Protection Assistant (Legal interpreter)

Founded in 1956, The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a humanitarian, non-governmental, non-profit organization providing direct assistance to conflict-affected populations – refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs) and host communities – in more than 40 countries around the world. DRC has been implementing emergency response projects in Tanzania since the onset of the Burundi refugee crisis in 2015 in three refugee camps in the Kigoma Region at the border with Burundi. DRC’s integrated projects for refugees, asylum seekers and host communities comprise sectors such as Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM), Protection (CBP, PSN, GBV, CP and Legal), Shelter and infrastructure, and Economic Recovery.

The overal purpose of the role: The Protection Assistant (legal interpreter) will be responsible for the interpretation of PwS during court sessions, and legal coaching, and work with the legal officer and legal assistants in linking PwS to the legal help desk.

Responsibilities and tasks

• Maintaining confidentiality by legal standards for confidentiality, including not discussing details of cases outside of court proceedings.
• Maintaining effective working relationships with UNHCR, MoHA, magistrates, court clerks, legal officers, legal assistants, legal incentives, and other partners.
• Translating and interpreting all spoken or written communications and gestures during court proceedings to ensure accurate interpretation of all parties to the case.
• In collaboration with legal assistants, linking PwS to the legal help desk for awareness about legal issues in general.
• In collaboration with legal officers conduct prison, police, and immigration visitation.
• In collaboration with a legal assistant and legal officer provide legal aid services in the camp which include reconciliation, case follow-up, legal awareness, and preparing different agreements such as card merging, card splitting, and volrep agreements.
• Directing PwS to the legal help desk when in need of legal representation and legal advice.
• Attend relevant training forums relevant to the job.
• Any other tasks required by his/her supervisors in regard to legal aid services to refugees.

Data collection and reporting

• With support from Information management officer track indicators, maintain, update and analyses data on activity and indicator.
• With support from Legal Team leader, prepare and submit timely and quality weekly, monthly, quality and other donor reports as per the donor requirements. Accountable to meet reporting deadline.
• Support and working closely with Legal Information Management officer and M&E on program data collection, track indicators, maintain, update and analyses data on legal activities

Program management

• With support and the supervision of Legal Team Leader budget legal assistant will do planning; accountable for developing and maintaining work plans, spending and procurement plans, tracking expenditures, and ensuring all activities are well organized and spending is allocated according to DRC and donor compliance and regulations.
• Communicate any incentive staffs issue to the supervisor promptly. Any recruitment of the new incentive staff must obtain the Integrated Protection Team leader’s approval.

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience)

• Must be conversant with the Kirundi language
• Additional legal training will be an added advantage.
• One year experience of working in a humanitarian context.
• Basic understanding of human rights law and international refugee law.
• A basic understanding of sign language will be an added advantage.
• Familiarity with the judicial system across Tanzania.
• Good computer literacy.
• Good understanding of the law and practice of the Tanzanian courts.
• High level of personal initiative, analytical skills, and pro-active problem-solving.
• Cultural sensitivity, and commitment and understanding of the values of DRC. Good communication skills

Education:

• Bachelor's degree/Diploma of Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Translation and Interpretation, social sciences, or any other related field from a recognized University.

Languages:
• Excellent proficiency in written and spoken English, Kirundi, and Kiswahili.

Information
Employment category: Band I

Reporting to: Protection Legal Team Leader

Technical Line Manager:Protection Manager

Direct report: N/A

Unit/department: Protection

Location: Nyarugusu/Kasulu

Key stakeholders: (internal and external)

• DRC Protection staff, refugees and donors
• Local Government (refugee camp) and host Community representatives.
• Community groups.
• Other NGOs and relief actors.
• MoHA, police, immigration

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.

Providing equal opportunities We are committed to creating an inclusive and positive work environment based on mutual respect for all employees. All applicants are considered for employment without attention to race, age, ability, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other factor. At DRC we celebrate diversity and appreciate our employees for the people they are and their unique skills, backgrounds, and perspectives. We encourage all interested candidates to apply.

DRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff within its programs. As such, we strongly encourage national and diaspora candidates to apply for this position. However, candidates should take into consideration that DRC cannot employ, under an international contract, a national of the country in which he or she will be working (in this case, the United Republic of Tanzania)

Promoting high standards : DRC’s capacity to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, IDP’s and other persons of concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. DRC conducts thorough and comprehensive background checks as part of the recruitment process.

Application and CV
Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications, sent together with a CV, will be considered.

DRC only accepts applications sent via our online-application form on www.drc.ngo under JOB.

Department:

Location: Nyarugusu/Kasulu