ThaiNGO

Background/IRC Summary:  

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. The IRC has been operating in Thailand since 1975 and currently provides assistance to displaced persons in Tak, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi and Mae Hong Son provinces.

Promoting Sustainable Protection Measures for Vulnerable Displaced People across the Thailand-Myanmar Border project promotes the rule of law / legal principles and access to justice for Burmese Displaced People in Thailand. Established in July in 2016 in coordination with, and building on the Legal Assistance Center and the Project for Local Empowerment (PLE), this protection project will serve displaced people both in the camps and along the Thai-Myanmar Borders, and focuses on maintaining and expanding sustainable and equal access to justice as well as strengthening cross border protection coordination to ensure safety of the most vulnerable displaced people through different activities.

Job Overview/Summary:

To promote the rule of law, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and Mediation Dispute Resolution Guidelines (MDRG), the Senior Rule of Law Officer is responsible for designing, organizing and conducting training on the legal principles with a particular focus on preparation for return to camp justice officials and/or Community leader in the border areas. Working in collaboration with the community justice leadership (within the camps and the border areas), the Senior Rule of Law Officer will explore  the existing dispute and conflict resolution mechanisms in place, including areas of cross-cutting with the MDRG in use within the camps and cross-border, including  other ADRs  and provide technical guidance to standardize and consolidate these models and extensively train community leaders and project beneficiaries both within the camps, along the border areas and cross-border. To strengthen community ownership and long-term sustainability, the Senior Rule of Law Officer will mentor and provide technical support and guidance to the community leaders and other relevant committees to ensure that these leaders and committees can fully apply the relevant principles of law and conflict resolution mechanisms and that they can effectively monitor the conditions of camp detainees and prisoners and provide the relevant community services.

Major Responsibilities:

1. Design and prepare comprehensive training modules for project beneficiaries in Thailand and cross-border on ADR, MDRG including the relevant laws, rule of law and legal frameworks for preparation for return and durable solutions.
2. Strengthen the application of relevant community dispute resolution mechanisms which are currently in use in the camps a by conducting refresher training on these mechanisms and providing technical guidance / advice to every community authorities, and promote the application of these mechanisms to displaced people across the border by adapting them to the different legal context as necessary.
3. Organize and conduct training of trainers (TOT) and provide technical support to implement the principles of law and ADR to local non-governmental organizations (NGO), community-based organizations (CBO), and civil society organizations (CSO).
4. Mentor, advise and guide community authorities, community-based assistants, CBOs, Community Legal Volunteers on camp-based mediation mechanisms and monitoring the implementation of Camp Detention Guidelines and activities.
5. Disseminate information related to ADR and other principles of law, including information related to the preparation for return and durable solutions to displaced people in the different rule of law and legal contexts.
6. Liaise regularly with community authorities both within and outside the camps and other relevant partners across the Thai–Myanmar borders
7. Collect information/data relating to all rule of law and legal activities, including data necessary for project indicators as well as record on the project successes and challenges.
8. Prepare monthly activity plans together with other program staff in order to ensure close integration of project activities.
9. Prepare monthly and other reports as required.
10. Attend meetings with donors, partners, and other organizations as required.
11. Develop and maintain professional relationships with IRC’s partners.
12. Perform other duties as requested by the supervisor and/or senior management as required.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to:               Rule of Law and Legal Manager

Position directly supervises:  Rule of law community-based assistants (CBA)

Indirect Reporting:                 Program Coordinator, Deputy Coordinator for Community and Government Liaison, Deputy Coordinator for Protection Mainstreaming

                                                           
Other Internal and/or External Contacts:

Internal: Deputy Director for Programs, Program Unit, Project for Local Empowerment (PLE), Women’s Protection and Empowerment Program, Field Coordinators, Finance Department, and Operations Department.

External: UN agencies, Civil Society , RTGs, CBOs, NGOs and other relevant partners

Position Requirements:

Education           

-              University degree and in Law essential

Work Experience and/or Demonstrated Abilities

-              At least four years demonstrated relevant working experience in the principles of laws / rule of law and/or judicial system desirable

-              Previous training experience and/or experience in law desirable

Skills

-              Excellent communication and training skills

-              Ability to handle multi-tasks and sensitive issues

-              Ability to deal with traumatized people in an effective and compassionate way

-              Computer literate

Language(s)      

-              Fluent in Karen and Burmese is essential and good command of English is desirable

Other   

-              Knowledge of displaced person both in and outside camp situations

-              Awareness of political effect to quality of life

-              Able to travel regularly within Thailand, along and cross Thai–Myanmar borders

HOW TO APPLY:

Application letter and most recent CV in English stating qualifications and experience should be submitted to the IRC Human Resources Department at:Thailand.HR@Rescue.org All applications will be treated confidentially and not returned. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Application deadline: 11 November 2016

The IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, national origin, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, marital status or physical or mental disability. The IRC is an equal opportunity employer.