About the Organization
The United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) was created in 2010 to strengthen the United Nations' interaction with the African Union. UNOAU is mandated to contribute to enhancing the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union in the area of peace and security, provide coordinated and consistent United Nations advice to the African Union on both long-term capacity-building and short-term operational support, and streamline the United Nations presence in Addis Ababa to be more cost-effective and efficient in delivering United Nations assistance to the African Union. UNOAU plays a key role in the implementation of the Joint UN-AU Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security, signed by the United Nations Secretary-General and Chairperson of the African Union Commission on 19 April 2017. This position is located at the IOPS Section at UNOAU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Within delegated authority, incumbent of the post reports to the Director Political Affairs.
Job Summary
Serve as the focal point on overall peace support operations (PSOs) planning and strategic advice, as well as technical support to the African Union (AU).
Key Responsibilities
Coordinate and supervise the activities of the Institutional and Operational Partnerships Service in the delivery of expert advice and technical support to the AU in military and police operations, mine action, security-related matters, mission support planning, training, security sector reform (SSR) and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR), ensuring that such support is effectively integrated and mutually reinforcing, and that there is coherence, consistency, enhanced planning and coordination in the support to the AU.
Ensure that operational outputs are translated into inputs for strategic decision-making in the planning, deployment, management, and liquidation of ongoing AU peace support operations (PSOs) within the framework of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), particularly the African Standby Force (ASF).
Provide overall guidance in operationalizing the necessary financing mechanisms and support processes for AU PSOs and their corollary oversight mechanisms.
Manage day-to-day interaction with the AU on peacekeeping-related matters and maintain coordination with Member States, the European Union, United Nations partners, regional and sub-regional organizations, donors, and other relevant stakeholders in this area.
Provide strategic leadership/management necessary for a clear vision and oversight to ensure that all operational activities are underpinned by political imperative.
Contribute to strategic level political and operational engagement with the African Union, RECs/RMs and its partners on peace and security issues in Africa, and ensure adequate reporting to and coordination with UN Headquarters and other United Nations system entities.
Assist in strengthening the strategic and operational coordination between the AU, partners, and the UN system on issues related to the development of the ASF, within the framework of the African Peace and Security Architecture, and ongoing AU PSOs.
Provide policy guidance to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, through the Deputy Head of Office/Director, Political Affairs on development and implementation of strategies, by monitoring and analysing developments in the AU PSOs, SSR and DDR, identifying significant trends and their impact on the AU-UN partnership in peace and security, as well as through coordination with relevant components of UNOAU; and the provision of timely and accurate analyses, reports, background papers, briefing notes, talking points and other required documents.
Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with relevant UN PKOs and SPMs in Africa, with relevant Departments at UNHQ, including the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), Peace Operations (DPO) and Operational Support (DOS), as well as other UN entities and partners, with a view to harmonized approaches between the AU and UN on issues of common interest and coordinated and consistent United Nations support to AU PSOs.
Coordinate the preparation of inputs and reporting for results-based budgeting and evaluation of staff performance for the Service, as well as participating in recruitment and selection of new staff.
Oversee the development and implementation of partnership strategies and work plans with the AU and other partners.
Provide programmatic and substantive reviews of drafts, contributing to the reporting to intergovernmental bodies on budget/programme performance or on programmatic/substantive issues, as appropriate.
Required Qualifications
Education
Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in management studies, social sciences, public administration, military studies or related area.
A first-level university degree in combination with four additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
At least fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in political affairs, military, police, public or business administration is required.
Experience in planning and providing strategic advice is required.
Operational experience with a peacekeeping or peace enforcement or peace support mission is required.
Relevant experience within the United Nations system and/or in another organization on peace and security matters, is desirable.
A proven track record of leadership and management in multicultural settings, including coordination of interdisciplinary teams is required.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required.
Required language levels for English: Reading UN Level IV, Writing UN Level IV, Listening UN Level IV, Speaking UN Level IV.
Required Skills and Competencies
Professionalism
Shows pride in work and in achievements.
Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter with strong knowledge of United Nations system, in particular the United Nations work in peacekeeping and institutional knowledge of the work of the African Union, including the strategic partnership between the AU and the UN.
Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results.
Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns.
Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges.
Remains calm in stressful situations.
Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
Planning & Organizing
Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies.
Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required.
Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work.
Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning.
Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary.
Uses time efficiently.
Client Orientation
Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view.
Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect.
Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions.
Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems.
Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects.
Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
Leadership
Serves as a role model that other people want to follow.
Empowers others to translate vision into results.
Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives.
Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support.
Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions.
Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo.
Shows the courage to take unpopular stands.
Judgement and Decision Making
Identify the key issues in a complex situation and comes to the heart of the problem quickly.
Gathers relevant information before making a decision.
Considers positive and negative impacts on others and on the organization.
Proposes a course of action or recommendation based on all available information.
Checks assumptions against facts.
Determines that the action proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision.
Makes tough decisions when necessary.