Overall purpose of the role:

The Legal consultant provides technical oversight to all DRC and partners’launch of legal activities and collaboration on the legal component especially in the Northwest, including legal awareness, legal counseling and alternative dispute resolution (ADR). S/he guides the strategic development of DRC’s legal aid programme in Nigeria through local partnerships. The role also provides support and/or technical guidance to all field staff and partners working on projects with one or more legal components for a few months of the project.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Legal consultant will

• Provide technical oversight of all legal activities within the DRC Nigeria Protection and Livelihoods programmes especially related to links to social registers.
• Mapping all the legal services in the North West (private/traditional/others…) and suggest best ways of collaborating with them.
• Takes the lead on strategic decisions regarding the Legal Aid Programme, in collaboration with the Country Level Protection Coordinator Manager and Area Level Protection Manager and the partners
• Provides regular technical supervision of all partners legal staff including oversight of case documentation and give them feedbacks and trainings.
• Provides capacity building for DRC staff and partners working on projects with a legal component, including the development of capacity building plans and training materials and how to better use referrals.
• Develops SOPs and tools for all new legal activities carried out with local partners.
• Develops outreach material with a legal focus, and supports on coaching and supervision delivering awareness session, as required during the consultancy
• Ensures inputs on relevant legal matters through legal research insights in Nigeria and close collaboration with PIM Analyst Specialist and Country Level Protection Coordinator/Manager on legal analysis to complement the PAF especially for North West Nigeria although some insights for the North East might be required too
• Ensures all legal activities have relevant MEAL tools for assessing impact and quality, in collaboration with the Protection and MEAL Managers and a toolbox of legal indicators is developed to support DRC/Local Partners in the legal interventions.
• Conducts regular field visits to ensure that all legal activities are of a high quality including HLP/Access to Justice and other forms of legal support.
• Develops technical oversight for all partners with a legal component, including supporting on capacity assessments, trainings of trainers
• Develops legal needs assessment tools to inform program design and strategic direction, in collaboration with the Protection and MEAL Managers.
• Participates in relevant coordination legal meetings, as agreed with the Country Level Protection Manager.

Subordinates: NA – technical capacity building/overview/advises of all Legal staff from local partners and of any DRC Area Level Protection Manager

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience)

• Minimum 5 years of experience working for an INGO in the protection sector, with a focus on legal programming. Experience of implementing alternative dispute resolution would be an advantage.
• Experience working in an advisory role would be an advantage.
• Experience providing training on legal topics
• Experience working with national partners, local/government authorities, and UN organizations
• Excellent skill in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Required document for this consultancy, expected to be of 4-6 months from July-August onwards includes a proposal on legal assessments to carry out when coming into a new area, a timeframe with calendars and outputs, and a tentative budget for the consultancy including all travels, insurance, accommodations etc.

Education and professional experience:

• Degree in Law; Masters would be an advantage.
• Bar-registered Lawyer (Nigeria Bar Association