Principal Programme Management Officer
Organizational Context
The United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) in Addis Ababa strengthens UN-AU interaction, focusing on peace and security partnerships. It provides coordinated advice for capacity-building and operational support, streamlining UN presence for efficiency. UNOAU is key to implementing the Joint UN-AU Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security.
Job Purpose
This role serves as the primary focal point for overall peace support operations (PSOs) planning and strategic advice, providing crucial technical support to the African Union (AU). The incumbent will coordinate and supervise the Institutional and Operational Partnerships Service, ensuring expert advice on military and police operations, mine action, security sector reform, and disarmament is effectively integrated and coherent. The position ensures operational outputs inform strategic decision-making for AU PSOs within the African Peace and Security Architecture, particularly the African Standby Force. It involves guiding financing mechanisms, managing daily interactions with the AU on peacekeeping, and coordinating with diverse stakeholders. The role demands strategic leadership to align operational activities with political imperatives and contribute to high-level engagement on peace and security issues in Africa.
Responsibilities
Serve as the focal point for peace support operations (PSOs) planning and strategic advice, providing technical support to the African Union (AU). Coordinate and supervise the Institutional and Operational Partnerships Service, delivering expert advice on military/police operations, mine action, security sector reform (SSR), and disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR). Ensure support is integrated, coherent, and coordinated for AU PSOs. Translate operational outputs into strategic decision-making inputs for AU PSOs within the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), including the African Standby Force (ASF). Provide guidance on financing mechanisms and oversight for AU PSOs. Manage daily interactions with the AU on peacekeeping matters and coordinate with Member States, UN partners, regional organizations, and donors. Provide strategic leadership and oversight for operational activities, ensuring alignment with political imperatives. Engage strategically with the AU, RECs/RMs, and partners on African peace and security issues, reporting to and coordinating with UN Headquarters. Strengthen strategic and operational coordination between the AU, partners, and the UN system for ASF development and AU PSOs. Provide policy guidance on strategy development and implementation, monitoring AU PSOs, SSR, and DDR trends. Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with UN peacekeeping operations, SPMs, UNHQ departments (DPPA, DPO, DOS), and other UN entities to harmonize approaches and ensure coordinated UN support to AU PSOs. Coordinate inputs for results-based budgeting, staff performance evaluation, and recruitment. Oversee the development and implementation of partnership strategies and work plans with the AU and other partners. Conduct programmatic and substantive reviews of drafts for reporting to intergovernmental bodies.
Work Experience
A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in political affairs, military, police, public, or business administration is required. This includes experience in planning and providing strategic advice, and operational experience with peacekeeping or peace support missions. Leadership and management experience in multicultural settings, including coordinating interdisciplinary teams, is also required. Experience within the UN system or on peace and security matters is desirable.
Skills
Professionalism, Planning & Organizing, Client Orientation, Leadership, Judgement and Decision Making, Knowledge of UN system and AU work on peace and security, Strategic advice, Operational planning, Management, Coordination, Partnership development.