Consultant to Research and Develop a Policy Brief on Community-Centered Just Energy Transition

**Scope:** Consultant to Research and Develop a Policy Brief on Community-Centered Just Energy Transition

**Location:** Nigeria/Remote
**Application Close**: July 2, 2026

**Background**
The global transition towards renewable energy and low-carbon development pathways is rapidly reshaping demand for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, graphite, nickel, manganese, and other resources essential to clean energy technologies. Across West Africa, and particularly in Nigeria, this transition is generating renewed interest in mineral extraction as governments and investors seek to position themselves within emerging global supply chains for the energy transition.
While the transition presents opportunities for economic growth, industrial development, and climate action, it also raises important questions about justice, equity, and community rights. Mining host communities, who bear the direct environmental, social, and economic impacts of extraction, continue to face challenges relating to environmental degradation, land dispossession, loss of livelihoods, insecurity, inadequate benefit-sharing, and exclusion from decision-making processes. As demand for transition minerals intensifies, there is a growing risk that existing patterns of extractive injustice could be reproduced under the banner of the green economy.

These challenges reflect longstanding governance gaps that have often positioned communities at the margins of mineral governance despite their role as custodians of local lands, resources, and ecosystems. Weak implementation of safeguards such as Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), limited access to information, inadequate participation in environmental decision-making, and weak accountability mechanisms continue to undermine community rights and resilience. In many instances, communities remain excluded from discussions and policy processes that will ultimately determine how the energy transition unfolds within their territories.

A truly just energy transition requires that communities are not treated merely as sites of extraction or beneficiaries of development interventions, but as rights holders and active participants in shaping energy, climate, and mineral governance. Community-centered approaches recognize the importance of meaningful participation, environmental justice, equitable benefit-sharing, social inclusion, gender responsiveness, and respect for human rights throughout the transition process.
Although Nigeria has adopted various policies and commitments relating to climate action, renewable energy development, and mineral sector reform, there remains limited analysis of how these frameworks address the interests, rights, and priorities of mining host communities and other affected populations. There is also a growing need for evidence-based policy recommendations that can guide government institutions, industry actors, civil society organizations, and communities towards more equitable and inclusive energy transition pathways.

It is against this backdrop that Global Rights seeks to commission a consultant to undertake research and develop a Policy Brief on Community-Centered Just Energy Transition in Nigeria. The policy brief will examine the opportunities, risks, governance gaps, and policy implications associated with the energy transition and critical mineral development, while generating practical recommendations for ensuring that communities are placed at the center of decision-making, benefit-sharing, environmental stewardship, and sustainable development outcomes.

**Objectives**
The consultancy shall seek to:

1. Examine the implications of the global energy transition and growing demand for critical minerals on communities in Nigeria.
2. Assess the current legal, policy, institutional, and governance frameworks relevant to energy transition, climate action, renewable energy development, mining governance, and community rights.
3. Analyze opportunities, risks, and emerging challenges associated with energy transition initiatives and critical mineral extraction for affected communities.
4. Assess the extent to which principles of participation, equity, human rights, environmental justice, gender inclusion, and benefit-sharing are reflected in existing policies and practices.
5. Document community perspectives, concerns, expectations, and experiences relating to energy transition and critical mineral development.
6. Identify policy, governance, and implementation gaps that may undermine a just and community-centered transition.
7. Generate practical policy recommendations and advocacy entry points to advance equitable and community-centered energy transition processes in Nigeria.

**Scope of Work**
The consultant will be expected to undertake the following tasks:

- Conduct a comprehensive desk review of relevant literature, policies, laws, regulations, reports, frameworks, and international standards relating to: Energy transition, Climate change and climate governance, Renewable energy development, Critical minerals and mining governance, Community rights and participation, Environmental justice, Human rights and business responsibilities.
- Review relevant national frameworks.
- Conduct Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and stakeholder consultations.
- Examine the actual and potential impacts of energy transition initiatives and critical mineral extraction on local communities, including.
- Analyze existing mechanisms for community engagement, Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), Community Development Agreements (CDAs), grievance redress, accountability, and social safeguards.
- Identify policy and implementation gaps that hinder a just and inclusive energy transition.
- Review relevant international and regional best practices on community-centered energy transition and extractive governance.
- Develop a concise and evidence-based policy brief presenting key findings, policy options, and recommendations.
- Engage a qualified editor/proofreader to review the draft and final report to ensure clarity, coherence, consistency, accuracy, and a high standard of English language and overall flow before submission.

**Deliverables**
The consultant shall deliver:

- An inception report/workplan outlining the consultant’s understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, and timeline for implementation;
- A draft Draft Policy Brief on Community Centered Just Energy Transition presenting the current state of Just Energy Transition, key legal, policy, and implementation gaps, stakeholder perspectives and findings from the research, policy options and recommendations for reform, best practices for promoting a Community Centered Just Energy Transition
- A final policy brief, revised based on feedback from Global Rights and submitted in both Word and PDF formats;

**Methodology**
The consultant is expected to adopt a participatory and mixed-method approach, including: Desk review; Policy and legal analysis; Key Informant Interviews; Stakeholder consultations; Comparative analysis of best practices; Validation of findings with relevant stakeholders.

**Timeline**
The consultancy shall be conducted over a period of eight (8) weeks.

**Expected Qualifications**

The consultant should possess:

- An advanced degree in Environmental Governance, Climate Change, Energy Studies, Development Studies, Public Policy, Human Rights, Law, Political Science, Natural Resource Governance, Sociology, Economics, or related disciplines.
- At least 5–7 years of demonstrated experience in: Energy transition; Climate governance; Natural resource governance; Mining and extractive industries; Human rights and environmental justice; Policy research and analysis.

The consultant must demonstrate:

- Strong knowledge of Nigeria's energy, climate, and extractive sectors;
- Excellent research and analytical skills;
- Proven experience producing policy briefs, research reports, and advocacy materials;
- Experience engaging