Job Summary:
Organization: UNHCR
Country: Kenya
City: Nairobi
Office: ICDDR,B in Nairobi, Kenya
Closing date: Thursday, 10 October 2024
Description of assignment title: Associate Legal Officer
Expected start date: 11/01/2024
Sustainable Development Goal: 16. Peace, justice and strong institutions
Volunteer category: International UN Volunteer Specialist
Host entity: UNHCR
Type: Onsite
Duration: 6 months
Number of assignments: 1
Area(s) of expertise: Legal affairs
Age: 18 – 80
Nationality: Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.
Mission and objectives
The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).
Context
UNHCR’s Legal Affairs Service (LAS) provides advice to UNHCR on a wide range of legal issues, including on commercial contracts, employment disputes, the privileges and immunities of the Organisation, and engagement with governments and other partners. LAS lawyers are qualified in a range of civil and common law jurisdictions, and this breadth of experience, perspectives, and skills adds strong value to the Organisation.
Aligned with UNHCR’s mandate of supporting refugees and forcibly displaced people, we have identified that making available the possibility for a lawyer with lived refugee experience to join LAS for a period of six months could provide an excellent opportunity for the lawyer to gain experience in the legal office of an international organization, without the need to gain additional jurisdiction-specific qualifications. We also consider that this could be extremely valuable for the LAS team, as we benefit from the perspective of a new team member with lived refugee experience. The position would be located in Nairobi, Kenya, where LAS has a presence of lawyers.
Through LAS’ connection with the Zurich Insurance Global Legal team’s Pro Bono Committee, the successful candidate will be offered access to leadership and skills development opportunities. In the pilot program the successful candidate will benefit from mentorship from a Zurich Insurance Senior Legal Counsel. The mentoring support would be designed based on the interests and needs of the refugee lawyer and may include, but is not limited to the following: o Leadership skills: collaboration, trust, strategic business partnering, strategic thinking skills;
o Technical skills: legal topics related to Artificial Intelligence, Insurance, Tech, Data, Corporate Governance, Environmental and Social Governance, Negotiation;
o Communication skills for lawyers: Influence, connect first, storytelling, plain writing;
o Networking/job hunting skills: LinkedIn, writing CVs, building confidence.
Task description
Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the General Counsel, LAS, or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Associate Legal Officer will provide expert legal advice on a broad range of matters within the scope of the work of LAS. This will include providing support, drafting, and review of different types of contracts, including complex commercial contracts, engagements with the private sector, and donor agreements. The incumbent may also be asked to advise and provide support on questions of a public international law nature, for example on matters related to the status, privileges, and immunities of UNHCR and its workforce. In particular, the Associate Legal Officer will:
- Provide expert legal advice and guidance on a wide array of commercial matters and complex commercial agreements, including contracts and frame agreements for goods and/or services, IT/telecommunications services, managed services, transportation, banking services, construction, architect, and project management services, field security and audit services;
- Support LAS and coordinate with other colleagues on providing legal support on contracts and other matters relating to UNHCR’s cash-based intervention programs;
- Liaise, correspond, and negotiate with relevant third parties on the legal aspects of the conclusion, interpretation, and/or implementation of contracts and agreements;
- Review, advise, and draft complex contracts, agreements, institutional and operational modalities, or other legal documents; develop new legal modalities to meet unique needs/circumstances;
- Provide legal advice and guidance on a broad range of non-refugee law-related matters, including the status, privileges, and immunities of the United Nations, the UN internal justice system, and human resources legal issues;
- Provide legal advice, as necessary, to the Inspector General’s Office on investigation procedures and to the Director, DHRM on disciplinary proceedings;
- Provide legal interpretation of UN Regulations and Rules and relevant instructions, guidance and policy issues;
- Provide high-quality legal research, analysis, and presentation of key information to facilitate decision-making;
- Assist the Senior Legal Officer in reviewing draft human resources policies with a particular emphasis on policies and guidance related to sexual exploitation and abuse or sexual harassment, and ensure that they are aligned with established policy and standards; guide offices in the field to ensure that personnel matters are dealt with in accordance with relevant procedural guidelines
- Provide legal advice on diverse substantive and procedural questions of considerable complexity, including on issues relating to UNHCR’s engagement with the private sector, taking into account the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework and Global Compact on Refugees; and
- Perform any other responsibilities/functions deemed necessary or as delegated by the Head of Service or supervisor.
Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:
- Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
- Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
- Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results, and opportunities;
- Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
- Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
- Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.
Results/expected outputs
- As an active UNHCR LAS team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly, and high quality support rendered to UNHCR and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including in the delivery of legal advice and support, as set out in section 12 above: eZfkbpE B2L3u7
- Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGO) perspective is systematically applied, integrated, and documented in all activities throughout the assignment
- A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in, and capacities developed
Requirements
Required experience
3 years of experience in law; in at least one national jurisdiction / Bar exam or equivalent qualification to practice law.
- Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;
- Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
- Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
Desirable:
- Lived refugee experience
- Knowledge and experience of commercial law, employment law, or public international law;
- Strong analytical skills and ability to conduct legal research on a range of complex and intricate issues;
- Experience in drafting and negotiating a broad range of documents of a legal nature, including complex contractual frameworks of a commercial or financial nature, legal opinions, pleadings, and briefing notes;
- Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
- Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;
- Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
*Preference will be given to candidates with refugee status.
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required
French, Level: Fluent, Desirable
Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in law in at least one national jurisdiction.
Competencies and values
- Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNHCR; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNHCR procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy, and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgment; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented ;
- Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNHCR in daily activities and behaviors while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behavior; does not abuse power or authority;
- Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues ;
- Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.
- Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate, and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;
- Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options, and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups ;
- Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary;
- Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity, and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNHCR’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial nation on the coast of East Africa, neighboring Somalia, Ethio-pia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Indian Ocean. Kenya has two levels of Government; National Government and 47 sub-national Governments called Counties. Counties are further divided into sub-counties. Kenya is a multi-party state with Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Kenya’s popula-tion of more than 40 million is growing at an annual rate of 2.2%. The country’s GNP per capita esti-mated at purchasing power parity (PPP) is $975, and the GNP is growing at an average rate of 0.1% an-nually. More than 26% of Kenya’s people live below the international poverty line of $1 per day. Ken-ya’s main food crops are “maize, wheat, pulses, roots and tubers.” (FAO). Nairobi is a modern metro-politan city where most basic goods and services, health facilities, public transport, telecommunication and banking services and educational facilities are readily available. The city is widely connected through its main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the smaller Wilson Airport. Air transport is also available to many up-country destinations. The city is home to some 3,000 UN person-nel mainly attributed to the fact that it serves as the headquarters for both the UN HABITAT and UNEP. The socio-economic and cultural background of the immediate society the UNV would be living and working in is diverse and prevailing security conditions at the place of assignment is modest. The topo-graphic and climatic features of the assignment location is highland cool and warm tropical climate.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
