JOB DESCRIPTION LEGAL OFFICER – CENTER FOR FOOD & ADEQUATE LIVING RIGHTS(CEFROHT) PURPOSE OF THE POSITION Provide legal support (advisory, research, and litigation) across all three organizational domains: Food Security, Food Safety, and Food Sovereignty. Assist Head of Program (Social Justice and Strategic Litigation) To conduct both strategic public interest litigation and pro-bono litigation for communities adequate living rights particularly land rights and legal support for agroecology. Conduct legal research and advocacy to prevent diet related Non-Communicable diseases To litigate against unfair trade laws in agrifood frameworks at national, regional and international level including World Trade, African Free Trade and EAC trade regimes. Legal empowerment to facilitate legal & policy advocacy, social accountability & mobilization Advance a human rights-based approach to food, nutrition, trade, and investment systems SCOPE The position is key to CEFROHT’s ability to advance social justice in food and agriculture, nutrition, trade, and investment systems. It aims to create an enabling legal and policy environment that promotes, respects, and guarantees economic rights, the right to food, nutrition, and health in the food, health, and trade systems. The Legal officer’s role therefore, will be; Assist Head of Social Justice and Strategic Litigation Program to conduct legal action research and to offer legal advisory on all issues of economic rights, and rights to food, nutrition, and health as well as define rights to adequate food, public health and trade, as well as redress to violations of such rights through both strategic and pro-bono litigation. Promote social accountability and legal empowerment among duty bearers and rights holders anchored on human rights. This position reports to the Head of Social Justice and Strategic Litigation Program Key Result Areas: Under the direct supervision of the Head of Social Justice and Strategic Litigation Program, the incumbent is required to perform the following functions: Coordinates with and assists the Head of Litigation Program (HLP) to ensure efficient judicial support services to the judicial offices. In cooperation with the HLP, she/he acts as the focal point on all judicial support services, including interpretation, translation, transcription, AV recordings, and trial management-related issues. Attends the hearings before the court and aids before and during the hearings in cooperation with the Court Officers; he/she provides secretariat support to legal teams. Assists in the formulation of internal policies and directives for the litigation program Is responsible for content management of the CEFROHT website so far as litigation postings are concerned. Advises the CEFROHT Communications’ department on issues of litigation and right to food Provides legal advice to vulnerable community groups on issues of food, nutrition, public health law, and economic rights as and when required; Assists in drafting periodic litigation reports to the HLP Assist Litigation Program in administering legal research, advisory, and litigation activities, ensuring availability of appropriate resources to the litigation teams. Contribute to the development, design, and planning of litigation projects so that projects have a clear and feasible strategy towards impact that is in line with CEFROHT’s mission and strategy. Develops and implements food industry monitoring strategies Monitors and supports the organization in countering food industry interference in the three thematic areas of food security, food safety, and food sovereignty Drafting the relevant pleadings and ensuring that documents are served to the court in time. Key Performance Indicators To facilitate tracking of the job holder’s performance during the year, the following performance indicators have been identified and agreed upon: Petitions and affidavits are adequate and appropriate, and hard copies of the same are kept under safe custody. Follow-up plan of activities on court proceedings and communications. Plan of communication activities on the litigation program. Plan of activities on legal empowerment and advisory towards vulnerable groups, local governments, policy makers & CSOs. Plan of activities on legal policy advocacy and social accountability Draft and submit periodic food industry monitoring reports. Essential Competencies Professionalism: In-depth knowledge of criminal procedures and court management; analytical skills, discretion, and sound judgment in problem-solving; demonstrated planning and organizational skills; ability to draft legal and policy papers and work under pressure. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult prob
