The Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA) is inviting qualified legal and human rights professionals to apply for its Collaborations Legal Officer position. The Africa-based opportunity offers a US$50,000 gross annual salary and is offered on a 12-month fixed-term contract. The position is designed for an experienced legal professional who can contribute to human rights advocacy, strategic litigation, civil-society partnerships, and regional normative processes within the African human rights system. The successful candidate will work full-time within ISLA’s Collaborations priority area, supporting legal and normative advocacy while strengthening relationships with civil-society organisations, coalitions, networks, movements, and other stakeholders. Applications are open until 16 September 2026. About the Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa The Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA) is a feminist Pan-African organisation focused on strategic litigation for women’s human rights and sexual rights at national and regional levels within the African human rights system. The organisation views strategic litigation as an important tool for social change because it can help reshape legal understanding, challenge existing legal discourse, and establish new domestic and regional jurisprudence. ISLA also works to strengthen the capacity of litigators and civil-society organisations across Africa while conducting research to support its advocacy and litigation work. The Collaborations Legal Officer will therefore join an organisation working at the intersection of law, human rights, advocacy, feminism, and social justice. What Will the Collaborations Legal Officer Do? The successful candidate will have responsibilities spanning legal research, advocacy, knowledge dissemination, partner engagement, public representation, and project delivery. Legal and Normative Advocacy A key responsibility will be monitoring and analysing fast-moving legal, political, and normative developments within the African human rights system. The officer will develop persuasive legal and normative arguments aimed at protecting progressive regional human rights mandates and responding to efforts that could weaken or undermine human rights mechanisms. The role will also involve drafting high-quality: Legal briefs Advocacy submissions Advocacy notes Talking points Legal and policy analysis Other strategic advocacy materials The officer may also coordinate with internal and external technical reviewers to strengthen legal and advocacy products. Knowledge Dissemination and Strategic Communication The role goes beyond traditional legal research. The Collaborations Legal Officer will help ensure that ISLA’s existing knowledge products reach the audiences that can use them effectively. This will require translating complex legal and normative analysis into accessible and compelling content for civil-society organisations, movements, decision-makers, media, and other stakeholders. The successful candidate will also adapt communications and messaging for different audiences and advocacy moments while maintaining legal accuracy and feminist analysis. This makes strong writing, editing, communication, and analytical skills particularly important for the position. Supporting Civil Society and Partnerships Another major component of the position is partner engagement and strengthening civil society. The officer will help maintain relationships with partners, coalitions, networks, movements, and organisations working on contested rights and regional human rights advocacy. Responsibilities will include supporting collaborative advocacy, coordinating engagements, identifying strategic opportunities, and helping civil-society organisations and emerging movements strengthen their legal, advocacy, and institutional capacity. The successful candidate should therefore be comfortable working with diverse stakeholders and navigating disagreement, conflict, and complex political dynamics across different geographical and organisational contexts. Public Advocacy and Representation The Collaborations Legal Officer will also represent ISLA and collaborative initiatives in different settings. These may include: Conferences and convenings Webinars Side events Institutional meetings Member-state meetings Media engagements Public forums The officer should be confident communicating about contentious or polarising issues and engaging audiences with different or opposing perspectives. The role also requires someone who can manage multiple projects and workstreams, respond to emerging advocacy opportunities, and maintain quality while priorities change. Who Can Apply? Applicants must meet the position’s education and professional experience requirements. Candidates should have: An advanced legal degree at master’s level from a recognised institution. At least four years of professional experience in human rights, advocacy, or a related field. Demonstrated understanding and experience working with or within the African human rights system. Experience engaging with regional human rights organs, mechanisms, normative processes, or standard-setting processes. Experience in human rights legal research, litigation, advocacy, or programming. Strong knowledge of relevant regional and international human rights frameworks and jurisprudence. Experience producing high-quality legal and advocacy documents with limited supervision. Experience translating technical content for different audiences. Experience working with coalitions, networks, movements, or civil-society organisations. Experience representing an organisation or coalition publicly. Experience managing multiple projects or workstreams in a fast-moving environment. Skills and Competencies ISLA is looking for a candidate with excellent legal research, analysis, drafting, editing, and communication skills. The ideal candidate should also demonstrate strong knowledge of constitutional, regional, and international human rights law and understand the political dynamics influencing regional norm-setting. Strong public-speaking, facilitation, relationship-management, coalition-building, project-management, and organisational skills are also required. Knowledge and understanding of human rights issues relating to gender and sexuality, grounded in feminist analysis, is an important part of the position. Additional Requirements The successful candidate must be based within the African continent and should demonstrate commitment to ISLA’s values, including feminism, Pan-Africanism, social justice, and the use of law as a tool for social change. The candidate must also be willing to travel occasionally within Africa and internationally when required. Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of French, Arabic, Portuguese, or Swahili will be considered an advantage. ISLA states that preference will be given to qualifying women applicants. Salary and Contract The Collaborations Legal Officer position offers a US$50,000 gross annual salary and is offered on a 12-month fixed-term contract. The position is Africa-based and full-time. Occasional work outside regular weekday hours may be required when urgent advocacy developments or opportunities arise. According to the vacancy information, this is compensated through a time-off-in-lieu (TOIL) framework. How to Apply for the ISLA Collaborations Legal Officer Position Interested candidates who meet the requirements should complete the official ISLA application form before the closing date. ISLA states that its application form replaces the need to submit a CV because the organisation prefers to receive standardised information from candidates. Applicants should carefully review the requirements and provide detailed information demonstrating their legal, human rights, advocacy, partnership, and regional experience. Key Details Position: Collaborations Legal OfficerOrganisation: Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA)Location: Africa-basedContract: 12 months, fixed termSalary: US$50,000 gross per yearWork arrangement: Full-timeMinimum experience: 4 yearsEducation: Advanced legal degree at master’s levelLanguages: English required; French, Arabic, Portuguese, or Swahili advantageousApplication deadline: 16 September 2026 Take the Next Step The ISLA Collaborations Legal Officer position presents an opportunity for an experienced legal professional to contribute to human rights advocacy and civil-society strengthening across Africa while working within a feminist Pan-African organisation. Professionals with experience in the African human rights system, strategic litigation, legal advocacy, regional mechanisms, coalition-building, and human rights programming are encouraged to review the requirements and submit their applications before the 16 September 2026 deadline. Late applications will not be considered, and only shortlisted candidates will receive further communication from the recruitment team. APPLY HERE For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and WPChannel Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding. JOIN GSO WHATSAPP CHANNEL NOW