NORCAP is the Norwegian Refugee Council’s expert deployment mechanism. NORCAP strengthens international and local partners’ capacity to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from crisis by deploying highly qualified women and men from its world leading standby rosters. The deployed experts work with UN agencies, humanitarian organisations, development actors and national stakeholders to save lives, build resilient communities, ensure peaceful transitions from conflict and promote sustainable governance.

This position is for applicants with citizenship from member states of AU only. 

ORGANISATION BACKGROUND

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 in Addis Ababa, capital city of Ethiopia.

In seeking to achieve these objectives, the African Union intends to strengthen its capacity to deliver by, among others, the implementation of new organisation structure and the filling of regular, fixed and short-term vacant posts.

The Commission of the African Union invites applicants who are citizens of Member States for the regular post of Expert in decentralisation and local governance of the STC No 8 in the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the African Union Commission (AUC), located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Governance and AU-Specialised Technical Committee on Public Service, Local Governance, Urban Development and Decentralisation is a Unit within the Governance and Conflict Prevent Directorate (GCP) of the African Union Commission. It aims to contribute the overall mandate of the GCP, to “contribute to the emergence of a political environment within and among African countries as well as at the international level that is conducive to bringing about sustainable development and accelerating economic integration”. The mandate of the Governance and STC No 8 Secretariat of the GCP includes:

• Develop, promote and implement the African Union integration agenda and vision in the areas of Public Service, Local Government, Urban Development and Decentralisation;
• Contributing to attaining the AU developmental goals through unfolding processes of modernisation and reform of Public Service and Administration in Africa through supporting Member States Strengthening Public Service and Administration System with focus on combatting bureaucratic corruption to ensure transparency and accountable governance and Effective Service Delivery to all Citizens on the Continent;
• Developing a common understanding of the important role of Decentralisation and local governance in democratic and development processes, and to put in place harmonised tools that support means of overcoming related challenges within the Continent
• Promoting of sustainable development of human settlements in Africa, as well as the continental vehicle for Governments to improve African cities, enabling them to realise their full potential as centers of economic growth, inclusive development and prosperity
• Establishes a collective understanding of AU policies and other efforts that are necessary at the continental, regional and national levels on effective local governance;
• Leading in articulating perspectives on local and continental interventions that will be necessary for the AUC in the process for Public Service and enabling African governments to improve African Cities and enable them to realise their full potential as centres for economic growth, inclusive development and prosperity
• Contributing to the promotion and realisation of the AU’s vision and objectives
• Assuming functions referred to it by other AU organs.

The Department of Political Affairs, Peace and security through the Directorate for Governance and Conflict Prevention in the AU Commission currently hosts the AU-STC No 8 Secretariat. Following the revised Maputo decisions on the structure of the Executive Council of the African Union to strengthen its capacity to deliver on its mandate, the AU Commission seeks to appoint an Expert in Decentralisation and Local Governance to support the effective delivery of the Units strategic programmes on this specific portfolio.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Governance and STC No 8 Secretariat, the Political Officer will contribute to the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Governance and STC programme activities. The incumbent shall work towards promoting and implementing activities under good governance, Housing, Urban Development and Human Settlement.

The Senior Policy Officer of the Governance Unit/ STC No 8 Secretariat will:

• Provide Technical assistance of the STC Number 8 on Public, Local Governance, Urban Development and Decentralisation (AU-STC No 8) Sub Committee on
• Develop Resource’s Mobilisation Strategy for the advocacy for the entry into force of the African Charter on Values and Principles of Decentralisation and Local Governance and Local Development implementation and its implementations programs
• Ensure the promotion of decentralisation, local government/authority and local development on the continent through the use of the African Charter on Decentralisation, Local Government and Local Development;
• Support the delivery of the technical objectives of the Sub Committee on Decentralisation and Local Governance assigned to him/her for the implementation of sectorial work plans and the initiation of advisory opinions and policy papers within their thematic area.
• Serve as the focal point for STC No 8 Decentralisation and Local Governance Sub Committee, and at this end, engage stakeholders within Members States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs)/Regional Mechanisms (RMs) and relevant international organisations in designing and implementing strategies
• Provide advice on STC No 8 issues to various stakeholders, including input into official communications, organising seminars, workshops and other related activities in the field of Decentralisation, Local Governance and Local Development;
• Assist in planning, preparing and implementing programme activities relating to the AU-STC Number 8, specifically Decentralisation, Local Governance and Local Development;
• Assist in the STC’S linkages with the AU Commission, STC Sub-committee on Decentralisation, Local Governance and Local Development; and other AU Organs
• Support programme activities including ratification and implementation of the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Decentralisation, Local Governance and Local Development;
• Support the Operationalisation of the AU High Council of Local Authorities that will ensure that the needs and aspirations of the African peoples at the local level are translated in the policies and strategies of the Union and that such policies and strategies of the Union are owned and implemented at the local level
• Ensure appropriate management of the programme budgets & resources whilst ensuring maximum cost-effectiveness in the implementation of all the project activities.
• Prepare reports, speaking notes, briefs, draft decisions and resolutions and assist in the preparation and organisation of meetings, conferences and consultation on Decentralisation, Local Governance and Local Development;
• Undertake policy analysis and research on regional or global developments within their thematic area for the purposes of initiating policy papers and/technical advisory opinions for the policy organs of the African
• Perform other duties as may be assigned.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION & WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• A Master’s degree in Decentralisation, or Governance and Development, Law, International Relations, Political sciences, Sociology or any other relevant and related field from a recognised University.
• At least 7-10 years of work experience in a similar role, ideally in a regional or international organisations, with demonstrable skills in policy analysis, design and implementation of Decentralisation, local development programs.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES REQUIREMENTS

Functional Skills and Competencies:

• Conversant with the AU-STC No 8 operations and procedures within the Department of Political Affairs framework and the African Union Commission in general.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills; both verbal and written.
• Strong ability to work closely with a multiplicity of AU Organs and Member States across various levels.
• Good understanding of key trends in international development.
• Proven ability to solve complex project issues through analysis, definition and a clear way forward.

Personal Abilities:

• Strong ability to work in a team setup.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to set priorities successfully, and work with other professionals to achieve goals within tight deadlines.
• Ability to work and deliver high quality outcome in a complex environment with multiple tasks, short deadlines and pressure to perform.
• Very good computer application skills (MS-Word, MS-Excel, MS-PowerPoint and other office.

 LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Candidate must be Proficient in English and/or French. Proficiency in one or more other working language(s) of the AU will be an added advantage.

TENURE OF APPOINTMENT

The appointment will be made on fixed term contract for a period of two (2) years, of which the first twelve months shall be considered as probationary period. Thereafter, the contract will be renewed for a period of one more year , subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.  The current arrangements are not providing entitlements for the dependents.

HOW TO APPLY

Kindly submit your CV and application in English and include your full name as written in your passport.

To be taken into consideration it is required that you build a CV in our recruitment system by completing your personal information, education, professional work history, language skills, and other relevant sections in the fields available.

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. We work in crises across more than 31 countries, providing emergencies and long-term assistance to millions of people every year. We stand up for people forced to flee, advocating their rights. NORCAP, our global provider of expertise, helps improve international and local ability to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from crises. NRC also runs the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre in Geneva, a global leader in reporting on and advocating for people displaced within their own country.

Employment with NRC may lead to employment in or deployment to Regions, Countries, Areas or Offices that may be host to considerable health, safety and security risks. NRC takes this very seriously and we have procedures in place to reduce known risks, but will never be able to take away all risks.