Legal and Liaison Officer

Action Against Hunger is a global humanitarian organisation committed to ending world hunger and recognized as a leader in the fight against malnutrition. Founded in 1979, Action Against Hunger delivers programmes, in over 40 countries while committed to respect humanitarian principles as a non-governmental, non-political, non-religious and, non-profit organisation. Our mission is to save lives through the prevention, detection, and treatment of malnutrition, especially during and after emergency situations and conflict. Action Against Hunger intervenes in four main areas: Nutrition, Mental Health & Care Practices; Water, Sanitation & Hygiene; Food Security and Livelihoods; Advocacy and Raising Awareness.

Action Against Hunger is looking for a LEGAL AND LIAISON OFFICER based in its country office in Erbil.

 Work place: Erbil with frequent visits to ACF areas of interventions (Baghdad, Dohuk, Mosul, Sinjar and Basra)

Type of contract: Initially 6 months Fixed-Term contract with the possibility of extension.

Working Hours: Full Time Contract of minimum 40 hours per week up to a maximum of 48 hours per week

Monthly Basic Salary:  Action Against Hunger provide competitive salary according to ACF salary grid.

 Benefits: Monthly Transport Allowance, Medical Insurance and + End of Year Benefit.

 Purpose of the position:

• Manage visa applications for federal Iraq and residency process for KR-I
• Manage all Access Letters requests (JCMC, JCC, Dohuk Governorate)
• Lead tax payment and government reporting processes for KRI and GOI
• Liaise with bases to centralise access information including detailing key processes, responsibilities and contact lists for the mission
• Map opportunities for government system strengthening and/or partnership
• Provide ad hoc support on security and liaison related activities

 Specific Objectives:

Objective/Assignment 1: Manage visa residency applications for KRI and visa applications for Federal Iraq

Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Process relevant POAs and admin orders needed for eligibility to apply for visas/residencies
• Facilitate visas process for new visitors for Federal Iraq and KR-I in coordination with lawyer/consultant
• Facilitate blood test and residency approval for Federal Iraq and KR-I in coordination with lawyer/consultant
• Liaise with HR department to follow up on expatriates recruitments at the mission level
• Liaise with HQ to follow up on new expatriates and national staff arriving to the mission
• Follow up on the validity of expatriates’ related residency documents
• Manage background check and interviews requested by security forces on new recruitments

Objective/Assignment 2: Manage all access letter requests (JCMC, JCC, Dohuk Governorate)

Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Collect and centralise all identification documents of staff
• Manage requests for access letters amendments and renewal by collecting relevant information from different bases and departments (Logs/HR/Progs)
• Ensures that all approved access letters and amendments are properly filed on the base server and shared with appropriate departments
• Organise, format and classify documents according to JCC/JCMC standards
• Strengthen and develop professional and regular communication with the necessary points of contacts involved in the Access Letter process
• Follow up on the evolution of the requirements to obtain JCC and JCMC letters
• Maintain relationships with representatives involved in the Access Letter process (Dohuk, Erbil, Baghdad)
• Develop mapping of the multiples Access Letter processes

Objective/Assignment 3: Lead tax payment and government reporting processes for KRI and GOI

Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Update key process flows for how to process tax payments and reporting
• Coordinate relevant team inputs (HR, Finance, Grants/Programs) and submit reports to government
• Oversee and streamline any needed additional legal and/or advisory consultants in close coordination with relevant technical teams as well as logistics

Objective/Assignment 4: Liaise with bases to centralise information including key contact list for the mission

Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Develop and maintain a network of government authorities (related to access as well as programs, such as Ministries) at coordination level. Record all contacts in a centralized database.
• Liaise with security and liaison officer in all bases to collect, improve and centralise all government and security actor contacts in the same centralized database
• Ensure that contacts lists are organised, accurate and frequently updated
• Collect feedback of security and liaison officers on the usefulness and leverage of each contacts
• Identify potential gaps in contacts lists and provide feedback to Security HoD
• Update access workflows (residency, visas, taxes, registration, reporting, etc.) including changes to access processes and the key, influential stakeholders as well as ACF process leads
• Organize and facilitate meetings for key staff with government authorities, including regular interfaces with DNGO, Ministries and potentially Directorates
• Actively participate on relevant NGO groups/fora to share learnings and understand developments in the access space and the NGO community’s positioning

Objective/Assignment 5: Map opportunities for government system strengthening and/or partnership

Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Based on mapping (objective 4 as well as interaction with government authorities), identify bottlenecks, opportunities for programmatic engagement with government and any direct partnership opportunities to the CD and the DCD
• Coordinate closely with Field Coordinators in each base to harmonize government engagement and partnership strategy
• Co-Chair the Partnerships Working Group, acting as the representative for government/authority level partnership

Objective/Assignment 6: Provide ad hoc support related to security and liaison related activities

Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Provide support in translation during Access and Security HOD meetings
• Provide reports as requested by the Security HOD on political and security issues
• In absence of Security Officer, manage and regulate visitors access to the office (greeting visitors, handling badges, filling visitor sheet)
• Maintain an updated lists of expatriates in guesthouses
• Maintain an update list of international movements for expatriates (RnR, leaves, new staffs, visitors)

PART TIME WORK IS POSSIBLE FOR THIS POSITION. FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT IS ALSO POSSIBLE. REVISION OF THE JD MAY BE REQUIRED BASED ON THE CANDIDATE’S FULL OR PART TIME STATUS.

Closing Date: Friday, 15^th of April 2021

 Qualified candidates must submit a Cover Letter and a Resume (CV) including 2 professional references and a copy of any relevant Certification/Degree and a copy of National ID and/or Residency Card to [email protected].

 Please indicate the job reference number: COO/OPE/01/032022, in the e-mail subject line.

Action Against Hunger encourages female candidates to apply.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we will only contact short-listed candidates for further screening.

Please note that the final candidates will be subjected to security screening and positive references.

For more information please visit our website: http://www.actioncontrelafaim.org/en