Legal Advisor (On A Retainer Basis)

Job Description

Background:

The Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) is a US based non-profit humanitarian organization working on torture rehabilitation throughout the world. CVT has been operational in Ethiopia since 2013, providing capacity building to local and refugee staff to offer psychological and physiotherapy rehabilitation services for survivors of severe, human-inflicted trauma. CVT has programs in Tigray, working with IDP and host communities; Amhara, working with Eritrean refugees and returned IDPs; and Gambella, working with South Sudanese refugees, with a small administrative office in Addis Ababa. CVT is registered with the Ethiopian Agency for Civil Society Organizations under registration number 3056 as a foreign organization.

At its program and administrative offices in Addis Ababa, Tigray, Amhara, and Gambella, CVT employs a total of approximately 150 Ethiopian staff.

Scope of Work:

The Legal Advisor is engaged to:

• Legal advice on all matters of legal issues, policies and procedures of the country relevant to CVT so as to ensure legal standing of the organization and its staff in Ethiopia (this may involve representation of CVT to government offices such as immigration, line ministries, ACSO, etc.);
• Support and advice on issues related to labor regulations, including but not limited to reviewing contracts as well as internal policies and procedures; and
• Legal services, such as to institute, represent, appear, negotiate, defend, appeal, respond, intervene, plead, oppose or act in any manner whatsoever legally in any suit by, against, and/or involving the interest of CVT at local, regional, or federal court, quasi-judicial tribunal, arbitral or other proceedings, in accordance with the rules, procedures and laws of the country. 

Duration: One year starting December 1, 2023, with a possibility for annual renewal

Job Requirement

Qualifications:

Required:

• License to practice law in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. 
• In-depth knowledge of the Civil Society Organizations Proclamation, the Labor Proclamations, and immigration procedures for expatriate staff.
• At least 5 years’ experience working as legal advisor for INGOs,
• Fluency in Amharic and English.
• High level of ethics, with commitment to uphold the values of human rights, protection, diversity and inclusion.

Preferred:

• Experience with NGOs working with refugees and/or IDPs, including those in Tigray, Gambella, and Amhara regions.