Vacancy #: 7432 Unit: TRAFFIC Southern Africa Organisation: TRAFFIC International (TRAFFIC) Location: TRAFFIC - Southern Africa, Pretoria, South Africa Reporting to: Project Manager Work percentage: 100% Grade: P1 Expected start date: 01 November 2025 Type of contract: Fixed-term (24 months with possibility of renewal) Closing date: 20 October 2025 (extended) BACKGROUND TRAFFIC International is a charity and limited company registered in the UK. TRAFFIC is a leading non-governmental organisation working to ensure that global trade in wild species is legal and sustainable, for the benefit of the planet and people. At a time of unprecedented biodiversity loss, TRAFFIC provides evidence, solutions, and influence to combat environmental degradation and ensure a nature-positive future. We actively monitor and investigate trade in wild species and provide information to diverse audiences worldwide as a basis for effective conservation policies and programmes.
This role will be hosted by WWF-MG in Antananarivo on behalf of TRAFFIC.
The salary for this position is up to 42,310 USD depending on experience. The salary will be converted and paid in local currency on appointment. JOB DESCRIPTION Characteristic Duties
TRAFFIC is seeking a Legal Officer based in Antananarivo to support TRAFFICโs growing project portfolio in Madagascar. The successful candidate will support the team in implementing a portfolio of projects focused on law enforcement, trade monitoring, and capacity building to counter the illegal national and cross-border trade in wild species.
The Legal Officer will mainly support the implementation of the EU-funded GUARD Wildlife programme in Madagascar. GUARD Wildlife (Global United Action to Reduce and Dismantle Organised Wildlife Crime) is a three-year, EU-funded project implemented by UNODC, INTERPOL, WCO and the CITES Secretariat in cooperation with Civil Society Organisations. GUARD Wildlife supports selected countries in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific with a view to contributing to (i) the halting of extinction of threatened and endangered species of plants and animals, (ii) the preservation of healthy and functional ecosystems and the maintenance of the services these ecosystems deliver for local communities, and (iii) the strengthening of the rule of law globally, aligned with international gender and human rights standards. As implementing partner of GUARD Wildlife in Madagascar, TRAFFIC will promote inter-agency cooperation and foster a unified approach to the fight against wildlife crime across government departments; build the capacity of law enforcement and prosecutors to better detect, investigate, and prosecute wildlife crime; raise awareness with judicial authorities to strengthen the judicial response to wildlife crime; and support the reform of Madagascarโs relevant legislative and regulatory framework.
The Legal Officer will conduct legal reviews; support the development of training contents for a range of criminal justice stakeholders; organise and deliver training workshops with target audiences; develop high level guidance on wildlife law enforcement, prosecution and sentencing; facilitate relevant governmental coordination processes; and carry out other activities as required by project needs. The Legal Officer will work closely with the GUARD Project Manager, the Finance and Administration Support Officer, as well as with other TRAFFIC staff and project partners.
Specific Duties
Technical Assistance to Malagasy Authorities
โข Support and participate in TRAFFICโs engagement with government authorities to secure high-level buy-in and effective collaboration from the projectโs main partners, i.e. Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD), Ministry of Justice, law enforcement departments, and the judiciary.
โข Actively liaise with authorities during the lifetime of the project to ensure the smooth implementation of activities and address challenges as they arise.
โข Organise, facilitate, and follow up on legal review meetings with government departments and legal scholars towards advancing legal and regulatory reform processes. Support and participate in the review of the countryโs legislation on IWT, in close coordination with the MEDD and the Ministry of Justice.
โข Work with TRAFFICโs partner organisations on developing law enforcement and judiciary training materials and delivering training workshops. Deliver part of these trainings, with a focus on training contents that relate to the Malagasy legislation.
โข Support the finalisation of a Rapid Reference Guide (RRG) for wildlife crime investigators and prosecutors and support its introduction via a series of training workshops country wide.
โข Drive and support efforts to enhance the capacity of wildlife crime investigators and prosecutors to conduct financial investigations and financial crime-based prosecutions.
โข Drive and support efforts to provide tailored training to Madagascar Customs personnel to address the smuggling of wild species based on existing training modules.
โข Support efforts to enhance the capacity of frontline law enforcement (i.e. customs, environment, police, gendarmerie, fisheries officials) to detect illegal wildlife shipments through risk profiling and to identify key species with confidence.
โข Support efforts to establish an inter-agency coordination mechanism supporting real-time investigations and prosecutions (wildlife crime task force), as well as a national database aggregating key data on wildlife crime.
โข Support the development of prosecution and sentencing guidelines on wildlife crime.
โข Support the development of โwildlife crime impact statementsโ compiling authoritative information and sound evidence on the seriousness and manifold impacts of wildlife crime in Madagascar.
โข Support the development and implementation of a pilot, tailored mentorship programme for wildlife crime investigators as required.
Research
โข Support and conduct desk and field-based work that will include literature reviews, surveys, data collection and entry, analysis, and publications when required for project and programme objectives.
โข Assist with data analysis and the write-up of research reports.
โข Ensure adherence to TRAFFICโs research and data management protocols.
Cross-Cutting Support
โข Prepare technical analyses of the Malagasy policy framework, legal framework, as well as criminal justice proceedings to extract relevant insights regarding capacity gaps and procedural challenges, as required.
โข Assist with the analysis and write-up of reports and project outputs.
โข Provide timely legal advice and detailed analyses of Madagascarโs IWT legislation to project managers, as required. Provide proactive legal support to the TRAFFIC team whenever appropriate for the implementation of key project activities.
โข Provide thoughtful input into the production of quarterly/annual technical reports and work plans and other documentation as required by project managers, colleagues, and donors.
Partnership Building
โข Support managers in consolidating relationships with current and potential project partners, including Madagascar government departments, judicial and law enforcement authorities, amongst others.
โข Assist in establishing and maintaining relationships with local, regional, and international stakeholders including government, academic, civil society, and private sector organisations.
โข Represent TRAFFIC at national, regional, and international meetings and other events as required.
โข Support managers in liaising with potential donors and explore possibilities of securing funding to expand TRAFFICโs portfolio of work in Madagascar and the Western Indian Ocean.
โข Support the development of project proposals as the need arises.
Others
โข Contribute to the dissemination and distribution of the results of TRAFFICโs work.
โข Perform other tasks relevant to the role as the need arises and as directed by the GUARD Project Manager, the Programme Office Director, and the Senior Programme Coordinator.
Supervision
The Legal Officer will work under the supervision of the GUARD Project Manager, to whom they will report.
The Legal Officer will supervise in-country legal consultants and project-related staff when required.
REQUIREMENTS โข Full Requirements / Expectations of the Role holder
โข Minimum of a Masterโs Degree in law or related studies.
โข Relevant and proven work experience in a legal role, including experience of case work in a court room context.
โข Registration as a professional lawyer will be considered a distinct advantage.
โข Proven work experience in the environmental sector, preferably combatting wildlife crime, corruption, and/or contributing to wildlife law enforcement.
โข Relevant experience in data collection, legal analysis, and drafting of legal documents.
โข Experience in court monitoring and/or court process analysis and assessment will be considered an advantage.
โข Strong research and analytical skills, together with the ability to articulate complex issues clearly and to summarise large quantities of information in a clear, concise manner.
โข Thorough knowledge and understanding of policy and legislative frameworks in Madagascar as well as relevant institutions responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the same, especially of those related to environmental and anti-corruption issues.
โข Thorough knowledge and understanding of Malagasy law in relation to criminal investigations (in general) and to financial crime (in particular). Experience in one of these areas is desirable.
โข Ability to work as part of a global team, with some communications taking place outside of regular office hours as required due to multi time-zone coordination.
โข Excellent writing skills and ability to understand and synthesise information from a diverse range of sources.
โข Excellent project management skills, with proven ability to prioritise workloads and meet deadlines.
โข Sound organisational skills and ability to prioritise and deliver assignments as required and ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines.
โข Highly motivated and results-oriented individual with the ability to work independently, with remote oversight, under pressure, and to set own work priorities as appropriate with a capacity to meet deadlines.
โข Ability to supervise and manage a team, show initiative and be proactive.
โข Strong IT skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email) and excellent attention to detail.
โข Excellent interpersonal skills, with strong communication abilities and a good sense of diplomacy.
โข Ability to work effectively with multicultural and multidisciplinary teams.
โข Verbal and written fluency in Malagasy and French is essential. Fluency in English will be considered a strong asset.
โข Malagasy citizenship or permanent residential status is preferable.
โข Willing and able to travel frequently within Madagascar.
Qualities and Skills
โข Professionalism, sense of organisation, dynamism
โข Autonomy, sense of initiative
โข Team spirit and interpersonal skills
โข Highly motivated and available
โข Strong adherence to TRAFFIC's missions and values APPLICATIONS
Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the \"Apply\" button.
Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.
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