Project Officer - Meteorology Expert (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: Project Officer - Meteorology Expert (SEWA) (ARBE)

Req Id: 2828
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Reports to: SEWA Project Coordinator
Directorate/Department : Sustainable Environment & Blue Economy
Division : Sustainable Environment  
Number of Direct Reports: 0
Number of Indirect Reports: 0
Number of Positions: 1
Job Grade: P2

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 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 ranges;
  • Co-designed and delivered Impact-Based Forecast services 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

Main Functions

• The Policy Officer (Meteorology Expert) provides expertise in the development and use satellite-based meteorological products, services, and early warning information; makes technical follow-ups with the RCCs, NMHSs, DRR and early warning institutions, ECMWF, EUMETSAT and other technical institutions on AMSAF, meteorology (including AMSAF), forecasting, and early warning, and ensures smooth execution of technical work.
• The officer will also coordinate training activities related to the project to enhance capacity in the development and use of meteorological products and early warning at national, regional and continental levels.
• S/he will foster networks with the academia, and research and training institutions including, meteorological, DRR and early warning communities.
• The officer will also track and encouraging synergies with other relevant trainings proposed by other initiatives and organizations including RCCs, Copernicus, ECMWF, EUMETSAT, JRC, WMO, etc.

Specific Responsibilities
The policy officer in Meteorology will have the following responsibilities:

• Provide direct technical support to the SEWA Project Coordinator in advancing the implementation of the SEWA Programme including the preparation of relevant background technical documentations including presentations for the project related events and meetings, work plans, briefs, etc.;
• Support the Coordinator in liaising and working with SEWA technical implementing partners (EUMETSAT, ECMWF), Regional Climate Centres (RCCs), national Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and other relevant stakeholders on the implementation of technical aspects of the SEWA project
• Plan, implement and support climate services development, data and infrastructure, organization of continental meetings, cross-fertilization, climate services peer review activities, etc.
• Ensure the continuous functioning of sectoral User Interface Platforms (UIPs) and achievements under previous initiatives such as ClimSA;
• Provide technical support to AU member states in facilitating capacity building in the framework of the SEWA project
• Provide technical support to the implementation of the Integrated African Strategy on Meteorology (Weather, Water and Climate Services)
• Provide technical support to the Project coordinator for the establishment and operationalization of the governance of the African Meteorological Satellite Application Facility (AMSAF)
• Provide technical support for organization of High-level policy dialogues for climate and weather information and for strengthening strategic and institutional engagements;
• Plan and execute activities such as technical expert meetings and support organization of Program Advisory/Steering Committee meetings, the biennial African fora, international and African continental fora, AMSAF and AMCOMET meetings, and other relevant events on climate change, meteorology and environment;
• Support the development and operationalization of meteorological/climate data sharing policy at continental level;
• Co-design training plans, co-organise trainings and capacity building events for practitioners (through a gender balanced approach) in the entire space-based early warning value chain (from access to space data to delivery of impact-based forecasts);
• Prepare reports on technical actions in collaboration with the project coordinator and M&E Officer;
• Co-design of Impact Based (IBF) and warning tools for hydroclimatic hazards, as part of the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS) in line with relevant user community needs
• Support efforts in resource mobilization for sustainability of achievements of the SEWA projects;
• Perform any other related duties assigned by supervisor.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Candidates must have a Master’s degree in meteorology, climatology, climate science or related field and a minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience in one or more of the following areas: weather and climate services, utilization of space data for meteorological and climate applications at the level of the sub-region, countries, impacts, and forecasting of risks and disasters linked to climates;
  OR
• A Bachelor’s Degree in meteorology, climatology, climate science or related field and a minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience in one or more of the following areas: weather and climate services, utilization of space data for meteorological and climate applications at the level of the sub-region, countries, impacts, and forecasting of risks and disasters linked to climates;
• Experience in multi-stakeholder engagement with partners such as Regional Economic Communities, Regional Climate Centres, Member States, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), and Development agencies is required
• Proven experience in working with weather/Climate application centers and partners such us EUMETSAT, ECMWF and Regional Climate Centers (ACMAD, ICPAC, CAPC, SADC-CSC, AGHRYMET);
• Proven experience in extensive engagement with User engagement, early warning and strategic planning. 
• Experience in implementing weather and climate projects and strategies.

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:

• Change Management
• Managing Risk

Core Competencies:

• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Accountability awareness and Compliance
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with Influence

Functional Competencies:

• Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving
• Job Knowledge and Information Sharing
• Drive for Results
• Continuous Improvement Focus

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$ 85,212.07 (P2 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 66,751.81 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