Programme Coordinator (SEWA) (ARBE) at 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: Programme Coordinator (SEWA) (ARBE)

Req Id: 2827
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Reports to: Head, Sustainable Environment Division
Directorate/Department : Sustainable Environment & Blue Economy
Division : Sustainable Environment  
Number of Direct Reports: 3
Number of Indirect Reports: 0
Number of Positions: 1
Job Grade: P3

Purpose of Job

• The African Union Commission (AUC) has secured funding from the European Union for the implementation of the Space for Early Warning in Africa (SEWA) project.
• The main objective of SEWA is to enhance the capacity of AU Member States to produce and deliver space-based services and applications, data and information, for early warning systems related to hazardous weather or climate events.
• The AUC is responsible for the overall continental coordination of the project, which has five outputs: 
  • Improved access to, processing, applicability and use of Earth Observation (EO) data, with a focus on meteorological data, and Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) products and services for Early Warning; 
  • Established and operated African Meteorological Satellite Application Facility (AMSAF), including possible support for forecasting capabilities at different temporal and spatial scales; 
  • Co-designed and delivered Impact-Based Forecast services, products and tools; 
  • Enhanced coordination with institutional framework for hazardous weather and climate Early Warning and shared knowledge across regions; and 
  • Strengthened human capacities, knowledge and community shaping across the Early Warning value chain with a focus on space-based data and technologies. To implement the SEWE project, AUC seeks to recruit a project coordinator to manage the initiative on the continent.

Main Functions

• Under the line supervision of Head, the Programme Coordinator heads the team and ensures overall management of the programme.
• The officer has the major duty to oversee day-to-day management, coordination, and implementation of the programme ensuring linkage to AU policies and strategies in meteorology, disaster risk reduction, early warning.
• The coordinator is expected to supervises staff under the programme and strengthen partnerships with partners.
• As the programme focal person, the coordinator leads preparation of reports for the monitoring and evaluation of the action’s activities; updates and develops information notes for AU policy and decision-making organs; makes sure that all efforts are executed in accordance with expected outputs and aligned with the relevant policies, rules and commitments of the AU while ensuring harmony with Regional Economic Communities (RECs) policies and strategies; maintains collaboration with other stakeholders including Regional Climate Centres (RCCs), National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) community, early warning partners, relevant EC offices (i.e. DG-INTPA, EU Delegation to the AU, Copernicus, JRC, ECMWF, etc.), EUMETSAT and programme leaders in RCCs.

Specific Responsibilities

• Ensure day-to-day management and implementation of the Space for early Warning in Africa (SEWA) project
• Ensure coordination of the implementation of actions in the framework of SEWA project including the preparation of project updates, policy briefs and management of the project, annual workplans, budgets and reports (both financial and narrative), 
• Ensure the organization of SEWA project governance meetings (Steering committees, preparation of project documents)
• Facilitate establishment and implementation of governance arrangements of the African Meteorological Satellite and Application Facility (AMSAF)
• Coordinate with SEWA implementing partners (ECMWF, EUMETSAT, AfSA) and ensure complementarity and synergy of actions
• Support the establishment and implementation of high-level platforms to promote and strengthen weather and climate policy such as high-level policy dialogues on weather, climate and early warnings
• Maintain sound working relations with other SEWA implementing entities
• Promote synergy building and complementarity with related initiatives including ClimSA, DRR, AMHEWAS, GMES&Africa, etc.
• Support the use of Earth Observation (EO) data and application, and development of products and services for Early Warning in Member States. 
• Support training of Member states experts and knowledge sharing across the Early Warning value chain, space-based data technologies and applications and tools.
• Strengthen of co-designing and co-production of impact-based services and products at continental, regional and national levels;
• Support the implementation of the Integrated African Strategy on Meteorology (Weather, Water and Climate Services)
• Coordinate the development , validation, adoption and implementation of the data sharing policy for improving climate information and early warning;
• Ensure Coordination of activities with RECs, RCCs, AU Member States and partners in the framework of the SEWA project
• Coordinate the project actions on capacity building of Member Stat
• Support the Directorate in resource mobilization and partnership for sustainability of achievements of SEWA and ClimSA projects
• Perform any other related duties assigned by the Programme Coordinator.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience
Candidates must have :

• A Master’s degree in Climate sciences, Meteorological Sciences, Environmental Science, Atmospheric Physics, Disaster Risk Management or other related fields and seven (7) years of progressively relevant work experience at expert level, in the areas of environmental management, weather and climate services, meteorology , or Disaster Risk Management involving multi-stakeholders such as Regional Economic Communities, Regional Climate Centres, Member States, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), and Development Partners.
  OR
• Bachelor’s Degree in the above fields with ten (10) years progressively relevant work experience stated above.
• At least three (3) years out of total years of experience must be at a supervisory level.
• Proven experience and extensive engagement with knowledge on the roles of RECs, RCCs, NMHSs in the relevant sector.
• Additional experiencing in managing a project would be an asset. 
• Experience in coordinating/liasing with the project implementing partners (ECMWF, EUMETSAT, JRC, Regional Climate Centers (RCCs) and NMHSs;
• Good knowledge of the space data for meteorological and climate applications at the level of the sub-region, countries, impacts, and forecasts of risks and disasters linked to climates;
• Substantial experience tracking, monitoring, and evaluating progress in implementing early warning systems initiatives across the continent.

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
• Policy development and analysis 
• 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
• Accountable and Complies with Rules
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with Influence

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual Thinking
• Job Knowledge and Information Sharing
• Drive for Results
• Continuous Improvement Orientation

Tenure Of Appointment

• The Appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of one (1) year, of which the first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract may be renewed for a similar period subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance and agreed deliverables.

Language:

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

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
22nd October, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online