Advocacy Legal Officer

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a Copenhagen-based international humanitarian organization. DRC had undertaken several operations in Ukraine since 1998, and returned to the country with its specialized unit, the Danish Demining Group (DDG), in November 2014 to render its expertise at the onset of the humanitarian crisis. Since 2016, DRC, while continuing to answer to emergency needs, is gradually linking these to activities aiming at recovering from the crisis (livelihoods, capacity building of duty-bearers legal assistance, shelter reconstruction, mine action). The DRC Ukraine country programme implements its operations from a national office in Kyiv and field offices in Mariupol, Slovyansk, and Severodonetsk.

Overall purpose of the role: 

Advocacy Legal Office (hereafter - ALO) contributes to the implementation of the activities envisaged under the advocacy components of the Livelihoods (and Legal) Assistance Programme for Eastern Ukraine (hereafter - Programme). ALO provides support and technical guidelines to the advocacy campaign in the sphere of economic development that aims at developing a business environment in Eastern Ukraine, finding durable solutions for economic and social integration of internally displaced persons.

Responsibilities:

• In close cooperation with DRC Livelihoods program and Legal Assistance Unit act as a focal point for the advocacy activities on business and economic development;
• Establish and maintain a networking and working contacts with key stakeholders on economic and business development on local and national level;
• Participate in working groups and committees related to the development of small and medium enterprises within the government structures, local authorities, business associations, chambers of commerce and NGOs, follow up the discussion;
• Establish a dialogue with the local businesses, and Livelihood program beneficiaries in the project targeted areas in order to identify key advocacy issues for the business community;
• Support in drafting position papers, legal recommendations, draft laws, briefing notes, leaflets and other materials based on the identified advocacy issues;
• Conduct legal research and write thematic reports on issues identified by the Legal Unit;
• Organize focus groups, roundtables, conferences and other events as a part of the advocacy campaign, participate and contribute to round tables and other events of the Legal and Livelihoods programs;
• Coordinate the implementation of the legal component of the Programme by DRC field offices, in Slovyansk and Mariupol, monitor results;
• Provide support in drafting quarter, semiannual and final Programme reports, provide statistic and narrative analysis within the Legal and advocacy component of the Programme;
• Participate in the project development and proposal drafting within the Legal Assistance programme activities, support the presentation of the project for donor organization and external stakeholders;
• Monitor legislative initiatives related to the economic development, share the information with interested parties and provide a response, recommendations or expert evaluation of these legislative initiatives if needed;
• Provide statistical and narrative analysis of main trends and identified issues on thematic areas covered by the Legal and Livelihoods program and Legal Assistance Unit;
• Compile national and international law relevant to DRC programs particularly Legal and Livelihoods program;
• Provide a support in information dissemination and outreach activities; contribute to training programs of DRC, including the Legal and Livelihoods programs.
• Prepare survey and other fact finding and documentation reports, coordination meeting minutes, statistics and other communication materials to support internal flow of information;
• Attend and participate in relevant coordination meetings;
• Cooperate with UN agencies, INGO’s and national NGO’s as needed;
• In close cooperation with DRC Livelihoods program assist in the implementation of the micro-business/self-employment and job creation grants, vocational education training, institutional capacity building and community development components of the program;
• Maintain good working relations within DRC and other organizations in the area of responsibility;
• Understand, and ensure the observance of the DRC Code of Conduct;
• Perform other tasks as requested by DRC management.

  About you

  To be successful in this role we expect you to have experience in position papers, briefing notes, leaflets, advocacy draft laws and regulatory acts, as well as legal researches.

  Required experience and competencies

• At least 2 years of overall working experience, at least 1 year of working experience within an international humanitarian/development organization;
• Good knowledge of Ukrainian legislation related with business activities and economic development;
• Good knowledge of livelihoods interventions in Ukrainian context, understanding of possible durable solutions for conflict-affected population;
• Understanding of the Ukrainian legislation on IDP integration strategy and regional development;
• Understanding of Humanitarian International Law, as well as business development and European Law;
• Good communication, presentation and reporting skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs.

  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. 

  Required education

• University degree in Law, Policy Analysis, Public/Business Administration, or other related field

We offer

Contract length: till 31^st of March 2020 with possibility of extension based on available funding.

Level: H

Start date: September-October 2019

The application is open for Ukraine citizens only. Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for National Staff; please refer to drc.ngo under Vacancies. 

Application process

All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

ATTENTION: Though external and internal candidates are equally encouraged to apply for this position, in case of equal level of qualifications and interview performance the preference will be given to an internal candidate. Closing date for applications: 22 September 2019.

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contact job@drc.dk

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo. 

DRC as an employer

By working in DRC, you will be joining a global workforce of around 8000 employees in 40 countries. We pride ourselves on our:

• Professionalism, impact & expertise
• Humanitarian approach & the work we do
• Purpose, meaningfulness & own contribution
• Culture, values & strong leadership
• Fair compensation & continuous development

Read more here about what our employees say about working in DRC.

DRC’s capacity to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, IDP’s and other persons of concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. DRC conducts thorough and comprehensive background checks as part of the recruitment process. Visit drc.ngo to read more about what we do to secure robust safeguarding mechanisms.

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please visit drc.ngo/jobsupport.