About CWMAC

The Community Wildlife Management Areas Consortium (CWMAC) is the national umbrella body for all Authorised Associations (AAs) managing Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in Tanzania.

Founded in 2010 and registered under the Societies Act (S.A.16619), CWMAC represents 24 member WMAs spread across Tanzanzania. CWMAC’s mission is to enable WMAs to sustainably manage and benefit from Tanzania’s natural resources while improving community livelihoods.

The opportunity

CWMAC is seeking a Policy and Advocacy Officer to serve as in-house legal resource at the intersection of conservation law, community governance, and civil society regulation. You will advise the CEO, finalise the revised constitution, manage contracts, support the Conservation Trust Fund, and strengthen the legal capacity of 24 member WMAs.

Key responsibilities

Institutional Legal Advice and Compliance

• Serve as the primary in-house legal advisor to the CEO, Senior Management Team, and Board of Trustees on all legal, contractual, regulatory, and governance matters.
• Review, draft, and negotiate all contracts, Memoranda of Understanding, partnership agreements, service agreements, and consultant contracts entered into by CWMAC. Ensure all agreements are legally sound, clearly structured, and protect CWMAC’s institutional interests.
• Maintain a comprehensive legal register covering all active and pending contracts, compliance obligations, regulatory filings, renewal timelines, and unresolved legal matters.
• Ensure CWMAC’s institutional operations comply with all applicable laws of the United Republic of Tanzania, including the Societies Act (Cap 337), Employment and Labour Relations Act, Wildlife Conservation Act (2009), and the Non-Governmental Organisations Act, among others.
• Advise on employment law matters in coordination with the HR Officer, including contract terms, staff grievances, disciplinary processes, and compliance with Tanzanian labour law.
• Manage relationships with external legal counsel, coordinating specialised legal support where matters require expertise beyond the scope of the in-house role.

Constitutional Review and Governance

• Lead the completion of CWMAC’s ongoing constitutional review process, managing the drafting, consultation, review, and adoption phases in coordination with the CEO, Board, and relevant legal advisors.
• Advise the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee on proper governance practices, Board meeting procedures, fiduciary duties, conflict of interest management, and compliance with CWMAC’s constitutional framework.
• Prepare legal and governance documentation for Annual General Meetings, Board meetings, and special resolutions, including meeting notices, agenda papers, resolutions, and minutes guidance.
• Support CWMAC member WMAs in reviewing and strengthening their own constitutions and governance frameworks, ensuring alignment with the Wildlife Conservation Act and related regulations.
• Provide guidance to WMAs on the legal rights and obligations of Authorised Associations, including AA governance, membership management, decision-making processes, and relations with the AA General Assembly.

Conservation Policy and Legislative Advocacy

• Monitor, analyse, and advise on developments in Tanzania’s conservation law and policy landscape, including proposed legislative changes, regulatory updates, and government policy positions that affect WMAs.
• Contribute legal analysis and drafting support to CWMAC’s policy advocacy function, including preparing submissions to government, position papers, legal commentaries on proposed regulations, and responses to public consultations.
• Build and maintain productive working relationships with the government and regulatory bodies.
• Participate in relevant legal and policy forums at national and, where relevant, regional levels, representing CWMAC’s institutional perspective and the interests of WMA communities.

Conservation Trust Fund: Legal Establishment and Governance

• Provide comprehensive legal support for the establishment of the CWMAC Conservation Trust Fund, one of the organisation’s highest strategic priorities. This includes preparing trust deed documentation, governance frameworks, regulatory registration, and compliance structures.
• Liaise with the Board, financial advisors, external legal counsel, and potential donors to ensure the Trust Fund’s legal architecture is sound, internationally credible, and operationally ready for funding.
• Advise on the legal implications of different trust fund structures, endowment options, and investment governance arrangements, ensuring the chosen model aligns with Tanzanian law and best practice.
• Support the ongoing legal governance and compliance of the Trust Fund once it is established, including trustee obligations, investment policy compliance, and annual legal reporting requirements.

WMA Member Legal Support and Capacity Building

• Provide legal advisory services to member WMAs on practical issues that directly affect their operations, including land boundary disputes, wildlife revenue agreements, contracts with tourism operators and investors, community benefit sharing arrangements, and engagement with local government.
• Develop accessible, practical legal literacy materials tailored to the literacy and language needs of WMA leadership and community governance structures, covering key areas such as AA rights, WMA regulations, land law, and contract basics.
• Deliver legal orientation sessions and training workshops for WMA managers, AA Chairpersons, and community governance committees, equipping them to navigate legal processes with greater confidence and understanding.
• Represent or accompany WMA members in legal or regulatory engagements where CWMAC’s support is needed and appropriate.

Qualifications and experience

Essential

• LLB (Bachelor of Laws) degree from a recognised university.
• Current admission to the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) and a valid Practising Certificate.
• A minimum of four years of post-admission legal practice, with meaningful experience in one or more of the following areas: NGO or civil society law, governance and compliance, environmental or natural resources law, community land rights, or contract law.
• Thorough knowledge of the Tanzanian legal framework relevant to civil society, conservation, and community governance, including the Societies Act, Wildlife Conservation Act (2009), Land Act (1999), Village Land Act (1999), Employment and Labour Relations Act, and related subsidiary legislation.
• Demonstrated experience in drafting and reviewing complex legal documents including constitutional documents, MoUs, partnership agreements, service contracts, and governance policies.
• Strong legal research skills and the ability to produce well-reasoned, practical legal opinions and written advice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Working proficiency in Swahili is essential, particularly for engagement with WMA communities and government counterparts.

Key competencies and personal qualities

• Exceptional legal judgement with the ability to quickly identify risks, gaps, and practical solutions.
• High standards of integrity, confidentiality, and professional conduct consistent with TLS ethical requirements.
• The ability to communicate complex legal matters clearly and accessibly to non-lawyers, including community leaders and governance committees.
• A collaborative, service-oriented mindset that prioritises the needs of the organisation and its member communities.
• Strong attention to detail combined with the ability to see the broader institutional picture.
• A genuine interest in community-based conservation and the legal empowerment of rural communities.
• The confidence to advise senior leadership and the Board on sensitive or complex legal matters.

• Serve as the primary in-house legal advisor to the CEO, Senior Management Team, and Board of Trustees on all legal, contractual, regulatory, and governance matters.
• Review, draft, and negotiate all contracts, Memoranda of Understanding, partnership agreements, service agreements, and consultant contracts entered into by CWMAC. Ensure all agreements are legally sound, clearly structured, and protect CWMAC’s institutional interests.
• Maintain a comprehensive legal register covering all active and pending contracts, compliance obligations, regulatory filings, renewal timelines, and unresolved legal matters.
• Ensure CWMAC’s institutional operations comply with all applicable laws of the United Republic of Tanzania, including the Societies Act (Cap 337), Employment and Labour Relations Act, Wildlife Conservation Act (2009), and the Non-Governmental Organisations Act, among others.
• Advise on employment law matters in coordination with the HR Officer, including contract terms, staff grievances, disciplinary processes, and compliance with Tanzanian labour law.
• Manage relationships with external legal counsel, coordinating specialised legal support where matters require expertise beyond the scope of the in-house role.
• Lead the completion of CWMAC’s ongoing constitutional review process, managing the drafting, consultation, review, and adoption phases in coordination with the CEO, Board, and relevant legal advisors.
• Advise the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee on proper governance practices, Board meeting procedures, fiduciary duties, conflict of interest management, and compliance with CWMAC’s constitutional framework.
• Prepare legal and governance documentation for Annual General Meetings, Board meetings, and special resolutions, including meeting notices, agenda papers, resolutions, and minutes guidance.
• Support CWMAC member WMAs in reviewing and strengthening their own constitutions and governance frameworks, ensuring alignment with the Wildlife Conservation Act and related regulations.
• Provide guidance to WMAs on the legal rights and obligations of Authorised Associations, including AA governance, membership management, decision-making processes, and relations with the AA General Assembly.
• Monitor, analyse, and advise on developments in Tanzania’s conservation law and policy landscape, including proposed legislative changes, regulatory updates, and government policy positions that affect WMAs.
• Contribute legal analysis and drafting support to CWMAC’s policy advocacy function, including preparing submissions to government, position papers, legal commentaries on proposed regulations, and responses to public consultations.
• Build and maintain productive working relationships with the government and regulatory bodies.
• Participate in relevant legal and policy forums at national and, where relevant, regional levels, representing CWMAC’s institutional perspective and the interests of WMA communities.
• Provide comprehensive legal support for the establishment of the CWMAC Conservation Trust Fund, one of the organisation’s highest strategic priorities. This includes preparing trust deed documentation, governance frameworks, regulatory registration, and compliance structures.
• Liaise with the Board, financial advisors, external legal counsel, and potential donors to ensure the Trust Fund’s legal architecture is sound, internationally credible, and operationally ready for funding.
• Advise on the legal implications of different trust fund structures, endowment options, and investment governance arrangements, ensuring the chosen model aligns with Tanzanian law and best practice.
• Support the ongoing legal governance and compliance of the Trust Fund once it is established, including trustee obligations, investment policy compliance, and annual legal reporting requirements.
• Provide legal advisory services to member WMAs on practical issues that directly affect their operations, including land boundary disputes, wildlife revenue agreements, contracts with tourism operators and investors, community benefit sharing arrangements, and engagement with local government.
• Develop accessible, practical legal literacy materials tailored to the literacy and language needs of WMA leadership and community governance structures, covering key areas such as AA rights, WMA regulations, land law, and contract basics.
• Deliver legal orientation sessions and training workshops for WMA managers, AA Chairpersons, and community governance committees, equipping them to navigate legal processes with greater confidence and understanding.
• Represent or accompany WMA members in legal or regulatory engagements where CWMAC’s support is needed and appropriate.

• Exceptional legal judgement with the ability to quickly identify risks, gaps, and practical solutions.
• High standards of integrity, confidentiality, and professional conduct consistent with TLS ethical requirements.
• The ability to communicate complex legal matters clearly and accessibly to non-lawyers, including community leaders and governance committees.
• A collaborative, service-oriented mindset that prioritises the needs of the organisation and its member communities.
• Strong attention to detail combined with the ability to see the broader institutional picture.
• A genuine interest in community-based conservation and the legal empowerment of rural communities.
• The confidence to advise senior leadership and the Board on sensitive or complex legal matters.

• LLB (Bachelor of Laws) degree from a recognised university.
• Current admission to the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) and a valid Practising Certificate.
• A minimum of four years of post-admission legal practice, with meaningful experience in one or more of the following areas: NGO or civil society law, governance and compliance, environmental or natural resources law, community land rights, or contract law.
• Thorough knowledge of the Tanzanian legal framework relevant to civil society, conservation, and community governance, including the Societies Act, Wildlife Conservation Act (2009), Land Act (1999), Village Land Act (1999), Employment and Labour Relations Act, and related subsidiary legislation.
• Demonstrated experience in drafting and reviewing complex legal documents including constitutional documents, MoUs, partnership agreements, service contracts, and governance policies.
• Strong legal research skills and the ability to produce well-reasoned, practical legal opinions and written advice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Working proficiency in Swahili is essential, particularly for engagement with WMA communities and government counterparts.