Context and Background
The Refugee Education Foundation (RET), an international non-profit organization, is promoting the consolidation of Multisectoral Community Networks (RECOM) in Venezuela as resilient structures that link key sectors (Protection, Health/Nutrition, Food Security, WASH and DRR).
Within the framework of the project “Institutional consolidation and financial autonomy of the RECOMs for resilient development and territorial scale in the State of Sucre”, the aim is to legally formalize two RECOMs (Playa Colorada and La Esmeralda), guarantee their financial autonomy and strengthen their governance, leadership and management capacities.
Legal institutionalization is an essential requirement for RECOMs to access partnerships, funding, and transparency mechanisms, ensuring their sustainability and replicability in other communities
General Objective
To support the legal constitution and institutionalization process of two RECOMs, ensuring their formal registration under Venezuelan regulations, the adoption of statutes with governance and transparency mechanisms, and the instructional design of a training package to strengthen capacities in leadership and financial management.
Specific Objectives
- Draft the required legal documents and fully manage the formal registration process of the RECOM before the competent entities, providing technical support during all stages until obtaining the articles of incorporation and legal registration.
- Design and standardize the official formats of minutes, statutes and internal regulations of the RECOM, ensuring that they incorporate principles of governance, transparency and sustainable financial management mechanisms.
- Organize and maintain a systematic and digitized file of all legal documents related to the formalization of RECOMs, guaranteeing their confidentiality and easy access.
- Keep the record of actions taken, documents submitted and received up to date, including dates, responsible parties and status of each procedure.
- Design a technical guide that details the requirements, procedures and flowcharts necessary for obtaining health and legal certifications for socio-productive products.
- Prepare periodic and final reports on the legal formalization process, incorporating progress, challenges, recommendations, and means of verification
- Design and deliver the instructional training package for training in governance and legal personality.
Consultancy Description
Reporting Line
The Legal and Institutional Consultant for Community Governance and Organizational Strengthening reports to the National Project Officer and the Local Coordinator of RET in Venezuela.
The Legal and Institutional Consultant for Community Governance and Organizational Strengthening is responsible for the proper programmatic, operational, technical implementation and monitoring of the project.
Main location
The consultancy is based in RET’s Sucre Local Office, located in Cumaná, Sucre state, with permanent field missions.
General responsibilities
Implementation of legal and institutional activities and capacity building.
- Implementation of legal activities for the constitution and formal registration of RECOMs.
- Participatory development and validation of statutes with a focus on governance and financial sustainability.
- Coordination with competent authorities and community actors.
- Design and implementation of the training package (training courses) to strengthen capacities in leadership and financial management.
- Technical support throughout the entire process of institutionalization and organizational strengthening
Coordination and management of actors.
- Establish and maintain effective communication with local authorities (Municipal Councils, Public Registry, tax authorities).
- Establish and maintain effective communication with local authorities (Municipal Councils, Public Registry, tax authorities).
- Coordinate with strategic partners (local NGOs, Chambers of Commerce, public institutions) to facilitate procedures and alliances.
- Ensure the active participation of communities in assemblies and decision-making processes.
- Represent RET in technical meetings related to the institutionalization and financial autonomy of RECOM.
- Ensure that legal actions are aligned with project commitments and SDC standards.
Institutional guidelines and standards
- To contribute their professional, technical knowledge and experience in spaces of interaction or synergy with RET programs and teams.
- To contribute their professional, technical knowledge and experience in spaces of interaction or synergy with RET programs and teams.
- To support the processes of systematizing experiences and best practices in relation to the legal and institutional sector, its internal and external articulations in support of the organization’s knowledge management.
- Maintain adequate communication at both internal and external levels.
- Develop a positive working relationship to contribute to teamwork, good communication and the achievement of objectives.
- Support the development of new proposals in the area of technical expertise.
- Incorporate the values that guide institutional action into the development of interventions.
- To fully comply with internal policies and procedures, ensuring that activities and performance adhere to the provisions of the Code of Conduct, the PSEA, the Safety Manual, and the Procedures Manual of the organization.
- To ensure the safety and maintenance of the facilities and equipment.
- To propose alternative solutions to problems that arise in the work area, from a constructive perspective.
- Ensure the completion of activities by incorporating creativity, innovation and initiative in order to overcome obstacles that may arise in the performance of the work.
- Maintain confidentiality in handling sensitive matters and matters of particular interest to the security and the institution.
- Submit the request for materials according to the needs of the project.
- Other binding tasks assigned by the National Project Coordinator, the Local Coordinator, and the Program Manager.
Specific responsibilities
Legal implementation, coordination with actors and public entities, and development of community strategies
Initial Legal Diagnosis
- Analyze the Venezuelan regulatory framework applicable to community organizations (civil associations or other relevant legal entities).
- Identify legal risks and requirements for the formalization of RECOMs.
Definition of the Appropriate Legal Figure
- Advise on the most suitable legal structure to guarantee financial autonomy, democratic governance and compliance with the NGO Oversight Law.
- To present options and comparative criteria to communities for informed decision-making.
Drafting and Validation of Statutes
- Draft bylaws that include:
- To present options and comparative criteria to communities for informed decision-making.
- Transparency and accountability clauses.
- Mechanisms for the management of own income (revolving funds, micro-enterprises).
- Gender and intercultural approach in governance.
- Facilitate community assemblies for the participatory approval of the statutes.
Legal Registry Management
- Prepare and submit the documentation to the corresponding Public Registry.
- Ensure the obtaining of the Articles of Incorporation and Legal Registration without objections.
- Coordinate with authorities to expedite procedures and comply with tax requirements (RIF, permits).
Legal Protection and Regulatory Compliance
- Incorporate transparency and community audit protocols into the statutes to mitigate risks arising from the Audit Law.
- Ensure that the legal structure allows for the signing of agreements, access to financing, and health certifications for socio-productive activities.
Instructional Design of the Legal and Organizational Training Package
- Create and teach modules on:
- Legal regulations and tax obligations.
- Community governance and democratic leadership.
- Transparent internal financial management and internal control of RECOM.
- Include participatory methodologies and practical cases to ensure community ownership.
Comprehensive Technical Support
- Provide support throughout the institutionalization process, ensuring that RECOMs understand and assume their legal and administrative responsibilities.
- Coordinate with RET and local actors to ensure consistency with the replicable model of the project.
Community mobilization
- To train and mobilize members of the beneficiary communities.
- Identify key actors within local communities and institutions.
- Apply the methodologies defined by the Management and Technical Coordination teams to achieve the objectives.
- Stimulate alliances to strengthen community management in civil and state organizations aimed at promoting, qualifying, and strengthening local and regional development processes.
Data collection, monitoring and reporting
- Implement the collection of data on needs, program development, level of satisfaction, and suggestions for the programs.
- Collection and recording of data on project indicators and potential beneficiaries.
- Report on daily activities, incidents, and achievements.
- Report on the use of materials and possible improvements.
- Prepare the necessary quantitative and qualitative reports and manage data for the activities (databases, means of verification).
- Collection and recording of good practices and lessons learned during implementation
- It addresses and reports through feedback mechanisms and encourages the use of these by the community.
- Ensure the quality and timely delivery of the verification methods.
- Report periodically to the National Project Officer on project implementation, project risk identification and management, and the implementation context.
- Ensure the proper organization, digitization, presentation and consolidation of the data and instruments collected in the activities carried out, in accordance with the guidelines determined by the National M&E Officer.
- Maintain and update the digital and printed files of the project component documentation, ensuring their confidentiality and safekeeping.
- Keep project component data updated and accessible, focusing on the information management system.
Expected Products (Key Deliverables)
- Statutes and Operating Regulations (approved by the RECOMs and registered). The legal basis for the RECOMs to operate, form alliances, and access financing.
- Formal registration of the legal figure of the RECOM.
- Instructional package (modules) of Governance, Leadership and Financial Management (designed and delivered with community-based pedagogical strategies adapted to the context).
- Final report of the results.
Additionally, like all RET staff
- Work with confidence and integrity and have a clear commitment to RET’s core values and principles, ensuring that activities and performance comply with RET’s Code of Conduct, PSEA and other Internal Policy and Procedure Manuals;
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team, demonstrating management and leadership skills;
- Ability to communicate clearly and sensitively with relevant institutions and organizations, and with internal and external stakeholders, as a representative of RET. These skills include effective negotiation and representation;
- To propose, in a constructive manner, alternative solutions to problems that arise in the work area and in a cross-cutting manner.
Qualifications and requirements
Academic Background
- University degree in Law (essential).
- Specialization or additional training in Community Governance, Organizational Management or Administrative Law (desirable).
- Certification or experience in Instructional Design and development of training programs (competitive advantage).
Professional Experience
- Minimum 5 years of proven experience in:
- Processes of legal constitution and registration of community organizations, cooperatives, civil associations or NGOs in Venezuela.
- Drafting and validation of statutes with a focus on transparency and financial mechanisms.
- Experience in institutional strengthening, community governance, and participatory leadership.
- Experience in coordinating with public entities (Public Registry, tax agencies, local authorities) and managing legal procedures.
- Experience in instructional design and facilitation of training in legal, governance and financial management topics.
Technical Knowledge
- Venezuelan legal framework applicable to community-based organizations and current regulations (including the NGO Oversight Law).
- Basic financial management and internal control tools for community organizations.
- Participatory methodologies for training (practical learning, gender and intercultural approach).
Key Competencies
- Leadership that ensures a productive and trusting work environment; ability to train and motivate local teams.
- Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and work under pressure.
- Results-oriented, with a proven track record of success in complex environments.
- Flexibility to manage diverse tasks and willingness to work overtime when necessary.
- Skills to interview people of all ages, genders and diversity.
- Clear and effective communication (oral and written).
Other Requirements
- Languages: Spanish (fluent) and basic level of English.
- Good skills in working with tablets and computers.
- Dominio de Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Outlook).
- Willingness and ability to learn.
- Venezuelan nationality or permit to work in Venezuela (essential).
- Availability for travel to Playa Colorada and La Esmeralda.
- Immediate availability (January 2026).
How to apply
Applications must be sent to rrhh.ven@theret.org before December 4, 2025, indicating in the email subject: “Application for Legal and Institutional Consultant for Community Governance and Organizational Strengthening” , attaching the following documents:
- Signed letter, addressed to RET, indicating the motivation for applying and the economic expectation.
- Updated resume with at least three verifiable work references.