Junior Program Officer - IPR (AfCFTA) 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: Junior Program Officer - IPR (AfCFTA)

Requisition ID: 1742
Location: Accra, Ghana
Contract Type: Regular 
Reports to: Head of Division-Intellectual Property Rights
Directorate / Department / Organ: Directorate of Trade in Services, Investment, Intellectual Property Rights, and Digital Trade (AfCFTA)
Number of Direct Reports: 0
Number of Indirect Reports: 0
Job Grade: P1

Purpose of Job

• The role would be to assist in the daily operations of the Division and the implementation of policies, projects and programmes related to intellectual property rights (IPRs) at the AfCFTA Secretariat working closely with senior staff in order to achieve the overall goals of the Division and the Directorate.

Main Functions

• Assist in the daily operations of the Division
• Assist in the implementation of policies, projects and programmes related to intellectual property rights (IPRs) within the AfCFTA.
• Assist in the planning, scheduling and participating in meetings, workshops, trainings and seminars as a resource person.

Specific Responsibilities

• Develop a database of the focal points of State Parties and non-State Parties;
• Participate as a resource in meetings of AfCFTA institutions, in particular meetings of the Committee on IPRs and other capacity building workshops;
• Circulate information and documents to State and Non-State Parties or participants of any meetings, workshops, trainings and seminars held by the Division
• Assist with scheduling of institutional meetings related to IPRs;
• Maintain and disseminate an up-to-date schedule of all current and future meetings of all levels of the AfCFTA negotiations on IPRs;
• Assist with the translation and interpretation services arrangements;
• Develop mechanisms for evaluating the impact of meetings and trade capacity workshops;
• Assist in scheduling meetings of the Division, including the preparation of memos and budget;
• Carry out any other tasks, as may be assigned by the Head of Division as may become necessary, including working on a range of issues to enhance links between the Division and other Divisions in the Directorate
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the Supervisor

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in International Trade, Development Economics, International Relations, International Business, International Law, Political Science or relevant disciplines with 2 years of relevant experience

Required Skills:

• Ability to work in a multicultural environment;
• Ability to work independently to meet critical and competing deadlines (multi-tasking), to produce high quality work in short timeframes;
• Excellent interpersonal/teamwork skills,
• Must be computer literate with a working knowledge of common computer applications and systems;
• Excellent drafting, reporting, communication and presentation skills.
• Strong program/project management skills
• Strong analytical skills
• Excellent planning and organizing skills
• Ability to liaise with a diverse range of people and stakeholders;
• Proficiency in one of the African Union working languages. Proficiency of two or more of the other working language(s) would be an added value.
• Applicants must be proficient in one of the African Union working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese or Spanish). Knowledge of one more or several other working languages would be an added advantage.

Leadership Competencies:

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

Core Competencies:

• Teamwork and Collaboration;
• Accountable and Complies with Rules..
• Learning Orientation...

Functional Competencies:

• Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving
• Job Knowledge and information sharing
• Drive for Results.

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 USD25,523.00 (P1 Step1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment ( 57% of basic salary), Housing allowance US$  21,832.68 (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
19th May, 2023.