About the Organisation
Established in April 2016, Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA) helps West African communities that are threatened by the destructive impacts of extractives-led development to take control of their own futures. We do this by working with communities to design their own sustainable development plans and to advocate to achieve those plans. We also build networks of lawyers and other experts to help communities’ plans come to fruition. ACA has projects in communities in Ghana’s Bono East and Eastern Regions, in Liberia and Guinea addition to collaborating and supporting programs for the Public Interest Lawyering Initiative for West Africa (PILIWA), a network of lawyers and legal advocates in nine West African countries.
This role will be part of the African Climate Legal Fellowship Programme (ACLFP), a pilot initiative aimed at bringing experienced lawyers to the environmental public interest sector in Africa and providing pathways for new talent to enter the public interest sector. In addition to the ACA placement, Fellows will be part of a broader cohort benefiting from mentorship, coaching and leadership development, training in environmental and climate change law and science, and a network of likeminded lawyers in Africa. Travel within Africa for a launch convening will also be required. IREX, a global non-profit that has supported more than 50,000 Fellows over 50 years, will implement the fellowship and provide ongoing support to you and your nonprofit organization.
About the Job
Niafrang, a small coastal village near the Gambian border in Casamance, faces an existential threat from proposed mining activities by Astron Ltd, an Australian-based and Hong Kong-owned company. The Senegalese government has granted permits to mine the village's barrier dune, which protects fields and freshwater supplies from saltwater contamination. The Fellow will provide legal, judicial, and advocacy assistance to end this threat, building on years of support from ACA and local partners. Reporting to ACA’s Legal Director and a Senegalese law firm, the Fellow will travel within Senegal and aim to present Niafrang's case in court, seeking to revoke Astron's mining permissions.
The position will be remote within Senegal, and will include field time and other ACA-related travel.
Key Responsibilities
Review all relevant documents available about the mining project in Niafrang.
Propose legal strategies aimed at securing the cancellation of existing mining licenses in Niafrang.
Develop a timeline for the agreed activities.
Draft, file, and present pleadings in court in pursuance of the agreed legal strategies.
Explore and propose alternative non-judicial strategies to engage stakeholders such as the Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Environment, regulatory and administrative bodies, media, etc., with the view to achieve the objective of cancelling mining licenses threatening Niafrang.
Consult periodically with Niafrang community to update them on legal strategy and take onboard their opinions.
Collaborate with the ACA Science advisor and the Niafrang community to develop advocacy strategies based on the results of scientific studies.
Work with a licensed law firm to undertake the assigned duties.
Provide a monthly report on the activities carried out.
Provide any legal policy documents to be undertaken in this matter.
Participate in regular coordination meetings with ACA.
Requirements
Qualifications and Experience
Law degree (J.D., LL.B., or equivalent).
License to practice as a lawyer in Senegal.
At least 4 years of experience as a practicing lawyer in Senegal.
Experience working with NGOs and Civil society.
Familiarity with and experience with Senegalese mining laws and judicial mechanisms.
Fluency in French and working knowledge of English.
Experience with technology tools such as Google Meet, Zoom, WhatsApp, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Word and Excel, Google Docs, etc.
Advantageous Experience:
Human rights legal experience.
Experience working with rural communities.
Experience in negotiating or interacting with the Senegalese administration on behalf of clients.
To apply
To apply, email your application by Monday 2nd September 2024 to callum@actionappointments.co.za
