Job Title: Legal Advisor, Southern Africa (EN-8)
Organization Unit: Programmes
Reports To: Regional Representative, Southern Africa
Supervises: This position does not supervise staff.
Location: Remote with candidates required to have the right to live and work in one of the Southern African countries – Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini, Zambia or Zimbabwe.
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ABOUT EQUALITY NOW:
At Equality Now, we aspire to create a world in which women and men have equal rights under the law and full enjoyment of their human rights. Our mission is gender equality. And how we get there matters. Here are the values behind everything we do.
Founded in 1992, we are an international human rights organisation that works to protect and promote the rights of all women and girls around the world. Our campaigns are centred on four program areas: Legal Equality, Gender-Based Violence, and End Sexual Exploitation, with a cross-cutting focus on the unique needs of adolescent girls.
We are truly global, and we have a team of 80+ people located all around the world. We have team members in Benin, Beirut, London, Geneva, San Jose, El Salvador, Argentina, Nairobi, Tbilisi, New York and Washington, DC, among others. We offer a great experience for talented people who are passionate about equality. To work here, you’ll need to share our core values of integrity and accountability, inclusiveness, resilience, and empathy. For more information, visit equalitynow.org
MISSION OBJECTIVE:
Working closely with global and regional teams, the Legal Advisor, Southern Africa supports Equality Now’s regional work by applying legal expertise and advocacy skills to advance gender equality in law and strengthen access to justice for survivors of and gender-based violence and discrimination.
Combining expert legal analysis with movement-building, this role is pivotal in shaping laws, shifting norms, and securing justice for women and girls. The Advisor contributes to the design and delivery of campaigns across the region, conducting legal research and analysis, drafting advocacy tools, and supporting litigation strategies before national, regional, and international mechanisms. By engaging directly with civil society partners, coalitions, and government stakeholders, the Advisor helps identify advocacy opportunities, builds collaborative strategies, and ensures regional perspectives inform Equality Now’s global priorities. The role strengthens movement-building in the Southern Africa region by amplifying survivors’ voices, supporting systemic change for women and girls, capacity development of partners, and advancing coherent, evidence-based advocacy for legal and policy reform.
PORTFOLIO OVERVIEW:
The Legal Advisor, Southern Africa, will advance Equality Now’s mission by driving legal reform and strategic advocacy to end gender-based violence, achieve legal equality, and secure digital rights, safety, and freedoms in the Southern Africa region.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The following is a general outline of duties and responsibilities for this role. It is not an exhaustive list, and additional duties may be assigned or removed at the discretion of the Regional Representative, Southern Africa, to meet organizational needs and priorities:
Purpose: Apply Foundational Knowledge
- Advises on the development and adaptation of legal frameworks and tools to address violence and discrimination against women and girls in Southern Africa.
- Maps clear legal and advocacy strategies for campaigns, including the coordination of legal research, regional consultations, and the production of advocacy materials and thought leadership products.
- Supports conceptualization of relevant grant proposals by applying strategic knowledge of local legal gaps and advocacy opportunities.
- Drafts or contributes to Equality Now’s reports, legal submissions (e.g., to UN, African Union, and Southern Africa regional Treaty Bodies, UPR), and recommendations for governments regarding legal and policy changes.
- Drafts and contributes to Equality Now’s reports, legal briefings, and strategic communications to support legal reform and accountability.
- Supports the development of advocacy strategies in collaboration with local partners and assists with internal and donor reporting.
Engagement: Knowledge Building & Collaboration
- Works closely with the Regional Representative for Southern Africa and members of Equality Now’s thematic strategy teams.
- Supports the Southern Africa team in strategy development, planning, budgeting, and monitoring campaign efforts across Southern Africa.
- Collaborates with regional and global Communications teams to align legal messaging with campaign communications.
- Represents Equality Now in national coalitions, conferences, legal forums, and advocacy spaces.
- Participates in internal meetings and contributes to campaign planning and coordination.
- Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with local legal experts and civil society partners to co-develop advocacy strategies and legal submissions.
- Works with local partners to support legal, advocacy, and litigation strategies related to ending gender based violence and securing digital rights and freedom.
Delivery: Operational Awareness & Action
- Supports the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of Southern African campaigns
- Provides responsive legal support and advocacy input aligned with evolving campaign needs and donor timelines.
- Tracks deliverables and work plans for partners and consultants in the region.
- Maintains regular availability to connect with Equality Now’s global team and responds flexibly to advocacy demands.
- Produces high-quality legal documents, advocacy materials, and reports, consistent with Equality Now’s standards and strategic goals.
- Ensures legal and policy recommendations are evidence-based, contextually relevant, and rooted in survivor-centered approaches.
- Participates in the conceptualization of impactful and fundable legal advocacy projects with strong regional relevance.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS & TARGET SKILLS PROFILE:
Substantive Knowledge
- A legal professional qualification with expertise in gender equality in the region, and laws relating to national and international women’s rights laws in at least one country in the region.
- Deep knowledge of legal systems and policies affecting women’s rights and survivors of gender-based violence across the Southern Africa region. Strong grounding in gender justice, with attention to systemic barriers and survivor-centered legal remedies.
- Experienced in drafting legal analyses, reports, and submissions to the UN and regional human rights bodies.
- Applied expertise in intersectional feminist frameworks for advocacy, movement-building,
and programming.
Communication Skills
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English; proficiency in at least one Southern African language would be advantageous.
- Adept at fostering cross-cultural collaboration and cultivating trust-based relationships consistent with the mission and values of Equality Now.
- Skilled at crafting clear, persuasive advocacy messages tailored to diverse audiences, including policymakers, media, and civil society.
- Demonstrated ability to translate complex legal and policy concepts into accessible, impactful language for public advocacy and campaigning.
- Experienced in media engagement, partner communications, and public-facing advocacy contexts.
- Strong legal drafting skills for technical materials, legal submissions, and public reports.
- Confident in delivering training, legal briefings, and advocacy presentations across varied platforms and audiences.
Execution Skills
- Strong program and project management skills, including costed planning, milestone tracking, and donor reporting
- Proven ability to independently lead regionally focused campaigns aligned with strategic objectives and timelines.
- Experienced in managing multi-stakeholder initiatives, overseeing planning, budgeting, implementation, and performance tracking.
- Highly organized and results-driven, with a sharp focus on deadlines, deliverables, and impact.
- Responsive to shifting geopolitical dynamics and evolving organizational priorities
- Effective working both independently and within cross-functional, multicultural teams in fast-paced environments.
- Provides clear direction, constructive feedback, and structured delegation to support team accountability and professional growth.
- Strong documentation, organization, and legal analysis skills.
- Experienced in designing and delivering legal training and practitioner guidance.
- Willingness and ability to travel internationally and domestically, sometimes on short notice, to support regional teams, engage with partners, and represent Equality Now.
Targeted Specialized Knowledge
- Bachelor’s degree in law required; advanced degree (Master’s or equivalent certification) strongly preferred.
- Professional experience in national or international law, international human rights, gender studies, or a closely related discipline, or equivalent academic background.
- 6+ years of progressively responsible experience in gender justice, human rights, or legal advocacy.
- Proven leadership in supervising staff or consultants, with a focus on mentoring, coaching, and structured delegation.
- Demonstrated experience supervising staff or consultants, with a track record of mentoring, coaching, and delegating effectively to support team development and accountability.
CONSULTANCY FEE RANGE (Annual, Gross): USD $27,000 – $33,000 USD
The final consultancy fee within this range will be determined based on factors including geographic location, relevant experience, demonstrated skills, qualifications, and the agreed scope and duration of services.
Consultant fees are set with consideration for the scope of work, level of expertise, and market benchmarks, and are intended to reflect the independent and professional nature of consultancy engagements.
HOW TO APPLY
Please visit: and submit a resume/CV, cover letter. Deadline for applications is March 27, 2026.