ISLA is Hiring a Collaborations Legal Officer in Africa: Earn US$50,000 Per Year in This 12-Month Human Rights Role

Overview

The Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA) is hiring a Collaborations Legal Officer on a 12-month fixed-term, full-time contract with a gross annual salary of US$50,000. ISLA is a feminist Pan-African organisation that uses strategic litigation to advance women's human rights and sexual rights at national and regional levels within the African human rights system, and it also builds the capacity of litigators and civil-society groups and carries out research.

The post sits in the Collaborations priority area and combines legal advocacy with partnership work.

What the role involves

The officer tracks and analyses fast-moving legal, political and normative developments in the African human rights system and builds arguments to protect progressive regional mandates. Outputs include legal briefs, advocacy submissions and notes, talking points and legal and policy analysis. The officer also adapts ISLA's knowledge products for civil society, movements, decision-makers and media, supports coalitions, networks and emerging movements, and represents ISLA at conferences, webinars, side events, institutional and member-state meetings, media engagements and public forums, including on contested issues.

Who can apply

Candidates need a master's-level legal degree, at least four years of professional experience in human rights, advocacy or a related field, and proven experience with the African human rights system, including its regional organs and standard-setting processes. Experience in human rights legal research, litigation or advocacy, producing high-quality documents with limited supervision, working with coalitions and civil society, public representation and managing several workstreams is expected. Knowledge of gender and sexuality issues grounded in feminist analysis is important.

Requirements

Applicants must be based on the African continent, share ISLA's values of feminism, Pan-Africanism and social justice, be willing to travel occasionally, and be fluent in written and spoken English. French, Arabic, Portuguese or Swahili is an advantage. Preference is given to qualifying women applicants.

Key dates

Applications are open until 16 September 2026.