HLP Officer at Smiling Hearts Initiatives International

Job Title: HLP Officer

Activities

• Provide legal assistance in area of Land Access and Use facilitate and/or negotiation for all construction and/or rehabilitation to our beneficiaries, as well as support in disputes resolution between Property owner(s) or Local Authorities and our beneficiaries. Provide beneficiaries with assistance to realize their Housing Land and Property Rights.
• Review and outline Legal and Policy frameworks governing HLP rights of displaced persons, returnees and host communities from a domestic legal perspective. Compile up-to-date information on relevant HLP laws, procedures and practices.
• Outline the normative framework of international, regional and national policy on HLP right as applicable to Northeast Nigeria.
• Identify and document specific challenges facing IDPs, returnees, and host communities in exercising their HLP rights in all locations. This includes gender, age, diversity, and how they relate to HLP violation. 
• Map HLP issues in areas of return providing an overview of the tenure issues, that affects, who is affected and the current response considering IDPs, returnees, and host communities. Conduct field visits to capture the views of beneficiaries including women and key stakeholders (statutory, customary, and religious authorities, protection etc.)
• Provide recommendations to effectively protect HLP rights of IDPs and host communities as well as to address programmatic gaps to help the Organization address HLP issues affecting displaced and Host communities in the locations.
• Ensure stakeholders i.e. Organization, Property Owners, displaced tenants and/or local Authorities understand and agree to enter and abide by tenure agreements and ensure that all documentation in relation to these agreements is available before implementation of all activities that require the use of Land. 
• Advocate for recognition of the HLP rights of displaced persons particularly security of tenure when engaging with Property Owners, Authorities and humanitarian partners.
• Report on any problems encountered in the field such as Organization beneficiary complaints, Authorities interference and security threats on the breach of any agreement entered. 
• Conduct post-rehabilitation occupancy monitoring to ensure ongoing security of tenure for all of our beneficiaries. Work with the MEL team to undertake regular monitoring and evaluation of HLP activities, and contribute to monthly progress reports on activities, highlighting any technical or operational successes.
• Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of activities and make recommendations for improvements.
• Conduct both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Organization and not to jeopardize its humanitarian mission in Nigeria.
• Carry out any other duties as assigned.

Candidate Profile

• University Degree in law preferred; with 3 Years post call to the Nigeria BAR.
• University Degree in Social Science, Political Science or related subjects with 3 Years working experience in area Housing, Land and Property (HLP).
• Familiarity with HLP laws, procedure and practice in Nigeria.
• Experience in legal research including international and national legal concepts and collecting legal data.
• Ability to negotiate with Property Owners and Authorities, providing legal assistance to vulnerable beneficiaries, related sectors in Nigeria.
• Ability to work under pressure, independently and show initiative, with limited supervision.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to develop good relationship with a range of diverse local stakeholders, private actors, the Government and partners.
• Experience representing the organization and its interest to a diverse range of local stakeholders, private sector actors, the Government and partners.
• Experience working in the humanitarian sector, in complex and volatile contexts. 
• Fluency in Hausa, Kanuri and English.

Application Instructions:

The application deadline is 8th November 2024. Therefore qualified and interested candidates can “CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT APPLICATION”