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.

What are we looking for?

Natural Justice seeks a lawyer to join its Southern Africa hub as a Programme Officer in Mozambique. The hub works across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique. The successful candidate will be work across all three work streams in the Hub to provide legal support to Indigenous peoples and local communities in Mozambique, particularly in relation to environmental rights, climate justice, land rights and human rights.

They will work with a passionate team of staff within the hub and frequently collaborate with staff across the organisation. They will be expected to work with the support staff, including finance, communications, monitoring and evaluation and research staff.

The Programme Officer must have a keen interest in supporting Indigenous peoples and local communities in the context of the climate crisis in Mozambique. 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 a background in litigation and legal support, climate justice, environmental law and working with communities.

Natural Justice is a Pan African organisation.  For this role, preference is given to those applying from Mozambique. The successful candidate must be legally permitted to perform work in Mozambique.

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. 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 consultancy contract, commensurate with skill and experience, and access to a laptop and technical support. This is a one-year consultancy contract, renewable subject to availability of funding.

The successful candidate should be in a position to regularly travel nationally and regionally, and occasional travel internationally. They are expected to begin work as soon as possible.

The Programme Officer will work closely with staff across the programmatic streams and will report directly to the Hub Director, or such other person as delegated by the Hb Director. They will assist with the implementation of the organisation’s strategy, projects and activities (including timelines and deliverables). 

The key roles and responsibilities

The Programme Officer will be expected to, amongst other things:

• Support local communities in Mozambique affected by, for example, large-scale extractives, infrastructure and other projects, by providing legal advice, legal support and with legal empowerment. Support environmental and climate litigation cases in Mozambique, where relevant.
• Support environmental defenders and communities in affirming their customary and Indigenous rights.
• Undertake legal research, write submissions and provide opinions on environmental and climate justice issues.
• Support the work of the hub in relation to research and submissions on law and policy.
• Write opinion articles on the outcomes of the programmatic work.  
• Form and maintain good working relationships with all key partners including communities, non-profit organisations, government entities and donors.
• Collaborate with Natural Justice staff in the other countries.

Requirements

• Completed legal qualification in Mozambique.
• Ability to engage in research, draft reports and legal documents.
• Sound written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent writing skills with the ability to critically analyse relevant environmental laws and policy issues.
• A passion for learning and a commitment to environmental justice and constitutionalism.
• Self-starter with ability to work both independently, as well as part of a team.
• Ability to work productively and to deadlines. Reliability and attention to detail.
• Ability to arrange travel, events and workshops and co-ordinate with partners.
• Proficient in English and Portuguese.  Fluency in another local language will be advantageous.
• Sound written and oral communication skills.
• Sound emotional intelligence skills to enable interaction with persons from all sectors of the society.
• 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 in order to meet deadlines and deal with high workloads.
• Conviction in and commitment to community rights, constitutionalism and principles of environmental justice.

Application process

Deadline: 28 July 2024

Please email your application Nomvuzo Ranelo at nomvuzo@naturaljustice.org with the following subject line: “Mozambique: Programme Officer”.

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;
2. A detailed CV with three contactable references; and
3. 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.

Shortlisted candidates will be expected to take part in at least one interview. Should it be necessary, Natural Justice may require a second which may involve a short, written exercise and presentation on a relevant issue pertaining to the job. 

Natural Justice is an equal opportunity employer that supports the development of young, African legal and human rights professionals and promotes inclusivity and diversity. Women and candidates from marginalised communities are encouraged to apply.

Best of luck!

The Natural Justice Team