Position Available

Call for applications: Chief of Party, Southern Africa 

Who is Natural Justice? 

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 

Who are we looking for? 

Natural Justice seeks a professional to join its Southern Africa hub as a Chief of Party.. The Southern Africa hub works across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.  

The successful candidate will be primarily responsible for leading and executing an innovative three-year USAID-funded project ensuring responsive, innovative, and sustainable and locally-driven development and human rights interventions ultimately aimed at strengthening Indigenous peoples in Southern Africa.  

The project will work with Indigenous Communities in three Southern African countries, namely South Africa, Namibia and Botswana to provide a capacity building and collaboration platform for the governance of their land and natural resources, as well as the promotion of sustainable livelihoods and economic growth. The project has been designed within the context of the Policy on Promoting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (PRO-IP) of the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID). The Chief of Party may also assist in other work of the Hub, especially work in relation to Indigenous Peoples’ rights.  

The Chief of Party must have an interest in supporting Indigenous people and local communities throughout the countries we work in. They will be expected to foster long-term, committed relationships with communities, build connections to community partners and work in consortiums and partnerships with other civil society organisations. Their knowledge and experience should include project management, working on indigenous rights, community and biocultural rights, climate justice, land rights and human rights. The candidate should have a strong project management background.  

The Chief of Party will work closely with the Affirming Rights,Defending Rights and Standing with Communities streams, as well as across the organisation. They will be expected to work with the support staff, including finance, communications, monitoring and evaluation and research staff. The Chief of Party will report to the Hub Director.  

Natural Justice is an African organisation and preference is given to those applying from African countries, but particularly from countries supported by the Southern African team. Candidates should have a valid working permit to perform work in South Africa.  

What’s on offer? 

Natural Justice is a close-knit and nurturing collective that places emphasis on facilitating opportunities for the professional and personal growth of its members. The organisation promotes personal responsibility, wellness, feminist and collective leadership and values of solidarity and support. Joining Natural Justice will also give the successful candidate a chance to work with a passionate and professional team across Africa,and support the candidate to gain valuable national and regional experience. 

Natural Justice will offer a competitive salary commensurate with skill and experience, with additional medical aid benefits, Provident Fund, UIF and access to a laptop and technical support. The position is full-time employment for the duration of the project, a period of three years.  

The successful candidate will be based in Cape Town, with regular travel nationally and regionally, and occasional travel internationally. They are expected to begin work as soon as the project commences.  

The key roles and responsibilities  

The Chief of Party will be expected to, amongst other things: 

  • Under the guidance of the Hub Director, be ultimately responsible for the achievement of the project results of the Indigenous Peoples-focused project and the execution of the project funds. 
  • Ensure full compliance with the technical specifications of the funder.  
  • Develop and supervise the implementation of the Indigenous People- focused project in the three targeted countries in Southern Africa, including setting up a coordination team, overseeing the implementing partner, formulate the annual work plan, reviewing quarterly, annual and final reports, overseeing projects revisions and request from the sub-awardee and ensuring alignment with the project proposal and Natural Justice’s overall strategy. 
  • Provide oversight of all regional projects implemented under the Indigenous Rights-focused project to guarantee the coherence and consistency between the regional and national projects.  
  • Providing technical support to the implementing team comprising of Natural Justice and the Sub-awardee, on strategic partnerships, knowledge dissemination and project management, including contracts, travel, workshops and payments. 
  • Formulate quarterly and annual works plan and reports.
  • Identify, build and maintain networks and/or partnerships with relevant stakeholders from government, civil society groups, community-based organizations, the private sector and academia. 
  • Assist with supporting the growth of the work of the Hub as it relates to Indigenous Peoples’ Rights. and supporting Indigenous and local communities in Southern Africa to assert their rights.   
  • Collaborate with Natural Justice staff in the other countries. Participate in regular programme meetings of the Hub and Natural Justice. 
  • Submit updates and reports on projects and programmes to the Hub Director. 

Requirements 

  • Completed bachelor qualification, with three to five years’ work experience in Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, land rights, environmental justice, human rights or other related sectors. Preference will be given to someone with experience working on USAID-funded projects.  
  • A post-graduate degree in law, political science or other relevant social science discipline is desirable. 
  • A good knowledge of South Africa’s and/or Namibia and Botswana’s constitutional and administrative law, including human rights, land & environmental law, or a clear ability to acquire the necessary knowledge within a short space of time. 
  • Experience in working with marginalised communities and/or Indigenous communities.
  • Conviction in and commitment to community rights, constitutionalism and principles of environmental justice. 
  • Project management experience, including budgeting, project planning, contract drafting, monitoring and evaluation. 
  • Experience writing applications and reporting to donors advantageous.  
  • Good research skills in law, policy and social issues. 
  • Experience in legal empowerment methodologies highly advantageous. 
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills imperative. 
  • Ability to grasp quickly and accurately new and complex concepts. 
  • Ability to work under pressure and as part of a team. 
  • Ability to balance priorities and co-ordinate work effectively to meet deadlines and deal with high workloads. 
  • Sound emotional intelligence skills to enable interaction with persons from all sectors of the society.
  • Proficient in English. Fluency in another local language would be advantageous.  

Deadline: 22 MARCH 2023 

Please email your application to nomvuzo@naturaljustice.org with the following subject line: “CT: Chief of Party”. 

Applications must include: 

  1. A motivation letter that indicates: a) why you are interested in this position and what inspires you about environmental justice; and b) aspects of your background that demonstrate the required competence for this role; 
  1. A detailed CV with three contactable references; and 
  1. Two samples, if possible, of your past written work (for example, articles or research reports). 

Please ensure that your application as a whole speaks to the required qualifications, experience, personal profile and key roles and responsibilities. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

Natural Justice supports the development of young, African legal and human rights professionals and promotes representation and diversity within their hiring practices.  

Best of luck!  

The Natural Justice Team 

Closing Date

22 March 2023

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