Administrative Assistant (ACERWC) at African Union

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: Administrative Assistant (ACERWC)

Requisition ID: 2886
Location: Maseru, Lesotho
Reports to: Deputy Executive Secretary
Directorate / Department / Organ: African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC)
Number of Direct Reports: 0
Number of Indirect Reports: 0
Job Grade: GSA5
Number of Positions: 1
Contract Type: Regular

Purpose of Job

• The African Union, established as a unique Pan African continental body, is charged with spearheading Africa’s rapid integration and sustainable development by promoting unity, solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among the peoples of Africa and African States as well as developing a new partnership worldwide.
• Its headquarters is located in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia. In seeking to achieve these objectives, the African Union invites applicants who are citizens of Member States for the post of Administrative Assistant at the Secretariat of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC/the Committee). 
• The ACERWC is a human rights organ of the AU with the mandate to promote and protect the rights and welfare of children in Africa.
• The Committee was established by the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU), by virtue of Article 32 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (The African Children’s Charter) to monitor the implementation of the Charter.
• In view of the above background, the AU invites qualified and competent applicants who are citizens of Member States of the African Union with relevant skills, competencies and experiences to submit their applications for the position of Administrative Assistant at the Secretariat of the ACERWC based in Maseru, the Kingdom of Lesotho.
• The Administrative Assistant shall provide required support on administrative, clerical and office management matters to the Office of the Deputy Secretary of ACERWC and the Organ  at large and facilitate the smooth functioning of the ACERWC.

Main Functions

• Provide timely operational and administrative support 
• Assist in activity planning
• Prepare operational work schedules and follow up implementation  
• Coordinate and/or engage in technical assistance and/or logistical work
• Assist in the creation, improvement and maintenance of operational processes and systems
• Prepare office communication and draft reports.
• Handle communication at operational level and provide update 
• Assist in the compilation and maintenance of data and information for preparation, implementation and monitoring of budgets, activities etc

Specific Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support to the Executive Office and Units of the ACERWC; 
• Undertake all administrative matters relating to the organisation of meetings, seminars, workshops and conferences organized under ACERWC at large, including securing and arranging meeting venues, compiling participants’ invitations and confirmation of attendance, arranging participants’ travel, and other administrative arrangements; 
• Organise all travel related to the work of ACERWC including fact finding missions, follow up missions and similar activities which require travel arrangements;
• Assist the Officers in the timely preparation of relevant papers and documents for meetings, seminars, workshops and conferences, and in the finalization of related reports; 
• Undertake administrative action related to the procurement of equipment and services including preparation of purchase orders, contracts for consultants, related payment requests, and monitoring and follow-up on such requests; 
• Liaise with partner agencies on relevant administrative and financial matters; 
• Draft and finalise correspondence, reports and documents and ensuring correctness of style and compliance with AU procedures and standards; 
• Organise both incoming and outgoing correspondence, including the establishment of a physical and electronic log/registry system and filing; 
• Manage correspondence for priority action, notification of deadlines and acting on routine matters; 
• Assist the office with the drafting of memorandum and letters 
• Arrange and maintain calendar of appointments and preparing travel plans for missions; 
• Maintain contact lists
• Perform other tasks as required. 

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• A Diploma in Secretarial Science, Administration, Office Management or similar fields with at least three (3) years relevant work experience in a Government, private sector or international organisations;
  OR
• A Bachelor Degree in Secretarial Science, Administration, Office Management or similar / relevant fields of study, with at least two (2) years of relevant work experience in a Government, private sector or international organisations;
• Higher academic qualification will be an added advantage.
• Previous experience with an organization working on human rights issues, especially a child rights organization, at a regional, continental or international level, will be an added advantage.
• Relevant exposure to the work of the ACERWC and the African Union will be an advantage. 
• Experience in diplomatic institutions as well as work exposure at international level and within international development agencies 

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to use clear, concise language in correspondence as well as including content fitting for the purpose and audiences when preparing written briefs and reports;
• Attention to detail and ability to work effectively under pressure;
• Very good planning and organisational skills
• Excellent secretarial and office management skills; 
• Good communication, planning and negotiating skills; 
• Good knowledge of the workings of international organisations;
• Capacity to work under pressure and in a multicultural environment;
• Excellent analytical thinking and problem-solving skills;
• Readiness to share information and knowledge at all times, drive for results and continuous improvement;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work autonomously and in a multi- cultural environment; 
• Readiness to work on flexible schedule 
• High level of autonomy at work, yet with profound team-spirit 
• Adaptive, Patient, resilient and flexible 
• Pro-active and solutions oriented 
• Ability to liaise with a diverse range of people and stakeholders; 
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Computer literacy and excellent ability to work using MS Word, MS
• Excel and MS PowerPoint, etc. Knowledge and experience in additional computer office applications and working tools will be an advantage. 
• Applicants must be proficient in one of the African Union working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese or Spanish).
• English and French are the working languages commonly used in the context of ACERWC.
• Knowledge of one more or several other AU working languages would be an added advantage. 

Leadership Competencies:
Core Competencies:

• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Accountability awareness and Compliance
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating Clearly

Functional Competencies:

• Trouble shooting
• Job Knowledge and information sharing
• Task Focused
• Continuous Improvement Awareness

Languages:

• 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

• Indicative basic salary of US$ 15,758.00 (GSA5 Step 1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment (57% of basic salary), Housing allowance US$ 16,813.44  (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.

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.

Application Closing Date
24th December, 2025; 11:59 PM EAT.

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