Head, Social Welfare, Drug Control & Crime Prevention 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 Organization 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: Head, Social Welfare, Drug Control & Crime Prevention

Requisition ID: 1325
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Contract Type: Regular 
Reports to: Director, Social Development, Culture and Sports
Directorate / Department: Social Development, Culture and Sports
Division: Social Development, Culture and Sports
Job Grade: P5
Number of Direct Reports: 3
Number of Indirect Reports: 4

Purpose of Job

• To provide strategic leadership for the design of strategies and policies relevant to the Division and engagement of relevant stakeholders, supervise and manage Division activities.

Main Functions

• Supervises and manages the employees of the division with regard to organisation and performance evaluation.
• Manages the work of the Division and supervise direct reports to ensure their effective performance as per organization’s performance management policy and system;
• Designs strategies and policies consistent with the Department’s goal in order to address the pertinent issues in the relevant area;
• Contributes to the development of the departmental business continuity plan and ensure implementation at division level;
• Manages risk within the division and recommend mitigation strategies
• Designs and plans policy programs to achieve the strategies;
• Develops new and review activities as components of the strategies and policies;
• Addresses problems in arising to current approaches to relevant area.
• Engages stakeholders within Members States and RECs in designing and implementing strategies;
• Represents the organisation and explains its position at conferences;
• Mobilises funding from all donors to use to execute strategies and activities.
• Contributes to the preparation of periodic financial and budget execution reports and monitor budget execution at division level.
• Creates an inspiring work environment to enable staff development and professional progression.

Specific Responsibilities

• Initiates the preparation and formulation of appropriate programs, policies and strategies related to Social Welfare, Vulnerable Groups, Drug Control and Crime Prevention in Members States and in monitoring their implementation within Member States;
• Prepares programmes and budget proposals, project and funding proposals and relating to programmes of the Division;
• Sets direction for Division’s activities, plans, priorities, and workflows and facilitate communication and cooperation in the Division and with other Divisions in the Department;
• Monitors operational activities and programme implementation in terms of expenditure and substance and prepare progress reports with recommendations for corrective action to the Director when necessary. Ensure delivery of activities;
• Analyzes and monitors all aspects of Social Welfare, Vulnerable Groups, Drug Control and Crime Prevention and provide expertise, policy advice and technical leadership within the DSA and AUC;
• Advocates for and sensitizes Member States and other stakeholders on commitments of Heads of State and Government to Social Welfare, Vulnerable Groups, Drug Control and Crime Prevention;
• Prepares and manages Ministerial Conferences and other meetings and activities including the preparation of documents and reports;
• Promotes, coordinates and harmonizes the activities and programmes of the sectors/units within the Division and with relevant departments of the Commission;
• Studies and analyzes problem situations and major trends and plan and harmonize related programmes and issues in Members States as well as global commitments in relation to programme areas within the Division;
• Represents the Department in all meetings and activities related to Social Welfare, Vulnerable Groups, Drug Control and Crime Prevention and report back on issues discussed and on action required;
• Supports the Director in enhancing cooperation and collaboration with relevant departments of the Commission, Member States, UN Agencies, AU partners, specialized institutions and Non-Governmental organizations (NGO’s) and other relevant organizations;
• Promotes African and International regional cooperation in collaboration with Member States, RECs and inter-governmental organizations, NGOs particularly in implementing decisions and AU Plans of Action;
• Ensures overall management of the Division; including staffing issues, performance, quality assurance, grievance and manage budget;
• Produces and submits periodic reports on activities including specific missions and progress reports on the implementation of various policy instruments and decisions on Social Welfare, Vulnerable Groups, Drug Control and Crime Prevention;
• Performs any other related duties as may be assigned.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Master’s Degree in Development Studies, Sociology, Community Development, or any relevant Social Science discipline with 12 years post qualification working experience, Seven (7) of which should have been obtained at managerial level and 4 years at supervisory level.

Required Skills:

• Ability to initiate and promote collaborative approaches between geographically and culturally disparate partners
• Ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations both internally and externally
• Ability to develop and delegate clear program goals, plans and actions, including budgets, that are consistent with agreed strategies
• Ability to effectively lead, supervise, mentor, develop and evaluate staff
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages, fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Perspective
• Developing Others
• Change Management
• Managing Risk.

Core Competencies:

• Building relationships
• Foster Accountability Culture
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with impact.

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual thinking
• Job Knowledge Sharing
• Drive for Results
• Fosters Innovation.

Tenure of Appointment

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

Languages:

• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish) and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

Remuneration

• Indicative basic salary of US$  50,746.00 (P5 Step1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment ( 46% of basic salary), Housing allowance US$  26,208.00   (per annum), and education allowance (100% of tuition and other education-related expenses for every eligible dependent up to a maximum of US$ 10,000.00 per child per annum), for internationally recruited staff and a maximum of $3,300 per child per annum for locally recruited staff.

Application Closing Date
26th September, 2022.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Gender Mainstreaming

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