TERMS OF REFERENCE
(ToR) Legal Empowerment and Internship Programme for Women in Somalia
Location Mogadishu
Type of Contract Consultant
Languages Required English
Duration of Initial
Contract
10 days
Background and Rationale
Women remain significantly underrepresented within Somalia’s formal and informal justice systems, particularly
in decision-making and leadership positions. While progress has been made in increasing the number of female
law graduates and early-career legal professionals, barriers to entry, retention, and career advancement persist.
The Legal Empowerment and Internship Programme for Women in Somalia seeks to address these gaps by
creating structured entry pathways for young women into justice sector institutions. The programme aims to
strengthen institutional capacity while supporting women’s professional growth, leadership development, and
long-term career progression.
The initiative aligns with Somalia’s Justice Sector Strategy and is implemented under the Joint Justice and
Corrections Programme (JJCP), contributing to a more inclusive, accountable, and people-centered justice system.
Description of Responsibilities
Objective of the Assessment:
The programme aims to:
1. Increase women’s representation within Somalia’s justice sector institutions;
2. Prepare participants for professional roles as judicial officials, including judges, prosecutors, legal and
policy drafters, lawyers, and public notary officers;
3. Strengthen participants’ legal, ethical, analytical, and drafting skills through structured on-the-job
training;
4. Build leadership capacity and professional confidence to support long-term career progression;
5. Support justice institutions through enhanced legal research, drafting, case management, and policy
support functions;
6. Facilitate sustainable employment pathways for successful participants.
2
Scope of the Assignment:
Programme Structure
1 Duration
●The internship shall run for 10 months on a full-time basis.
●Interns are expected to commit fully to all assigned duties, training sessions, and programme activities.
Placement
Interns shall be placed within justice sector institutions at the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and
Federal Member State (FMS) levels, including:
1. Jubaland State of Somalia
2. South West State of Somalia
3. Galmudug State of Somalia
4. Hirshabelle State of Somalia and FGS
1. Courts;
2. Offices of the Attorney General
3. Ministries of Justice; under Legal drafting and policy departments.
Placements shall prioritize practical exposure to judicial functions and legal processes.
3.3 Focus of the Internship
The internship shall primarily focus on preparing participants for professional careers within the justice sector
as:
1. Judges;
2. Prosecutors;
3. Legal and policy drafters;
4. Public notary officers.
Interns shall gain structured exposure to:
● Judicial procedures and court administration;
● Legal research and drafting;
● Policy and legislative drafting;
● Legal analysis and advisory functions;
● Ethical standards and professional conduct.
3
. Learning and Capacity Development
The programme combines structured on-the-job training with complementary professional development
components.
4.1 On-the-Job Training
Interns shall:
1. Support judicial officers in case preparation and legal research;
2. Assist in drafting legal opinions, submissions, and policy documents;
3. Participate in court proceedings and institutional meetings;
4. Contribute to institutional reporting and documentation processes.
4.2 Professional Development and Mentorship
Each intern shall be assigned a qualified mentor within the host institution to provide:
➢ Technical guidance;
➢ Professional supervision;
➢ Career advice and performance feedback.
In addition, interns shall participate in:
● Workshops on legal ethics, leadership, and professional responsibility;
● Training in people-centered justice approaches;
● Skills development sessions focused on communication, analytical writing, and institutional
effectiveness

Applicants must:
1. Be Somali nationals;
2. Hold at minimum a Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LLB);
3. Be recent graduates (within the last three years) or early-career legal professionals;
4. Demonstrate proficiency in Somali and English;
5. Show commitment to public service and justice reform.
4
The internship is open exclusively to women.
Special consideration shall be given to qualified applicants from underrepresented regions, minority
communities, and persons with disabilities.
Roles and Responsibilities
8.1 Interns
Interns shall:
1. Perform assigned duties diligently and professionally;
2. Attend all required trainings and mentoring sessions;
3. Uphold institutional rules, ethical standards, and confidentiality requirements;
Submit periodic progress updates as required
2 Host Institutions
Participating institutions shall:
● Provide meaningful work assignments aligned with programme objectives;
● Assign qualified mentors;
● Monitor and evaluate intern performance;
● Support professional development and learning opportunities;
● Consider high-performing interns for future employment opportunities, subject to institutional policies
and available resources.
9. Performance Monitoring
Intern performance shall be reviewed periodically by assigned mentors and institutional supervisors. Evaluations
shall focus on:
● Professional competence;
● Quality of work;
● Ethical conduct;
● Commitment and leadership potential.
10. Governance and Accountability
The programme shall operate under transparent and documented procedures. A clear mechanism shall be
maintained for:
● Feedback to unsuccessful applicants;
5
● Addressing grievances or appeals;
● Managing conflicts of interest.
11. Sustainability and Career Pathways
The programme is designed to serve as a structured entry pathway into Somalia’s justice sector. Emphasis is
placed on:
● Building long-term professional competencies;
● Strengthening institutional capacity;
● Facilitating employment opportunities for high-performing participants.
By combining structured placements, professional mentorship, and targeted skills development, the programme
aims to contribute meaningfully to gender equality and institutional strengthening within Somalia’s justice
system.
Competencies
Experience and qualification requirements
Application Process
Applicants shall submit:
1. Curriculum Vitae (CV);
2. Cover Letter;
3. A motivation letter (maximum 500 words) outlining preferred placement and career aspirations.
Applications must be submitted in accordance with published instructions and deadlines.
7. Selection Process
The selection process shall be merit-based, transparent, and inclusive.
Applications shall be assessed based on:
● Academic qualifications;
● Professional potential;
● Motivation and commitment;
● Relevance to institutional needs.
Shortlisted candidates shall undergo interviews conducted by an independent selection panel comprising
representatives from relevant justice institutions.
Final selection shall consider:
• Merit;
• Geographic balance;
• Institutional placement availability.

How to apply
Interested consultants should submit the following documents by 4-march- 2026, at 12:00 AM Somalia time:
1. A copy of the Internship women CV, highlighting relevant experience and qualifications
Submissions must be sent via email to [email protected] with the subject and Cc with
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Subject line Legal Empowerment and Internship Programme for Women in Somalia
We look forward to your participation.
Sincerely,
Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs