Legal Specialist
Abuja, Nigeria
Programs – Africa - West /
Full Time - Local /
On-site
Search for Common Ground (Search) is an international non-profit organization that promotes the peaceful transformation of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC and Brussels, Belgium, Search’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict—moving away from destructive approaches and towards cooperative solutions. With more than 700 staff worldwide, Search implements projects in more than 30 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and North America.
The Project
With funding from the United States Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Search is implementing a 30-month project tilted; “Strengthening Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in Nigeria through Legal Support”. This project aims to reinforce the legal, social, and policy environments to improve FoRB in Nigeria. The target locations are the North Central (Plateau and Benue), North East (Borno and Bauchi), and North West (Kano, Sokoto and Kaduna). The project will achieve its goal by building the capacity of legal practitioners and advocates, training government and security agencies, and fostering collaboration between legal experts, state and security actors, and religious leaders. These efforts are expected to shift attitudes, behaviors, and policies toward religious tolerance and freedom in Nigeria.
Position Summary
The FoRB Legal Specialist will be responsible for providing legal advisory support to the Country programme and specific legal components of the project including providing legal support to the cohort of legal practitioners and pioneer FoRB mentorship groups with students of law in tertiary institutions. The role will also support other legal components of the project, particularly in the areas of capacity building, case management, and advocacy.
This role involves overall legal advisory support to Search for Common Ground in Nigeria and collaborating with various stakeholders, including legal practitioners, government agencies, religious leaders, and civil society organizations, to promote and protect religious freedoms in Nigeria.
The FoRB Legal Specialist will oversee the training of legal professionals and security agencies, manage cases related to FoRB violations, and provide strategic guidance on legal interventions. The position requires a deep understanding of legal frameworks guiding the operations of INGOs in Nigeria, human rights law, experience with legal case management, and a commitment to advancing FoRB in complex environments.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Legal Advisory to the Country Programme
- Serve as the legal advisor to the country programs, offering expert legal guidance and support to ensure that Search’s activities align with Nigerian legal frameworks.
- Provide strategic counsel on legal matters that may impact Search’s operations, including risk management, contract negotiation, and dispute resolution.
- Represent Search in legal matters involving government authorities or other external stakeholders, ensuring that Search's legal rights and interests are protected.
- Oversee and support the legal components of the country programs, ensuring that all legal aspects are implemented effectively and that project objectives are met.
- Provide legal support in the review of project contracts and other legal and statutory compliance processes with the Government of Nigeria.
Capacity Building and Training
- Lead the development and delivery of training programs for legal practitioners, advocates, government officials, and security agencies on FoRB and human rights law.
- Coordinate the establishment and engagement of a cohort of legal practitioners focused on FoRB.
- Develop and facilitate training modules on human rights law in response to FoRB.
- Implement Search’s case management protocol and referral pathways for managing FoRB incidents.
Case Management and Legal Support:
- Oversee case management for victims of FoRB violations, ensuring that legal assistance and referrals are provided efficiently.
- Provide expert legal advice on FoRB cases, guiding legal practitioners and advocates in their interventions.
- Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to address FoRB challenges through closed-door meetings and other advocacy efforts.
Research and Advocacy:
- Conduct research on gender dynamics related to FoRB and integrate findings into project activities.
- Support FoRB awareness initiatives, including the development of advocacy materials and campaigns.
- Establish and guide mentorship groups focused on promoting and protecting FoRB.
Stakeholder Engagement:
- Facilitate collaboration between legal experts, state and security actors, religious leaders, and civil society organizations to strengthen FoRB protections.
- Organize and participate in Community of Practice (CoP) meetings and other forums for discussing FoRB issues.
Monitoring and Reporting:
- Monitor the implementation of legal support activities and ensure alignment with project goals.
- Prepare reports on legal interventions and case outcomes, providing updates to project management and stakeholders.
NOTE: As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the post holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key duties.
Educational Qualifications:
- A minimum of a bachelor's degree in law (LL.B) is required; a master's degree in human rights law, international law, or a related field is preferred.
Required Experience
- At least 5 - 7 years of professional experience in human rights law, with a focus on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB).
- Demonstrated experience in legal case management and providing legal support to victims of human rights violations.
- Proven track record of designing and facilitating legal training programs, particularly for legal practitioners and government agencies.
- Experience in conducting legal research and advocacy, with a strong understanding of the legal and policy frameworks related to FoRB in Nigeria.
- Prior experience working with civil society organizations, religious leaders, and government officials on FoRB or related human rights issues.
Other Relevant Experience
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to provide strategic legal advice in complex situations.
- Commitment to promoting and protecting human rights, particularly religious freedoms, in challenging environments.
- Professional experience and knowledge of the Religious context of Nigeria.
- Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required; knowledge of local languages (Hausa, Fulfulde etc.) spoken in the project’s focus regions is an advantage.
- Willingness to travel within Nigeria, particularly to the North Central, North East, and North West regions.
To apply:
Interested candidates should send the following to our portal on or before September 20, 2024.
Current resume
Cover Letter (which includes expectations of compensation and projected start date)
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Please note that the system only has the functionality to upload two documents per application. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please. Please see our website: www.sfcg.org for full details of our work.
Commitment to Search Values:
Trust, Breakthrough and Collaboration
