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Legal Officer

Vacancy #:   6017
Unit:   TRAFFIC Southern Africa
Organisation:   TRAFFIC International (TRAFFIC)
Location:   TRAFFC - Southern Africa (Madagascar), Antananarivo, Madagascar
Reporting to:   INL Project Manager
Work percentage:   100%
Grade:   P1
Expected start date:   15 June 2022
Type of contract:   Fixed-term (12 months with possibility of renewal)
Closing date:   20 June 2022 (extended)
BACKGROUND
TRAFFIC International is a charity and limited company registered in the UK. TRAFFIC is a leading non-governmental organisation working globally on trade in wild animals and plants in the context of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, striving to ensure that trade in wildlife is not a threat to the conservation of nature. We actively monitor and investigate wildlife trade and provide information to diverse audiences worldwide as a basis for effective conservation policies and programmes. TRAFFIC works in strategic alliance with IUCN and WWF on wildlife trade issues.

TRAFFIC’s head office, based in Cambridge UK, provides worldwide leadership, coordination, cross-regional and corporate functions. TRAFFIC’s local engagement is managed through six regional programme offices operating under the auspices of the UK charity, with staff based in a hub office and at other strategic locations where necessary. Programme offices operate within a geographic area of responsibility focused on one or multiple countries where TRAFFIC aims to help deliver priority programme outcomes.

This role will be hosted by WWF Madagascar in Antananarivo on behalf of TRAFFIC.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Characteristic Duties

TRAFFIC is seeking a Legal Officer based in Antananarivo to support TRAFFIC’s growing project portfolio in Madagascar. The successful candidate will support the LEMUR CWC Project Manager and CCWT Project Manager to implement a comprehensive portfolio of projects focussed on countering the illegal national and cross-border trade in Malagasy wildlife, with special focus on the US-INL-financed LEMUR CWC (“Law Enforcement in Madagascar: a United Response to Combating Wildlife Crime”) project and the USAID-funded CCWT (« Combating Corruption and Wildlife Trafficking ») project. He/she will undertake court case monitoring, historical court case reviews, capacity building, and other activities as required by project needs. The Legal Officer will work closely with both project managers, the Finance and Administration Assistant, as well as with other TRAFFIC staff and project partners.


Specific Duties

1.Support and participate in TRAFFIC’s engagement with government authorities to secure high-level buy-in for the project’s activities and effective collaboration from the project’s main partners, i.e. Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD), Ministry of Justice, law enforcement departments, and the judiciary.
2.Support and participate in TRAFFIC’s efforts to obtain permission from the Ministry of Justice to access historical court case records.
3.Supervise, provide training and on-the-job mentoring to court monitors recruited by the project to collect data from historical court case records and conduct live court monitoring. Facilitate the work of the consultants, ensure their presence in court and the regular submission of data, and assist with and report any issues they may experience.
4.Actively liaise with local authorities at provincial and regional level during the lifetime of the project to ensure smooth communication and mutual understanding, and address challenges as they arise.
5.Assist with the analysis and write-up of reports based on historical court case records and court cases on the court roll from around the country, to identify the main weaknesses, bottlenecks and challenges in investigations and prosecutions, and identify opportunities to assist investigators and prosecutors in real time.
6.Establish and maintain contacts with relevant stakeholders and civil society organisations conducting their own court monitoring programme.
7.Actively liaise with law enforcement departments to identify past seizures of wildlife specimens and wildlife products.
8.Provide timely legal advice and detailed analyses of Madagascar’s IWT legislation to project managers, as required. Provide proactive legal support to the TRAFFIC team whenever appropriate for the implementation of key project activities.
9.Work with TRAFFIC’s partner organisations on developing law enforcement and judiciary training materials and delivering training workshops. Deliver part of these trainings, with a focus on training contents that relate to the Malagasy legislation.
10.Support and participate in the review of the country’s legislation on IWT, alongside TRAFFIC’s partner organisations and in close coordination with the MEDD and the Ministry of Justice.
11.Provide thoughtful input into the production of quarterly/annual technical reports and work plans and other documentation as required by project managers, project assistant and donors.
12.Prepare technical analyses of the Malagasy policy and legal framework, as well as of proceedings, in order to extract relevant insights regarding capacity gaps and procedural challenges, as required.
13.Complete data sheets based on court monitoring work and upload them to WiTIS using TRAFFIC’s templates and protocols.
14.Assist with the development of the ArcGIS data management solution for storing, displaying, and analysing wildlife crime court case data.
15.Develop analytic briefs and case studies in relation to selected court cases that are thought to be emblematic of trends, weaknesses and challenges for the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of IWT offences in Madagascar.
16.Any other duties relevant to the role.


Supervisory Responsibilities:

Manage in-country consultants and project-related staff as required.
REQUIREMENTS
  • Full Requirements / Expectations of the Role holder

•Minimum of a Master’s degree in law or related studies.
•Relevant and proven work experience in a legal role, including experience of case work in a court room context.
•Registration as a professional lawyer will be considered a distinct advantage.
•Proven work experience in the environmental sector, preferably combatting wildlife crime, corruption, and/or contributing to wildlife law enforcement.
•Relevant experience in data collection, legal analysis, and drafting of legal documents.
•Experience in court monitoring and/or court process analysis and assessment will be considered an advantage.
•Knowledge and experience on Malagasy Dina law will be considered a strong advantage.
•Strong research and analytical skills, together with the ability to articulate complex issues clearly and to summarize large quantities of information in a clear, concise manner.
•Thorough knowledge and understanding of policy and legislative frameworks in Madagascar as well as relevant institutions responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the same, and specially of those related to environmental and anti-corruption issues.
•Thorough knowledge and understanding of Malagasy law in relation to criminal investigations (in general) and to financial crime (in particular). Experience in one of these areas is desirable.
•Ability to work as part of a global team, with some communications taking place outside of regular office hours as required due to multi time-zone coordination.
•Excellent writing skills and the ability to understand and synthesise information from a diverse range of sources.
•Excellent project management skills, with proven ability to prioritise workloads and meet deadlines.
•Sound organizational skills and ability to prioritize and deliver assignments as required and ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines.
•Highly motivated and results-oriented individual with the ability to work independently, with remote oversight, and under pressure, and to set own work priorities as appropriate with a capacity to meet deadlines.
•Ability to supervise and manage a team, show initiative and be proactive.
•Strong IT skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email) and excellent attention to detail.
•Excellent interpersonal skills, with strong communication abilities and a good sense of diplomacy.
•Ability to work effectively with multicultural and multidisciplinary teams.
•Verbal and written fluency in Malagasy and French is essential. Fluency in English will be considered a strong asset.
•Malagasy citizenship or permanent residential status is preferable.
•Willing and able to travel frequently within Madagascar.
APPLICATIONS

Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.

Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.

Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/


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