International Rescue Committee

Organization description

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, assisting people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving are assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. Today IRC works in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC has been working in Uganda since 1998 supporting IDPs, refugees and various institutions in the country notably the government, community-based organizations, the civil society and the private sector. Currently, the IRC’s Protection and Rule of Law program works to safeguard the human rights and advance the sustainable protection of refugees in Bidibidi, Palabek, Imvepi and Kyaka II settlements, as well as urban refugees in Kampala.

IRC Uganda and its partners are implementing a five-year urban livelihoods program: Refugees in East Africa: Boosting Urban Innovations for Livelihoods Development (Re: Build) in Kampala and Nairobi cities with funding from the IKEA Foundation. The Re: Build program seeks to support urban refugees and vulnerable host communities to achieve economic self-reliance and benefit from strengthened urban economic, regulatory, and social environments. It aims to enable change at varying levels for better access to livelihoods opportunities and inclusive services within the communities, improved refugee-related policies and more targeted and effective service delivery by the national, regional and global actors.

Job Overview

The Senior Protection and Rule of Law Officer will support the day-to-day implementation and design of interventions that enhance urban refugees’ access to economic opportunities for sustainable self-reliance. 

The ideal candidate has to demonstrate capacity and experience in legal and policy analysis, community mobilization and capacity building, stake holder engagement, legal and protection case management, and justice sector systems strengthening. Knowledge of the urban refugee support framework and context in Uganda is essential. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Legal and policy analysis

• Regularly monitor developments in the legislative and policy framework, to inform strategic
• programmatic adaptation. 
• Identify and analyze the laws and policies advancing REBUILD strategy on economic justice.
• Inform REBUILD team on any new developments on relevant laws and policies .
• Support the development and dissemination of policy and influence papers.

Community mobilization and capacity building

• Support identification of clients, and the design and implementation of responsive interventions including referrals, case management, and provision of information. 

Stake holder engagement

• Support multi stakeholder dialogue and consensus building on enhancement of access to economic justice for urban refugees and asylum seekers. 
• Contribute to technical meetings that advance the REBUILD agenda, in consultation with line supervisor. 
• Support mapping and establishment of linkages with partners and stakeholders including local and central government agencies, Civil Society Organizations and Private Sector. 
• Support capacity building of partners on economic justice, protection and refugee rights and frameworks.

Legal and protection case management

• Support identification of clients, and the design and implementation of responsive interventions including referrals, case management, and provision of information. 

Justice sector systems strengthening

• Support multi stakeholder dialogue and consensus building on enhancement of access to economic justice for urban refugees and asylum seekers. 

Project management and capacity building 

• Prepare and submit periodic reports to line supervisors. 
• Contribute to the development of REBUILD strategy and annual workplan to integrate protection and rule of law.
• Ensure timely implementation of work plans, procurement plans and spending plans in line with the approved budgets.
• Advise on the integration of protection and rule of law services into livelihoods programs within REBUILD. Support development of an integrated matrix for protection and livelihood programming. 
• Support capacity building of REBUILD country program on protection and rule of law concepts and approaches.