
  • Social Studies.
  • Development Studies.
  • Human Rights.
  • Protection.
  • Or another relevant field.
• Equivalent professional qualifications may also be considered.

Knowledge and Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of the Ugandan context, particularly Kampala and Southwest Uganda .
• Good understanding of protection, human rights and ICLA principles.
• Knowledge of national and international legal frameworks affecting refugees, IDPs and returnees.
• Good knowledge of humanitarian and protection programming.
• Strong understanding of community-based and participatory approaches.
• Good knowledge of English and relevant local languages.
• Strong training and facilitation skills.
• Good report-writing and documentation skills.
• Ability to conduct research and analyse data.
• Ability to monitor project budgets and expenditures.
• Good project monitoring and evaluation skills.
• Strong coordination and stakeholder-management skills.

Relevant Stakeholder Experience

Experience working with:

• Government institutions.
• Local authorities.
• Humanitarian organisations.
• NGOs and local partners.
• Protection actors.
• Host communities.
• Refugees.
• Internally displaced persons.
• Returnees.
• Other vulnerable and displaced populations.

Experience Required

• Minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience with an NGO, legal organisation, international organisation or humanitarian agency.
• At least 3 years of experience in protection, human rights, ICLA or related humanitarian programming .
• Previous experience working as a Protection Officer or in a similar role within a humanitarian or recovery context.
• Experience implementing projects through local partners.
• Demonstrated experience in:
  • Training and capacity building.
  • Project implementation.
  • Needs assessments.
  • Research.
  • Data collection and analysis.
  • Monitoring and evaluation.
  • Reporting.
  • Budget monitoring.
• Experience working in complex and/or volatile humanitarian environments.
• Demonstrated results and achievements related to the responsibilities of the position.
• Experience supervising and supporting community-based teams.
• Experience coordinating with government authorities and humanitarian stakeholders.
• Knowledge of the humanitarian and displacement context in Uganda.

Core Competencies

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent counselling and facilitation abilities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work with diverse and vulnerable populations.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong understanding of confidentiality and protection principles.
• High level of integrity and professionalism.
• Ability to work effectively in challenging and changing environments.
• Willingness and ability to undertake frequent field travel.

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC.

• Implementation of NRC’s ICLA program policy at office level
• Ensure that ICLA is an integral part of program activities
• Train and advice staff and partners on ICLA
• Produce data collection, reports and analysis as required
• Provide, in consultation with field teams, recommendations on ICLA actions and response mechanisms
• Represent NRC in protection and shelter cluster meetings and cooperate with relevant partners
• Be updated on local and national news and provide briefings to NRC staff on relevant information
• Be alert to the security implications of NRC’s activities relating to protection and Human Rights concerns
• Ensure that ICLA Project activities are implemented in accordance with approved proposals, donor requirements, NRC policies, international standards and local customs.
• Act as a focal person for needs assessment and beneficiary selection.
• Has oversight responsibility in ensuring smooth project cycle from implementation, project monitoring, verification of completion and evaluation.
• Lead ICLA project activities, giving advice and information to clients on the processes involved, awareness sessions and managing local authorities’ capacity building programmes.
• Apply participative and inclusive process in project implementation and in promoting local capacities to help them wherever possible.
• Understand the situation, including the legal situation (according to national and international laws and principles), for refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons in Uganda.
• Assist in developing and implementing case management system and database of cases.
• Support preparing and updating of mapping of all service providers in the area of responsibility.
• Conduct information and counseling sessions on ICLA thematic areas for beneficiaries.
• Assist in conducting needs assessments for the selected target groups; including focus groups; questionnaires; surveys; and stakeholder interviews.
• Prepare documents containing legal and related information for target communities.
• Establish excellent relations with beneficiaries, including understanding the needs of beneficiaries through regular visits and frequent contact.
• Document findings of needs assessments; including preparation of reports and other relevant documents.
• Regularly meet with other relevant actors and stakeholders and coordinate work, including attending meetings in the field.
• Identify awareness-raising and outreach opportunities for ICLA work and assist in conducting sessions.
• Identify training needs for beneficiaries and stakeholders and, as relevant, prepare and conduct training.
• Assist in conducting research as required.
• Assist in strategic review; monitoring and evaluation activities and identification of other relevant ICLA activities.
• Collation of information on government and NGO policies pertaining to refugees and monitor the general context through regular field access to identify issues affecting refugees which relate to ICLA themes.
• Contribute to the development of NRC’s Country strategy, action plan and activities plan and priorities in the ICLA sector.
• Supervise, evaluate and appraise ICLA Community based teams in area of jurisdiction.
• Manage the day-to-day center activities including activity finances in line with NRCs’ financial regulations.
• Take part in relocation and in distribution of core relief items to people relocated to settlements.
• Ensure General management of the Reception Center accordingly.
• Receive and attend Donor Missions and Visitors
• Perform other relevant tasks assigned by the MCC Manager, ICLA Coordinator /Specialist of Adviser.

• Training skills
• Reporting skills
• Budget monitoring
• Experience in research and data analysis
• Knowledge of the context in Uganda (Kampala and Southwest locations)
• Knowledge of the English and local language
• Experience working with government, local authorities, humanitarian actors, host community and displaced populations (IDPs, returnees and Refugees)

• University degree in law, social studies, development studies / other relevant field/ the equivalent
• Minimum of 3 years work experience with NGO, legal or international organization in the area of protection or human rights
• Experience from working as a Protection Officer in a humanitarian/recovery context
• Experience working with and implementing projects through local partners
• Previous experience from working in complex and volatile contexts
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
• Knowledge about own skills/profile