Human Rights / Legal Lead at Society for Family Health (SFH)

Society for Family Health (SFH) is one of the leading non-governmental public health organisations in Nigeria, implementing programmes in Reproductive Health/Family Planning, HIV & AIDS prevention and treatment, malaria prevention and treatment, primary health care system strengthening and maternal, newborn and child health care. We work in partnership with the Federal and State Governments of Nigeria, the Global Fund, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Department for International Development (DFID), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, MSD for Mothers and Children Investment Fund Foundation among other international donors.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Human Rights / Legal Lead (Anticipatory Recruitment)

Location: Abuja
Employment Type: Full-time

Job Profile

• The Human Rights/Legal Lead will manage, design and deliver legal and human rights advisory support to the projects and provide technical support in integrating human rights strategies into programming and lead advocacy efforts and facilitate knowledge building on human rights issues.

Job Role

• Provide oversight on all issues related to human rights and legal issues.
• Draft legal documents and memoranda to ensure that the interests of SFH projects are protected and offer advice on issues and disputes that may;
• Participate in meetings on human rights and legal matters;
• Advise on legal Issues relating to conflict prevention, management, and resolution;
• Provide legal advice on the interpretation of legal documents;
• Follow up agreements with donors and partners;
• Provide legal services to ensure legality in decision-making and compliance with donor rules and regulations;
• Conduct research and analysis on legal matters pertaining to the investigations and investigation plan and report;
• Provide advisory on matters related to legal frameworks and legal standards applicable to the human rights issues;
• Provide advice, training and technical assistance to project teams, donors, partners, etc. for the promotion and protection of human rights, including follow up to recommendations from interventions
• Support in promoting human rights advocacy and awareness raising per international standards;
• Provide advice on legal issues and assist in drafting legal opinions, memoranda and other briefing documents;
• Ensure legal accuracy of all documents, including reports, press releases etc;
• Draft legal frameworks and analysis of the Fact-Finding Mission’s’ reports and ensure reliability of findings, conclusions and recommendations;
• Identify trends and patterns of human rights violations and abuses;
• Ensure legal analysis and legal qualification of the findings to integrate gender perspective, reflecting the gender dimensions and gender impact of the violations.
• Manage the establishment of advocacy networks at state level and linkages to national and international networks on human rights;
• Proactively and substantively support and implement relevant, high-impact advocacy activities and campaigns with key partners;
• Ensure awareness about current and emerging human rights trends by analyzing programme, projects, strategies, approaches and ongoing experience for lessons learned, best practices, and share with management for use in knowledge sharing and planning future strategies;
• Organize capacity building of staff and partners on human rights-based approach and human rights strategies;
• Develop knowledge products on human rights, gender equality, women’s and minority rights, inter- sectional discrimination in Nigeria.

Qualifications / Experience

• First Degree in Law, Political Science, International Relations or related course. A Master's Degree will be an added advantage
• Minimum of seven years experience
• At least five years’ experience local and international human rights, with development and/or humanitarian experience, rule of law, gender equality or other related fields;
• Strong experience with implementing human rights projects and initiatives. Experience in advocacy for the promotion and protection of human rights is an asset;
• Experience in establishing coordination and/or inter-relationships among international organization and national governments on human rights is an advantage;
• Experience of working with relevant stakeholders from the governmental and non- governmental institutions involved into human rights issues at the national and sub- national levels;
• Demonstrable knowledge of human rights standards.

Application Closing Date
15th January, 2024.