Legal and Government liaison Manager

Title: Legal and Government liaison Manager

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Employment Category:  F1

Salary Range: USD 1,881.00 – 2,287.00 per month which specific amount will be determined up on candidates experience and educational relevancy

Reporting To: Ethiopia HINGO Group Director

Contract Duration:  December 31, 2024

Posting date: May 13, 2024

Required Employee: 1       

 

INTRODUCTION

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC), an international non-governmental organization (NGO), has been providing relief and development services in the Horn of Africa since 1997. DRC promotes and supports solutions to the problems faced by refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs), and migrants. DRC Ethiopia began operations in 2009 and has been responding to the needs of refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and vulnerable host communities ever since.  DRC Ethiopia currently has programs implemented through five area offices (AO) in Gambella, Tigray, Somali (Jijiga & Dollo Ado) and Afar regions, as well as its country office (CO) in Addis Ababa.

 

OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:

The HINGO Group is an informal gathering of more than 80 International NGOs legally registered and operating in Ethiopia. Its role is to foster coordination and peer support, but to also support a more effective and principled humanitarian response in the country. Through DRC as hosting agency, the HINGO Group is recruiting a highly qualified Legal and Government liaison who will be responsible for the legal monitoring of the legal framework pertaining to CSOs, and more specifically INGOs in Ethiopia; providing guidance and support to HINGO members on respecting the legal framework; ensuring that HINGO members enjoy appropriate protection under Ethiopian legal framework; and engaging with government and Ethiopian authorities to facilitate access and efficient and principled delivery of humanitarian aid in Ethiopia.

 

Geographic scope: Country (Ethiopia)
This role has a country focus and ensures compliance to DRC procedures and guidelines within the country. The role contributes to the development of country strategies, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks. The role provides support and/or technical guidance to country operations while overseeing country activities.

Responsibilities and tasks

Legal analysis and monitoring:

Legal analysis and monitoring
Analyze the Legal framework pertaining to CSOs, and more specifically INGOs in Ethiopia and develop overall guidance on these legal provisions and how they should be implemented by HINGO members

Stay abreast of legal, policy and political developments in Ethiopia, informing HINGO members where relevant.

Provide legal reviews, notes and analyses of draft regulations to feed into collective engagement and feedback on these policy-making initiatives

Identify and report on interesting trends in the legal and policy-making arena, and advise on HINGO engagement with regards to these

Communications

• Lead on the development and implementation of the HINGO Forum’s communications strategy
• Work closely with ECSOC and HINGO members on Communication and campaigns to improve the visibility and understanding of the work of NGOs and CSOs in Ethiopia and increase local acceptance.
• Produce high-quality content to support positive communication on HINGO members’ activities and engagement in Ethiopia, including communication and advocacy materials, and visual materials for use by HINGO members
• Coordinate with national, regional, and HINGO members’ HQ offices on effective communications strategies and messaging
• Regularly visit HINGO members’ projects in the field to ensure a direct link between program work and communication, and identify and generate media and communication, as well as effective case studies, quotes, photographs, and videos

 

Technical guidance and capacity building

• Provide second legal opinion and legal advice to HINGO members without following individual cases
• Organizes and facilitates meetings and information sharing within the HINGO HR Working Group: Calls meetings, prepares the agenda, Chairs in the absence of the Group leads, prepares and shares minutes and reports back to the HINGO secretariat leadership, team, Steering Committee and members.
• Organizes, coordinates and facilitates trainings and workshops on key legal and policy subjects to build a better understanding and implementation of the Law, and build the capacity of HINGO members’ staff in that regard.

Strategy and Representation

• Support management to articulate priority advocacy and communications objectives and develop programme-specific strategies
• Ensure HINGO members are in line with the Ethiopia HINGO Forum’s advocacy and communications strategies and understand and promote collectively-developed asks
• Liaise with key Government, UN, NGO, and diplomatic missions in Ethiopia to ensure up-to-date information on humanitarian situation and response, as well as policy developments
• Represent the HINGO Forum and its members in advocacy-related forum

Government Liaison

• Develop and update a HINGO Government engagement strategy in collaboration with the HINGO membership and Steering Committee with clear timelines and products
• Work with the HINGO Director, and HINGO Steering Committee, to strengthen engagement with Government entities in Ethiopia, both at national and regional levels.
• Identify opportunities for effective engagement with national and local stakeholders including NNGOs, LNGOs.
• n collaboration with the HINGO Engagement Manager, advise and contribute to the development of HINGO messages, managing various communication activities, leading on the communication of HINGO messages and positions amongst key stakeholders including, where necessary, national and regional authorities, and the wider humanitarian community.
• Coordinate and monitor Government’s engagement messages and initiatives to ensure impact and that HINGO external engagement is in line with good humanitarian and development principles
• Provide support and advisory to the HINGO Access and Safety Manager in government engagement for access advocacy and operational related tasks
• Foster relationships with political stakeholders and all levels.

Other duties

• Present legal/government liaison matters in the HINGO Country Directors meetings.
• Participate in relevant coordination meetings.
• Performs other duties as required.

 

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master

DRC’s core competencies:

 

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.

 

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience)

 

• Minimum 5 years of practical experience in the legal and policy making field working for an NGO
• Proven experience working with government institutions in Ethiopia
  Demonstrated experience practicing law, with a particular focus on CSOs.
• Commitment to and understanding of international humanitarian standards and principles
• Strong influential relationship with Ethiopian government and other stakeholders
• Experience working with national partners, local/government authorities, and UN organizations
• Proven ability to work effectively with minimal supervision.
  Excellent skill in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
  Full professional proficiency in English (written and orally)
• Full professional proficiency in Amharic (oral), knowledge of other Ethiopian regional languages would be a plus.
  
• EDUCATION: (include certificates, licenses, etc.)

 

Master’s degree in Law.

 

LANGUAGE: (indicate fluency level)

• Excellent verbal and written English and Amharic

TO APPLY

Interested candidates who meet the required qualifications and experience are invited to submit an updated CV and cover letter explaining their motivation and why they are suited for the post. 

We only accept applications sent via our online-application form on https://candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationForm/SinglePageApplicationForm.aspx?cid=1036&departmentId=19012&ProjectId=170995   

Please forward the application and CV, in English through the stated website no later than May 26, 2024.

We strongly encourage female candidates to apply for the position!

For general information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult www.drc.ngo
Gender Equality: DRC is committed to achieving gender parity in staffing at all levels. In light of this, women candidates are particularly encouraged to apply to bridge the gendergap.
Equal Opportunities: DRC is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, disability status, religion, ethnic origin, colour, race, marital status, or other protected characteristics
We encourage only qualified Ethiopian Nationals to apply. DRC considers all applicants based on merit.