Senior Policy Officer - Climate Services at the African Union (AU)

The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999).  We are an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Policy Officer - Climate Services

Requisition ID: 366
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Reports to: ClimSA/GFCS Project Coordinator
Directorate: Sustainable Environment & Blue Economy Directorate / Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (DARBE)
Division: Sustainable Environment
Job Grade: P3

Purpose of Job

• The African Union Commission (AUC) has secured funding from the European Union for the implementation of the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) through the Intra-ACP Climate Services and Related Application (ClimSA) programme.
• The programme addresses the issue of climate information throughout the entire supply chain of climate services covering generation and provision of climate services, access to information, user interface platforms, and capacity enhancement of critical players including, but not limited to, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) of Member States, and Regional Climate Centres (RCCs).
• It aims to enable Member States to develop and incorporate science-based climate information and prediction into development planning and decision-making at all levels, and to better manage risks of climate variability and change, Furthermore, it enhances policy and decision-making at continental, regional, national, community, and individual levels.
• The AUC is responsible for the overall continental coordination of the programme implementation, which includes the development and application of weather and climate information services; facilitation of capacity building for RECs and Member States; fostering sharing of best practices and coordinating knowledge management; procurement and supply of equipment for Member States and Regional Climate Centres; establishing and operationalization of the continental monitoring and reporting framework; facilitation of preparation of Africa State of Climate Reports and Outlooks; prudent management of financial resources; and monitoring and evaluation.

Main Functions
The Senior Policy Officer (Climate Services) Shall:

• Provide technical expertise in the development and application of weather and climate services to RECs, RCCs, and Member States. 
• Assist the Project Coordinator in facilitating the development and incorporation of timely and reliable science-based climate information and prediction into development planning and decision-making at continental, regional, and national levels.
• Make technical follow-ups with the RCCs on service development, application, and delivery in the priority areas of agriculture and food security, disaster risk reduction, energy, forestry, health, water and others, and ensures smooth execution of technical work related to the project.
• Facilitate definition of technical specifications for equipment supplied to member States for timely generation, access, and dissemination of weather and climate information services.
• Assist in promotion of better management of risks of climate variability and change.
• Ensure effective technical coordination and implementation across RECs.

Specific Responsibilities

• Provide direct technical support to the Programme Coordinator in advancing the implementation of the ClimSA Programme including preparation of policy briefs and supporting RCCs in the preparation of the Africa State of Climate Report.
• Provide technical support to RCCs in the development of climate services and implementation of regional ClimSA/GFCS projects paying special attention to the ECCAS Regional Climate Centre.
• Support the development of technical specifications for infrastructure for weather and climate data access, processing, and dissemination and well as ToRs for specific technical consultancies for the project.
• Provide technical support to RCCs on the process of obtaining designation as WMO recognized Regional Climate Centres (with particular focus on the newly established ECCAS Regional Climate Centre).
• Liaise and work with technical experts from RCCs, the technical assistance team, and relevant stakeholders on the implementation of technical aspects of the programme including climate services development, data and infrastructure, organization of the continental fora, technical expert meetings, cross-fertilization, climate services peer review activities, etc.
• Ensure establishment and functioning of sectoral User Interface Platforms (UIPs)
• Establish the Climate Services Information Systems (CSIS) and the Climate Data Management System (CDMS) and support RCCs in the same
• Support the Programme Coordinator in preparation of project reports, policy briefs, and other technical project documents. 
• Prepare reports on technical actions in collaboration with the Senior M&E Officer
• Plans and implements cross-fertilisation and peer review actions
• Support RCCs on the implementation of sub-regional ClimSA projects.
• Coordinate and/or prepare relevant background technical documentations including presentations for the ClimSA project related events and meetings.
• Plan and execute activities such as Technical expert meetings and support organization of Program Advisory/Steering Committee meetings, international and African continental fora, and other relevant events on climate change, meteorology and environment;
• In collaboration with the Training Officer, facilitate development and delivery of relevant training in climate services, data, infrastructure, etc.
• Take part in the planning and execution of other events within the division and directorate;
• Perform any other related duties assigned by supervisor.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Candidates must have a Master’s degree in Climatology / Climate Science, Meteorology and related fields with 7 (seven) years of progressively responsible relevant work experience or
• A Bachelor’s Degree in the above fields of study with ten (10) years of progressively responsible relevant work experience.
• The candidate must have at least three (3) years supervisory experience. 
• Candidates must have a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience at expert level in one or more of the following areas: weather and climate services, and meteorology involving multi-stakeholders such as Regional Economic Communities, Regional Climate Centres, Member States, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), and Development Partners. 
• Experience in GIS and Remote Sensing would be an added advantage.
• Proven engagement with RECs with good knowledge of their roles in relevant sector.
• Candidates must have a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience at expert level in one or more of the following areas: weather and climate services, and meteorology involving multi-stakeholders such as Regional Economic Communities, Regional Climate Centres, Member States, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), and Development Partners. 
• Experience in GIS and Remote Sensing would be an added advantage.
• Proven experience in extensive engagement with knowledge on the roles of RECs in relevant sector.

Required Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal skills 
• Sound planning and organizational skills
• Ability to negotiate diplomatically
• Ability to delegate the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority with regard to performance management and professional development 
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages, fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Insight
• Developing others
• Change Management
• Managing Risk

Core Competencies:

• Building Relationship
• Foster Accountability Culture
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with Influence

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual thinking
• Job Knowledge and information sharing
• Drive for result
• Continuous improvement orientation

Tenure of Appointment:

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

Gender Mainstreaming:

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

Remuneration

• The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of US$  96,921.34  (P3 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 78,461.08 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.

Application Closing Date
9th June, 2021.