Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance Programme Development Manager

Are you passionate about providing access to information and justice for refugees and internally displaced?

Do you want to lead one of the world’s largest and longest-running humanitarian legal aid programmes?

We are looking for a senior level legal aid professional to work in one of our biggest humanitarian operations. An experienced manager who can provide technical direction, conceive new programme possibilities in response to changing needs and oversee project implementation.

If this sounds like you, read below for more details about the position and send us your application. 

NRC in Afghanistan

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) established operations in Afghanistan in 2003. One of the first programmes we established was our global access to justice programme for displaced people, which is referred to as ‘ICLA’ (Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance). Afghanistan remains a protracted and complex emergency. Conflict-induced displacement and recurrent natural disasters occur at the same time as ongoing return of Afghan refugees from Pakistan and Iran. Working from ten offices, we respond  across Afghanistan, including in hard-to-access provinces, carrying out legal assistance work together with our other Education, WASH, Shelter, Food & Livelihoods, Camp Management and Emergency programmes.

NRC Afghanistan is a leading provider of legal protection for displaced Afghans, with our flagship Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) programme operational in ten of our offices around the country.  Currently we have around 145 national employees, many of whom are experienced legal staff. We focus on assisting displaced Afghans’ realize their rights to a legal identity (including through civil documentation) and on Housing, Land, and Property issues. 

About the position

As the ICLA Programme Development Manager,  you will be directly responsible for our ICLA projects in West Region (along the Afghan-Iran border) through our offices in the provinces of Badghis, Hirat, and Nimroz, and to coordinate wider programme development, by supporting programmatic design, reporting, and quality management of the wider ICLA programme in Afghanistan. 

The ICLA PDM reports to the Area Manager but with a technical reporting to the Head of Programmes

Responsibilities

• Responsible to coordinate enactment of the 2018 ICLA Strategy

• Responsible for overall management of ICLA project staff in West Region (Hirat, Badghis, and Nimroz) and for ICLA programme development staff in Kabul/roving capacities.

• Contribute to country-level project cycle management processes from monitoring, progress reviews, and quality management of all ongoing ICLA projects.

• Contribute to cross-border programme development with NRC Iran

• Liaison and collaborate with relevant local and national authorities and stakeholders and represent NRC in relevant forums/cluster/working groups.

Our ideal candidate:

We are looking for a legally-trained professional with a high capacity for strategic and innovative thinking, who excels in programme development. Someone with a good track record of overseeing project implementation and managing big teams in matrix. The successful candidate will have a minimum of three years experience working at the senior level on access to justice/legal aid, ideally in a humanitarian/recovery context. Holds a Law degree and/or relevant Masters degree and has experience working in complex and insecure contexts. Has fluency in English, both written and verbal. Knowledge of the Afghanistan context will be an advantage. 

Download the job description below for the full details

What we offer:

• Contract period: 12 months
• Salary/benefits: According to NRC’s salary scale and terms and conditions.
• Duty station: Hirat, Afghanistan
• Grade: 9 (See attached for NRC Grade Structure) 
• Travel: Approximately 50% travel to field offices in Afghanistan

Additional Information

This is an unaccompanied post/non family duty station, with shared housing/ accommodation of moderate standard.
Due to the unstable security situation, recreational and social facilities are limited.
All international staff working and residing in Afghanistan are obliged to pay income tax to the Afghanistan authorities.
Approved health certificate will be requested before contract start.
Selected candidate need to provide certified University diplomas prior to applying for visa to Afghanistan.

Please note that you are required to enter the geographical location for all your previous positions while registering your CV. There is no specific field for this information in our CV form, but you can use the "Company name" field for both company and location.