PROGRAMME OFFICER: INFORMATION & ADVOCACY

Vacancy Announcement

NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA)

CAADP Programme Officer

Information & Advocacy

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 and sustainable 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 AUCand the NEPAD Agency.

NEPAD is a programme aimed primarily at poverty alleviation and promotion of economic growth and sustainabledevelopment in Africa. 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 and projects;

• Mobilise resources and partners in support of the implementation of Africa's priority programmes and 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 andmobilization of implementation assistance around priorities for agricultural development. CAADP is framed conceptually around four Pillars and advocates a stocktaking of the trajectory of the agricultural sector including a strategic review of each country's agricultural strategy and its portfolio of agricultural policies, public expenditures and 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 of NPCA's CAADP unit, which falls under the Directorate of Programme Implementation and Coordination, NPCA seeks to recruit from nationals of the AUmember states, visionary and passionate officers preferably with experience in the agricultural sector.

POSITION SUMMARY AND JOB PURPOSE

Planning and execution of information and advocacy activities, while supporting awareness, dialogue and informed participation of the various players and stakeholders in CAADP implementation at country and regional levels.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

i. Internal information support on technical CAADP implementation

ii. Coordinate and facilitate generation, processing and dissemination of CAADP awareness and advocacy information/materials and documents

iii. Managing the CAADP electronic information flow including the website

iv. Communications input for sectors as appropriate and market the brand for the programme

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education, Training and Experience

Should have at least graduate (BSc or Higher Diploma) qualification in a relevant field:

§ At least 5 years in with programmatic programme implementation approach

§ Experience in formulating, planning and monitoring programme/project implementation

§ Experience in implementing large scale development projects and managing a team of experts with different backgrounds

§ Relevant project and financial management experience

§ Understanding of Africa's agriculture and rural development agenda and specifically the NEPAD-CAADP as a framework to stimulate and guide advancing African agriculture performance

KEY COMPETENCIES REQUIRED

Knowledge

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

ii. Ability to conduct independent research on global and regional economic, social and development issues, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources

iii. In-depth knowledge of economic and social development in Africa as well as the mandates and work of the AU and its NEPAD programme

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

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

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

REMUNERATION

An attractive salary andemployment benefits will be offered, commensurate with the position in accordance with Grade P2 of AUC Conditions of Service, including thespecific 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 relevant experience in management of regional institutions.

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

• Demonstrated ability and experience in developing bankable programmes.

• Excellent oral and written 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 ProcurementManual, 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/orfurther information at the addresses indicated below between 8:30 hours and 16:30 hours Central African Time [GMT +2] from Monday to Friday at least 72 hours before the deadline for the submission of applications.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL POSITIONS

Excellent English and/orFrench (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