Background

The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Organisation (ZELO) is a leading institution advancing environmental justice, natural resource governance, and just energy transitions in Zimbabwe. ZELO, as a public interest environmental law organisation, has extensive experience in environmental rights-based advocacy, access to remedy, and community empowerment to hold governments and private actors accountable. ZELO does rigorous policy research with grounded advocacy to influence national, regional, and continental energy governance debates. ZELO is deepening its work to ensure that laws, policies, and governance frameworks support equitable transitions away from fossil fuels, strengthen renewable energy development, and protect the rights of communities most affected by energy decisions.

To advance this mandate, the Energy Law and Governance Officer will provide dedicated expertise across both institutions, supporting legal research, policy analysis, advocacy, litigation, and regional engagement.

Objectives of the Assignment

• To provide specialised legal and policy expertise that strengthens ZELO’s work on energy governance and energy law.

• To generate and disseminate high-quality research and policy analysis.

• To support evidence-based advocacy, litigation, and policy engagement in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and the wider Southern African region.

• To foster learning that will advance collaboration and joint advocacy between ZELO and the Joint Energy Transition in Africa (JETA) initiative.

The Energy Law and Governance Officer will:

• Conduct legal and policy research on national energy frameworks in Southern Africa

• Produce high-quality research outputs, including policy briefs, working papers, and legal analyses to inform national, regional, and continental debates.

• Analyse governance frameworks for oil, gas, and renewable energy, identifying gaps and recommending reforms that advance just and sustainable energy transitions.

• Draft submissions to parliamentary, ministerial, and regulatory processes regionally.

• Identify, and provide analysis of, and input on, key issues and/or problems in the regulation, governance and implementation of Zimbabwe's power market and system, and assist ZELO and AIEL to understand the practical implications of these issues in meeting the objectives of least-cost electricity for all, and a just energy transition that adds significantly more clean energy onto the grid

• Identify priority areas for intervention, including laws, policies, decisions, rules and/or regulations that are important in advancing, or that act as a barrier to, the energy transition and should be a focus of civil society advocacy.

• Provide legal and policy inputs to litigation strategies and amicus interventions on environmental and energy governance.

• Support advocacy on renewable energy investment, independent power producers (IPPs), and just transition pathways, including engaging with policymakers, regulators, CSOs, and regional institutions.

• Build capacity among CSOs, communities, and other stakeholders to understand and engage with energy governance frameworks.

• Monitor and assess regional and continental policy developments (SADC, AU, AfDB, DFIs, IFIs) relevant to energy transition and produce comparative analyses drawing lessons from other African countries.

• Contribute ZELO’s dialogues, workshops, and knowledge products, ensuring cross-learning and collaboration under the JETA framework.

• Represent ZELO in regional forums and contribute to positioning both organisations as thought leaders in energy law and governance.

Deliverables

The Energy Law and Governance Officer will be expected to produce:

• Evidence-based policy briefs per year targeting policymakers, regulators, CSOs, and regional bodies.

• Legal and policy research reports on national, regional, and continental energy governance frameworks, including comparative analyses.

• Draft submissions and commentaries for legislative, regulatory, and ministerial processes regionally

• Legal and policy analyses to inform litigation strategies, advocacy campaigns, and amicus interventions.

• Research inputs, presentations, and facilitation support for AIEL/ZELO-led dialogues, workshops, and regional knowledge exchanges.

• Quarterly progress reports summarising contributions to both organisations’ energy law and governance work

• Master’s degree in law (LLM) with a focus on Environmental Law, Energy Law, Natural Resource Governance, or related discipline.

• Minimum five years’ experience in legal and policy research, advocacy, or practice related to energy or environmental law.

• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality research and policy outputs.

• Strong understanding of Southern African energy governance and regulatory frameworks.

• Experience engaging with policymakers, regulators, CSOs, and regional institutions.

• Litigation or legislative drafting experience is an advantage.

Skills Required

• Strong legal research, analysis, and drafting skills.

• Ability to translate complex legal and policy issues into accessible advocacy and policy messages.

• Excellent writing, communication, and facilitation skills.

• Capacity to collaborate across institutions and jurisdictions.

• Strong stakeholder engagement and partnership-building skills.

Interested candidates should submit the following to procurementzw@gmail.com by 30 November 2025:

1. Cover Letter – outlining motivation, relevant expertise in energy law and governance, and how they meet the objectives of the position.

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) – highlighting academic qualifications, professional experience, publications, and relevant skills.

3. Writing Sample – such as a policy brief, legal opinion, or research paper authored by the candidate, demonstrating analytical and writing skills.

4. References – contact details of at least two referees who can speak to the candidate’s suitability for this role.

In the subject of the email, please state: the position you are applying for – ZELO Energy Law and Governance Officer.

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