ICLA Officer (Housing, Land & Property) at Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

Job Description

• NRC has been present in Nigeria since 2015 and has been working to help displacement-affected communities meet their basic needs, improve their livelihoods, access essential services, and enhance their resilience to future shocks through our six core competencies: water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), Shelter, Education, Information-Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA), Livelihoods and Food Security (LFS), Camp Management, and Protection. NRC provides immediate assistance during the onset of emergencies through the rapid response mechanism (RRM). With a workforce of 370 staff and a presence in key locations such as Maiduguri (in Borno State), Yola (in Adamawa State) and Jos (in Plateau State), NRC can respond to the needs of those affected by the conflict across North-East, and North Central Nigeria.
• These strategic locations have allowed NRC greater reach from the north and south parts of the North-East and North Central region and allowed NRC to contribute to bridging the gap between humanitarian aid and development cooperation, including by focusing on equitable access to basic services and strengthening the rights of displaced people and returnees. In addition to the Country Office and the above-mentioned Area Offices, NRC has sub-office structures in Dikwa, Monguno, Biu, Mubi, Pulka and Gwoza.
• We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. 
• If you are those people, the Norwegian Refugee Council in Nigeria is looking for an enthusiastic and passionate ICLA HLP Officer to join our team in Maiduguri, Borno State. You will provide support to the ICLA Coordinator and contribute to the implementation of the ICLA programme the NRC Area North office. 

Responsibilities

Generic responsibilities

• Ensure adherence with NRC policies, tools, handbooks and guidelines
• Implement delegated CC projects according to plan of action
• Ensure that project targets beneficiaries most in need, and explore and asses new and better ways to assist
• Promote and share ideas for technical improvement
• Actively facilitate and maintain Liaison and collaboration with relevant local and national authorities and stakeholders and represent NRC in relevant forums/cluster/working groups.
• Promote the rights of IDPs/returnees in line with the advocacy strategy 
• Involve and inform communities and community leaders about the activities to ensure accountability. 
• Break down the annual operational plans into weekly, monthly and quarterly implementation plans
• Prepare periodic progress reports and other documents as required
• Perform any other professional duties as requested by the ICLA Coordinators, ICLA Team Leaders,  ICLA PDM and ICLA Specialist. 

Specific responsibilities 

• Facilitate the Provision of HLP legal assistance i.e. HLP title documents, HLP documentation for shelter rehabilitation beneficiaries, Cash for rent beneficiaries, FSL, WASH and other Co-competencies.  
• Negotiate access to land and HLP dispute arising from interventions with landowners or local authorities to realize beneficiaries’ housing, land and property rights.
• Review and outline legal and policy frameworks governing HLP rights of displaced persons, returnees and host communities from a domestic legal perspective. Compile up-to-date information on relevant HLP laws, procedures, and practices.
• Outline the normative framework of international, regional, and national policy on HLP rights as applicable to Northeast Nigeria.
• Identify and document specific challenges facing IDPs, returnees and host communities in exercising their HLP rights. This includes gender, age, diversity issues and how they relate to HLP violations.
• Map HLP issues in areas of return providing an overview of the nature of issues, the effects, who is affected and the current response considering IDPs, returnees, and host communities. Conduct field visits to capture the views of beneficiaries including women and of key stakeholders (statutory, customary, and religious authorities, protection actors, etc.).
• Provide recommendations to effectively protect HLP rights of IDPs and host communities as well as to address programmatic gaps for NRC to address HLP issues affecting displaced and host communities.
• Advocate for recognition of the HLP rights of displaced persons particularly security of tenure - when engaging with building owners, local authorities and humanitarian partners.
• Conduct HLP and eviction monitoring to ensure ongoing security of tenure for beneficiaries.
• Work with the M&E team to undertake assessments & evaluation of HLP activities, and contribute to monthly progress reports on activities on the activity info 5Ws platform of the PSNE, highlighting any technical or operational successes.
• Support the HLP AoR Coordinator in procurements, logistics and taking minutes of HLP monthly meetings/sharing minutes of meetings.  
• Support and integrate gender, protection and advocacy priorities into ICLA programme design
• Contribute to the development of the ICLA strategy, technical SOPs / guidelines and Macro LFAs for Nigeria
• Contribute to the development of funding proposal, project budgets and donor reports 
• Contribute to coordination  and management of the  ICLA project implementation (activities, budget and project documentation) in line with proposals, strategies and donor requirement
• Work closely with Technical Assistants and ensure transfer of relevant skills for quality program implementation
• Implement the legal assistance programs including HLP , CDR and identity documentation activities innovatively to adapt to location and context, in line with proposals, strategies and donor requirements and optimise opportunities for synergies
• Contribute to the planning procedures and tools for implementation of ICLA projects in line with proposals, strategies and donor requirements
• Document project achievements and deliverables 
• Provide technical assistance to the ICLA Program Development Manager and contribute to the development of a quality ICLA program in line with the Nigerian context.
• Carry out any other duties as assigned as are necessary

Qualifications

Generic professional competencies: 

• Experience from working in a humanitarian context, especially legal experience is valued
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
• Minimum 3 years’ experience from practice as a lawyer and experience from working in the field of humanitarian assistance is an advantage.
• Must have a good knowledge of the laws and policies governing HLP issues and Identity documentation.
• Must possess a bachelor of law degree and must have been called to the Nigerian Bar( be able to practice as a lawyer in Nigeria) and be conversant with international humanitarian and Human Rights law 
• Excellent communication skills – written and spoken – in English required. 
• Fluency in one or more of the national/regional languages (Hausa and Kanuri preferred)
• Must be willing to work as a team member, take direction, and share technical skills with colleagues and counterparts
• Computer literacy in word processing and spreadsheets is required, 
• Must be able to work under pressure 

Context/ Specific skills, knowledge and experience: 

• Knowledge of the context in Nigeria
• Experience with humanitarian activities