MENA Legal Officer  -ARTICLE 19 عودة إلى الفرص

 MENA Legal Officer  

Job Description  

Reports to: Regional Director ARTICLE 19 MENA  

Key Relationships: MENA RO staff in Tunis, London and other MENA countries,  International Law and Policy Team, Projects Team, International  

Communication Team, Fundraising Team, consultants, and  external partners across the MENA region.  

Responsible for:  

Starting salary: 33863 – 39200 TND NET per annum. Salary will be determined  based on the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and relevant  competencies.  

Contract: 1-year renewable pending availability of funds  Working hours: Full Time (40 hours a week)  

Holidays: 25 days per year plus public holidays  

Location: ARTICLE 19’s MENA regional office in Tunis  Special Conditions: This position may require occasional internal and external travel.  

Role and Purpose  

The MENA Legal Officer plays a crucial role in advancing freedom of expression and  information in the MENA region and supports the organization’s mission and objectives. Your  primary role is to provide legal support on matters concerning freedom of expression and  information. You will work collaboratively with the entire MENA programmatic team, offering  cross-cutting assistance. You will be working under the supervision of the Regional Director  and in coordination, with the support and quality check of the International Law and Policy  Team. You will have a wide range of responsibilities, including developing legal analyses,  comments, and reports on freedom of expression and information, as well as drafting training  materials, legal briefings, statements, and submissions to the UN human rights mechanisms.  You will conduct legal research to stay updated on legal developments in the MENA region  and delivers training and awareness-raising activities on freedom of expression and  information to various stakeholders. Additionally, you maintain relationships with partners and donors, identify collaboration opportunities, contribute to organizational strategies and  represent ARTICLE 19 in external events related to freedom of expression in the MENA region.  

As MENA Legal Officer, you will also focus on addressing digital-related issues and their impact  on freedom of expression and information. This includes staying updated on emerging digital  rights and technology-related legal developments in the MENA region, analyzing their  implications for freedom of expression and providing legal guidance and support in navigating  these complex issues. You will actively engage in policy discussions and advocacy efforts  related to digital rights, collaborating with relevant stakeholders and participating in regional  and international forums on digital freedom of expression. By integrating digital expertise into  their role, you will contribute to ARTICLE 19’s comprehensive approach to protecting and  promoting freedom of expression in the digital area.  

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES  

Monitoring & Strategic Planning:  

 Stay updated on emerging legal developments, policy trends, and international  standards pertaining to freedom of expression, information and digital rights globally,  with a focus on the MENA region.  

 Monitor and analyze laws, regulations, and policies that may impact freedom of  expression and information in the MENA region, particularly in the digital sphere. 

 Collaborate with the Regional Director and other MENA team members to contribute  to the development and implementation of strategic plans and objectives for the  MENA programme in line with ARTICLE 19’s MENA and global strategies. 

 Provide legal expertise and guidance in aligning program activities with ARTICLE 19’s  mission and principles.  

 Legal Analyses and Materials:  

 Conduct comprehensive and in-depth legal analyses on a wide range of freedom of  expression and information issues, with a particular focus on digital rights. 

 Prepare well-researched and evidence-based legal opinions, research papers, and  other materials to support the programmatic work and advocacy efforts of ARTICLE  19 in the MENA region.  

 Collaborate with the MENA team and external partners to develop legal strategies  and contribute to the formulation of policy recommendations on relevant legal  issues.  

Communication and Advocacy:  

 Identify, in coordination with the MENA Team, opportunities for engagement and  advocacy, and planning appropriate interventions.  

 Contribute to developing and delivering effective communication strategies to raise  awareness about freedom of expression issues, including digital rights and other  fundamental rights, among various stakeholders. 

 Engage in advocacy activities by drafting position papers, reports, legal briefs, and  background analysis documents to support advocacy objectives.  

 Participate in policy dialogues and consultations to promote and defend freedom of  expression and information, including in the digital area.  

 Engage in strategic partnerships and collaborations with regional and international  organizations working on freedom of expression and information, and digital rights  and representing ARTICLE 19 at international and regional conferences and meetings.  Contribute to ARTICLE 19 publications and web resources, including the MENA  website, and actively communicating ARTICLE 19’s messages and work through  traditional media and social media.  

Training and Capacity Building:  

 Provide expert input and contribute to the development of training materials, guides,  and toolkits on legal aspects related to freedom of expression and information,  including digital rights.  

 Develop and deliver legal training programs and capacity-building initiatives on  freedom of expression and information, with a focus on digital rights, for various  stakeholders, including civil society representatives, journalists, lawyers, and  government officials.  

Support to Project Management and fundraising:  

 Provide legal guidance and support to project teams within the MENA programs.

   Assist in the design and implementation of projects related to freedom of expression  and digital rights,  

 Contribute to the monitoring and evaluation of projects’ activities and provide input  on legal activities of projects for donors and internal reporting.  

 Collaborating to identify funding opportunities and engage with potential donors. 

 Support fundraising efforts by providing legal expertise for project proposals and grant  applications related to freedom of expression and information, including the impact of  new technologies and digital platforms.  

Others  

 Undertake any other reasonable task or assignment related to the Job Description as  may be assigned by the Regional Director of the MENA office.  

 Assist in the review of contracts, agreements, and legal documents related to the  organization’s operations, partnerships, and collaborations.  

 Provide advice on compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and policies, and on  legal risks associated with the organization’s activities, including the association law  and employment law.  

 Maintain documents related to the above-mentioned responsibilities and sharing  them on a regular basis with relevant team members.  

 Coordinate with the Administrative and Finance team to prepare and collect all  supporting documents for expenses in accordance with A19 policies and procedures. 

Personal Specifications  

Professional qualifications and experience  

 Education: A minimum of a master’s degree in law, international law or human rights  law or a related field is typically required.  

 Legal expertise: Strong knowledge and understanding of international human rights  law, freedom of expression, and information rights are essential. Familiarity with  digital rights issues is highly desirable.  

 Experience: Significant professional experience in providing legal analysis and  support on freedom of expression and information issues, preferably in the MENA  region. Experience in working with international human rights organizations or non government organizations is advantageous.  

 Regional expertise: Knowledge of the political, social, and legal context of the MENA  region, including familiarity with key regional and international human rights  mechanisms and institutions.  

 Legal research and drafting: Proven ability to conduct in-depth legal research, analyze  complex legal issues, and prepare legal opinions, research papers, reports, and other  legal documents.  

 Advocacy and communication: Demonstrated experience in engaging in advocacy  activities, including drafting position papers, reports, and legal briefs, and engaging  with relevant stakeholders. Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, are  crucial.  

 Project management: Experience in supporting project management activities,  including planning, monitoring, and reporting on legal aspects of programmatic work.

   Languages: Proficiency in English and Arabic is required. Fluency in French is highly  desirable.  

Other requirements  

 Able to take initiative and react quickly and operate autonomously and also work  collaboratively with appropriate supervision.  

 Capacity to work effectively in a fast-paced and changing environment, handling  multiple tasks and deadlines while maintaining attention to detail and quality. 

 Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a team environment, supporting  and contributing to the achievement of collective goals, and sensitivity to working  with people from diverse cultural and social backgrounds, and perspectives. 

 Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with partners, stakeholders,  and relevant institutions in the MENA regions.  

 Proficiency in using MS Office applications, and other relevant software. 

 Have the right to work in Tunisia and the will and ability to travel frequently. 

JD MENA Legal Officer 2023 DEF