Policy Officer - Early Warning / DRR Expert (SEWA)(ARBE) at African Union(AU)

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 (Early Warning/DRR Expert), working closely with the Meteorology Expert, will provide expertise in early warning, make technical follow-ups with the DRR and early warning stakeholders, and ensure smooth execution of early warning technical work.
• The officer will also support training activities to enhance capacities in the development and use of early warning products.
• S/he will foster networks with the academia, and research and training institutions including, DRR and early warning communities.
• The officer will promote synergy building with the meteorological communities and other sectors that utilize early warnings.

Specific Responsibilities

•  Support the implementation SEWA-related activities, including preparing and developing reports, budgets, and project work plans 
• Actively contribute to the development of regional strategies, policies, programs, and plans to strengthen SEWA systems
• Provide technical and administrative support to the Programme Coordinator in all SEWA-related activities
• Work closely with Member States and partners to facilitate strengthening of new/existing DRR/EW-related User Interface Platforms (UIPs) in the regions and their use for co-design, co-production, evaluation and feedback from all stakeholders, and to refine and improve impact-based forecasting services and tools
• Support development and access to customized anticipatory action triggers, mapping of key hazards and the production of risk maps at regional and nations levels
• Facilitate networking and foster peer-to-peer experience sharing among SEWA countries and regions, encouraging knowledge exchange and collaboration
• Provide support to the establishment and implementation of the governance arrangements of AMSAF
• Offer technical support in the development of resource mobilization strategies, ensuring alignment with regional stakeholders. 
• Support the organization of the biennial African fora for the project’s life-span
• Ensure coordination with the AMHEWAS programme and with international relevant bodies related to EO data needs and decision-making processes for Early Warning
• Facilitate collaboration between weather and climate agencies, research institutions, and technology companies to innovate and improve IBF capabilities and warning tools
• Liaise with WMO Regional Training Centres on the delivery of tailored trainings to experts from RCCs and Member States
• Perform any other related duties assigned by supervisor.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

•  Candidates must have a minimum of a master’s degree in environmental studies, Sustainable Development, Geography, Meteorology, Climatology, or related field and minimum of two (2) years relevant work experience in multi-hazard early warning systems, anticipatory action, impact-based forecasting and issues in Africa including in early warning

OR

• A bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, Sustainable Development, Geography, Meteorology, Climatology, or related field and minimum of five (5) years  in multi-hazard early warning systems, anticipatory action, impact-based forecasting and issues in Africa including in early warning 
• Experience in environmental and natural resources management, climate change adaptation and mitigation, meteorology involving multi-stakeholders such as Regional Economic Communities, Member States and Development Partners.
• Experience in projects delivering environmental and climate services or remoting sensing and GIS will have an added advantage.
• Experience in environmental and climate monitoring projects, use of GIS in support of sustainable development.
• Technical expertise and experience in supporting multi-hazard early warning programmes with special emphasis on strengthening spatial technologies and earth observation (EO)

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 deliverable

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.