ICLA Specialist Venezuela Caracas

Duty station: Caracas, Venezuela.

Please note fluency in both English and Spanish is required for this position. Candidates who do not command either of the languages will not be able to be considered.

1. Background/Context

The NRC Venezuela ICLA programme focuses on Legal Identity (LID), legal stay (asylum/refugee procedures, temporary protection), Safe migration, House and Land and Property (HLP) to enable people affected by displacement to claim and exercise their rights and to find lasting solutions to displacement, and to prevent displacement for those at risk of displacement.

The purpose of the Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) Specialist position is to lead the technical programme development of the ICLA Core Competency (CC) for NRC Venezuela. This includes the strategic direction; technical quality control; implementation support; fundraising and donor engagement; and advocacy, representation, and coordination for the CC in collaboration with the Head of Programme (HoP), ICLA field teams and other relevant stakeholders. 

The ICLA Specialist is a member of Programme Unit and reports to the HoP. The ICLA Specialist has a technical line to of the ICLA Coordinators at area level. 

1. Generic Responsibilities

The following is a brief description of the role:

• Develop ICLA strategy, technical guidance, and Macro Log-Frames (MLFAs) that are aligned with regional and global strategies and priorities.
• Compliance with and adherence to NRC policies, guidance, and procedures.
• Contribute to fundraising and develop and revise funding proposal, 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 Core Competency 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.

1. Specific Responsibilities

• Continuous monitoring of the relevance and adequacy of the ICLA CC strategy in relation to the needs and context and propose adaptations if needed.
• Assess and analyse context, identify, and monitor risks, constraints, opportunities, technical issues, and priorities of the ICLA core competency for timely action by management.
• Ensure ICLA field teams are familiar with and are implementing according to the ICLA strategy, in particular to include HLP aspects contextualized to Venezuela.
• Identify and Strengthen synergies with other CCs, contributing to NRC’s integrated response.
• Support the regional collaboration and strategic development with NRC Latin America Regional Office. 
• Maintain regular engagement with other NRC country offices in the region. 
• Contribute to the implementation of the Safe and Inclusive Programming (SIP) minimum standards and action plan within ICLA CC. 
• Develop, harmonise, and strengthen ICLA Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), technical standards, CC-specific monitoring tools, and other CC specific guidance and tools.
• Identify and documents CC-related learnings and ensure the adjustment of the ICLA program accordingly.
• Contribute to the localization ambition of NRC Venezuela and the identification of strategic partnerships with local actors for ICLA. 

1. Generic Professional Competencies

• Minimum 4 years of experience in providing legal aid assistance in a humanitarian and/or recovery contexts.
• Experience of working with NRC is desirable.
• Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts.
• Core competency expertise (legal assistance)
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities.
• Knowledge about own leadership skills/profile 
• Fluency in Spanish and English, both written and verbal is mandatory.

1. Context /Specific Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Knowledge of the context in Venezuela is desirable.
• Experience of advocacy work, ideally with a focus on legal issues
• Experience of implementing legal identity programming
• Strong understanding of relevant human rights frameworks, including refugee rights, IDP       rights and humanitarian law
• Experience in House, Land and Property programming is a strong advantage.

Find more details about the role HERE.

1. What We Offer

• Duration and Type of contract: 2 years.
• Salary/benefits: According to NRC salary scale, terms and conditions
• Duty station: Caracas, Venezuela

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC HERE.

Important information about the application process:

• Internal candidates only: please click on the suitcase icon labelled “I am an employee” to be redirected to NRC’s internal careers site.
• When creating your profile, include your full name as given on your passport. Complete all the system-required fields for experience, employment history and education.
• Submit your application and CV in English, taking care to attach your latest CV.
• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We receive many applicants for each vacant position.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization 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.

Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

NRC has been active in Venezuela since 2005. In 2019 we established an independent country office in light of the deteriorating humanitarian crisis.

NRC is one of the largest NGOs in Venezuela, with an annual budget of USD 10 million. Our work includes water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), education, livelihoods and food security, information, counselling and legal assistance (ICLA) and protection from violence. In addition to direct implementation and capacity building of local communities, NRC also plays a critical role in coordination at multiple levels.

Venezuela's protracted economic, social and political crisis has led to a severe humanitarian and protection crisis. Millions of people have fled the country, many others have been internally displaced, and at least 7.7 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance or protection.

Consecutive years of economic contraction, sociopolitical tensions, informal dollarisation and hyperinflation mean most families are unable to afford food. Long-term state underfunding of facilities and neglect of public infrastructures affect electricity and water distribution. At least 1.5 million children are out of school. Lack of documentation – birth certificates and identity cards – concerns 50 per cent of Venezuelans, hindering people’s ability to access basic rights and services. Venezuela has also seen an increase of violence due to the extended presence of irregular groups. Venezuelans on the move are furthermore at higher risk of exploitation and abuse.  

• Learn more about NRC HERE and NRC Venezuela HERE.

Internal candidates are encouraged to apply, and we are also open to external applicants who can show a commitment to NRC and being part of a challenging, but important mission to make a difference.

NRC might review applications before the advertised deadline, therefore interested candidates are encouraged to apply early.

Please note fluency in both English and Spanish is required for this position. Candidates who do not command either of the languages will not be able to be considered.