Legal Training Adviser

Purpose of the post

The Law and Policy Forum brings together ICRC's various training, research and outreach capacities in humanitarian law and action, with a view to promote IHL and other relevant norms, and to influence key actors and decision-makers on humanitarian issues of importance to the organisation. Through its different components (academic relations and research, the International Review of the Red Cross, online and onsite legal training, outreach and events, the Visitors & Conference center), FORUM acts as a channel between the ICRC and the outside world. It carries out direct outreach activities to key external audiences, following a thematic approach and pursuing academic excellence.

Relying on the expertise and substance developed within the broader Department, the unit:

• develops and maintains a solid onsite and digital learning capability providing actors of influence with a comprehensive training offer firstly centered on IHL, other relevant norms, related policies and positions, including those dealing more broadly with humanitarian action; and
• offers tools and platforms enabling academic research and debate addressing topics related to the mentioned areas of focus.
• fosters debate on law and policy through the organization of thematic events with a global reach.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Unit, the Legal Training Adviser produces training tools, organises and/or participates in trainings and provides technical and substantive expertise to ICRC headquarters and delegations on training in IHL and other relevant norms, for the purpose of implementing the unit’s training strategy targeting primarily external publics.

Main duties and responsibilities

The Legal Training Adviser steers the development and implementation of the unit’s training strategy targeting external publics, supporting events and developing contents for both the onsite and online dimension of the strategy. He/she:

• Organises and facilitates, in English and in French, interactive and practice-oriented IHL training events for different external publics (e.g. humanitarian practitioners, policy makers, academia, etc.), encompassing onsite and online dimensions.
• Coordinates, depending on the course, with the relevant ICRC delegation, the partner National Societies and/or the external partner.
• Provides pedagogical and substantive input to other HQ units and field delegations on IHL training for external audiences.
• Produces and/or oversees the development of content for digital training tools for different external publics in coordination with relevant specialists within and outside the unit and in liaison with the unit’s Online Solutions Specialist.
• Promotes IHL training events and online training resources internally and externally.
• Supports the ICRC’s internal training offer on IHL (e.g. co-leading the course “Communicating the Law” together with the Communication department).
• Liaises with National Societies legal advisers regarding the dissemination of IHL, promotes ICRC law and policy resources to National Societies and supports the capacity-building of National Societies on IHL training.
• Liaises with relevant ICRC units, with a particular focus on RH_LND_LS, DP_JUR_OP and DP_JUR_THEM.
• Represents the ICRC at selected IHL training events targeting external publics (humanitarian practitioners, policy makers).
• Develops and maintains relations with other international organisations, humanitarian NGOs and associations involved in adult training, in order to learn from their experience and explore potential avenues of collaboration.
• Regularly proposes content and updates for the Law & Policy Platform, the Law & Policy newsletter, as well as the Legal training page of the Units’ Intranet.
• Manages relevant budgetary lines (payment of consultants, financial assistance to partners, 3rd party missions), and ensures proper information management. 

Education and experience required

• Lawyer or equivalent advanced degree, specialized in international humanitarian law, international human rights law an advantage.
• Professional experience in instructional design and training delivery, applying an interactive and practice-oriented training methodology.
• ICRC field experience.
• Familiarity with web-based training activities.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and French. Arabic, an asset

Desired profile and skills

• Strong analytical and organisational skills; adept at synthesising information.
• Ability to translate complex questions into practical strategies and action.
• Proven ability to work as part of a team. 
• Sense of initiative and ability to work autonomously.
• At ease with networking and relationship-building. 
• Available for short field missions.

Additional information

• Location :                          Geneva
• Type of contract :              Open-ended
• Activity rate :                     80%
• Length of assignment :     2 years, extendable
• Estimated start date :        01.09.2018
• Application deadline :    Sunday, 15th July 2018