Legal and ESG Associate (6-month contract)

About West Africa Blue

West Africa contains 14% of the world’s remaining mangroves. Along with immense carbon sequestration potential, these coastal ecosystems help protect against erosion, storms and flooding and support diverse terrestrial and marine fauna, including IUCN Red List Threatened Species. Yet these vital wetlands are under increasing threat due to climate change and human activities. Nature-based solutions such as carbon credit projects can play an important role in helping to preserve these ecosystems while also providing a path for under-resourced communities to achieve sustainable economic development.

West Africa Blue (“Blue”) partners with communities and governments to pioneer and launch urgently needed high-integrity, financially sustainable, nature-based solutions. We seek to mitigate climate change, boost community resilience and protect biodiversity. Our partnership builds income diversification opportunities, sustainable strategies, critical skills development and enhanced financial inclusion, especially for women, in rural areas of Africa.

Our team is diverse, innovative, entrepreneurial, and committed, with a deep, longstanding connection to West Africa. We are seeking a talented lawyer to join us on a 6-month contract to ensure the continuity of key functions critical to our mission and impact.

Blue was co-founded in 2022 by Solon Capital Partners, a leading West Africa-focused investor providing capital and support to high-impact organizations throughout the region.

The Role:

The Legal and ESG Associate role will oversee and manage key functions at West Africa Blue, ensuring smooth operations, compliance, and delivery of strategic objectives. The position is integral to maintaining momentum on vital initiatives while our team member is on maternity leave. The Legal and ESG Associate role has the potential to serve as a pathway to a permanent position with West Africa Blue or one of its affiliate organizations.

The Legal and ESG Associate will be responsible for:

• Legal Oversight: Assisting with the management of Blue’s legal processes, contracting, regulatory compliance, and risk management to ensure adherence to relevant standards and best practices.
• ESG Support: Assisting Blue's Head of ESG with the development and implementation of policies, monitoring, reporting, and engaging with investors, stakeholders, and external advisors.
• Community Engagement: Providing high-level oversight and guidance to local and in-country teams in respect of community engagement initiatives with a focus on Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) and safeguarding.
• Policy Development: Conducting research and monitoring key policy and regulatory developments in carbon markets, shaping Blue’s perspectives and positioning on these issues.
• Fundraising: Assisting with the origination, negotiation, and documentation or specific fundraising initiatives, from pitch/application preparation to engaging with funders, due diligence, and contracting.
• Strategic Programs: Supporting critical programs such as benefit-sharing agreement research and design, landowner agreements, and other emerging initiatives.
• Representation: Representing Blue at conferences, events, and meetings, advocating for our mission and work.
• Compliance and Administration: Ensuring general compliance and efficient administration with the support of third-party service providers.
• Ad Hoc Tasks: Undertaking additional responsibilities as needed to support Blue’s strategic priorities.
  

Success in the role means:

• Hitting the ground running, with a demonstrated ability to get up-to-speed quickly.
• Ensuring the seamless continuation of legal, ESG, and community engagement initiatives.
• Ensuring that stakeholder relationships are maintained or enhanced during the contract period.
• Fundraising and strategic programs progress effectively, contributing to Blue’s mission and impact.
• Blue’s operations remain efficient, compliant, and aligned with organizational goals.

Qualifications and Experience:

This role is ideal for candidates looking to apply their legal and business skills in a dynamic and entrepreneurial environment. Blue seeks to hire individuals who are intelligent, motivated, and have a track record of accomplishment. The successful candidate will have:

• A law degree (LLB, JD) from a leading university and be licensed to practice in a jurisdiction.
• A minimum of 4-7 years of corporate/commercial law experience in private practice or a corporate counsel role.
• Strong attention to detail paired with an ownership mindset.
• Excellent English-language communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Integrity, professionalism, and unimpeachable ethics.
• Sound and practical legal judgment.

Prior work experience in carbon projects, nature-based solutions, the non-profit sector, or private equity and/or investment funds are all assets. Candidates with an understanding of the legal and business landscape in West Africa, carbon project development, community engagement, intellectual property law, or ESG and impact investing are encouraged to apply. Fluency in written and spoken French is also desirable.

Contract Term: The engagement will be for a 6-month term. For successful candidates, the role may serve as a pathway to a full-time, permanent position within West Africa Blue or elsewhere within the Solon organization.

Location:  The role is remote and can be performed from your preferred location. Occasional travel to West Africa and globally may be required.

Work Hours:  The role is flexible in nature and Blue is willing to explore accommodating various work arrangements, including full-time, part-time, fractional allocation, or other creative arrangements that accommodate personal schedules and obligations, such as child care. Meetings and deadlines based on standard business hours in the GMT time zone may need to be accommodated.

Salary: Blue offers competitive compensation packages focused on attracting, retaining, and rewarding top talent.