We are looking for a committed individual with a passion for and strong command of international humanitarian law (IHL) to join our Africa Unit team in Nairobi, Kenya in a role central to our activities in the East and Central Africa context.

WHO WE ARE 

The IHL Centre is an independent expert group that provides rapid and in-depth legal advice, training and advocacy on the laws of war to ensure the protection of people in conflict zones worldwide.

We engage in research, advocacy, and training to foster understanding and respect for IHL and for complementary rules of international law. Our rapid and in-depth analyses enable the humanitarian sector and other stakeholders to respond to urgent needs and to promote the effective implementation of humanitarian standards.  

The Centre is part of the Swedish development organisation Diakonia. In addition to its Unit in Africa, the Centre has teams based in Beirut, Geneva, and Jerusalem, which cover conflicts in the Middle East, West Africa, East and Central Africa, and emerging crises worldwide.

Through our progressive and inclusive approach, we aspire to secure the strongest possible protection for every person affected by armed conflict. No one should be left unprotected; no situation is beyond the law. 

OUR VALUES AND COMMITMENT TO SAFEGUARDING 

The IHL Centre is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace, and strives to be representative of all sections of society. We know that different perspectives, experiences, and competences are key for the Centre to be a relevant, capable, and successful organization. The IHL Centre therefore strives to recruit staff with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.  

The IHL Centre as part of Diakonia is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom the IHL Centre and Diakonia engage. The IHL Centre expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.  The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organization. All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Diakonia also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

THE AFRICA UNIT TEAM

The Africa Unit serves as the IHL Centre’s regional hub for legal expertise and humanitarian engagement across conflict-affected contexts on the African continent. Working throughout East, Central, and parts of West Africa, the Unit provides legal analysis, advisory support, capacity strengthening, and humanitarian policy engagement to humanitarian organizations, donors, diplomatic actors, and civil society partners.

The Unit works to strengthen respect for IHL and improve protection outcomes for populations affected by armed conflict through context-specific legal guidance, training, research, and strategic engagement. Its current priority contexts include Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, and Mali, alongside targeted engagement in Burkina Faso, South Sudan, Mozambique, and Niger. The Unit combines rapid-response legal support with long-term partnerships to address some of the most pressing humanitarian and protection challenges across the continent.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION 

Reporting to the Head of Unit & Senior Legal Expert, the Legal Adviser will contribute to the Africa Unit’s work by providing high-quality legal analysis, advisory support, and capacity-strengthening assistance to humanitarian partners across the Unit’s priority contexts, with a particular focus on Sudan. The position will play a key role in supporting the implementation of the IHL Centre’s Sudan-focused programming, including engagement with Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs), the Localisation Coordination Council (LCC), humanitarian partners, and other stakeholders, while contributing to the broader strategic objectives and work of the Africa Unit.

Key Responsibilities

 Legal Advice and Analysis

  • Deliver high-quality legal and policy analysis, both written and oral, to humanitarian actors operating across the Africa Unit's priority contexts on conflict-related issues, including but not limited to the classification of armed conflicts, protection of civilians, humanitarian access, counterterrorism measures and humanitarian action, forced displacement, engagement with armed actors, and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA).
  • Respond to Helpdesk and advisory service requests from humanitarian partners, including protection clusters, working groups, humanitarian coordination platforms, consortiums, and donor-supported initiatives.
  • Produce legal briefings, policy papers, protection analyses, and other knowledge products to support evidence-based humanitarian decision-making and advocacy.

Capacity Building and Strategic Engagement

  • Design and deliver IHL training and capacity-strengthening initiatives for humanitarian actors, civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders across the Africa Unit's priority contexts, with a particular focus on Sudan, including ERRs, LCCs members, and other locally led humanitarian actors.
  • Support engagement with humanitarian partners and local actors in conflict-affected contexts, with a particular focus on Sudan and Sudanese-led humanitarian response structures, to strengthen understanding and implementation of IHL and protection standards.
  • Contribute to strategic engagement initiatives that facilitate dialogue between humanitarian actors and relevant stakeholders on issues relating to civilian protection, humanitarian access, and compliance with international humanitarian law.

Humanitarian Diplomacy, Advocacy and Policy Development

  • Identify and support opportunities for humanitarian diplomacy, advocacy, and policy engagement that advance respect for international humanitarian law and strengthen protection outcomes for conflict-affected populations.
  • Engage with diplomatic missions, donors, United Nations entities, regional organizations, and other policy actors to promote informed dialogue on humanitarian and protection challenges in the Unit's priority contexts.
  • Represent the Centre at national, regional, and international forums, meetings, and events, ensuring that the Centre's legal analysis, policy positions, and strategic priorities are effectively communicated

Research, Partnerships and Programme Support

  • Contribute to the development of research, policy, and learning initiatives that advance the Centre's strategic objectives and support the dissemination of legal and operational lessons learned.
  • Support the development and maintenance of partnerships with humanitarian organizations, civil society actors, academic institutions, donors, and other relevant stakeholders.
  • Support the implementation of Sudan-focused programme activities related to legal analysis, strategic engagement, protection monitoring, and capacity strengthening.
  • Contribute to the development of practical tools and guidance relating to humanitarian access, civilian protection, and engagement with duty bearers and armed actors.
  • Support the documentation and dissemination of lessons learned arising from locally led humanitarian response efforts and protection-focused programming in Sudan.
  • Contribute to coordination and engagement with consortium partners and Sudanese civil society actors involved in programme implementation.
  • Contribute to programme design, proposal development, reporting, and monitoring processes, as required.

Intersectional and Inclusive Approach

  • Apply a gender-responsive, inclusive, and intersectional approach across all aspects of the work, with particular attention to the age, gender, disability, and other protection dimensions of armed conflict.
  • Ensure that legal advice, analysis, training, and engagement activities reflect the diverse experiences and needs of conflict-affected populations.

Experience and Qualifications

  • Proven high-level expertise in IHL (tested during the interview process).
  • Degree in law (JD or LLM) with specialization and/or experience in IHL, IHRL, and international criminal law.
  • A minimum of 3 years of relevant experience as a researcher or legal adviser within an international governmental organization, the United Nations, or non-governmental organizations.
  • Demonstrated capacity to conduct advanced legal research and analysis independently and draft high-quality texts in English.
  • Strong knowledge of the conflict in Sudan and its humanitarian, protection, and conflict dynamics is highly desirable.
  • Experience working with local civil society actors, humanitarian coordination mechanisms, or localization-focused initiatives would be an asset.
  • Familiarity with humanitarian access, civilian protection, or engagement with armed actors would be an advantage.
  • Expertise in intersectionality and the age, gender, and disability dynamics of armed conflict would be an asset.
  • Outstanding level of English writing proficiency; high level of proficiency in Arabic will be an advantage.

CONDITIONS AND APPLICATION 

Location: Preferably Nairobi/Kampala. Other locations within the region might be considered. 

Position type and duration: Employment/Consultancy, 80%-100% Equivalent for a year with possibility of extension

The IHL Centre offers a competitive benefits package.  

Please submit your CV and cover letter via impactpool no later than 05 July 2026.

Ideal start date: 01 August 2026

For questions regarding the position, please contact Africa Head of Unit & Senior Legal Expert, Joshua J. Niyo, at Joshua.Niyo@ihlcentre.org.

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