Africa Senior Legal Advocacy Officer

The International Press Institute (IPI) seeks to hire an Africa Senior Legal Advocacy Officer who will shape and steer the implementation of their work aimed at combating the use of repressive cybercrime laws to censor, surveil, and punish journalists in countries across sub-Saharan Africa.

They are looking for an individual with strong expertise in developing and carrying out strategic advocacy aimed at reforming laws and policies affecting the right to expression, information, and privacy in Africa.

The Africa Senior Legal Advocacy Officer will join IPI’s growing Africa-based team, and will work with their Vienna-based advocacy and programme teams to ensure high-level, impactful implementation of their work to ensure journalists in Africa can work freely, safely, and independently.

Key responsibilities

As the Africa Senior Legal Advocacy Officer, you will:

• Work together with partners, develop and help implement strategic advocacy plans aimed at ensuring cybercrime laws in target countries in Africa respect press freedom and freedom of expression and are in line with regional and international human rights standards and instruments.
• Draft analyses on cybercrime laws, proposals, and related legislation from the perspective of regional and international human rights standards and case law.
• Lead on the development and drafting of public reports, briefs, analyses, and statements related to the abuse of cybercrime laws in Africa to target journalists and civil society.
• Articulate persuasive policy positions on the fundamental rights to expression, information, and privacy, and on the need to ensure states and other dutybears meet their obligations to respect and protect freedom of the press and internet freedom in Africa.
• Carry out direct advocacy with governments and other public authorities,
• Represent IPI at public events in domestic, regional, and international fora.
• Work collaboratively to ensure effective, inclusive participation by all project partners.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with civil society and legal communities across Africa and globally.
• Work closely with IPI’s Vienna-based advocacy teams to ensure consistency with policy positions and standards.

Required qualifications

• Strong legal advocacy experience, with demonstrated fluency in international and regional legal frameworks and mechanisms ensuring the protection of press freedom, digital rights and online expression, and privacy.
• Advanced degree in law, human rights, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing legal advocacy strategies and plans focused on ensuring journalists’ rights, including freedom of expression and internet freedom, in Africa.
• Exceptional English language writing skills, with demonstrated experience developing and drafting public reports, statements, and positions, with strong English writing skills.
• Deep networks across the media freedom and digital rights communities in Africa and beyond.
• Experience working collaboratively and inclusively with civil society partners and experts in Africa.
• Strong advocacy instincts and ability to spot and mobilize opportunities to advance legal reform efforts and measures.
• Ambition and drive to IPI’s expanding Africa programme, with a willingness to take on big tasks and help us to grow our impact at a time when press freedom faces growing threats.
• A can-do attitude when faced with challenges and be proactive about suggesting solutions and alternatives when roadblocks arise.
• Excellent organisational, time-management, and team communication skills.
• The ability to manage multiple tasks, working with partners in different locations across Africa and globally.

How to apply

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. To learn more and apply, please click here.