Natural Justice is an African non-profit organization specializing in environmental justice. Natural Justice uses the law to support communities participate in decisions that affect their land, culture and environment. Natural Justice works in several African countries, with offices in Kenya, South Africa and Senegal.
What are we looking for?
Natural Justice seeks to hire a dynamic and focused Program Officer or Senior Program Officer (depending on experience) to join its East Africa Hub. The successful candidate will be based in Tanzania and will play a pivotal role in building the work of Natural Justice in Tanzania, providing legal support to rural and local communities, particularly in relation to climate justice matters, indigenous rights, land rights and environmental rights. They will work with a passionate team of staff within the East Africa hub and frequently collaborate with staff across the organization.
Working closely with the hub director and a team at the hub, the successful candidate will undertake a comprehensive analysis of climate justice networks and movements in Tanzania, review strategies that communities and CSOs in Tanzania use to tackle climate injustices, review the status of environmental and human rights defenders, review existing legal and policy frameworks to advance environmental and climate justice, and initiate, plan, implement and manage projects and activities (including timelines and deliverables) in Tanzania.
The successful candidate will be required to travel regularly within Tanzania with
occasional regional and international travel, including to the hub’s Nairobi office. They
are expected to begin work as soon as possible.
How to Apply:
Applications should be submitted via email to admin.nbo@naturaljustice.org with ‘NBO: Program Officer/Snr. Program Officer, Tanzania’ in the subject line.
Applications must include:
- 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.
- A detailed CV with three contactable references; and
- Two samples of your past written work (either excerpts or complete copies of, for example, articles or legal briefs), not longer than ten pages each. Please ensure that your application as a whole speaks to the required qualifications, experience, personal profile and key roles and responsibilities. Only shortlistedcandidates will be contacted.
Closing Date for Applications: Friday 25th March 2022.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
• Support the development and implementation of the hub program strategy in Tanzania
• Engage in constitutional and environmental policy research, advocacy and support local communities in Tanzania affected by climate change and largescale extractives, infrastructure and other projects
• Provide technical and legal advice to partners, affected communities and other relevant stakeholders
• Support litigation where applicable, including identifying litigation opportunities, providing strategic advice, conducting research for litigation efforts and, if an advocate with a current practising certificate, representing clients in court
• Support policy-relevant analysis and research and contribute to the development and drafting of publications and submissions
• Develop and deliver community training on land and environmental laws and legal empowerment methodologies
• Engage directly with communities at the grassroots to support legal empowerment, research, litigation, and policy-related outputs
• Support in managing paralegal teams, paralegal cases, case plans, deliverables, and timelines, as needed
• Assist the research team in conducting research tasks, including audits with CELO teams
• Write research reports, concept documents, academic papers, organizational reports, and other documents for publication under the guidance of the hub director and program managers
• Support in the implementation of project M&E framework
• Utilize and regularly update program management tools, communications tools, and timekeeping tools
• Attend and represent Natural Justice in conferences and events that are relevant to the respective program components
Selection Criteria
Qualifications and experience:
• A bachelor’s degree in law
• A post-graduate degree in law, environmental studies, political science, or other relevant social science discipline is desirable
• At least three years of demonstrated work experience in environmental law, including natural resource and/or land law, and administrative law
• Understanding of and proficiency in Tanzania’s legal system and institutional arrangements and applied knowledge and experience in the civil society sector in the country. Experience in other East African countries is desirable
• Demonstrated experience working with marginalized groups, especially in conducting fieldwork and communicating complex legal issues
• Good experience conducting primary and/or desktop research and relating research or project experiences to policy advocacy
• Basic experience writing applications and reporting to donors
• Demonstrated experience advocating for environmental justice
• Strategic thinker who works well in a collective
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Flexibility and adaptability, and ability to work in different environments and with people from diverse backgrounds
• A proactive approach to work and good self-motivation
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
• Fluency in English and Kiswahili. Fluency in another local language would be advantageous
• Citizen or permanent resident of Tanzania and/or authorized to work in Tanzania
• Ability to undertake frequent local and occasional international travel
