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.

Indeed, one of the major findings is that environmental and land rights defenders around the world are particularly at risk of imprisonment and political violence. Global Witness (2020), has documented the murders of 1989 environmental and land rights defenders from 2002 to 2019. What is more alarming is that the number of victims is increasing year by year. It is also necessary to point out that the real number of victims probably exceeds the number of reported cases.

This is why one of the actions of the project to support environmental defenders is to know their situation in Nigeria and to identify the gaps in terms of support.  It is in this context that NJ intends to do a  study on the situation of environmental defenders.

Objectives of the Mission

General objective

The general objective of the mission is to conduct a study on the situation of environmental defenders in view of their activities for climate justice in relation to the existing legal framework. 

Specific objectives

The specific objectives of the study are:

• Analyse the state of the law in relation to the notion of “environmental defender” in relation to national law and the international framework;
• To study current reports on Defenders in Nigeria and collate key information
• To provide an analysis of the legal concept of climate justice and its implications for environmental defenders in the national law and international framework;
• To analyse the legal and non-legal means of protection of defenders and their effectiveness;
• Identify the challenges inherent in environmental defenders and the means available to address them;
• Identify the available mechanisms for seeking redress for the violation of the rights of EHRDs in Burkina Faso including gaps and challenges to their effectiveness.
• To conduct a prospective analysis of the feasibility of the activities envisaged under the AACJ project and/or activities to be considered for improving the existing framework for environmental advocates for climate justice.
• Conducting field surveys and meeting with environmental advocates.

Key Expected Results

The consultation aims to produce a diagnostic report including:

• an analysis of the state of the law in relation to the notion of “environmental defender” in national and international law;
• An analysis of the legal concept of climate justice and its implications for environmental defenders in the national law and international framework;
• an analysis of the legal and non-legal means of protection of defenders and their effectiveness ;
• identification of the challenges inherent in environmental defenders and the means available to deal with them;
• Prospective analysis of the feasibility of the activities envisaged under the AACJ project and/or activities to be considered to improve the existing framework for environmental advocates for climate justice;
• mapping current organisations providing support to Defenders and the nature and reach in terms of the support’
• recommendations in relation to the situations observed.

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;
• an interim report;
• a final version integrating the recommendations, opinions and suggestions of the client and the various stakeholders.

Profile required

The consultant must have the following profile:

• Hold a higher academic degree (Bac +5) in legal sciences, environmental law, human rights, environmental policy, sustainable development or any other related field;
• A good knowledge of Nigeria’s constitutional and administrative law, including human rights, land & environmental law as well as laws affecting the civic space.
• Have at least 10 years of professional experience in the environmental field and/or 5 years in the field of climate change;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Fluency in any local language in Nigeria is desirable;
• Conviction in and commitment to constitutionalism and principles of environmental justice;
• Experience in dealing with relevant institutions/ administrations would be an asset.

Submission and bid package

Interested consultants should send an application under no later than 20 November 2021 at 5:00 pm 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 a lump sum basis, and denominated in CFA Francs.

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.