Legal Assistant

The Belgian Development Agency (BTC) in cooperation with the Ministry of Local Government (MoLG)is implementing a program aimed at providing support to the Local Government. The program will have three components:

1-Support for MoLG Capacity Development.
2-Support for reform and improved capacities and services in smaller LGUs.
3-Support for newly amalgamated municipalities (MDP-aligned).
LGRDP in coordination with MoLG is seeking to recruit highly qualified personsto fill in the following vacancy:

Location and duration: Ministry of Local Government, Ramallah, 1 year contract
Context The specific objective of component one of the LGRDP is to support the institutional capacity development of the Ministry of local Government (MoLG) through improved capacities of selected departments at the MoLG and its district offices.

To enhance the capacity of MoLG to assume its regulatory, policy development, sector strategic planning, guidance and monitoring roles, an institutional capacity assessment was conducted for several directorates at the MoLG. One of the MoLG institutional capacity assessment recommendations is related to developing human resources, part of which is filling the most crucial vacancies needed to support the MoLG in achieving its strategic objectives.

The data given from the MoLG show that around 75% of the MoLG staff are in the leaderships and supervisory , while no more than 12% of the staff are occupying specialized operational level positions. The percentage of the staff working in core business is 47% (monitoring and guidance, planning and regulating, legal affairs, projects etc…) while 53% in support business. More specifically, two of the current staff members of the MoLG General Directorate of legal affairs will retire by next year.
In line with the above mentioned issues, the MoLG agrees on the fact that there is an overall shortage in qualified professional human resources and this by itself reflects an unbalance in the current organizational structure of the MoLG in relation to its expected roles and responsibilities as specified in its strategic 2010-2014 plan.

Objective
Based on the MoLG request to fill in the gap, and instead of supporting the MoLG by short term consultancies, the LGRDP will support the MoLG in achieving its strategic plan through developing and amending the regulatory framework in relation to LG sector towards decentralization. This is planned to take place partially through the recruitment of a qualified legal assistant in the MoLG-legal Directorate. Aside from fulfilling the needed daily operational tasks requested within the unit, the legal assistant will support in developing the in house capacity of the current directorates’ staff in the field of amending laws and regulations related to the LG sector.

Job description
Specifically the selected candidate for this job will support/carry out the following tasks and responsibilities at the

General Directorate of Legal Affairs/MoLG:
1-Facilitate the consultations, feedback and finalization workshops and meetings related to developing and amending regulations with all stakeholders;
2-Jointly and in coordination will all relevant stakeholders, participate in the development of the needed legal studies, suggestions and propositions required for the amendment of the Palestinian Local Governments 1997 Law and the building, planning and regulation law number 79 for year 1966 in line with the Ministry’s strategic plan and the adopted policy papers;
3-Contribute to the preparation of studies on the local government regulatory systems and provide feedback, comments and suggestions for their revision and modification, in collaboration with local government units and other relevant bodies, and in line with their needs;
4-Contribute to the Legal Department through undertaking legal research and studies in accordance with the Ministry’s needs and relationship with local government units;
5-Carry out researches and studies relevant to improving the local government sector;
6-Study and express a legal opinion on legislations, regulations and propositions proposed by other governmental bodies;
7-Any other tasks assigned by the General Director of Legal Department.

Qualifications
-First university degree in law.
-At least three years of professional experience in the field of law.
-Good computer skills
-Good knowledge of local government laws and regulations.

Candidates are invited to submit their Curriculum Vitae (CVs)witha cover letter, and last salary earnedto the following email address [email protected] no later than 8th of July2012. Clearly indicate in the email subject the title of the position you are applying for. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.