Background and Rationale

Natural Justice is an organisation rooted in the struggles of communities in Africa. As a team of pioneering lawyers and legal experts, we specialise in human rights and environmental law in pursuit of social and environmental justice.

Natural Justice strives to enhance the collective rights of people and protect the sacred relationships that indigenous peoples and local communities have with nature. Our work is informed by the values, knowledge and self-determination of the communities whom we stand in solidarity with. Through legal empowerment, research, policy influencing and litigation, and as part of coalitions and campaigns, we support communities to know the law, use the law and shape the law. Natural Justice has three main pillars: Affirming and Securing Rights to Lands, Resources and Knowledge; Defending Rights against Environmental and Social Impacts; and Standing with Communities.

To learn more about the work of Natural Justice please refer to www.naturaljustice.org

NJ, in the framework of the implementation of the Dutch POWER OF VOICE Programme, in partnership with other civil society organisations including PACJA, Oxfam Novib, FEMNET and AYC, has been awarded a grant to implement the African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) project which covers 8 countries across the African continent.  The project has five components, three of which focus on strengthening the human rights framework, particularly environmental and related rights.

For a better intervention of NJ in Nigeria, it is imperative to have a good understanding of the legal and institutional framework of the environment in general and the legal framework on climate change and energy in particular. Indeed, a good knowledge of this framework would facilitate the work with the communities impacted by the exploitation of fossil resources but also a good advocacy for a fair and sustainable energy transition.

Therefore, one of the actions of the project is to know the legal and institutional framework. It is in this context that NJ is launching this call for proposals to recruit a consultant or a group of consultants to carry out the mission relating to the review of the legal framework of the environment of Nigeria.

Objectives of the Mission

General objective

The main objective of this assignment is to produce and make available an analysis of the relevant legal framework applicable to the environment, land, climate change and energy.

Specific objectives

Specifically, it is about:

• Collect and analyze laws and policies related to the environment, land, climate change and energy;
• Identify the state, private and intergovernmental structures and actors involved;
• Understand how engaged specific communities are in terms of understanding and engaging with these laws ;
• And how best to support communities to use the law and to shape the law

Key Expected Results

• A directory of relevant legal frameworks and structures related to the environment, climate change and energy;
• An analysis of the relevant legal frameworks and the various stakeholders;
• Recommendations needed for better NJ in order to support communities and challenge harms to the environment intervention.

Duration of the Mission

The mission is planned for a duration of thirty (30) working days, spread over two (2) months.

Deliverables

The consultant will submit the following deliverables:

• a framework note for the mission, which sets out the methodological approach and procedure, the various phases and the key players to be met;
• a directory of the legal and institutional framework ;
• an interim report ;
• a final version incorporating the recommendations, opinions and suggestions of Natural Justice and the various stakeholders.

Profile required

The consultant should have the following profile:

• Hold a higher academic degree (Bac +5) in legal sciences, environmental law, environmental policy, sustainable development or any other related field;
• Proof of professional experience in conducting studies aimed at analysing and/or drafting legal documents in the environmental field;
• Have a good knowledge of legal texts in the field of environment, climate change and energy, etc.;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English;

Submission and bid package

Interested consultants should send an application package by 20 November 2021 at 5:00 p.m. to the following address: Admin.dkr@naturaljustice.org

The offer must include the following elements:

a). A technical proposal containing

• Explanatory note on understanding the ToRs ;
• Brief presentation of the methodological approach and work plan ;
• Detailed CV with at least 3 references.

b). A financial proposal

The financial proposal must be submitted on the basis of the lump sum approach, and denominated in Euros

In order to facilitate the comparison of financial offers, it is recommended that applicants provide a breakdown of this lump sum. Consultants should detail in their financial proposals the costs of transport, fees and any other expenses, taking into account the number of working days foreseen.