Policy Officer - African Union

Job Title: Policy Officer, P2

Supervisor: Head, Partnerships Management and Coordination

Post Level: P2 step 1

Duty Station: Addis Ababa

1. Background

Confronted with the growing number of requests from prospective Partners to establish new arrangements for cooperation with Africa through the AU, the Executive Council, at its 12th Ordinary Session held in Addis Ababa in January 2007, and further to a report submitted by the Commission, adopted decision EX.CL/Dec.397(XII) which, among other things, requested the AU Commission to deploy necessary efforts to develop a new type of partnership in order to maximize mutual benefits and to earmark resources in the budget

Accordingly, the African Union Commission in implementing this directive has developed relations with different international Partners in different regions of the world, particularly with India; China; South Korea; Countries of South America, the European Union; Turkey; League of Arab States; the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC); Organization of American States (OAS); Commonwealth, la Francophonie, etc.

With the large number of existing Partnerships already in existence, and the growing number of those under consideration, as well those to be initiated, the Executive Council, at its 19th Ordinary Session held in Malabo in June 2011, adopted decision EX.CL/Dec.646(XIX) on Structural reforms. This decision requested the creation of the Division of Strategic Partnerships in the Office of the Chairperson of the Commission. In this regard, and under the supervision of the Senior Policy Officer, the Policy Offcicer will specifically perform the following duties:

2. Major duties and responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Head, Partnerships Management and Coordination, the job-holder will be required to perform the following duties:

Assist in the efficient implementation of the programmes and projects related to the Africa Strategic Partnerships and manage the activities related to those Partnerships;
Together with the PMCD team, lead the development and implementation of the Strategic Partnerships, and particularly:
- Assist in organizing Partnerships initiatives
- Generate leads and opening of far reaching conversations with key contacts
- Make new proposal and ensure that engagements with Partners are demand-driven
- Assist in the negotiation of Partnerships including review of Plan of Action
- Assist in making proposals on how to streamline and specialize the areas of cooperation with Partners
- Undertake continuous research on Africa’s needs/gaps as well as potential Partners to meet such needs and fill the gaps
- Maintain and update Partnerships contact;
- Identify best practice and incorporate new ideas for Strategic Partnerships building;
- Generate periodic reports of the activities undertaken in managing the Strategic Partnerships.

Assist/Oversee the information and data entry into the Partnership Management Information System (PMIS);
Generate and compile accurate reports in a timely manner for the PRC Sub-Committee on Multilateral Cooperation and the AU Commission’s internal use;
Follow-up on the implementation of activities resulting from those instruments;
Prepare the documentation for the work of the PRC and the Sub Committee on Multilateral Cooperation;
Liaise with the various Departments/Units of the Commission for coordination purposes as they relate to each Partnership;
Prepare annual work plan for the PMCD;
Prepare annual budget and follow up with budget implementation and submit reports as necessary;
Perform any other relevant duty/ responsibility assigned by the Head of Partnerships Management and Coordination.

3. Qualifications and Experience Required

A minimum of a University degree in the fields of Strategic Planning, Business Administration, Accounting or Economics;
A minimum of 5 years of work experience with strong background in strategic planning and programme/ project management; proven experience in budgeting and accounting will be an added advantage.
Excellent knowledge of the workings of international organizations and management skills.
Excellent interpersonal, drafting, report writing and communication skills;
Financial management and analytical skills in a Donor funded environment;
Good analytical capability and ability to pay attention to detail;
Leadership and organizational abilities;
Ability to work with limited supervision;
Capacity to work under pressure in a multicultural environment;
Working flexible hours to engage Partners in multiple time zones

4. Language requirement
Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (English, French, Arabic and Portuguese) is a must. Knowledge of one or all of the other working languages would be an added advantage.
5. Tenure of Appointment
The appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of three (3) years, of which the first twelve months will be considered a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of two years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance.
6. Gender Mainstreaming
The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.
7. Remuneration

Indicative basic salary of US $29,287.00 per annum (P2 Step1) plus other related entitlements e.g. Post Adjustment (46% of basic salary), Housing allowance ($14,414.40 per annum), 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 for internationally recruited staff and other allowances in accordance to the African Union Staff Regulations and Rules governing the employment of International Civil Servants of the Union.

8. Least Representative Countries
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. Application
Applications must be made through the AUC E-recruitment Websitehttp://www.aucareers.org not later than 9th July 2016.

Directorate of Administration and Human Resources Management
African Union Commission
Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
P.O. Box 3243
Fax: 00251-11-5525840/5510430
E-mail: au-recruits@africa-union.org