ICLA Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a global humanitarian organization established to assist people forced to flee their homes due to conflict and disaster. The NRC operates in multiple countries, focusing on providing high-quality aid and defending the rights of refugees and internally displaced persons. The organization is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and actively promotes a supportive culture that fosters professional growth and innovation among its employees. NRC has a zero-tolerance policy towards exploitation and abuse, ensuring a safe environment for all staff and beneficiaries.

Job Overview:
The ICLA Officer position is crucial for the implementation of the NRC's Information, Counselling, and Legal Assistance (ICLA) program in the Central African Republic. This role involves daily management of ICLA activities, ensuring quality service delivery to displaced persons and affected communities. The officer will supervise ICLA Assistants, monitor the quality of services provided, and support the ICLA Coordinator in planning, coordination, and reporting. The ICLA program aims to enhance access to rights and protection mechanisms for displaced individuals, particularly in areas related to housing, land, and property (HLP), civil documentation, and legal identity. The officer will also engage in capacity building, advocacy, and collaboration with local authorities and partners to ensure effective program delivery.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensure adherence to NRC policies, manuals, procedures, and guidelines in implementing ICLA activities.
• Implement the delegated project portfolio according to the action plan, objectives, indicators, and NRC quality standards.
• Supervise and support ICLA Assistants in daily activities and follow up on recommendations from the ICLA Coordinator.
• Coordinate the activities of ICLA Listening Centers in the intervention area and ensure their regular operation.
• Utilize case management tools developed by the ICLA Coordinator and project managers to track activity implementation and case management.
• Verify the quality, completeness, and consistency of information and documents produced by ICLA Assistants.
• Ensure activities prioritize individuals and groups with the greatest needs and contribute to identifying new approaches to improve service quality and access.
• Conduct regular visits to ICLA Listening Centers and field activities to monitor implementation quality.
• Identify operational, technical, and protection challenges encountered during implementation and promptly inform the ICLA Coordinator. 1
• Encourage continuous improvement of ICLA approaches, tools, and practices, and provide technical proposals to the ICLA Coordinator. 1
• Contribute to data collection, consolidation, and verification necessary for monitoring activities and project indicators. 1
• Prepare activity and supervision reports as required by the ICLA Coordinator. 1
• Propose recommendations regarding case handling and technical issues requiring specific support or guidance. 1
• Participate in regular updates of tracking tables and statistics related to cases received, processed, closed, referred, and other activities conducted in ICLA Listening Centers. 1
• Ensure proper archiving of documents and verification sources of activities, in accordance with NRC procedures and data protection requirements. 1
• Inform the ICLA Coordinator of any difficulties faced by ICLA Assistants in executing their activities and propose corrective measures when relevant. 1
• Meet with local administrative authorities and other stakeholders as required by activities, in coordination with the ICLA Coordinator. 1
• Contribute to synergy and complementarity activities between different NRC projects and sectors to promote an integrated response to the needs of targeted populations. 1
• Support ICLA Assistants in preparing their weekly reports and using data collection and monitoring tools correctly. 2
• Participate in organizing and planning the deployment of ICLA teams in the field, in coordination with the ICLA Coordinator and relevant support functions. 2
• Identify protection issues and recurring problems encountered by ICLA Assistants and formulate proposals to the ICLA Coordinator and project managers. 2
• Identify recurring issues related to housing, land, and property (HLP), including access, possession, occupation, restitution, conflicts, or securing rights, and contribute to formulating recommendations and advocacy messages. 2
• Contribute to identifying needs related to civil documentation and legal identity, including obstacles to birth registration and access to civil status documents, and support the implementation of corresponding activities. 2
• Contribute to informing, advising, and guiding vulnerable individuals on their rights related to HLP, civil documentation, and legal identity, respecting ICLA's mandate and procedures. 2
• Identify and facilitate the referral of cases requiring assistance or specialized services to relevant actors, in accordance with established referral mechanisms. 2
• Contribute to the prevention and collaborative resolution of disputes related to HLP, including through appropriate community mechanisms, mediation, and referral of cases requiring specialized intervention, in line with NRC's ICLA mandate. 2
• Organize and/or facilitate training, awareness-raising, and capacity-building activities for beneficiaries, communities, authorities, partners, and other relevant actors. 2
• Participate in coordination meetings and relevant technical meetings at the local level and, as delegated by the ICLA Coordinator, represent the program in certain meetings with authorities, partners, and humanitarian actors. 2
• Support the ICLA Coordinator in maintaining relationships with authorities and other relevant stakeholders in the intervention area. 3
• Contribute to needs analysis, priority identification, and recommendations for adapting ICLA activities in the area. 3
• Ensure activities are implemented in accordance with protection principles, confidentiality, informed consent, non-discrimination, inclusion, and accountability to affected populations. 3
• Prepare and submit a monthly supervision report and reports of activities carried out, as well as any other reports required by the ICLA Coordinator.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum BAC+3 in law, social sciences, international relations, development, project management, or any other relevant field.
• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience as a project officer in a humanitarian, recovery, or development context.
• Previous professional experience in complex and unstable contexts.
• Experience in supervising and supporting field teams.
• Experience in project implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
• Good knowledge of protection approaches and humanitarian principles.
• Good understanding of issues related to HLP and/or civil documentation and legal identity.
• Proven results in responsibilities related to the position.
• Ability to analyze problems, identify priorities, and formulate appropriate recommendations. 1
• Ability to work with authorities, partners, communities, and other humanitarian actors. 1
• Good oral and written communication skills. 1
• Fluent in French, both spoken and written. 1
• Good knowledge of English is an asset.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess at least a BAC+3 degree in relevant fields such as law, social sciences, international relations, development, or project management. This educational background is essential to ensure that the candidate has the necessary theoretical knowledge and understanding of the legal and social frameworks relevant to the ICLA program.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of three years of professional experience in a similar role within humanitarian, recovery, or development contexts. Candidates should have experience working in complex and unstable environments, demonstrating their ability to adapt and respond to challenging situations effectively. Experience in supervising field teams and managing projects is also essential, as the ICLA Officer will be responsible for overseeing the work of ICLA Assistants and ensuring the quality of service delivery.

Languages:
Fluency in French is mandatory for this position, as it is the primary language of communication in the Central African Republic. Additionally, a good knowledge of English is considered an asset, as it may facilitate communication with international partners and stakeholders. Knowledge of local languages spoken in the intervention areas is also beneficial, as it can enhance engagement with communities and improve service delivery.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration for this position is 12 months, with the possibility of renewal based on funding availability. The work location is primarily in Bouar and Paoua, with approximately 80% of the time spent in field activities. The salary is based on NRC's Grade 5, step 1 of the salary scale for the Central African Republic. The desired start date for the position is January 202

• It is important to note that these positions are reserved for candidates of Central African nationality and foreign candidates with legal work rights in the Central African Republic. NRC is committed to diversity and inclusion, and strongly encourages female candidates to apply. The recruitment process is free of charge, and NRC will never request money during the recruitment process.