Program Officer: Capacity Development & Institutional Alignment

Vacancy Announcement

NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA)

BACKGROUND

Agriculture has a critical role to play in Africa for addressing food security and poverty alleviation, as well as being the basis for viable andsustainable industrial and socio-economic growth. When the African Union Commission (AUC) Heads of State and Government adopted the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) at the Lusaka Summit in 2001, they also made clear the critical role agriculture would to play in pursuing sustainable development. Within the context of the NEPAD vision and agenda, the AU Heads of State and Government endorsed the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) in June 2003, in Maputo, Mozambique as a framework to stimulate and guide the agriculture based development model aimed at accelerating African-led growth and sustainable development, and the eradication of poverty and food insecurity. Countries are embracing the CAADP framework and agenda with support from the REC, the AUC and the NEPAD Agency.

NEPAD is a programme aimed primarily at poverty alleviation and promotion of economic growth and sustainable development inAfrica. As a consequence of the integration of NEPAD into the structures and processes of the AU, the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) has been established by a decision of the 14th AU Assembly of February 2010 as the technical body of the African Union, as a replacement of the NEPAD Secretariat.

The mandate of the NEPAD Agency is to:

• Facilitate and coordinate the implementation of continental and regional priority programmes andprojects;

• Mobilise resources and partners in support of the implementation of Africa's priority programmesand projects;

• Conduct and coordinate research and knowledge management;

• Monitor and evaluate the implementation of programmes and projects; and

• Advocate on the AU and NEPAD vision, mission and core principles/values.

CAADP is the AU Commission and NPCA's vision and strategy for the development of African agriculture. CAADP provides a framework for strategic planning, sharing of experience, and for partnership and mobilization of implementation assistance around priorities for agricultural development. CAADP is framed conceptually around four Pillars and advocates a stocktaking of the trajectory of the agriculturalsector including a strategic review of each country's agricultural strategy and its portfolio of agricultural policies, public expendituresand budget allocations, programs, and institutions. CAADP offers support for these national and regional level stocktaking, review and reform processes – helping each country to draw upon African and global expertise and experience.

In order to strengthen the human resource capacity ofNPCA's CAADP unit, which falls under the Directorate of Programme Implementation and Coordination, NPCA seeks to recruit from nationals of the AU member states, visionary and passionate officers preferably with experience in the agricultural sector.

POSITION SUMMARY AND JOB PURPOSE

Within defined expertise coordinate and provide technical input and backstopping to the planning and implementation of CAADP framework/CAADP programmes for increased performance of African agriculture in relation to capacity development and institutional arrangements.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

i. Responsible for the technical quality in the planning and execution of NPCA-CAADP programme support to RECs and countries on Capacity Development within the CAADP framework.

ii. Backstopping and training-learning support to RECsand country teams.

iii. Coordinate specialised capacity and competency development support to country CAADP teams and other stakeholders/players.

iv. Facilitate tracking of progress being made at national and regional levels in Capacity Development in CAADP implementation support.

v. Programme/Project implementation is well planned and coordinated.

vi. NPCA facilitating peer learning among regional CAADP teams andother role players / stakeholders.

§ At least 8 years field experience in the technical field with senior level management experience in international development organisation and/or public sector environment.

§ Significant experience in capacity development with focus on Agriculture and rural development.

KEY COMPETENCIES REQUIRED

Knowledge

i. Strong training and experience in investments and financing for national and regional investment plans.

ii. In-depth knowledge of economic and social development in Africa as well as the mandates and work of the AU and its NEPADprogramme.

iii. Strong drafting, research and analytical skills and proven ability to produce reports and concept papers on development issues demonstrated through a strong publication record.

iv. Demonstrated ability to initiate, develop and complete programme of work, assess its implications and formulate recommendations.

v. In-depth understanding of project and programme implementation within the context of Africa's broader agriculture development agenda.

REMUNERATION

An attractive salary and employment benefits will be offered, commensurate with the position in accordance withGrade P3 of AUC Conditions of Service, including the specific qualifications and experience of the selected individual subject to successful negotiations. In addition, the position shall be for a 3-year contract financed under the Multi-Donor Trust Fund/Child Trust Fund, renewable annually based on successful performance.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Candidates will be assessed against the following:

• Academic qualifications and relevant work experience.

• Extent of relevantexperience in management of regional institutions.

• Knowledge and understanding of work of international organizations and national governments and such bilateral and multilateral funded programmes.

• Demonstrated ability and experience in developing bankable programmes.

• Excellent oral andwritten communication and presentation skills.

• Willingness to travel as the positions will involve extensive travel regionally and continentally.

The officers will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the AUC Procurement Manual, which are harmonious with the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers, dated May 2004, revised in October 2006 and May 2010.

Interested individuals may obtain detailed Terms of Reference for the various positions and/or further informationat the addresses indicated below between 8:30 hours and 16:30 hours Central African Time [GMT +2] from Monday to Friday at least72 hours before the deadline for the submission of applications.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL POSITIONS

Excellent English and/or French (spoken and written), while fluency in any other AU language would be an added advantage

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS

Expressions of Interest comprising, applications and updated curriculum vitae must be submitted electronically on or before Thursday 1st March, 2012 at 17:00 hours Central African Time [GMT +2]. using the email addresses as shown below.

Capacity and Development Services (CAPDEV)

Email: [email protected]

Copy your submissions to: [email protected] and [email protected]

The deadline for submission of Expressions of Interest is Thursday 1st March, 2012 at 17:00 hours Central African Time [GMT +2]. NOTE THAT ALL SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED WITHIN 24hours OF RECEIPT