Legal Intern at DAI

SCOPE OF WORK
ZAMBIA LOCAL IMPACT GOVERNANCE
LEGAL INTERN

1. Project Background

The five-year (2020-2025) USAID Local Impact Governance Activity (Local Impact) is helping Zambia build up a sub-national system of governance for devolved service delivery more responsive to citizen needs. The program is engaging national and sub-national authorities to expand the capabilities of partner provinces and districts to deliver sustainable development outcomes, increase effective citizen and private-sector involvement in development planning and monitoring, and improve public financial management and domestic revenue generation.

The activity is specifically working toward three objectives:

Objective 1: Citizens improve their collective skills to effectively assess service-delivery needs and performance and constructively engage with government.

Objective 2: The sub-national governance system becomes more responsive to citizen needs, generates, and accountably expends revenue, and improves service-delivery outcomes.

Objective 3: The program generates learning and facilitates problem solving that supports the development of an effective, financially viable sub-national governance system for devolved services, capable of being scaled up throughout Zambia.

2. Purpose

Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Senior Technical Advisor (STA)/Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP), the Legal Intern will:

Conduct research in relevant issues as they emerge,

Compile legal documents,

Notification to the Local Impact team of changes in law, administrative instruments, and practice in the decentralization space.

High light contradictions in law and practice as devolution is being rolled out; and

Any other duties as assigned.

3. Place of Performance and Reporting

The Legal intern (LI) will be based in the Local Impact Activity’s main office in Lusaka, Zambia, with possible travel to field offices as required and will report primarily to the STA/DCOP.

The Period of Performance will six months from September 2023 to February 24 with the possibility of extending for another 6 months up to a maximum of 12 months.

4. Responsibilities and Key Tasks

Conducting a variety of legal assignments under the direction of the supervisor.

Conducting research on assigned issues, using existing law files and alternative sources (e.g., computer-assisted searches using the internet, intranet and/or other databases), analysing information, and summarizing findings.

Conducting comparative legal analyses on a range of issues in a given area, identifying legal and policy issues, researching relevant precedents, and proposing options of solutions.

Performing ad hoc assignments as requested by the supervisor.

5. Supervisory Responsibilities

The Legal Intern shall not have supervisory responsibilities but will provide operational legal support to the technical teams.

6. Minimum Education Qualifications, Experience and Competencies

Degree in Law; or be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent);

Enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and will undertake the internship as part of this program;

Knowledge of Zambian Law; and

Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office products (word; excel; power point).

7. Experience, Knowledge and Skills:

Strong research, analytical and presentation skills.

Good written and spoken communication skills.

Good judgment and high levels of responsibility and accountability.

Hard worker, with high levels of energy and self-motivation.

Diligent with strong attention to detail.

Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple demands.

Results orientated with delivery capabilities and good time management skills.

Previous experience working in a legal context is an asset especially in local or central Government.

Do you have experience with Microsoft Office suite, including Excel?

Have you worked as an intern in a USAID project before?

8. Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English.

9. Conditions

Internships are on a voluntary basis, and no monthly salary is provided. Interns will however receive a transport and lunch allowance.