Position Available

Terms of Reference: Consultancy – Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Coordinator for 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 the 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. The organization has three hubs (West Africa, Southern Africa, East Africa), with central offices in Dakar, Cape Town and Nairobi. The Southern Africa hub works across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.  

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

Who are we looking for? 

Natural Justice is currently establishing its MEL system at organisation-wide level and is seeking to recruit a consultant for a three-month period to support both the system development and its implementation at the Southern Africa Hub.   

The MEL consultant will work closely with the Southern Africa hub staff across the programmatic streams and will report directly to the Director of the Cape Town Hub. They will receive support from the Head of MEAL at the Core level and work collaboratively with other MEAL coordinators. 

The consultant will be expected to start work as soon as possible. 

The key roles and responsibilities 

The consultant will be expected to support the Southern Africa hub with the following:  

  • Establish or consolidate the MEL plans of key grants, in particular sizeable multi-year grants from international development partners. 
  • Develop/establish, consolidate, and implement, in collaboration with the Southern Africa hub staff, the processes for the monitoring data-collection, for the key grants in particular.  
  • Support the Southern Africa hub staff in implementing the monitoring data-collection (key grants, and others if time allows).  
  • Coordinate all activities related to the mid-term reporting of a key grant (country level reporting, involving the contribution of 4 other consortium partner organization). 
  • Support the hub’s staff in any other reporting requirements. 
  • Support the Southern Africa hub in planning, coordinating, and as much as possible, implementing, any research and evaluation required by funders in the key grants’ contracts. 
  • Support fundraising activities of the hub, by designing and drafting all MEL components of potential proposals under development.  
  • Collaborate with the Natural Justice’s Research and MEL team (core team and other hubs) on the harmonization of MEL practices.  
  • Support the Southern Africa hub staff with any other immediate MEL requirements. 

Minimum Academic Requirements 

  • Bachelor’s Degree in economics, statistics, environmental studies or other relevant social science discipline. 
  • A post-graduate degree in law, political science, economics (cooperation and human development), statistics, mathematics, environment, climate change and adaptation or other relevant social science discipline is desirable. 

Experience and abilities 

  • At least 3-5 years of demonstrated work expertise in research and MEAL. 
  • Experience in gathering, analysing, and presenting quantitative and qualitative data. 
  • Experience with conducting primary and desktop research and preparing clear analytical reports and publications (with proof of published work). 
  • Excellent knowledge and experience in establishing and maintaining effective research and MEAL systems for development projects. Preference will be given to candidates with experience related to legal advocacy, human rights and environmental justice. 
  • Good knowledge of Southern African and international socio-economic, climate justice and environmental issues. 
  • Understanding of legal frameworks, legal empowerment, human rights development, and other subjects related to the work of Natural Justice. 
  • Ability to work independently, with minimum supervision and guidance from supervisors. 
  • Experience writing applications and reporting to donors will be advantageous. 
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills imperative. 
  • Ability to grasp quickly and accurately new and complex concepts. 
  • Conviction in and commitment to community rights, constitutionalism and principles of environmental justice. 
  • Sound emotional intelligence skills to enable interaction with persons from all sectors of the society. 
  • Proficient in English.  

Application process 

Deadline: 24 March 2023  

Please email your application to nomvuzo@naturaljustice.org with the following subject line: “SA: MEAL Consultancy” 

Applications must include: 

  1. A proposal to undertake the work, demonstrating the consultant’s MEL capabilities and experience; and includes your rate. 
  1. A detailed CV with three contactable references; and  
  1. At least 3 examples of previous relevant MEL related work. 

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.  

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

24 March 2023

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