Vacancy title:
Legal Counsel
Employment type: Full time, Industry: Public Administration, and Government, Category: Legal, Lawyers & Lobbyists, Civil & Government
Jobs at:
Southern African Development Community
Deadline of this Job:
Wednesday, November 18 2026
Duty Station:
Gaborone, Botswana | Lusaka
Summary
Date Posted: Wednesday, November 4 2026, Base Salary: Not Disclosed
JOB DETAILS:
Background
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is a regional economic community founded and maintained by countries in Southern Africa. It aims to further the socio-economic, political, and security cooperation among its Member States and foster regional integration in order to achieve peace, stability, and wealth. SADC currently has sixteen (16) Member States with a population of approximately 340 million and a combined GDP of US$720 billion.
The Secretariat is currently recruiting for various positions to enhance its capacity to deliver on the above mandate. The Secretariat is therefore inviting suitably qualified and experienced citizens of SADC to apply for the following positions tenable at its Headquarters in Gaborone, Botswana or as stated in the job advert:
Job Grade
6
Primary Purpose of the Job
Draft and interpret the SADC Treaty, Protocols, their Annexes and subsidiary instruments; provide legal advice, assistance and information on related legal matters to all SADC Institutions, Policy Organs, Member States as well as all Directorates and Units of the Secretariat. Monitor the implementation of all Protocols signed by SADC from a legal perspective.
Duties and Responsibilities
General Legal Services
- Act as an advisor to the Management Team of the SADC Secretariat on corporate legal matters.
- Provide legal opinion, advice and assistance on the formulation, review, enforcement and interpretation of corporate legal documents such as policies rules, regulations, procedures, resolutions, contracts, leases and agreements etc.
- Draft and interpret the SADC Treaty, Protocols, their Annexes and subsidiary legal instruments.
- Conduct research and analysis on SADC legal related matters.
- Provide legal advice on staff grievances and disciplinary matters.
- Facilitate settlement of disputes to which SADC is a party.
- Act as Custodian for legal documents of the SADC and Secretariat.
- Provide legal advice and assistance to all Policy Organs and to all Directorates and Units of the Secretariat on the:
- drafting, revision and implementation of the Treaty, Protocols, and other legal instruments in SADC;
- application and interpretation of the Treaty, Protocols and other legal instruments in SADC; and
- compliance with decisions and actions related to the Treaty, Protocols, and other legal instruments.
- Monitor the status of signature of, ratification of and accession to Protocols and other legal instruments by Member States.
- Register SADC legal instruments with the United Nations and African Union.
- Participate in and advise SADC member states on the development and harmonisation of appropriate laws relating to regional integration.
- Coordinate preparations and convening of the meeting of the Committee of Ministers of Justice / Attorneys General, and implement decisions of the Committee.
- Act as Custodian for all SADC legal documents.
- Plan and implement legal risks management measures.
- Implement audit recommendations.
- Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.
Qualifications and Experience
Education
At least a Master’s Degree in Law from a recognised institution.
Professional Certification
A licensed or certified to practice law in any jurisdiction of a SADC Member State.
Specialised Knowledge
- Knowledge of international Treaties, Protocols, Conventions, Charters, Pacts etc.
- Knowledge of laws.
- Proficient in the use of computers and computer software relevant to the position.
Experience
At least seven (7) years of work experience in providing legal advice preferably in a regional and international organisation or any other relevant set-up.
Skills Requirements
- Communication and presentation skills.
- Interpersonal skills.
- Networking and relationship building skills.
- Persuasion and advocacy skills.
- Organisational skills (planning, budgeting, time management, work prioritisation).
- Research, analytical and problem-solving skills.
Competency Requirements
- Capable of maintaining quality whilst working under pressure and adhering to deadlines.
- Conceptual and practical thinking.
- Customer focused.
- Decisive.
- Demonstrate ability to work independently and largely unsupervised.
- Maintain confidentiality and respectful of sensitive situations.
- Methodical and organised, with a high level of attention to details
- Organisational awareness with an understanding of how to engage the organisation to get things done.
- Professionalism and adherence to good work ethics.
- Question conventional approaches and encourage new ideas and innovations for progress.
- Resilience, personal drive and self-motivation.
- Results and performance driven.
- Team player.
Work Hours: 8
Experience in Months: 84
Level of Education: postgraduate degree
Job application procedure
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