Part Time Consultant on Sub-Saharan Africa

Background

The American Bar Association (ABA) Center for Human Rights is the ABA’s focal entity for critical human rights concerns in the United States and around the world. The Center is seeking a paid, remote, part-time consultant to assist with cases of human rights defenders at risk and threats to closing civic space in Sub-Saharan Africa. This position will be supervised by another attorney. Includes legal research, writing, speaking, and provision of technical assistance, and may include grant development and/or fundraising. This is a 6-12-month consultancy position.

Responsibilities include:

• Monitor and update the ABA Center for Human Rights on developments in Sub-Saharan Africa (the region) that impact the rights of human rights defenders (HRDs) and the environment in which they operate.
• Document cases against HRDs in the region: outreach to and communication with local partners, analysis of relevant information, development of strategies for intervention, and execution of these strategies.
• Identify systematic issues hindering the operation of HRDs in the region.
• Give presentations on legal and public policy issues.
• Manage substantive/legal project aspects. Oversee research, report writing, and publication. Coordinate or support member sub-groups and coordinate with external constituencies. Manage sub-consultants, interns/externs.
• Analyze laws, regulations, court rules, and policies/policy proposals; prepare memoranda of law or on public policy; provide legal counsel
• Research, draft, write, review and critique legislative/rule/policy or regulatory text.
• Report weekly to ABA Justice Defenders Staff Attorney to discuss interventions, expected deliverables, and timelines.
• Other tasks as necessary and as agreed upon between the contractor and the ABA

Requirements

• Consultant must have a JD or Ph.D. or equivalent degree.
• At least 5 years working on human rights issues in sub-Saharan Africa. Experience supporting human rights defenders is an added advantage.
• High level of skills in legal writing and research, oral and written communications, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in English required. Portuguese and French an added advantage.