TERMS OF REFERENCE

LEGAL OFFICERS

Type of Contract: Full Time/Fixed Term

Issue Date: 11^th November 2024

Application Deadline: 25^th November 2024

Number of positions: 2

Grade of the position: 1-T

Duty Station: Rubavu, and Rusizi

Duration: 12 Months (renewable subject to funding)

Where the context allows, words importing the singular should include the plural and vice-versa, and words importing the masculine include the feminine and vice-versa.

1. BACKGROUND

Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights (iPeace) is a non-profit organization that works for sustainable peace in the Great Lakes region through human rights and good governance education. iPeace is legally registered and operational in Rwanda, DRC, and Burundi with a mission to equip communities and individuals with knowledge and skills to build a global culture of peace. The organization's vision is to see the Great Lakes Region become a place where community members and leaders work together by holding each other accountable in upholding human rights values and principles of good governance.

With financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, iPeace in partnership with International Alert and Pole Institute will implement the “HAKI BILA MIPAKA” project. This project aims to contribute to strengthening access to justice for people in the cities across the border between the DRC and Rwanda.

To achieve this objective, iPeace will implement several activities including the provision of free legal aid to cross-border populations, the capacity building of judicial actors, as well as the training of young academics in international humanitarian law and human rights. This project will be carried out in the Western Province, especially in Rubavu, Rusizi and Bugarama.

It is in this context that iPeace is looking for qualified persons to offer our team technical support in implementation of activities of the project related to the provision of legal aid.

2. SCOPE OF WORK

iPeace-Rwanda is looking for qualified and experienced legal officers to provide legal support to beneficiaries at legal aid clinics established on border areas in Rubavu, Rusisi and Bugarama. Legal aid will also be provided through mobile legal aid clinics that will be regularly offered in different locations in targeted districts.

The legal officers will be able to provide legal advice including assistance in handling cases through IECMS, prepare legal and administrative documents for clients, conduct filed trips to meet with clients, carry out research, and regularly identify and analyse legal issues.

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate the ability to be a quick decision-maker, ability to work in a diverse team of colleagues from different backgrounds, and to liaise with other implementing partner organization to ensure legal aid activities are operational and effectiveness.

The legal officers will report directly to the Project coordinator with regular interactions with other colleagues and project partners in the field as well as relevant stakeholders. He/she will oversee the legal aid activities to ensure that clients receive free and quick support. He/she will be responsible for ensuring that legal aid services are provided in accordance with iPeace’s policies and best practices.

3. RESPONSIBILITIES

The responsibilities of the legal officers will include the following:

• Receiving and handling clients’ complaints in a quick and professional way upholding general principles of data protection and privacy
• Making case summaries and present them to iPeace management for adequate decisions,
• Providing legal advices to clients, including drafting court briefs, recommending cases for mediation, filing and monitoring cases through IECMS,
• Following up on each of the received cases to provide timely feedback to the client,
• Suggesting best ways to improve legal services to clients,
• Providing weekly, monthly, quarterly and annually report in the format agreed upon by iPeace management,
• Generating data from legal aid date base to inform iPeace management about any potential topic for advocacy and research
• Doing due diligence to contact lawyers or relevant authorities with close coordination with iPeace management.
• Performing any other task assigned by iPeace management

4. QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS REQUIRED

Qualifications and experience below are required from any candidate:

• A bachelor’s degree in law from a recognized university
• At least 3 years proven experience in legal aid provision
• Excellent command of written and spoken English and Kinyarwanda with very good proficiency in French (reports and meetings will sometimes be held in French).
• A strong customer-support attitude
• A passion for justice and fairness
• The ability to work well and independently under pressure and to communicate appropriately and effectively within a multicultural setting;
• The ability to absorb and analyze large amounts of information
• A high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• The ability to explain legal matters clearly in non-legal language
• Confidence and a persuasive manner
• Time management and strong organizational skills.

HOW TO APPLY

iPeace invites qualified candidates to apply for this position by providing the following as one singlePDF attachment:

1. A motivation letter (1 page maximum)
2. Most updated Curriculum Vitae highlighting key qualifications for the position (3 pages Max) with two references preferably most recent employers/supervisors (email and phone numbers)
3. Notarized copy of the most qualifying degree/certificate
4. Prove of Experience certificate.

Applications will be submitted exclusively online via the following link https://bit.ly/3OkGY69 no later than November 25, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. local time.

Applications from female candidates are highly encouraged.

We regret that due to the large number of applications expected, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Preselected candidates will be invited to the job tests which will be organized face-to-face in Kigali at the headquarters of Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights. iPeace does not bear any costs that a candidate will incur in responding to this job posting.

Telephone or electronic inquiries will not be answered.

5. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY & NO CORRUPTION

iPeace is proud to be an Equal Employment and Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, age, status as individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, competence, and result-delivery need.

iPeace conducts its activities professionally, with integrity and in compliance with laws of those jurisdictions. As part of its commitment to ethical practices, iPeace does not tolerate acts of bribery or corruption. No person, agent or organization has been mandated by iPeace to receive, orient or facilitate any job application nor is there any fee whatsoever to submit, review, or assess a job application. Any promise/threat by whoever to positively or negatively influence a job application process is null and void.

Done at Kigali, on 25^th November 2024

Dr. Elvis Mbembe Binda.

President & CEO