Principal Legal Officer - African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

ADVERTISEMENT N° AFCHPR/07/2014

PRINCIPAL LEGAL OFFICER, P4

AFRICAN COURT ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS

(Closing date: 14/09/20014)

The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights was established by virtue of Article

1 of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, adopted on 9 June

1998 and which came into force on 25 January 2004. It is the first continental judicial body charged with the responsibility of ensuring the protection of human and peoples’ rights. The Court became operational in 2006 and its seat is in Arusha, in the United Republic of Tanzania.

The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights invites applications from citizens of

African Union Member States for the following position:

1.  Post
§	Job title:	Principal Legal Officer
§	Post level:	P4
§	Supervisor:	Head of Legal Division
§	Directorate:	Registry of the Court

^§ Duty station: Arusha

2.    Job Purpose

Provide to the Court a specific legal support and supervise the activities of a Legal Unit under her/his direct responsibilities.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Registrar, and under the direct supervision of the Head of Legal Division, the Principal Legal Officer will perform the following duties:

i)     Conduct and supervise the conduct of legal research in the areas of law that fall within the competence of its service, particularly on relevant developments in international law in general, legislation and jurisprudence in international courts.

ii)    Conduct and supervise the synthetic legal analysis of draft judgements made by jurists within its service.

iii)   Counsel and make concrete recommendations on issues concerning the Court on legal, political and administrative issues.

iv)   Prepare and supervise the preparation and drafting of briefs, decisions and judgements as well as appeals pending before the Court.

v)    Supervise the custody, updating, review of records, legal instruments and the input of his/her assistants.

vi)   Perform any other duties as required.

She/he may be requested to serve as Special Assistant to the President of the Court.

3.  Educational Qualifications

Candidates must have a minimum of a University Master’s degree in law. A specialization in public international law will be an added advantage.

4.  Work Experience

Candidates must have a minimum of eight (8) years relevant professional experience in a similar position, preferably in an international organization.

5.    Other relevant skills:

i)     Demonstrate leadership abilities;

ii)    Good knowledge of the African human rights system;

iii)   Strong analytical skills and ability to prepare legal submissions, opinions and motions;

iv)   Respect for confidentiality and good public relations;

v)    Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work under pressure in a multi-cultural environment;

vi)   Excellent drafting and argumentative skills in one of the African Union working languages;

vii) Good planning, managing and organizational skills;

viii)Computer literacy.

6.  Language Requirement

An excellent command of at least one of the African Union (AU) working languages. Knowledge of one or several other AU working languages would be an added advantage.

7.  Tenure of Appointment

The appointment will be a regular appointment for a period of three (3) years, the first twelve months of which will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of two years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance.

8.  Gender Mainstreaming

The African Court is an equal opportunity employer; qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

9.  Remuneration

Indicative basic salary of US$40,413.00 per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. post adjustment (42% of basic salary), housing allowance

(1,766.40 US$ per month), education allowance (75% of school fees up to a maximum of US$7,800.00 per child per annum to a maximum of four children aged 21 years maximum), spouse allowance (5% of the basic salary), child allowance (US$250 per annum per child up to four children aged 21 years maximum), etc in accordance with the Rules and Regulations governing International Civil Servants of the African Union.

10. Application

To apply, please submit the following:

i)     A letter stating reasons for seeking employment with the Court;

ii)    A detailed and updated CV, indicating your nationality, age and gender (comply with requirements for candidates wishing to apply for posts in the Court);

iii)   Names and contact details (including email address) of three referees;

iv)   Certified copies of degree and diplomas.

Applications should be submitted not later than 14/09/2014 and should be addressed to the postal address or email indicated below:

African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

P.O. Box. 6274

Arusha, Tanzania

Tel : + 255 732 979506/9

Fax : + 255 732 979503

E-mail :  humanresources@african-court.org

Only candidates who meet the requirements for this position will be contacted.

NB:

Qualified nationals of countries least represented at the Court are encouraged to apply. Below is a table of the regular professional staff employed at the Court per country as at June 15, 2014:

	Number
Distribution per Country
Benin	1
Burkina Faso	1
Cameroon	3
Chad	1
Kenya	2
Malawi	1
Mozambique	1
Rwandan	1
Sudan	2
Tanzania	1
Uganda	1
Total	15

Please note that due to the limited number of professional posts at the Court, the current quota is fixed at two professional staff members per country. Such number may exceptionally be raised to three if the circumstances so require.