Technical Advisor, Legal and Policy at GIZ Nigeria

International cooperation between Germany and Nigeria commenced in 1974. GIZ was initially represented by an office in Lagos until 2003, but since 2004 it has maintained a country office and four project offices in the new capital Abuja. At present, GIZ has around 25 seconded staff, 100 Nigerian and regional experts, and four CIM experts working in Nigeria.

Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and has a population of 175 million, making it the continent’s most populous country. With a young, highly motivated and growing population, abundant natural resources and an increasingly diversified economy, Nigeria is not only a regional power but also an increasingly significant political player on the African continent and in the world. However, Nigeria faces major challenges. So far, its substantial oil revenues have had little impact on poverty. More than two-thirds of the population still live in extreme poverty and unemployment remains high. Sustainable economic and social development is hampered by corruption and by regional, ethnic, religious and social differences and the associated conflicts, which sometimes lead to attacks and unrest.

As agreed between the Nigerian and German Governments, GIZ’s activities since 2002 have focused on sustainable economic development. GIZ is also engaged in the energy sector, agriculture and regional integration.

The ‘Pro-poor Growth and Employment Promotion in Nigeria’ (SEDIN) programme aims to increase income-generating employment in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and improve access to financial services. The programme is currently being implemented in Abuja and in Niger, Ogun and Plateau states.

The Nigerian and German Governments also cooperate in the energy sector. On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), GIZ provides advisory services to Nigerian partners on topics such as rural electrification, energy efficiency and renewable energies, and is contributing to the success of the Nigeria-German Energy Partnership (NGEP) as well.

GIZ provides support to the ECOWAS Commission (Economic Community of West African States) in Abuja, focusing on the management, implementation and monitoring of ECOWAS decisions on economic and trade policy, and peace and security.

In addition, two regional programmes focusing on agriculture are under way in Nigeria. The first aims to promote African rice value chains; the second builds the capacities of market-oriented small-scale farming. The purpose of both programmes is to achieve sustainable improvements in the livelihoods and food security of poor farmers in Nigeria and other West African countries.

A distinctive feature of GIZ’s activities in Nigeria is the high level of cofinancing obtained from other sources, primarily the European Union (EU) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. These additional funds make it possible to broaden the scope and intensity of the programmes being implemented on behalf of the BMZ, boosting the effectiveness of German development cooperation with Nigeria.Background
GIZ. Solutions that work.

As a service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work, we are dedicated to shaping a future worth living around the world. GIZ has over 50 years of experience in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment promotion, energy and the environment, and peace and security.
The diverse expertise of our federal enterprise is in demand around the globe – from the German Government, European Union institutions, the United Nations, the private sector, and governments of other countries. We work with businesses, civil society actors and research institutions, fostering successful interaction between development policy and other policy fields and areas of activity. Our main commissioning party is the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The registered offices of GIZ are in Bonn and Eschborn. Our approximately 23,500 employees, almost 70 percent of whom are national personnel, work in around 120 countries (July 2020) GIZ has worked in Nigeria since 1974. Since 2004, GIZ has maintained a country office in the capital city Abuja. Currently 466 national and 63 international employees, 37 regional staff, 4 integrated specialists and 3 development workers are working in the country (January 2025).

The Project
Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP).

The Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) is co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Power (FMP).
The programme aims at enabling and fostering investments in a domestic market for Renewable Energy (RE) and Energy Efficiency (EE) and improve access to electricity in Nigeria. As part of the programme and in close collaboration with its public and private partners, the component “Enabling Environment for RE and EE Investments” aims at strengthening quality delivery and control mechanisms to enhance an enabling market environment for the application of and investments in RE and EE.
This includes activities with Federal Ministry of Power (FMP), Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investments (FMITI), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), industry associations as well as the private sector. Concrete partnerships and activities have been established with FMP and other relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as part of the Programme Steering Committee and Technical Working Group (TWG).
In addition, NESP is currently supporting the Federal Ministry of Power and other relevant public and private stakeholders in streamlining import procedures and practices, to reduce the risks associated with the importation of RE/EE equipment into Nigeria. In a joint fulltime position shared between GET.invest and NESP on a 50-50 working time basis, GET.invest and NESP are looking to fill an Advisor position, to support the implementation of activities for the private sector on creating an enabling environment for RE and EE Investments in Nigeria.

Responsibilities and Tasks

The Technical Advisor, Legal and Policy will contribute to strengthening Nigeria’s legal and regulatory frameworks for renewable energy deployment, ensuring alignment with the Energy  Transition Plan and the Electricity Act 2023. The Advisor will work closely with government partners, private sector stakeholders, and programme teams to advance energy access and renewable energy development.

Responsibilities include:

Providing legal and policy advisory services to support renewable energy and energy access initiatives.
Leading the drafting, review, and harmonisation of legal instruments, regulatory documents, contracts, and agreements.
Supporting federal and state partners in the development and implementation of energy-related policies and regulations.
Ensuring compliance with programme activities with national laws and regulatory frameworks.
Advising and supporting programme workstreams (on-grid, off-grid, modern energy products) with legal and regulatory expertise.
Coordinating and facilitating consultations, workshops, and stakeholder dialogues with government agencies, regulators, and private sector representatives.
Preparing terms of reference for external experts and ensuring quality assurance of deliverables.
Contributing to programme planning, monitoring, reporting, and knowledge management.
Providing technical input for studies, reports, and capacity building initiatives.
Performing other related duties as requested by programme management.

Required qualifications, Competences and Experience
Qualifications: 

University degree in Law, preferably with a specialization in Energy Law, Electricity Regulation, or related fields.

Professional experience: 

At least 6 years of professional experience, including a minimum of 4 years in the power sector, particularly in renewable energy, electricity regulation, or related areas.
Demonstrated experience in drafting, reviewing, and aligning legal and regulatory instruments within the Nigerian power sector.
Sound knowledge of Nigeria’s energy policies, the Energy Transition Plan, and the Electricity Act 2023.
Proven track record of effective stakeholder engagement with regulators, policymakers, and high-level institutions.
Strong legal drafting, communication, and negotiation skills; excellent writing abilities.
Experience with donor-funded projects and/or private sector engagement is an asset.
Proficiency in MS Office applications; fluency in English (oral and written) is required.
Willingness and ability to travel regularly within Nigeria,including to rural areas.
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively in a multicultural team, take initiative, and demonstrate a proactive and solution-oriented approach.

Salary
According to GIZ Salary Scale for Band 4.