Coordinator (AU-IAPSC) at African Union(AU)

Requisition ID: 1321
Location: Yaounde (Cameroon), Cameroon
Job Grade: P5
Division: ARBE
Contract Type: Regular 
Number of Direct Reports: 6
Number of Indirect Reports: 7
Reports to: Director, Agriculture and Rural Development Directorate/Department: ARBE

Purpose of Job

• The African Union Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU-IAPSC) is a Specialized Technical Office of the African Union Commission under the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (DARBE), responsible for implementation and delivery of all technical aspects of plant health on the continent. 
• The Coordinator is expected to manage all technical and administrative staff deployed within AU-IAPSC and to act as Coordinator and diplomatic representative of the office within Cameroon. 

Main Functions

• Designs and implements policies, programs and projects to achieve the directorate’s strategic objectives. 
• Manages and supervises employees within the division, ensures the timely delivery of the directorate’s goals and effective staff performance evaluation; 
• Designs policies, strategies and programs to contribute to the effective implementation of relevant AU Policy Organs Decisions; 
• Ensures the delivery of the Office’s annual targets in line with the Agriculture and Rural Development Directorate’s overall goals and ensures robust and timely monitoring and reporting;
• Provides technical leadership and ensures efficient functioning of all Units within the office
• Manages the work of the Office and supervises direct reports to ensure their effective performance in line with the organization’s performance management policy and system;
• Engages stakeholders within Members States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs)/Regional Mechanisms(RMs) and relevant international organisations in designing and implementing strategies. 
• Maintains thematic partnerships in support of the mandate of the Office;  
• Maintains regular working relations with senior stakeholders in Member States and partner institutions in the execution of the Office’s mandate.  
• Represents the organisation and communicates its position at conferences. 
• Contributes to the preparation of periodic financial and budget execution reports and monitor budget execution at the office’s level. 
• Ensures the effective management of funds contributed to the organization;  
• Manages risk within the Office and recommends mitigation strategies 
• Contributes to the development of business continuity plan and ensures implementation at the Office’s level 
• Maintains a positive work environment that facilitates collaboration and information sharing and is conducive to attracting, retaining, and motivating diverse talent. 

Specific Responsibilities
The Coordinator, as the Head of AU-IAPSC, will be responsible for:

• Initiating preparation and formulation of appropriate programs, policies and strategies related to plant health and plant protection at the continental level and in monitoring their implementation within Member States;
• Supervising the administration and management of the Secretariat, including the preparation of budget and financial as well as personnel management reports;
• Ensuring overall management of the Secretariat, including staffing issues, performance, quality assurance, grievance and manage budget;
• Providing strategic vision and leadership for Plan Health and plant protection in Africa  as guided by its Strategic Plan.
• Handling corporate communications, including enhancing the profile of AU IAPSC with the Government ministries in charge of plant health, continental, international and regional plant health organisations.
• Facilitating institutional collaborations and Liaise with plant health research institutions, African and international plant health organisations;
• Initiating project proposals on Plan health related issues;
• Preparing programs and budget proposals, project and funding proposals and relating to programs of the Secretariat;
• Monitoring operational activities and program implementation in terms of expenditure and substance and prepare progress reports with recommendations for corrective action to the department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (DARBE) when necessary and ensure delivery of activities;
• Analysing and monitor all aspects of plant health  and provide expertise, policy advice and technical leadership within the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (DARBE)  and AUC;
• Advocacy for and sensitization of Member States and other stakeholders on Assembly decisions related to plant health.
• Preparations and management of Technical Committee, Steering Committee and General Assembly  and other meetings and activities including the preparations of documents and reports;
• Representing the Secretariat in all meetings and activities related to Plant health and report back on issues discussed and on action required;
• Assisting the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (DARBE)  in enhancing cooperation and collaboration with relevant Department of the Commission, Member States, UN Agencies (IPPC,FAO), AU partners, specialized institution and Non-Governmental organization (NGO,s) and other relevant organizations;
• Promotion of AU-IAPSC  as the African regional plant organisation and International regional cooperation in collaboration with Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and inter-governmental organizations, NGO’s particularly in implementing decisions and AU Plans for Action.
• Promotion of good agricultural practice with respect to pesticide regulation.
• Submission of periodic reports on activities including specific missions and progress reports on the implementation of various policy instruments and decisions on sport;
• Directing financial management of AU- IAPSC , including fundraising for projects, programmes and research;
• Facilitating achievement of the goals and objectives of the AU Commission and plant health  in general;
• Project Management including Monitoring and Evaluation.
• Ensuring that Member States develop plant health policies, programmes, systems and structures;

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Candidates must have at least a Master's Degree in Plant Health, Agriculture, Agronomy, Crop Protection, and Entomology, Plant Pathology or any other relevant disciplines. A higher qualification will be an added advantage.
• Candidates must have at least 12 (twelve) years relevant and progressive experience in Plant Health related issues, at national/international level, out of which 7 (seven) years and 5 (five) years should be at managerial and supervisory levels, respectively. 
• Candidates must illustrate credibility and command respect within the domain of plant health and will be expected to have the following qualifications and competencies: 
• Have a thorough knowledge of national and international trends of Plant health;
• A demonstrable track record of strategic and visionary leadership; 
• Working knowledge in the areas of policy analysis, program / project management; 
• Experience in management with ability to facilitate interpersonal relationship, organize and motivate others and working in a multicultural environment.

Required Skills:

• Have excellent networking and marketing skills.
• Be an excellent communicator
• Excellent ability in drafting and report writing; 
• Good skills negotiation; 
• Very good capacity to use computer applications/computer literate.
• Ability to communicate (both orally and in writing) in at least one of the AU working languages (French, English, Arabic, Portuguese or Spanish); ability to effectively communicate (orally and in writing) in French will be a preferred advantage.  Knowledge of an additional AU language (among the ones listed above) will be 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 and information sharing
• Drive for result
• Fosters Innovation

Gender Mainstreaming:

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

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 ( 48 % of basic salary), a Housing allowance of 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.