Senior Project Officer (African Internet Exchange System) African Union

The growing use of Internet over the past several years is beginning to play a significant role in Africa’s development. Due to the lack of efficient paths on the African continent, inter-African telecommunications traffic exchange is carried outside the continent, mainly to the USA and Europe, which is very costly as well as an inefficient way of handling inter-country exchange of Internet traffic.

In response to the above, the African Union Commission with the support of the EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund (ITF) has initiated the implementation of the African Internet Exchange System project (AXIS). The AXIS project aims to support and facilitate the establishment of an African internet infrastructure through capacity building and technical assistance to Internet Service Providers and Internet Community Stakeholders, supporting set-up of internet exchange points, establishment of Regional Internet Hubs and Regional Internet Carriers and Continental Internet Carriers.

The ITF Grant will also support a number of activities related to the preparation and set-up of this project, in particular for the financing of Project staff to be located at the African Union Commission.

1. Post :
Job Title: Senior Project Officer (African Internet Exchange System)

Supervisor: Head, Information Society Division

Post Level: P3 Step 5

Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Duration : Twelve moth ( renewable)

2. Job Purpose:

To implement and manage critical paths/milestones and monitoring mechanisms for the successful realization of the African Internet Exchange System (AXIS) project.


3. Major duties and responsibilities:

• Ensure high quality and timely production of all deliverables of the AXIS project through proper quality control assessments;

• Develop detailed Request for Proposals and liaise with the relevant department responsible for procurement on the selection process to host Regional Internet

Exchange Hubs and the & Continental Internet Exchange System;

• Develop Request for Proposals and liaise with the relevant department responsible for procurement on the selection process to host Regional Internet Carriers and

Continental Internet Carriers;

• Develop communications, dissemination and publicity strategy for the African Internet Exchange System;

• Develop a monitoring and evaluation process for the AXIS project;

• Support the Information Society Division to implement all activities related to the

Africa Internet Exchange System;

• Perform any other duties assigned by the supervisor.

4. Qualifications and Experience Required

Advanced university Master degree in Telecommunications Engineering, Computer Science or Information Systems, Electrical/Electronic Engineering;

5. Professional experience required:

Prior experience of at least 8 years in planning, design and administering of Internet Exchange Points, including at least 3 years of direct relevant work experience in managerial position involving Internet Exchange Points

6. Other relevant skills:

• Certification relevant to Internet Exchange Points as part of continuous learning is an added advantage. Certification should demonstrate advanced qualifications and broad knowledge of technical aspects of Internet Exchange Points;

• Experience in project cycle management, especially monitoring and evaluation of ICT projects;

• Experience with procurement processes and regulations;

• Excellent drafting skills and reporting skills, written and oral;

• Good computer skills, proficient with project management applications including Microsoft Project;

• Language skills : fluency (spoken and written) in any of the African Union working languages. Proficiency in two (English and French) of the African Union working languages is an added advantage ;

• Knowledge of the African Union system is desirable.

Interpersonal skills:

• Work planning and organization ability;
• Problem solving ability;
• Diplomacy skills;
• Ability to establish and maintain excellent work relationships on all levels within a multicultural environment;

• Conscientiousness with respect to Results and Quality, Sense of Responsibility.


7. Expected Deliverables

• AXIS Project Implementation Plan using standard project management tool

• AXIS Project Monitoring & Evaluation Plan

• Dissemination & Publicity Strategy for the African Internet Exchange System

• AXIS Project Communication Plan

• Terms of Reference for Regional Internet Exchange Hubs and Continental
Internet Exchange System

• Terms of Reference for Regional Internet Carrier & Continental Internet Carrier

8. Language requirement

Proficiency in one of the African Union working languages is a requirement; Knowledge of one or more of the other AU working languages would be an added advantage.

8. Age requirement:

Candidates must preferably be between 30 and 45 years old.

9. Tenure of Appointment:

The appointment shall be for an initial period of One (1) years, the first three (3) months of which shall be on probation. It shall be renewable subject to performance , deliverables and availability of funds.

10. Gender Mainstreaming:

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

11. Remuneration: The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of US$74,538.17 inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 64,868.51 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff

Applications must be made through the AUC E-recruitment Website http://www.aucareers.org not later than 30th April 2012.

Directorate of Administration and Human Resource Management

African Union Commission

Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)