LEGAL ADVISOR (RESPONSIVE RETAINER / CONSULTANCY)

ActionAid Ethiopia (AAE) is a Gender justice and poverty eradication organisation. In Ethiopia, ActionAid works to challenge gender inequalities and the structure causes of poverty through empowering communities to create critical mass of communities especially women and Girls living in poverty and exclusion.

ActionAid Ethiopia believes that Gender justice and poverty eradication are achieved through purposeful individual and collective action to bring socio-economic changes from household level to local, national, and international levels. Empowerment of people living in poverty and women leadership with the support of their allies is crucial to drive change that will ensure equality and poverty eradication.

We are seeking an experienced, values-driven Legal Advisor to join us on a responsive retainer basis.

Type: Responsive Retainer / Consultancy

Work Mode: On-demand; remote, online or physical presence as required

Duration: 1 year, (renewable based on performance & organizational need)

Location: Addis Ababa (with field readiness for local LRPS/partner sites)

Reporting: Senior Management Team (direct operational coordination with Head of HROD)

The Role Purpose:

As our on-demand Legal Advisor, you will provide expert legal counsel to our Senior Management Team and Human Resources department. You will navigate complex contractual, HR, safeguarding and regulatory landscapes, ensuring our operations remain fully compliant with Ethiopian law, CSO regulations and our global federation’s standards. You will be called upon to support critical legal reviews, policy development, incident management and external compliance communications, operating flexibly across remote, virtual and field-based environments.

Key Focus Areas/Responsibilities:

• Advising on contracts, donor agreements, partnership MoUs and vendor/vendor risk frameworks.
• Providing legal guidance to HR on employment contracts, performance management, disciplinary procedures, labor compliance and organizational culture.
• Representing the organization in local and federal courts, labor tribunals and dispute resolution forums & arbitration regarding HR, compliance and other legal matters.
• Offering legal oversight for SHEA/safeguarding investigations and duty-of-care/security policy compliance.
• Supporting all regulatory, federation (GS/Regional) and ACSO compliance communications upon request.
• Maintaining proactive familiarity with Ethiopian NGO regulations and global federation legal expectations.

• A qualified legal professional with a valid Ethiopian practicing license and an LLB/LLM.
• 7+ years of legal experience, with significant background in the NGO/CSO or international development sector.
• Proven litigation experience with the right to audience and ability to represent organizations before Ethiopian courts and tribunals.
• Management and oversight of external litigation counsel if the court (where the Advisor briefs and monitors external lawyers when court jurisdictions mandate it),
• Strong expertise in Ethiopian labor law, contract law, safeguarding compliance and CSO regulatory frameworks.
• Ready to work on an on-demand basis, available remotely or in-person at Head Office and local programme sites as needed.
• Deeply aligned with human rights, gender justice, feminist leadership and survivor-centred values.