Vacancy Title: Community Environmental Legal Officer (CELO), Lamu County Natural Justice

Natural Justice is an African non-profit organization specializing in environmental justice. As a team of pioneering lawyers and legal experts, we specialize in human rights, climate law and environmental law to pursue social, climate and environmental justice.

Natural Justice has been working with communities, NGOs, and government agencies in Kenya since 2009. Natural Justice strives to enhance people’s collective rights and protect the sacred relationships indigenous peoples, and local communities have with nature. Our work is informed by the values, knowledge, and self-determination of the communities with whom we stand in solidarity. Through legal empowerment, research, policy influencing and litigation, and as part of coalitions and campaigns, we support communities to know the law, use the law and shape the law. Natural Justice has three main programs: the Affirming Rights Program, Defending Rights Program and Standing with Communities Program.

To learn more about the work of Natural Justice, please refer to www.naturaljustice.org

What are we looking for?

Kenya has a number of laws that citizens can use when they, and their environments are affected by various projects. However, there is often a gap that exists between the law and its implementation resulting in negative impacts on local people. To assist in narrowing this gap, we are seeking a full- time Community Environmental Legal Officer (CELO) to work with communities negatively affected by environmental issues and help them find remedies through the government administrative and regulatory institutions.

The CELO will work with community members to collect and submit evidence of environmental impacts, facilitate discussions with relevant government institutions and liaise and collaborate with local civil society groups. The successful candidate will join a team of Community Environmental Legal Officers and will implement the projects in Lamu area of the Coastal Region. They will also work very closely with the Natural Justice Program Team based in Nairobi.

Duties and Responsibilities

The CELO shall perform the following duties:

• Implement and manage the work of Natural Justice in Lamu County.
• Engage in constitutional and environmental policy research, advocacy and support local communities affected by climate change and large-scale extractives, infrastructure and other projects, by providing legal advice, and by supporting legal empowerment approaches in the respective county.
• Provide high quality legal advice and support to communities that Natural Justice works with and its partners.
• Give legal support and advice to environmental defenders and communities.
• Undertake legal research, write submissions and provide opinions on environmental and climate justice issues.
• Contribute to the overall Natural Justice program and strategy.
• Form and maintain good working relationships with all key partners including communities, government entities and donors.
• Collaborate with Natural Justice staff in the East Africa Hub in implementation of projects.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Law, Environmental sciences, Human Rights, International Relations, Social Sciences or related field from a recognized university.
• 4 years relevant work experience in the legal environment, capacity development, coalition building, policy, social, or other public interest field in lieu of the aforementioned Bachelor’s degree.
• Knowledge of Kenya’s constitutional and administrative law, including human rights, land & environmental law.
• Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English and Kiswahili.
• Keen interest in and commitment to advancing the rights of marginalized communities, particularly in relation to their environments.
• Computer literacy- Understanding of data entry, basic computer skills and knowledge of databases.
• Conviction in and commitment to constitutionalism and principles of environmental justice.
• Good legal research skills in law, policy and social issues.
• Be a citizen of Kenya or have authorization to work in Kenya.

Competencies

The desirable traits and attributes include:

• A person of high integrity that will model Natural Justice’s core values.
• Highly motivated, pro-active individual able to work under minimal supervision
• Ability to prioritize, act on initiative and meet deadlines
• Ability to think critically and problem solve
• Reliability and attention to detail
• Ability to work with the team and to develop and maintain good relationships with community-based or other grassroots groups and partners
• Demonstrated awareness of and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations.
• Professionalism, strong work ethic, and personal initiative (“a self-starter”).
• Critical and analytical thinking.
• Ability to mobilize communities.
• Ability to grasp quickly and accurately new and complex concepts.
• Ability to work under pressure and as part of a team.
• Ability to balance priorities and co-ordinate work effectively in order to meet deadlines and deal with high workloads.
• Willingness and ability to travel often, in Kenya and regionally as necessary.