Legal Officer BRACED Program Jobs – Mercy Corps
Job Title: Legal Officer
Organization: Mercy Corps
Duty Station: Uganda
About US:
Mercy Corps is an international non-profit organization which implements high-quality, analytical development programmes in very difficult places. Mercy Corps has been operating in Uganda since 2006. It has and continues to implement programs in Acholi and Karamoja sub regions. Mercy Corps is taking a community-led, market driven approach to address poverty and food insecurity needs through interventions that get to the root causes and contributing factors of economic vulnerability. Donors include the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), DFID, Mastercard Foundation, WALMART Foundation, Coca Cola Africa Foundation, US Depart of State (DOS) /PEPFAR, ECHO and Nike Foundation.
About BRACED Program:
Mercy Corps is taking a community-led, market driven approach to address poverty and food insecurity needs through interventions that get to the root causes and contributing factors of economic vulnerability. Among the many country programmes is the Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters (BRACED) whose implementation period is 2015-2019. BRACED is being implemented in the Karamoja Region of Uganda, as well as Wajir County Kenya. The BRACED Mercy Corps programme is designed around three integrated thematic focus areas – Lands/NRM, Market Systems Development and Governance. Mercy Corps recently received an 18-month extension operating from January 2018-June 2019.
Job Summary: The Legal Officer’s role and responsibilities mainly will be categorized into: Legal awareness on land laws and policies, Alternative dispute resolution through legal aid clinics, Capacity building of land administrative and management structures
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provide legal advice to people on their Land Rights for during community outreaches and those who report to seek for advice in office
- Provide information on women’s Land Rights to the community, through radio talk shows and during community sensitizations
- Carry out community awareness on Land Rights
- Refer intricate cases to other Legal Aid providers and courts of Laws
- Pass on information materials on Land Rights/policies/law to clients
- Systematically maintain proper records of clients visits to the Office for advise and mediation
- Write and submit reports on a routine basis, (weekly, monthly, quarterly reports)
- Work closely with other relevant institutions and departments of government that deal with land matters in order to optimize protection of peoples Land Rights of the people in Karamoja
- Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring positive recognition to Mercy Corps and to avoid endangering the organization’s mission; Other duties as assigned
- Perform any other function as shall be incidental to the above mentioned roles
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The ideal candidate for the Mercy Corps Legal Officer job placement should hold a degree in Law, LLB or its equivalence from a recognized institution
- At least two to five years of legal practice
- Certificate in legal practice will be added advantage
- Familiarity of land laws and policies will be added advantage
- Understanding of land tenure systems with specific focus on Karamoja and traditional land management structures in Karamoja is a great asset
- A strong team player, with good communication and diplomatic skills.
- Very good analytical and information management skills.
- Good organizational skills and ability to work under/manage Stress.
- Flexible and creative in planning and problem solving.
- Attention to detail, ability to follow procedures and meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
- Skill in maintaining professional internal and external relationships.
- Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information both for the staff and the organization
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send their E-mail applications including a cover letter clearly stating the salary requirements, updated CV (with three professional referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates addressed to the Senior HR and Legal Manager, Mercy Corps Uganda to: ug-mcjobs@mercycorps.org
Deadline: 30th March 2018
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