FMS Justice Advisors

Job Description

CONSULTANT – FMS Justice Advisors

SCOPE OF WORK

November 17, 2024 – December 30, 2025

Background

Equal Access International (EAI)– an international non-governmental organization (NGO), working in the area of communication for development (www.equalaccess.org) headquartered in Washington DC, with country offices and programs in different countries of Asia and Africa. EAI creates customized communications strategies and outreach solutions to support communities around the world to drive sustainable and transformative change in critical areas including governance, peace building, preventing extremism, youth, and gender. EAI is seeking two (2) consultants to support our work in Somalia, focused on orienting EAI local partners to bolster understand the justice promoters workstream.

Nabadaynta Soomaaliya Background

Since 2022, Equal Access International (EAI) has led a consortium to help Somalia rebuild its security and justice sectors as the social and behavior change (SBC) prime partner under the Nabadaynta Soomaaliya program. The program is overseen by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). EAI works with partners BBC Media Action, Perspective Media, Wajir South Development Association (WASDA), Active in Development Aid (ADA) and Gargaar Relief Development Organization (GREDO) to support Somalis in achieving visible, practical change in its security and justice systems in both Jubaland and Southwest State.

Given each of their long-term commitments to working closely with communities to build solutions in targeted areas, EAI and our partners have the support and trust of communities across Jubaland and Southwest State. Building on this trust, each is instrumental in coordinating the project’s social and behavior and norms change interventions in partnership with local media organizations as part of the Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) and Security & Justice components of Nabadaynta.

The aim of Nabadaynta is to improve how Somalis view and access services by identifying security and justice priorities through the Area Based Problem identification process. Through community-led discussions, this process pinpoints the top priorities by Somalis in violence-prone areas, where people are compelled to work together toward lasting solutions.

EAI is recruiting two FMS Justice Advisors, one supporting Jubaland, covering Dollow and Kismayo; and one supporting South West State covering Baidoa and Hudur. The consultants will provide mentoring, legal advice and case management support to Nabadaynta’s justice promoters (JPs). Each FMS consultant will be responsible for supporting 32 JPs (8 in each district) within their respective FMS. Additionally, the FMS Justice Advisors will support in orienting the EAI local partners to understand the justice promoters workstream.

Consultant Responsibility:

This will be undertaken over a maximum of 156 days between November 17, 2024, and December 30, 2025. One (1) FMS Justice Advisors will be located in South West State (covering Baidoa and Hudur) and one (1) in Jubaland (covering Kismayo and Dollow). Activities undertaken as part of this SOW may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Deliverable 1: Validate the justice promoter selection

1

The consultants will support the partner in validating their selection of the justice promoters for each district, recommending replacements as needed. Validation includes reviewing their fit against the criteria, appropriateness in demeaner/attitude, knowledge and personality. This will occur prior to the training but the evaluation can continue during the training as well. Support partners to understand appropriateness and advise on re-selection for specific JPs if needed.

Deliverable 2: Support training of justice promoters

The consultants will support the lead expert trainer in orienting the local partners (half day) and training the justice promoters (3 days each) in Kismayo and Baidoa respectively. Following this training the consultants will replicate the training for JPs in the expansion districts of Dollow and Hudur respectively. The training will include a basic orientation to the core tenants of legal code in civil law, the Xeer system and moderate interpretations of Sharia in relation to the core issues of GBV/SGBV and family cases; as well as gender-sensitive community/client engagement and communication skills. After 6 months the consultants will co-facilitate a refresher training and peer-learning 2-day session (approximately May 2024) with the expert trainer.

Deliverable 3: Referral and case management system

The consultants will develop 1) a simple referral to support JPs to refer cases outside their remit to existing legal aid organizations/projects and 2) a case management system to track, review, support and provide legal advice to community member clients who decide to pursue formal legal cases. The consultants will keep these systems up to date based on ongoing implementation.

Deliverable 4: Ongoing support to JPs, local partners and case management

The consultants will provide ongoing mentorship support and legal advice to JPs in their role. They will ensure they are familiar with programme tools including the JP pocketbook, community user manual and referral system. The FMS Justice Advisors will also be responsible for coordinating with the local partners, the EAI Area Managers and the JPs to quality assure and provide technical assistance in JP-led activities such as community awareness events and pop-up gender response and justice support clinics. Tasks to achieve this include: providing guidance and support to partner organisations in the management of the JPs; providing continuous mentoring, advice and supervision with the JPs during case management processes and referral pathways and sharing local context best practices; working with Nabadaynta local partner, strengthening collaboration with legal aid organizations for smoother case referrals and support; conducting regular weekly meetings with JPs to discuss challenges, explore possible solutions, address cases requiring support, and sharing updates; developing common objectives and goals with support and engagement from the partners and JPs around the role and performance of the JPs work.

Skills and qualifications
Required Profile

▪ A law degree or significant legal coursework.

▪ Familiarity with the justice promoters approach to community paralegal work.

▪ Extensive experience working on access to justice in Somalia, particularly at the community level, working across multiple pathways/frameworks including formal, sharia, and xeer.

▪ A relevant bachelor degree in fields such as international development, international relations, peacebuilding, community security, or a related field.

▪ Experience working with local partner organizations.

▪ Proven experience on paralegal support for case management, as well as supporting community paralegals/justice promoters overseeing in their capacity and providing mentoring and training.

▪ Fluent Somali and proficient English.

▪ Proven programme coordination and organizational and communication skills.

▪ Strong familiarity with South west state or Jubaland (depending on which location applied for) justice landscape, including formal as well as existing legal aid organizations.

▪ At least 6 years’ experience in program management and/or advisory roles, preferably with international NGOs or development agencies.

▪ Previous experience working in conflict or post-conflict environments, with an understanding of the specific challenges and dynamics in Somalia.

▪ Familiarity with the socio-political and economic context of Somalia, including knowledge of the local culture, customs, and historical background.

Attachments

FMS Justice Advisors Scope of Work

.pdf
How to apply
Interested and qualified persons are requested to send their statement of interest and Curriculum Vitae to eaieastafrica@equalaccess.org with the consultancy title as the subject. Deadline for application is 13th November 2024. Only Shortlisted candidates will be contacted.