Sub Grantees Capacity Building Officer: Legal Aid Service Provision and Legal Awareness and Empowerment Project

Job Description

About Center for Justice (CJ)

Center for Justice (CJ) is Ethiopia’s main independent non-governmental organization working for systemic and service changes of the Ethiopian Criminal Justice System. Its establishment was spearheaded by individuals who sought to improve things they came across during their incarceration. 

CJ is an organization which blends practical interventions and advocacy campaigns to improve the criminal justice system in general and the condition of detainees in Ethiopia in particular. It stands for human rights and works for their protection and realization through a mix of practical interventions and advocacy works that improve conditions for accused, arrested and detained persons both at the systemic and service levels at the national and detention facilities levels. Our fundamental task as an organization is to effect progressive change in the Ethiopian Criminal Justice System. 

We work for people who are serving prison terms in the Ethiopian prisons and people who go through the Ethiopian Criminal Justice System. We give a special attention for disadvantaged people like women prisoners, children living with their incarcerated mothers, persons with disabilities and juvenile offenders. 

We promote reform in the following areas: oversight of criminal justice systems to increase accountability, prevent torture and ill-treatment, a progressive criminal justice system that upholds human rights, promotes effective non-custodial responses to crime, and uses prison as a last resort,  improve health for the most vulnerable in detention facilities;  supervision, rehabilitation, reformation and reintegration of prisoners;  treatment of young offenders in correctional institutions and youth corrective training centers;  advocate for and support the provision of facilities for children accompanying their mothers in prison, the inclusion of people with lived experience in criminal justice reform efforts,   promote peaceful and inclusive societies and the enhancement of   rule of law & democratic governance, improve detainees’ access to legal aid and raise the quality of legal aid, improve the working condition of prison staffs and women legal, social and economic empowerment 

Program Summary

Center for Justice (CJ) jointly with UNODC-Ethiopia Office obtained funding support from European Commission for Legal Aid Service Provision in the framework of the EU Support to Criminal Justice Reform in Ethiopia. The Support to the provision of legal aid services in the Ethiopian Criminal Justice System will be implemented nationwide. The program aims to improve access to justice for all. More specifically, the program seeks to deliver activities and outputs that would target 15-17 CSO and university legal aid service providers with financial and technical support towards improved availability, accessibility and quality of legal aid services in the Ethiopian Criminal Justice System. The program also addresses each of the following sectors: legal aid services to arrested, accused and detained persons and victims and survivors of crime; capacity building to legal aid service providers; and promoting coordination and networking among legal aid service providers.

 Center for Justice, being part of the program lead by UNODC-Ethiopia Office, will implement the capacity building to legal aid service providers; and coordination and networking among legal aid service provider’s parts of the program

General Position Summary

Sub Grantees Capacity Building Officer is responsible for managing the programmatic, financial, and operational aspects of sub grantees. S/he will facilitate the development, execution, and evaluation of capacity-building initiatives for Legal Aid sub grantees with craft a comprehensive capacity strengthening plan, setting clear capacity goals and strategies. This role involves assessing and addressing gaps in technical, financial, operational, compliance, advocacy, and other areas, with a focus on standardizing organizational practices and systems for sustainable growth. Compliance with the donor regulations and CJ and UNODC internal policies and procedures is a critical part of the capacity building process and essential to enable sub-grantees to develop strong systems that will help in the delivery of programmatic interventions. Under the direction of CJ Program Manager and UNDOC the sub grantee Capacity Building Officer will establish annual milestones to gauge the readiness of Legal Aid sub grantee to assume leadership roles, encompassing technical skills, financial systems, compliance procedures, and essential soft skills convening, advocacy, and influence. The officer will work closely with the CJ- Finance officer, Program Teams and UNODC. 

Essential Job Responsibilities

Sub Grantees Capacity Building

• Coordinate participatory organizational capacity assessment for sub grantees using and using OCA findings, support partner organizations to create capacity development plans.
• Develop and/or refine existing CSO capacity-building curricula to fit local context and capacity.
• Deliver and/or oversee the delivery of training to build partner capacity and technical competencies.
• Support peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and peer mentorship opportunities, including field site visits and learning events.
• Provide technical guidance to develop/strengthen sub grantees organization’s administrative and financial management systems and structures.

•  Support the incorporation of conflict-sensitive and gender approaches into partners and their activities.

   Compliance:

• Ensure that LAP (Legal Aid Provision) is executed in alignment with the prime award agreement and the applicable EU regulations, staying abreast of changes in regulatory environment related to donor/grant compliance; 
• Work with program teams ensure that program activities are designed to be compliant, while facilitating the achievement of the program objectives.
•  Review LAP procurement and program transactions, contracts and other documents for compliance requirements and ensure these requirements are met.
•  Assist sub grantees, as needed with sub grantees compliance requests to EU.
• Provide the financial technical support to the finance team in compliance
• Support finance team to prepare the financial reports that are in compliance to the grant terms and generally accepted reporting requirements.
• Facilitate donor audits for each assigned grant per donor requirement including the TOR preparation and review.
• Follow up on resolving all arising audit issues/findings and ensure that all agreed audit findings, recommendations and management responses are implementing in a timely manner 
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
• Participate in sharing best practices with NGOs and governmental agencies.
• Consistently demonstrate flexibility, resilience, and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure, even under difficult circumstances.
• Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.

Works Directly with Finance officer, Programs Manager, Projects Coordinator, Executive Director and others

The position will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with regular travels to the field.  Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of CJ’s vision. CJ  is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

Knowledge and Experience

• Accounting and Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Management, LLB/LLM in Law or other related fields
• At least 3 years’ experience in grants management as well as an understanding of EU and regulations required.
• An understanding of the status of CSOs in Ethiopia and the challenges to strengthening the capacities of civil society is an advantage.
• Strong skills and experience working with donors to obtain approvals and waivers as necessary for compliance with donor regulations.
• Prior management experience and strong organizational skills.
• Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel.
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills.
• Excellent oral and written English skills required.
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
• Previous experience in insecure environment

How To Apply

All qualified individuals are invited to apply for the advertised position. All applications, including a CV, three references, and all applicable official papers, must be sent electronically. 

Only candidates that are short-listed will be acknowledged and called for interviews.

“CJ  is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity, and diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empowering women and youth.”

Interested applicants to send a cover letter and CV and the applications shall be addressed to centerforj@gmail.com and kalehiwot56@gmail.com

N.B. writes the job title on the subject line of your email

Application deadline is on 24, September 2024.

For further information, call at +251 913450729