The Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) is a mainstream legal and human rights indigenous organization established 15 years ago to pioneer the justiciability of the right to health in Uganda and East Africa region. CEHURD advances social justice in health by addressing the social injustices, inequalities and health rights violations faced within the health system and other sectors which impact health outcomes for women, girls and other vulnerable populations. The organization focuses on health systems strengthening, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), Non-communicable diseases, Neglected Tropical Diseases, Communicable/infectious diseases, mental health and human rights, climate change and environmental justice and digital transformation. We therefore advance health rights of vulnerable communities through tested approaches that include litigation, advocacy, research and empowerment aimed at realizing equitable health and human rights for all. We strongly believe that a more equal and just society enables individuals and communities to thrive and realize their full potential, and this is critical for sustainable development.

Job Purpose:

The Legal Officer will provide leadership for the delivery of rights-based legal aid and strategic litigation interventions under the GC7 TASO/Global Fund Project which aims to support Uganda’s HIV and TB Reduction strategic plans. CEHURD is a sub-recipient (SR) under this project assigned to support access to HIV, TB, legal aid and other health services. This role includes strengthening access to justice for Key Populations (KPs), People Living with HIV (PLHIV), and Other Vulnerable Populations (OVPs), addressing human-rights related barriers to HIV, TB and Malaria services, and ensuring that CEHURD’s legal and policy work contributes meaningfully to Uganda’s HIV and TB reduction strategies. The officer will implement district and national-level legal aid activities, identify and pursue health rights violations suitable for litigation, coordinate capacity-building for community structures, and ensure alignment of legal interventions with institutional priorities and donor requirements. They will work collaboratively with district structures, paralegals, accredited court mediators, and health facility actors to provide a coordinated legal response. This role involves advancing the rights of vulnerable communities through engaging courts of law, quasi-judicial bodies, tribunals, and private law firms. The position holder provides technical expertise in litigation, legal representation, legal awareness, alternative dispute resolution and strategic partnerships, ensuring the programme remains responsive to contemporary and human rights challenges of communities.

The position holder will ensure alignment of project activities with institutional goals and objectives as well as synergies with other projects and institutional processes. Through building and strengthening strategic partnerships and use of strategic communication, the position holder will contribute to organizational learning, positioning, growth and development.

Key Responsibilities:

1.       Legal Aid Provision (50%)

§  Collaborate with legal aid clinic officers to manage CEHURD’s Legal Aid Clinic

§  Spearhead mobile legal aid camps at subcounty, district and sub-national level for most at risk populations, People Living with HIV  and other priority populations.

§  Establish and sustain a national network of legal aid service providers both public and private practice with knowledge and capacity to provide legal support services to risk populations, PLHIVs and other priority populations.

§  Provide direct legal support PLHIV/TB to affected communities through legal aid camps, community outreaches, strategic district engagements, and referrals.

§  Ensure legal representation to legal aid clients in courts of law and quasi-judicial bodies

§  Ensure representation of clients in arbitrations, negotiations, settlement meetings, court proceedings, and other legal forums, putting their interests at the center.

§  Participate in periodic client engagements to advise them on all legal issues; progress of their cases and matters there under.

§  Coordinate and support accredited court mediators, paralegals, and community structures to address human rights-related barriers to health services.

§  Participate in the management of CEHURD’s toll free line

§  Contribute to the database documentation of clients and legal aid cases

§  Undertake appropriate referrals, maintain a record and feedback mechanism of the referrals from the network of legal aid service providers, and maintain an updated database of the referral network.

§  Identify, document, and analyze cases of HIV/TB related rights violations for possible legal aid follow-up or strategic litigation.

§  Work with health facilities to promote rights-based service delivery and to address unlawful detention, stigma, discrimination, and harmful practices affecting access to care.

§  Ensure legal literacy for communities and service providers through targeted sensitizations and dialogue.

§  Support community actors (expert client, paralegals, stigma and discrimination monitors and peer groups) at local and district level in prioritized locations.

2.       Strategic Litigation (20%)

§  Take lead in identifying and litigating strategic issues on health, human rights and Sexual and reproductive health and rights.

§  Identify opportunities for litigation on HIV, TB, Malaria, and broader health rights violations in collaboration with the Strategic Litigation team.

§  Represent CEHURD and its clients in all legal proceedings, including mediations, court proceedings, and other legal forums

§  Prepare legal documents, including complaints, case briefs and other court documents, ensuring accuracy and adherence to legal standards.

§  Conduct legal research and analysis to support litigation and advocacy efforts.

§  Develop and implement strategic litigation plans aligned with CEHURD’s mission and objectives.

§  Interpret laws, rulings, and regulations for the purposes of explaining the law to clients.

§  Establish maintain an online and physical filing system for CEHURD cases

§  Build and sustain a network of legal experts that contribute to CEHURD’s strategic litigation agenda.

§  Make court appearances and diligently follow up on court and related processes.

§  Advocate for implementation of court judgments.

§  Track legal and policy frameworks relevant to HIV, TB, and Malaria, and recommend reform areas for CEHURD’s litigation agenda

§  Support enforcement and popularization of legal precedents that address stigma, discrimination, and other rights violations in health settings

.

3.       Programme Leadership and Implementation (10%)

§  Implement programme workplans and budgets in line with the relevant strategic objective(s) of CEHURD.

§  Implement legal aid components of GC7 project according to the approved work plan, budgets, and donor requirements.

§  Develop interventions that contribute to strategic litigation and legal aid while recognizing the intersectionality across technical areas of CEHURD.

§  Nurture innovations, approaches, and models for programme and institutional growth.

§  Collaborate with programme staff to participate in resource mobilization processes including grant writing, fundraising events (that includes social enterprise development), and partnership development

§  Develop timely, quality, and accurate programme and project reports.

§  Manage the budget allocated for strategic litigation activities, ensuring efficient and effective use of resources.

§  Collaborate with the Monitoring Evaluation, Research and Learning team to establish indicators and mechanisms for tracking the impact of strategic litigation.

§  Take active participation in CEHURD planning, review, and learning interventions.

4.       Project Management (10%)

§  Support projects assigned in line with the Programme strategic objective(s) and CEHURD strategic plan.

§  Implement legal aid components of GC7 according to the approved work plan, budgets, and donor requirements.

§  Prepare project reports as required by the donor in accordance with approved templates.

§  Work with project staff and partners (where applicable) to develop workplans and budgets for the assigned projects.

§  Review partner narrative, financial and indicator reports provide them with timely feedback, and prepare consolidated reports for submission to the donor.

§  Coordinate and/or implement project activities in line with approved plans and budgets.

§  Liaise with the M&E Office to work within the established institutional information and management system to ensure program and project success

§  Monitor expenditures on project budgets to ensure compliance with donor and institutional requirements.

§  In conjunction with the procurement team, prepare and implement the respective project procurement plan.

§  Maintain electronic and paper filing systems up to date for the designated project.

§  Identify and escalate project-related matters to management.

§  Identify gaps and areas for future programme development arising from project implementation and learnings.

§  Undertake smooth project close-out in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

5.       Capacity Building and Technical Support (10%)

§  Provide and/or coordinate technical support to CEHURD’s stakeholders to enhance understanding of legal processes and health rights.

§  Train and mentor paralegals, District Human Rights Committees, court mediators, peer educators, and community actors on legal and human rights aspects of HIV/TB.

§  Support district-level structures (DHRCs, CBOs, health workers) to integrate rights-based approaches into their work.

§  Develop simplified tools, guides, and training materials to enhance legal l literacy and response capacity.

§  Develop and implement technical assistance packages for strategic litigation such as training manuals, facilitators guides, and evaluation tools.

Academic Qualifications:

§  Bachelor’s degree in law from a recognized University

§  A post graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Center or an equivalent qualification

§  Post-graduate qualification in any of these or related disciplines from a recognized institution: Law, Human rights, mediation, arbitration, Project Planning and Management, Public Health, Monitoring and evaluation is an added advantage.

§  A valid Practicing Certificate

Job-Related Experience and Knowledge:

§  At least 3 years of experience working with court systems including quasi-judicial bodies with one of these years in a non-government institution setting.

§  Experience in providing hands on rapid legal response to survivors of violence.

§  Strong understanding of constitutional, administrative, and international human rights law.

§  Proven experience in legal and policy research and analysis.

§  Experience of work in at least 3 of these areas: health, human rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), health systems strengthening, mental health, environmental health and climate justice, non-communicable diseases, Neglected tropical diseases, infectious diseases and digital transformation approaches.

§  Familiar with legal practice compliance requirements in Uganda.

§   Practical experience in case identification and management, development, filing and implementation of Court decisions.

§   Practical experience in Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms.

§  Proven experience in policy and legal advocacy.

§  Ability to identify, analyze, and effectively solve complex legal challenges.

§  Experience in stakeholder and partnerships engagement and management.

§  Experience in project planning and management including financial and grant management.

§  Experience in Resource mobilization and donor relations.

§  Ability to supervise and mentor others.

§  Monitoring and reporting capabilities including documentation.

§  Proficiency in MS Office and good oral and written communication skills.

§  Proficiency in multiple Ugandan languages is an added advantage.

§  Experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning is an added advantage.

Special Attributes

§  Integrity, Honesty, transparency and accountability.

§  Confidentiality, tact and diplomacy

§  Strong understanding of the legal arguments and processes

§  Respect for the privacy of clients and stakeholders.

§  Build strong relationships based on mutual respect and support.

§  Respect for cultural and religious diversity of the community

§  Strong initiative for implementing legal strategies and addressing challenges

§  Passion and strong commitment to community empowerment

§  Strong adaptation to changing and evolving legal landscapes.

§  Advocacy for human rights.

§  Strong commitment to expanding access to justice and social justice

§  Open-mindedness and receptiveness towards different attitudes.

§  Strong work ethic

Competences

Key Relationships:

Internal

§  Programme Head, Strategic Litigation

§  Project Team members

§  Volunteers and interns

§  CEHURD Programme Heads

§  CEHURD thematic committees

§  CEHURD partners and stakeholders

External

§  CEHURD partners and stakeholders

§  Courts of Law

§  Quasi-Judicial Bodies

§  Tribunals

§  Private law firms

§  Multilateral Development Partners