District Project Officer (DPO)-Community

Job Description

Title: District Project Officer (DPO)-Community

Company Name: Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST)

Vacancy: 1

Age: At most 45 years

Job Location: Narsingdi

Salary: Tk. 39670 (Monthly)

Experience:

• At least 5 years
• The applicants should have experience in the following business area(s): NGO

• Bachelor of Law (LLB)
• Master of Law (LLM)

• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)/Master of Laws (LL.M) from any reputed institution.

• At least 5 years
• The applicants should have experience in the following business area(s): NGO

• Age At most 45 years

• Minimum 5 years’ working experience on human rights and governance, legal aid service, gender equality, social inclusion and diversity, conflict transformation, etc.

• Experience working with community actors, local and district institutions, including municipalities, will be an added advantage.

• Strong ability to lead and work with the team.

• Self-starter and supportive of others’ efforts and work.

• Proficient in communication skills, with drafting and report writing capabilities in Bangla and English.

• Knowledgeable in computer operations, particularly in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, as well as email communication.

• Women are encouraged to apply.

Job Context: BLAST is one of the leading legal services organizations in Bangladesh and the only one that provides access to legal aid across the spectrum, from the frontlines of the formal justice system to the apex court. It prioritizes support to women, men, and children living in poverty or facing disadvantage or discrimination. It also provides legal aid, advice, and representation across a range of areas, including civil, criminal, family, labor, and land law, as well as on constitutional rights and remedies, providing access to judicial remedies alongside alternative dispute resolution wherever appropriate. Alongside individual legal aid, BLAST undertakes strategic litigation, or public interest litigation, as a key part of its advocacy for law and policy reforms to ensure effective legal protection of rights. Currently operating in 23 districts across the country, BLAST works through its staff lawyers (and paralegals) at headquarters and in each district office/unit office, in collaboration with its enlisted panel of about 2600 lawyers across the country who provide legal redress to clients on a pro bono basis, with a nominal honorarium.

Position Description: It is a mid-level position based at the Narsingdi District Project Office. The District Project Officer will responsibilities focused on establishing partnerships with local stakeholders to enhance dispute resolution through Restorative Justice (RJ) in Narsingdi. Key tasks include supervising project implementation, supporting team dynamics among paralegals and community volunteers, and ensuring compliance with project guidelines. Responsibilities extend to organizing training, facilitating meetings, and coordinating events for policy advocacy. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining accurate documentation and reporting, monitoring community-based activities, and addressing safeguarding issues. Additionally, the role involves preparing contingency plans and collaborating with legal aid offices to assist justice seekers effectively.

Job Responsibilities:

• Establish coordination, communication & partnership with local and district stakeholders and institutions (District legal aid office, Judiciary, Police, Local government representatives, NGOs, and others) to create scope to resolve disputes through Restorative Justice (RJ) and refer and divert disputes/cases to relevant actors and institutions for legal assistance and services as per the project target in Narsingdi.

• Supervise, support, and monitor the implementation activities in the respective area to achieve deliverables as per the Terms of Reference signed between BLAST and GIZ.

• Assist and build team cohesion among paralegals, Restorative Justice Facilitators (RJFs), and Community Volunteers (CVs).

• Assist in the coordination between programme implementation and budget expenditure.

• Ensure to deliver timely different reports and maintain documentation as per project guidelines.

• Provide support to organize district or regional-level event/activity for policy advocacy and research.

• Lead team to prepare monthly and quarterly work plans, guidelines, and other documents for effective implementation of the project activities to achieve the intended results in terms of quantity and quality within the stipulated timeline.

• Monitor and supervise community-based project activities and take necessary corrective measures in collaboration with respective staff for better progress.

• Coordinate, communicate, and maintain close relationships among the District legal aid office, community-level actors, govt institutions, relevant stakeholders, and NGOs/CSOs.

• Coordinate and facilitate monthly coordination meetings, progress review meetings, and other periodic meetings with the project staff of the AJW project, GIZ. Etc.

• Assists in organising and facilitating different trainings, workshops, and meetings with relevant institutions and actors.

• Monitor and follow-up RJ meeting (pre, ongoing & post) and provide constructive feedback to paralegals (community) and RJFs for strengthening their capacity and improving the quality of RJ.

• Coordinate and communicate to organise monthly meetings with DLAC in collaboration with Paralegal Advisory Service and other respective PNGOs and endorse the results by the District legal aid office or equivalent officer.

• Participate and share information in different meetings, including judicial conferences, workshops, and other events where necessary.

• Support to jointly organise Community-based Legal Aid Camp with DLAC and mobilize resource persons for providing legal information and legal assistance among the justice seekers and others at their doorsteps, as well as support to organise different day observances and courtyard meetings.

• Ensuring safeguarding issues at working areas and the office, and taking appropriate measures and reporting if any incidents happen.

• Prepare a contingency plan according to the situation and assumptions to mitigate the risk.

• Validate to ensure that all recorded facts and data are accurate related to justice seekers, who are assisted by this project through RJ, referral, and diversion.

• Prepare reports, case studies, and other documents required by the project.

• Perform any other additional tasks as required.

• Mobile bill,Weekly 2 holidays,Tour allowance,T/A
• Salary Review: Yearly
• Festival Bonus: 2