Senior Legal Associate, Fiji

Please note that the deadline is based on Korean Standard Time Zone (KST, UTC+9)

INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page. 

INTRODUCTION

GGGI's program in the Pacific supports green growth and climate action across different sectors in five GGGI members countries - Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Vanuatu - as well as other partner countries in the Pacific. GGGI is an implementation partner of a series of regional programs in the Pacific, as well as country targeted interventions, across a variety of sectors and programmatic solutions ranging from capacity building, technical support for climate action to national and subnational /policy development and strategic planning.

Recently, GGGI launched the European Union funded "Time to Act! Implementing the Climate Change Act" project. This project will provide complementary support and technical assistance to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) in Fiji to enhance its implementation capacity for the Fiji's Climate Change Act (2021).

Fiji’s Climate Change Act 2021 provides a comprehensive legal framework to address the climate emergency in the long term. While significant progress has been made in implementing the Act’s requirements, there remains a critical need to strengthen capacity, knowledge, and institutional settings to fully operationalize its provisions. The project Capacity Building for Climate Change Act Implementation aims to support this process by enhancing awareness and building capacity.

PURPOSE

The Senior Legal Associate will provide essential legal support to the Department of Climate Change (DoCC) of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, particularly in implementing the Climate Change Act (2021). The Climate Change Act establishes a comprehensive legal framework for Fiji’s long-term response to climate change, outlining mandates, governance structures, and implementation mechanisms. While some provisions are already operational, others require the development of regulations and guidelines to fully operationalize the Act’s intent. This role will focus on legal support to developing priority regulations and guidelines necessary to operationalize key provisions of the Act and support Fiji’s long-term national climate response.

The Senior Legal Adviser (SLA) will be embedded within the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) under the Department of Climate Change (DoCC); and remains contractually accountable to GGGI. To ensure the project and tasks of the Senior Legal Adviser remain strictly aligned with national priorities and the Climate Change Act (2021), the postholder will receive close operational guidance from DoCC and is responsible for providing direct and frequent executive briefings to the Permanent Secretary (PS) and Director of Climate Change (DCC) to ensure full transparency of project milestones, risks, and resource allocation. While GGGI retains contractual responsibility, all project deliverables will be developed in alignment to MECC and DoCC mandate to ensure they meet the prescribed standards.

FUNCTIONAL

• Under DOCC’s lead, identify, prioritize and provide legal support, including legal analysis and drafting legal opinions for the implementation of the Climate Change Act, prioritizing high-impact areas such as Sections 26, 32, 71, 89, and Part 15, while providing broader support as directed by the DoCC.
• Support policy development on regulations and guidelines to implement the Climate Change Act.
• Conduct legal and policy research on key issues involved in implementing the Climate Change Act.
• Draft and finalize analytical pieces, including for regulations, guidelines, administrative processes, and consequential and strategic changes to existing legislation for the implementation of the Climate Change Act.
• Write drafting instructions, as well as draft and revise where necessary, for regulations, guidelines,  administrative processes, and as consequential and strategic amendments to existing legislation.
• Based on DoCCs feedback, finalize regulations, guidelines, administrative processes, and consequential and strategic amendments to existing legislation for submission to the Office of the Solicitor-General.
• Identify legal risks and opportunities in implementing the Climate Change Act.
• Support DoCC in drafting of disbursement requests (DRs) to be submitted to the EU Budget Support program “Time to Act! Implementing the Climate Change Act”.
• Support coordination and regular meetings among members of National Climate Change Coordination Committee (NCCCC), NAP Steering Committee, NOP Steering, Committee, and the Fijian Taskforce for Secretariat function.
• Support the Ministry by drafting the substantive legal components of ministerial communications and Cabinet submissions related to the Climate Change Act, ensuring technical accuracy while maintaining a focus on high-level legal advisory and sections requiring legal expertise.

ENGAGEMENT

• Engage with stakeholders, solicit feedback, analyze and summarize stakeholder briefs.
• Coordinate with key government agencies, legal advisors, and development partners to ensure a harmonised approach to legal drafting and implementation.
• Facilitate and participate in stakeholder consultations, workshops, and public engagement on climate legislation, regulations and policies.
• Incorporate feedback from consultations into the development of legally sound and socially inclusive regulations and policies.
• Engage with civil society, private sector, and community representatives to promote transparency and understanding of the legal framework.
• Collaborate with cross-sectoral technical teams to translate policy objectives into enforceable legal provisions.

DELIVERY

• With guidance from MECC, lead the process for the drafting of regulations, permits, amendments to legislation and analytical pieces, including instructing legal drafters.
• Ensure all drafted documents are factually correct and compliant with national laws and standards.
• Maintain accurate records of draft versions, legal opinions, stakeholder feedback and final versions.
• Ensure that required regulations and guidelines are drafted in a timely and professional manner and the outputs are shared with DOCC on time.
• Coordinate activities related to the drafting of regulations and guidelines and final approval to ensure that the project meets its objectives.

CORPORATE

• Understand and actively support GGGI's mission, vision, and values.
• Promote an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect, and partnership.
• Excels problem solving, asking questions and seeks support when needed, easily shares information and knowledge with others both internally and externally.
• Manage emotions and stress positively, build rapport and resolve conflict easily.
• Strong ability to work independently and/or remotely, while maintaining productivity.
• Be able to lead where needed and support the Country Representative to make sound decisions.

REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Law and professionally qualified under the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act 2009.
• At least 4-5 years of post-admission legal experience, including experience advising on regulations and guidelines, preferably within the areas of climate change, international relations, oceans and / or environment.
• Knowledge of the Climate Change Act (2021) and the Environmental Management Act (2005). Knowledge of international climate conventions, including Paris Agreement, and UN Framework for Convention on Climate Change will be considered an advantage.
• Demonstrated capacity to render accurate legal opinions
• Good knowledge on the procedures and guidelines for legislative drafting, and Regulations, General Orders, and Circulars.
• Good knowledge and understanding of the Fijian Constitution (2013).
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines. Attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Fluency in English is essential.
• Fiji Nationals are strongly encouraged to apply.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The Senior Legal Associate is an G7 national grade level in GGGI's salary scale with a starting salary of 23,956 USD. Determination of base salary is subject to candidate's experience, academic background, and internal equity. GGGI provides 15% of base salary towards retirement plan/long-term savings, 27 days of annual leave, and private health insurance that covers dental and vision.

GGGI is committed to providing a work environment that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate diverse life-cycle challenges and assist staff members to achieve a better balance between work and personal/family commitments, thus ensuring high performance, long-term productivity, and well-being of staff members.