Legal Expert - Mauritania

Department: Management Consultants

Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract

Location: Africa

The client is seeking a Legal Manager to support implementation of a national energy sector coordination and reform programme. The role will provide legal oversight and advisory support across programme activities, working closely with technical teams and national counterparts to strengthen contractual arrangements, manage legal and regulatory risks, and ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and partner requirements in support of effective policy implementation and programme delivery. This assignment forms part of the client's localisation and capacity strengthening approach, and Mauritanian nationals are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Provide legal advice to programme leadership and technical teams on issues related to programme implementation, governance, and risk management.
• Identify legal and regulatory risks associated with programme activities and propose mitigation measures.
• Support interpretation and application of relevant national laws, regulations, and policies affecting the energy sector and public programmes.

• Review, draft, and advise on contracts, agreements, memoranda of understanding, and other legal instruments with consultants, service providers, partners, and stakeholders.
• Support procurement processes by reviewing legal clauses, advising on contractual risk allocation, and ensuring consistency with client and partner requirements.
• Monitor contract compliance and support resolution of contractual issues or disputes.

• Support alignment of programme activities with existing legal and regulatory frameworks governing the energy sector.
• Provide legal inputs to policy, regulatory, or institutional reform initiatives supported under the programme.
• Support legal analysis related to private sector participation, public private partnerships, and investment frameworks.

• Coordinate with relevant legal units, regulators, and partners to support effective legal engagement and information flow.
• Maintain organised records of legal documents, contracts, and approvals.
• Prepare legal briefs, notes, and summaries to support decision making and governance processes.

• Support strengthening of legal and contractual capacity within counterpart institutions through on the job support and guidance.
• Contribute to development of standard templates, guidance notes, and reference materials.
• Promote knowledge transfer to ensure sustainability of legal functions beyond the assignment.

• Inception note outlining legal support approach and priorities
• Reviewed and/or drafted contracts, agreements, and legal instruments
• Legal risk notes and advisory briefs
• Standard legal templates and guidance materials
• Inputs to policy or regulatory reform documentation, as required
• Completion or handover report summarising work undertaken and recommendations.

• Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in legal advisory, contract management, or regulatory roles.
• Proven experience advising on contracts, procurement, and compliance issues in public sector, infrastructure, energy, or development programme contexts.
• Experience working with development partners or donor funded programmes is an advantage.

• Bachelor's degree in Statistics, Economics, Data, Master's degree in Law (LLM or equivalent) or Bachelor of Laws with relevant professional qualification.
• Admission to the Bar in Mauritania (or eligibility to practise) is required.
• Strong knowledge of contract law, public sector legal frameworks, and regulatory processes.
• Familiarity with PPPs, infrastructure projects, or energy sector regulation is an asset.

• Fluency in French (oral and written) required; working knowledge of English is an asset.
• Strong analytical and drafting skills.
• High attention to detail and sound professional judgement.
• Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams and diverse stakeholders.

Location: Nouakchott, Mauritania
Language: French and English
Travel: Periodic domestic travel

Terms of agreement:

Start Date: To be confirmed
Contracting Period: 12 months, with possibility of extension subject to performance and funding availability