Adviser, Law and Inclusive Economic Growth (internationally recruited)

The International Development Law Organization (IDLO) is the only global intergovernmental organization exclusively devoted to promoting the rule of law to advance peace and sustainable development. IDLO works with governments, civil society, the private sector, and international partners to build legal systems that are inclusive, accountable, and effective.

Under its Strategic Plan 2025–2028, IDLO emphasizes people-centred justice, inclusive institutions, and equitable development outcomes, with a renewed focus on addressing structural inequalities, strengthening economic governance, and expanding access to economic opportunity—particularly for women, youth, and marginalized groups.

Within the Department of Programmes, the Adviser advances IDLO’s institutional approach to rule-of-law-based inclusive economic growth by shaping programme design, strengthening technical quality, informing policy positioning, and building coherent partnerships across portfolios.

THE POSITION

The Adviser, Law and Inclusive Economic Growth provides strategic, technical, and programmatic leadership to integrate inclusive economic growth approaches across IDLO’s global portfolio. The position combines advisory and design functions across the programme cycles supporting project identification, design, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and closeout—with a leadership role in strengthening the legal and institutional frameworks for inclusive economic growth, economic participation, and equitable access to resources and opportunities.

The role contributes directly to the implementation of IDLO’s Strategic Plan 2025–2028, in particular Outcome 5 on inclusive economic growth, as well as to IDLO’s commitments on gender equality and justice for women and girls, and supports the Management Plan’s emphasis on quality programming, innovation, partnerships, and results-based delivery.

The Adviser reports to the Chief, Programme Design and Development, and works in close collaboration with the Programmes Department, Country Offices, Strategy and Policy Planning Unit, Research and Learning Department, and other relevant entities.

Thematic Expertise and Advice

• Provide strategic advice on the integration of inclusive economic growth across IDLO’s programmes, research, and policy advocacy, in line with Outcome 5 of the Strategic Plan 2025–2028 and the Management Plan 2025–2026.
• Lead the development, updating, and operationalization of IDLO’s organizational approach to inclusive economic growth, ensuring coherence across thematic and geographic portfolios and alignment with resource mobilization priorities.
• Advise senior management on emerging trends, gaps, risks, and opportunities in rule-of-law-based economic governance relevant to IDLO’s mandate and operations.
• Translate lessons learned into guidance, methodologies, and institutional capacity-strengthening initiatives, consistent with the areas of work set out under Outcome 5 of the Strategic Plan.

Programme Design and Development

• Provide advisory and hands-on technical support to programme teams throughout the programme cycle, including project identification, design, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and closeout.
• Lead or contribute to the design of programmes and the development of concept notes, proposals, and thematic strategies that advance inclusive economic growth, in line with Outcome 5 of the Strategic Plan, including: supporting partners to develop laws and policies for inclusive economic growth; building institutional capacities to manage trade, investment, and commercial disputes; promoting legal solutions to enhance community livelihoods and entrepreneurship; and supporting the economic empowerment of women and underserved communities.
• Promote the integration of digital solutions for inclusive economic growth across programme design and implementation, ensuring alignment with results frameworks.
• Support justice institutions, non-state actors, and partner organizations to develop and implement laws, policies, and regulatory frameworks for inclusive economic growth.

Partnerships, Resource Mobilization and Policy Advocacy

• Engage with external partners, governments, international financial institutions, UN entities, donors, civil society, academia, and the private sector to build partnerships on inclusive economic growth and economic governance.
• Support or lead engagement in policy dialogues, advocacy, and global and regional forums on inclusive economic growth, including drafting statements, briefings, and talking points and liaising with potential partners.
• Contribute to the development of knowledge products, analytical materials, and thought leadership on inclusive economic growth and the rule of law.
• Support resource mobilization by contributing technical inputs to proposals, donor briefings, and collaborative initiatives aligned with the Strategic Plan and programme objectives.

Institutional Coordination and Organizational Innovation

• Work closely with thematic specialists, programme managers, and colleagues from different departments, both at HQ and at country level, to ensure coherence, quality, and integration of inclusive economic growth programming across the organization.
• Convene and lead an internal thematic cluster on inclusive economic growth, coordinating and leading delivery of the cluster’s terms of reference, including the mapping of stakeholders and identification of entry points.
• Support internal capacity building by developing guidance, tools, and training to strengthen staff skills in inclusive economic growth and economic governance.
• Support internal planning, quality assurance, results frameworks, and evidence-based reporting and learning related to inclusive economic growth initiatives.

Education and Work Experience

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in law, economics, development studies, public policy, international relations, or a related field.
• Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible experience in inclusive economic growth, economic governance, rule of law, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing development programmes in fragile, conflict-affected, or developing contexts.
• Proven track record of providing technical advice on legal and institutional reforms related to economic inclusion, governance, or access to opportunity.
• Experience working with international organizations, governments, and development partners.

Languages

• Full professional competence of written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Knowledge of other languages is an advantage.

Specific knowledge, skills, and behavioral competencies

• Strong understanding of the links between the rule of law, economic development, and social inclusion.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex policy issues into practical programme interventions.
• Excellent analytical, drafting, and communication skills, including experience with donor-facing documents.
• Ability to work effectively across disciplines, cultures, and regions in a matrixed organizational environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build partnerships and consensus.
• Good knowledge of IDLO’s areas of work i.e. rule of law, access to justice, development and peacebuilding.
• Results oriented with good organizational and planning skills. Solid project management skills, ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Team player with positive attitude, flexible mind, and comfortable in working in multi-cultural settings.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office package and other ICT and internet software.
• Keen sense of ethics, accountability, integrity and commitment to IDLO's mandate and value.
• Ability and willingness to travel to the field, even hard-ship countries, as needed.

For this internationally recruited employee position, IDLO shall offer the selected candidate an Affiliate contract of 24 months, with the possibility of an extension subject to performance and availability of funding.

IDLO shall offer a yearly basic salary of EUR €70,000 and a benefits package including provident fund contribution (14%), medical insurance and leave entitlements. Relocation and installation support are also available for internationally recruited employees in accordance with IDLO Employee Regulations and Rules.

Salaries and benefits paid by IDLO to employees are exempt from taxation in Italy. IDLO employees are responsible for compliance with income tax laws of their country of nationality or residence and/or of any other relevant fiscal jurisdiction.

Applications will be screened on a regular basis; a qualified applicant may be recruited before the deadline. In the interest of making the most effective use of resources, only short-listed candidates will be contacted during the selection process.

IDLO is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for IDLO vacancies.

IDLO does not tolerate sexual exploitation or abuse, any kind of harassment, including harassment of a sexual nature, or discrimination. As such, IDLO will conduct careful reference and background checks of all selected candidates as part of its selection process.

Application deadline: 27 July 2026 (23:59hrs Rome time)