Policy Officer (Food Security and Nutrition)

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: POLICY OFFICER (FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION)!

The African Union, established as a unique Pan African continental body, is charged with spearheading Africa's rapid integration and sustainable development by promoting unity, solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among the peoples of Africa and African States as well as developing a New Partnership worldwide. Its Headquarters is located at Addis Ababa, capital city of Ethiopia.

In seeking to achieve these objectives, the African Union intends to strengthen its capacity to deliver, by amongst others, the implementation of its organizational structure and the filing of all vacant posts. The Commission of the African Union invites applicants who are citizens of Member States for the post of Policy Officer (Food Security and Nutrition).

1. Post:

Job title: Policy Officer (Food Security and Nutrition)

Post Level: P2

Duty Station: Addis Ababa

Immediate Supervisor: Senior Policy Officer (Agriculture and Food Security)

2. Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Senior Policy Officer (Agriculture and Food Security), the Policy Officer for Food Security and Nutrition is responsible for the following:

a. To coordinating and conducting studies and research related to Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition within the context of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) in Africa.

b. To formulating appropriate policies and plans of action and developing programmes and project proposals related to Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition by:

• Facilitating the improvement of African agricultural productivity including Ecological and Organic Agriculture; !' '

• Coordinating the commemoration of the Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security on an annual basis (October 30) and in the context of CAADP
• Strengthening cooperation on food security and bio-technology, within the framework of CAADP and other poverty eradication programmes;
• Facilitating the supply of improved seeds and planting material of high yielding staple food crops and Promote measures to reduce post-harvest loses in plants and animals;
• Promoting market access, SPS-relates issues and intra-African trade/common markets and Geographic indicators;
• Promoting Food safety and Rapid Alert on public food hygiene initiatives
• Building African capacities for forecasting and establishing early warning systems on food shortages, recurrence of droughts, etc.;

c. To implement, monitor, supervise and evaluate projects and programmes in Agriculture and Food Security;

d. To organize and service workshops, seminars and meetings;

e. To produce and submit periodic reports on activities and specific missions;

f. To perform any other duties that may be assigned

3. Qualifications and Experience Required:

Candidates must have a University Bachelor Degree in Agriculture, Food Security, Animal Production, Crop science and Agricultural Extension/Rural Development. Higher qualification will be add advantage.

4. Professional experience required:

Candidates must have at least five (5) years of progressively relevant experience in Agricultural Policy & Strategy formulation.

5. Other Relevant skills:

• Must be computer literate;
• Working knowledge of policy analysis and development and programme/project management, implementation and monitoring;
• Management experience, excellent interpersonal skills, ability to organize and motivate others, and to work in a multi-cultural environment;
• Excellent drafting and reporting skills;
• Good communication and negotiation skills;
• Good planning and organizational skills.

6. Language Requirement:

Proficiency in one of the African Union working languages. Knowledge of other working languages would be an added advantage.

7. Tenure of Appointment:

The appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of three (3) years, of with the first twelve months will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of two years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.

8. Candidates from the following least represented countries are encouraged to apply: Eretria, Central African Republic, Cape Verde, Comoros, Congo (DRC), Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Mauritania, Namibia, Sahrawi Arab Republic, SaoTome and Principe, Seychelles and Somalia.

9. Gender Mainstreaming:

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

10. Remuneration::

Indicative basic salary of US$ 29,287.00 per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment (46% of basic salary), Housing allowance 14,414.40' perineum), education allowance (75% of tuition and other education related expenses for every eligible dependent up to a maximum of US$7,800.00 per child per annum), etc for internationally recruited staff of the Commission.

Applications must be made through the AUC E-recruitment Website http://www.aucareers.org not later than 12th May 2014.

Directorate of Administration and Human Resource Management African Union Commission