Job Description
Protection
Specialist (Legal)
(Yemen – Aden OR Sana’a)
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.
About the role
Overall purpose of the role:
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:
·
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.
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/NGOs
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.
Contract length: December 31, 2026
Position Band: This position will be placed in the
non-Management (G2) band.
Start date: ASAP
Duty station: Aden OR Sana’a (with frequent travel
to the field )
Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish
Refugee Council’s National Terms of Employment.
How to Apply
Application process
Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply button.
All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than
four pages). Both must be in the same language as this vacancy note. CV only applications will not be considered.
Applications close on 1 December 2025 the
written test /interviews are expected to take place, maximum two weeks after the closing date.
Please note that
applications sent directly to the email will not be considered.