Legal Advisor for Food Policy

MWECS Profile

Mathiwos Wondu-YeEthiopia Cancer Society/MWECS/ is a local civil society organization established in 2004 and working on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors. MWECS is collaboratively working with Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) to curtail the growing NCDs burden in Ethiopia.

Position Overview

MWECS draws  lessons from tobacco control to drive policy change and is currently conducting public health policy advocacy campaign to support the Ethiopian government, endorsing a comprehensive unhealthy diet proclamation. Hence, MWECS  recruit a Legal Advisor, Food Policy, to join a dynamic team for advancing efforts to expedite passage of a comprehensive unhealthy diet proclamation. The legal advisor will provide a technical support to the Ethiopian Food and Drug Administration (EFDA) to help guide the development of unhealthy diet control regulations including efforts to eliminate industrially produced trans fatty acids and sodium reduction policies such as front of package labeling, restricting marketing of unhealthy foods and regulating school environments in Ethiopia .The legal advisor will provide technical support to the EFDA on regulatory matters including but not limited to the development of unhealthy diet control policies and regulations. The technical support may range from drafting legal frameworks for gathering of evidence to suite prosecution at the court, capacity building and experience sharing with existing EFDA’s legal team and other duties as requested by the Director General of EFDA.

The Legal Advisor will be working closely with the government and GHAI local implementing partners and other global and local partners to develop proclamation, implementing regulations, directives, and litigation strategies to advance comprehensive food and nutrition policy in Ethiopia.

The Legal Advisor should have a good understanding of the law-making process of the country, analyzing laws and global best practices, and working with a range of stakeholders. A successful candidate will be adept at translating complex legal knowledge for advocacy use among a range of stakeholders who are not legal experts. Experience working on public health policies is highly desirable. The legal Advisor will be based at the EFDA whose salary will be paid by MWECS. It will also report for MWECS Project Manager and Program Director. This is a full-time yearly contract opportunity with an attractive salary.

Duties and Responsibilities for the position include:

• Collaborate with all local implementing partners and the GHAI country coordinator in accomplishing advocacy objectives.
• Develop legal strategies to support country-level partners in advancing the food policy agenda.
• Conduct legal analyses of legislation, regulations, and other initiatives at the national and/or subnational level.
• Assist with the drafting of a comprehensive proclamation or regulation and provide technical assistance as the draft is modified or changed by the government.
• Identify gaps in legislation to inform policy change priorities on unhealthy diet issues.
• When necessary, review opposition drafts and provide analysis and responses to weak provisions or loopholes created by opposition.
• Develop and maintain legislative drafting tools to support partners promoting new legislation or improving weak provisions in existing legislation.
• Maintain an inventory and analysis of countries’ unhealthy diet policies and global best practices.
• Develop resource materials and tools relevant to advancing food policy.
• Regularly assess and identify the legal technical support needs of the government experts and advocacy partners pertaining to regulating unhealthy foods.  Liaise with the food policy stakeholders (state and non-state) to facilitate periodic technical assistance and capacity building.
• Continuously appraise the policy landscape, including potential opposition, and ensure that partners are taking advantage of opportunities.
• Develop a landscape analysis to identify political opportunities and priorities to promote comprehensive food and nutrition policies.
• Hold regular strategy discussion and meetings with the GHAI implementing partners and the country coordinator to discuss progress of work.
• Involve in industry interferences monitoring and set countering strategies.
• The potential candidate should have no past and present experience of working with or for food and beverage industry.
• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications

• LLB or LLM in law
• Five years of relevant work experience in legal and legislative drafting in the Ethiopian context is highly preferred. Interest in public health policy changes, commitment to public interest work and demonstrated experience in legal analysis of public health or public policy issues, particularly in nutrition is a plus.
• Knowledge of and experience in using legal analysis to advance policy change.
• Experience translating complex legal and technical information for a non-expert audience and developing training seminars and programs for government lawyers and local advocates.
• Strong understanding of government policy-making processes and political mapping in legislation process
• Ability to find creative solutions to challenges, appreciate the value of collaborative partnerships and operate from a growth mindset.
• Excellent analytical skills and legal writing and research ability.
• Ability to prioritize and sequence work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate (verbally and in writing) complex issues in a concise, compelling, and easily understandable manner.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Proven ability to develop and work in partnership with multiple stakeholders, with government officials, NGOs, academia, and international organizations at various levels
• English language proficiency required.