Founded in 1979, St Andrew’s Refugee Services (StARS) is a refugee service provider in central Cairo that works to enhance the quality of life for refugees and vulnerable migrants through education, legal aid, and psychosocial services. We provide high-quality services meeting the unaddressed needs of refugees, and we provide a safe and inclusive space for displaced people to come together as a community. We work for refugees, with refugees, to make rights recognition a reality.
StARS’ Mission is to enhance the quality of life of refugees in Egypt and make their rights a reality through client-centered programs.
StARS’ Vision is a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for refugees in which they can exercise their rights, pursue their aspirations, and live in dignity.
Project Description: Refugee Legal Aid Program
The Refugee Legal Aid Program (RLAP) provides advice and representation to refugees seeking recognition by UNHCR through refugee status determination (RSD) procedures in Egypt and assists refugees in accessing resettlement to safe third countries. RLAP is seeking a Legal Officer to lead its policy and advocacy efforts with UNHCR, IOM, embassies, and other organizations assisting refugees in Egypt.
Role
Under the supervision of the RLAP Director, the Policy & Advocacy Legal Officer is responsible for the preparation of advocacy documents addressing refugee protection, RSD, and resettlement in Egypt. Advocacy documents are primarily targeted at UNHCR, IOM, embassies, and other local and international organizations. The Policy & Advocacy Legal Officer works across StARS programs, drawing on the practical experience of StARS staff members in RLAP, the Psychosocial Program, and the Education Program, with the objective of preparing practical and evidence-based proposals for reform and improvement of legal processes and assistance programs relevant to refugees in Egypt. The Policy & Advocacy Legal Officer is a member of a team of approximately 20 legal staff and reports to the RLAP Director.
Responsibilities
All duties are carried out under the supervision of the RLAP Director.
Legal and Technical
- To draft advocacy documents identifying weaknesses and proposing practical improvements in legal processes and assistance programs relevant to refugees in Egypt.
- To maintain good working knowledge of UNHCR Egypt’s policies and procedures and refugee assistance programs administered by partner organizations in Egypt.
- To attend meetings with UNHCR and other partner organizations relating to StARS’s advocacy efforts.
- To undertake country of origin research for general organizational research purposes and to maintain good working knowledge of the current political and social situations in the countries of origin of RLAP’s clients.
- To maintain familiarity with the protection environment for refugees in Egypt, including gaps in protection and assistance programs.
Programmatic
- In consultation with the RLAP Director, Psychosocial Program Director, Education Director, and Community Outreach Director, to determine the areas in which StARS should focus its advocacy efforts.
- To build and maintain relationships with psychosocial and education staff and operational partners to ensure collaboration and coordination on StARS’s advocacy efforts.
- To provide information to other members of RLAP and StARS programs regarding issues facing the urban refugee population in Egypt.
- To attend and contribute to RLAP meetings and other staff meetings.
Administration
- To undergo probation and regular performance appraisals.
Communication/Reporting
- To communicate regularly with the RLAP Director, RSD Coordinator, and Resettlement Coordinator on legal and procedural issues faced by refugees in Egypt.
- To communicate regularly with StARS’s Psychosocial Program Director, Education Director, and Community Outreach Director regarding protection and other issues faced by refugees in Egypt.
- To provide reporting data to the RLAP Director as requested in order to accurately report work to senior management, funders, and others.
- To promote information-sharing within RLAP and StARS on all issues affecting the populations we serve.
Qualifications & Experience
The ideal candidate will be energetic, articulate, and comfortable interacting with diverse segments of society and will have excellent writing and analytical skills. She or he will have demonstrated a firm commitment to human rights and refugee issues.
Essential qualifications:
- Education: Master’s degree in a related field (international development, international law, development studies, Middle East Studies) OR a qualified lawyer in any jurisdiction (J.D., LLB or equivalent). In lieu of these educational requirements, applications will also be accepted from candidates with a minimum of one year of experience assisting refugees in Egypt or in a similar urban environment.
- English being the official language of UNHCR Cairo and StARS, the Policy & Advocacy Legal Officer must be fluent in oral and written English.
- Excellent legal and factual research and drafting skills.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to exercise sound legal judgment and apply a practical and strategic advocacy approach.
- Knowledge of UNHCR guidelines and procedures, especially RSD, child protection, and resettlement procedures utilized by UNHCR Egypt.
- Knowledge of the general protection situation and vulnerabilities of refugees in Egypt.
- A demonstrated commitment to and sensitivity toward vulnerable or displaced people.
- Ability to live and work in a fluid security environment.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a team as well as individually.
Desirable Characteristics:
- Experience drafting evidence-based advocacy materials, preferably related to legal processes and/or refugee assistance programs.
- Life and work experience in the Middle East or Egypt or with an urban refugee population.
Hours: 40-hour work week (Sunday – Thursday), and other hours and overtime as required.
Supervised by: RLAP Director
Salary: 6,100 EGP per month, rising to 6,400 EGP per month at the completion of the probationary period (plus 400 EGP/month Cost of Living Allowance, 125 EGP monthly medical allowance, and 50 EGP monthly pension contribution).
Benefits: StARS official benefit policies as stipulated in StARS Policies and Procedures Guidelines
Closing date for applications: 29 January 2017; applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Anticipated starting date: As soon as possible.
This position is subject to a three-month probationary period, at which time the employee’s performance will be reviewed and probation may be extended.
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested applicants should send a cover letter, CV, and brief writing sample to rlap.applications@stars-egypt.org. Please write “Policy & Advocacy Legal Officer” in the subject line.
