ICLA Project Manager at Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

Job Identification: 3449
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Degree Level: Bachelor's Degree
Job Category: Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance
Reports to: Area Manager
Supervision of: ICLA Project Coordinator(s)
Travel: 25%
Project number: NGFM 1904, NGFM 2102, NGFM2103
Duration and type of contract: 1 year with the possibility of extension

Background

• NRC has been present in Nigeria since 2015 and has responded to the largest displacement waves in the country since August 2015. NRC contributes to bridging the gap between humanitarian aid and development cooperation, including focusing on equitable access to basic services and strengthening the rights of displaced people and returnees in northeast Nigeria.
• Through Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) Core Competency, NRC supports efforts of the Government to increase access to Legal and Civil Documentation (LCD), and Housing, Land and Property (HLP) rights for displaced and conflict-affected communities. Assistance focuses on the provision of information, counselling and legal assistance and collaborative dispute resolution services to displacement-affected communities.
• The purpose of the ICLA PM is to lead, plan and implement ICLA activities in Borno State (Area North), Nigeria while working closely with the ICLA PM counterpart in Adamawa State (Area South).

Role and Responsibilities

• Through Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) Core Competency, NRC supports efforts of the Government to increase access to legal and civil documentation, and Housing, Land and Property (HLP) rights for conflict-affected communities in northeast Nigeria. Assistance is focused on the provision of information, counselling and legal assistance and support to secure tenure/shelter to rights-holders, and capacity building for duty-bearers, in collaboration with local authorities, UN and NGO partners.
• Under the overall supervision of the Area Manager and with the technical support of the ICLA Specialist, the Project Manager will be responsible for the implementation of activities in Borno North and central.

Generic Responsibilities:

• Adherence to NRC policies, guidance and procedures
• Line management of project staff
• Contribute to the development of Country, Area and ICLA strategies, initiate and participate in the development of relevant ICLA projects
• Coordinate and manage ICLA project implementation in line with proposals, strategies and donor requirements
• Provide technical direction to ICLA team, and ensure high quality of projects
• Provide regular progress reports to the Area Manager and the ICLA Specialist, highlight operational successes and challenges
• Ensure that projects targets beneficiaries most in need of protection, explore and assess better ways to assist
• Develop and manage project budget, in cooperation with the Area Manager and ICLA Coordinators.
• Liaise and collaborate with relevant local authorities and other key stakeholders
• Promote the rights of displaced persons in line with the advocacy strategy

Specific Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and Supervise the ICLA project team and programme activities
• Coordinate preparation of work plans and progress reports for ICLA teams
• Ensure activity deliverables are in line with project outputs and objectives
• Identify synergies, needs and gaps in implementation and recommend appropriate actions
• Expand and maintain NRC’s network of relevant stakeholders in all operational areas.
• Identify best practices, lessons learned and provide inputs to the planning, design and implementation of projects
• Develop and maintain relations with relevant stakeholders, and promote coordination and communication among local leaders and communities to ensure effective participation in NRC activities
• Coordinate preparation of donor reports, GORs and monthly reports on activities and progress
• Ensure that NRC’s programmes are guided by and effectively abide by the humanitarian principles
• Any other tasks as assigned by the supervisor

Critical Interfaces:
Relevant interfaces for this position are:

• Strategy, staff capacity building and project planning: ICLA Specialist
• Area operations and implementation: Area Manager

Scale and scope of the position:

• Staff: Project Coordinators, ICLA Team Leads, ICLA Officers, ICLA Assistants
• Stakeholders: UNHCR, IRC, UNICEF, DRC, PLAN International, Save the Children, Legal aid Council of Nigeria, BOGIS, NBA, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, NIMC, NPC, NEMA, SEMA, Local Courts, other community decision-makers
• Information: GORS, Aggressor, Webcruiter, Intranet.

Qualifications
Education:

• Bachelor's Degree preferably in Law, International Relations, Human Rights or related field
• Certification in Mediation

Generic professional competencies for this position:

• Minimum of 4 years of relevant experience in project management, ideally in a displacement context
• Experience with work in the humanitarian context is an asset.
• Knowledge of protection principles and familiarity with legal assistance programming will be an added advantage
• Experience in managing staff
• Excellent command in Microsoft Applications
• Knowledge about own leadership skills/profile
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal
• Fluency in Hausa any other local language is an added advantage

Competencies:

• Competencies are important in order for the employee and the organisation to deliver desired results.
• They are relevant for all staff and are divided into the following two categories:

Professional Competencies:

• These are skills, knowledge and experience that are important for effective performance.

Context Related Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• Knowledge of the context in Nigeria
• Political and cultural awareness and experience of working where insecurity is a major issue
• Proven skills in report writing
• Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring and other formal and non-formal methods
• Handling insecure environments
• Political and cultural awareness.

Behavioural Competencies:

• These are personal qualities that influence how successful people are in their job. NRC’s Competency Framework states 12 behavioural competencies, and the following are essential for this position:
• Planning and delivering results
• Working with people
• Communicating with impact and respect
• Analysing
• Handling insecure environments.

Performance Management:

• The employee will be accountable for the responsibilities and the competencies, in accordance with the NRC Performance Management Manual.
• The following documents will be used for performance reviews:
  • The Job Description
  • The Work and Professional Development Plan
  • The Mid-term/End-of-trial Period Performance Review Template
  • The End-term Performance Review Template
  • The NRC Competency Framework.

What We Offer

• You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative:
• 12 months fixed term contract with possibility of extension
• An opportunity to match your career to a compelling cause
• A chance to meet and work with people who are the best in their fields.