African Union Jobs: Senior Policy Officer (Knowledge Management)

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 city of Ethiopia.
The Commission of the African Union invites applicants who are citizens and Nationals of Member States for the post of Senior Policy Officer (Knowledge Management).
Vacancy Announcement: SPPERM2010-1ST
Post level: P3
Unit: Directorate of Strategic Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation and Resource Mobilisation
Immediate Supervisor: Head of Knowledge Management Division
Duty Station: Addis Ababa
Major duties and responsibilities:
As part of a team led by the Head of the Knowledge Management Division, the Senior Policy Officer (Knowledge Management) provides guidance and inputs to the formulation, development and implementation of the African Union Commission’s activities in knowledge management, ensuring synergies and cooperation with other knowledge centres in Africa and beyond, based on best practices and knowledge obtained through new partnerships and networks.
Summary of Key Functions of the KM Senior Policy Officer:

  • Provide advisory services and quality assurance on KM to the the AU System, as well as define needs for the development and implementation of products and services, acting as the focal point for KM within the system.
  • Promote KM, providing strategic input into the development of the  strategy on KM and advocate for adoption and implementation of the strategy including standard products and services.
  • To develop and deliver appropriate training packages and briefs on KM to enable staff to share knowledge in operational activities and integrate KM into business processes;
  • To collaborate in the implemention of the work programme of the KM Division so as to ensure it provides the KM capacity required to develop the AU Commission and the broader AU into modern knowledge and learning organisations;
  • To generate knowledge products that display best practices and lessons learnt, thereby stimulating further both the use of existing knowledge and interaction between the suppliers and demanders of knowledge in AUC;
  • To analyze the information needs and functions of the AUC to develop Information Systems for the  measurement, utilization and assessment of the knowledge resources to support increased performance and accountability;
  • To produce and submit periodic reports on activities and specific missions;
  • To coordinate the activities of the KM Division with other AUC Business Units and with the activities of Organizations and Institutions belonging to the AUC Information Network, in particular with the AU Organs and the RECs .
  • To collaborate with the Management Information Systems  (MIS) team to enhance, update, and assist in the development of the KM portal, including identifying new technologies and managing long-term development requests
  • To provide direct assistance and support to the Head of KM Division.
  • To represent the Commission of the African Union in seminars, workshops, experts meetings and training sessions on knowledge management and share lessons learnt from these sessions for improving knowledge management at AUC.
  • To perform any other duty as may be assigned
Educational Qualifications: Candidates must have a Masters Degree in the field of Information and Communication Technology or related fields.
Work experience: Candidates must have had at least seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in an area related to information and/or KM. Candidate should have a track record of extensive national/international working experience.
Other Relevant Skills Required
  • Experience in the field of KM systems/programmes and development of knowledge products ;
  • Proven experience of modern KM policies and practices.
  • Strong analytical skills: Ability to analyse information, synthesize lessons learned (monitoring and evaluation experience helpful), make rational judgements and to produce workable solutions to a range of problems.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills;:
  • Proven ability to participate effectively in a multinational and multidisciplinary team by working collaboratively and sharing knowledge.
  • Demonstrated capacity to strongly promote knowledge sharing
  • Ability to foster innovation in the subject area.
  • Ability to make effective technical presentations at international meetings.
  • Ability to undertake strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
  • Ability to provide advocacy, outreach and capacity development on KM systems;
  • Capacity to define user policies and draft localized user guidelines;
  • Proven familiarity with current KM  technologies  and web-based applications;
  • IT development skills : previous work in IT projects supporting KMactivities ;
Language requirement: Proficiency in one of the African Union working languages (Arabic, English, French & Portuguese). Knowledge of one or more of the other AU working languages would be an added advantage.
Age requirement: Candidates must preferably be between 30 and 45 years old.
Tenure of Appointment: The appointment shall be for an initial period of eleven (11) months, the first three months of which shall be on probation. It shall be renewable subject to performance and availability of funds.
Gender Mainstreaming: The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.
Application: To apply, please submit the following:
  • A letter stating reasons for seeking employment with the AU Commission;
  • A detailed and updated CV, indicating your nationality, age and gender;
  • Names and contact details (including e-mail address) of three references;
  • Certified copies of degrees and diplomas.
Remuneration: The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of US$ 79,903.40 inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 68,299.81 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff.
Applications must be received not later than 30th July 2010 and should be addressed to:
Director, Administration and Human Resource Development
Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
P.O. Box 3243
Fax: 00251-11-5525840/5510430
E-mail: au-recruits@africa-union.org