The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in collaboration with
civil society partners, bar associations, and universities, is launching a Pro Bono Legal Roster to
strengthen access to justice for refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons, victims of
trafficking, and other forcibly displaced individuals across the ECOWAS region.
We would like to invite qualified and committed legal practitioners to express their interest in
joining this regional roster, which will provide pro bono legal assistance—including support for
cases suitable for the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice and related national litigation.
Who Can Apply?
• Practicing lawyers in good standing with their National Bar Association;
• Lawyers who have experience in human rights, refugee law, migration, statelessness,
gender-based violence, or related fields.
• Lawyers interested in contributing to strategic litigation that advances the protection of
displaced and stateless persons.
• Legal Officers, academic researchers, and other non-bar qualified advisors for research
roles.
What does the Roster Offer?
• Opportunities to represent forcibly displaced individuals, asylum-seekers, and stateless
persons before domestic and regional human rights mechanisms;
• Access to mentorship, peer support, and research assistance through the Core Group and
a dedicated Virtual Secretariat;
• Participation in specialized trainings on international refugee law and human rights law,
as well as data protection, confidentiality, and the responsible use of technology.
• Access to legal resources: free access to case law databases, toolkits, and guidance notes
on refugee and human rights law.
Please note that inclusion on the roster does not guarantee case assignment; allocation will
depend on conflict checks, availability, and the suitability of the case.
Expectations of Roster Members:
• Uphold the highest professional and ethical standards;
• Commit to providing pro bono legal services to assigned cases;
• Participate in mandatory onboarding and refresher sessions;
• Collaborate with the Virtual Secretariat on case follow-up and reporting.
• Communicate promptly if you are unable to fulfill a commitment.
• Handle client information strictly on a need-to-know basis and in accordance with
applicable data protection and confidentiality standards; do not share case details outside
authorized channels.
How to Express Interest:
Lawyers, legal organisations, and related personnel (including legal officers and researchers for
research-support roles) wishing to join the roster may submit an expression of interest by 30
March 2026 to the Virtual Secretariat hosted by the Institute for Human Rights and Development
in Africa (IHRDA) at:
📧 ihrda@ihrda.org / rbirindwa@ihrda.org 📞 +220 418 1096
To express your interest, please email ihrda@ihrda.org, copying rbirindwa@ihrda.org. Your
application file should include (i) a brief motivation letter (maximum 1 page) indicating your
working languages, and countries of practice; (ii) a brief CV (maximum 3 pages); and (iii) proof
of bar membership/good standing (where applicable)
Additional information and application instructions will be shared following initial registration.
Together, we can expand access to justice and strengthen protection for
forcibly displaced and stateless persons across West Africa.
