Position Context:
As part of the continuation of activities under the “Restoring Dignity and Protection for Conflict-Affected Women and Girls in Ortese and Daudu IDP camps, Benue State, Nigeria (18 months) ” project, funded by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, France, represented by the Crisis and Support Centre - CDCS, Terre des hommes is seeking to recruit:
General Job Description
Under the supervision of the Access to Justice (A2J) Project Manager of the project, the A2J Legal Assistance Officer coordinates the response to Gender Based Violence / Trafficking in Persons (GBV/TIP) survivors within his/her area of intervention. The position provides first line legal assistance to beneficiaries of the CDCS Project, including personalized reception, confidential listening, legal advice, legal accompaniment, referral to appropriate services (judicial, medical, community, or social), and case identification, documentation, and follow up, as well as legal awareness raising activities.
The A2J Legal Assistance Officer is also responsible for implementing legal education programmes aimed at raising awareness among communities about their rights, relevant laws, institutions, and judicial procedures. This includes coordinating, delivering, and facilitating awareness‑raising activities targeting the general population, notably through radio programmes and community education sessions on various legal topics (criminal law, women’s rights, etc.).
He/She supports the coordination and follow-up of field activities and serves as a liaison between regional authorities, field partners, and the project team.
The Legal Officer ensures the delivery of quality services to target populations and carries out any other day-to-day tasks related to the implementation of the CDCS Project.
Key Responsibilities
The Legal Officer will be responsible for the following duties and activities, among others:
Provide legal assistance services to GBV survivors through legal assistance mechanisms, with the support of the A2J Project Manager
- Provide first line legal assistance to all GBV survivors, including personalized reception, confidential listening, legal information and support, translation and simplification of legal decisions, assistance with drafting applications/complaints, referral to relevant institutions, and accompaniment to obtain legal representation.
- Research and collect data on socio‑legal issues and analyse the impact of laws on beneficiaries’ lives in order to improve the quality of services provided.
- Contribute to the organisation of legal clinics in collaboration with relevant administrative and judicial authorities for beneficiaries’ documentation (birth certificates, national ID cards, etc.).
Deliver legal assistance services to GBV survivors
- Facilitate legal rights awareness sessions;
- Provide legal counselling to beneficiaries regarding their status and rights;
- Refer beneficiaries’ administrative and legal requests to relevant institutions or partners;
- Disseminate legal information that supports beneficiaries’ social reintegration.
Organise community education and awareness raising activities on rights and justice
- Coordinate and organise community awareness raising activities (radio programmes, community discussions, outreach activities) on rights, duties, justice, and legal topics;
- Conduct legal literacy activities and support communities in understanding their fundamental rights, protection mechanisms, and the skills required to exercise them;
- Provide citizens with information and publications that contribute to their legal education and support the development of guides, brochures, and legal information materials adapted to all beneficiaries.
Ensure service quality and collaboration with public services
- Participate in trainings and thematic workshops and strengthen skills through self learning using resources provided by Terre des hommes;
- Manage beneficiaries’ case files in a clear, concise, and comprehensive manner, in accordance with established procedures;
- Accompany beneficiaries in an independent, transparent, ethical, and objective manner, providing personalized and needs-based services.
Work as part of a team and in collaboration with authorities and local services
- Participate in weekly project team meetings and contribute to the drafting of reports, administrative correspondence, and meeting minutes;
- Work closely with local authorities, courts, the Bar Association, services for the promotion of women, children, and vulnerable persons, health centres, and other relevant stakeholders.
Develop and Comply with Tdh’s Strategies, Procedures, and Internal Policies
- Apply and contribute to the development of the project’s intervention strategy, integrating thematic policies, particularly within his/her area of intervention;
- Comply with the delegation’s administrative and logistical rules and procedures;
- Commit to respecting Terre des hommes’ risk management policies, including the Child Safeguarding Policy (CSP), Code of Conduct, Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Policy, Whistleblowing / Reporting Policy, and the Internal Regulations;
- Commit to ensuring the best possible implementation of these policies within his/her area of intervention and among national teams, and to report any observed breach—whether confirmed, suspected, or preventive—related to these policies.
Competencies: Tdh Competency Framework
This position requires mastery of the following competency areas as defined in the Tdh:
Competency Framework:
- Core Personal, Social, and Leadership Competencies (CPSL)
- Technical and Methodological Competencies (CTM)
- Managerial and Strategic Competencies (CMS)
Particularly:
Self Management
- Manage time effectively and prioritise tasks; meet deadlines and demonstrate punctuality;
- Demonstrate integrity and ethical behaviour in all activities;
- Show determination, proactivity, flexibility, honesty, and a strong sense of responsibility;
- Manage stress and emotions in a professional manner.
Communication
- Communicate in a respectful, clear, concise, and responsible manner;
- Respond constructively to interlocutors and demonstrate persuasive skills in discussions with project partners, while upholding Terre des hommes’ commitments.
Teamwork
- Cooperate and actively contribute to the achievement of results;
- Provide support and advice to colleagues and stakeholders working in the same field across different intervention sites.
Networking and Partnership
- Adopt a collaborative attitude within and beyond the boundaries of one’s department or project;
- Build and maintain relationships of trust with interlocutors;
- Deliver work according to shared criteria that are defined, known, and validated by all parties.
Specific Professional (“Job Related”) Competencies
- Originate from, reside in, or be strongly rooted within the project intervention area;
- Demonstrate experience in community awareness raising, legal education or facilitation, legal counselling, or mediation (considered an asset);
- Possess solid knowledge of the legal framework, rights, and judicial procedures, particularly in family law, criminal law, women’s rights, and children’s rights;
- Demonstrate patience, empathy, active listening skills, and a friendly and compassionate attitude toward beneficiaries;
- Show strong cultural sensitivity, impeccable integrity, high ethical standards, and strict respect for confidentiality;
- Be motivated to serve communities and be recognised for local credibility and respectability;
- Demonstrate willingness to learn and commitment to delivering high quality services;
- Have full professional proficiency in English and at least one local language of the intervention area (preferably Tiv);
- Possess strong writing, oral communication, and community facilitation skills.
Required Qualifications and Experience
The candidate must meet the following requirements:
Education and Professional Experience
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree in Law or a related field;
- Have a minimum of three (3) years of experience in a similar position;
- Demonstrate a very good knowledge of the norms, values, customs, and social codes of the region;
- Possess strong knowledge of the legal framework, rights, and judicial procedures, particularly in the following areas:
- Family and personal status law
- Criminal law
- Women’s rights
- Children’s rights
- Previous experience working on Gender Based Violence (GBV) issues and/or strong sensitivity to GBV related matters.
Languages
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English;
- Proficiency in a local language spoken in the intervention area and English is considered an asset.
IT Skills
- Solid command of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Others
- Fully comply with Tdh Code of Conduct and ensure Child Safeguarding Policy, PSEA are always upheld.
- Ensure adherence to Tdh standards and quality requirements in all the project activities.
- Adhere to and ensure the team under her/his responsibility follows Tdh administrative and logistical regulations and procedures.
Security
- Comply with Tdh Security Regulations
General Code of of Conduct and Tdh’s Risk Management Policies
- Commits to complying with the General Code of Conduct and systematically reports any breach of the Code through the Tdh warning procedure raises the awareness within the Foundation on violence and abuse and the rights that derive from them regarding children, community members and our own employees.
- Commits to complying with the Risk Management Policies, including Safeguard policies (the policy of Safeguarding Children, the Policy of Protecting against Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, the Guideline on Abusive Behavior at Work), the Safety/Security Policy and Anti-Fraud/Corruption Policies and the Prevention of Funding Criminal Activities.
- Commits to reducing the risk of abuse by developing an open and informed culture of management within the organization and in our work with children and the communities where we work.
The tasks and responsibilities defined in this job description are not exhaustive and can evolve depending on the project\'s needs.
Equal Opportunity Clause:
Terre Des Hommes- Nigeria is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where all individuals are valued and respected. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and celebrate the differences that make us unique. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including but not limited to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
Hiring Conditions
- Applications will be processed on a rolling basis.
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