- Organization: UNDP – United Nations Development Programme
- Location: Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
- Grade: Level not specified
- Occupational Groups:
- Operations and Administrations
- International Relations
- Public Policy and Administration
- Legal – Broad
- Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
- Democratic Governance
- Closing Date: 2021-11-01
BACKGROUND
Instructions to Applicants: Click on the “Apply now” button. Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. Upon completion of the first page, please hit “submit application” tab at the end of the page. Please ensure that CV or P11 and the Cover letter are combined in one file.
Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
Travel:
a) UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements;
b) If official travel is required, and subject to (local) Covid-19 health permission, such travel shall be at UNDP’s expense in accordance with UNDP’s travel guidance and policy, and the personnel shall receive a per diem not to exceed United Nations daily subsistence allowance rate.
Office/Unit/Project Description:
The African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC) was established as the coordinating arm for the African Union Commission (AUC) to implement the African Mining Vision (AMV). It aims to ensure minerals play a greater transformative role in the development of the continent. The role of the AMDC is set by the directive of the African Union Conference of Ministers Responsible for Mineral Resources Development. The twenty-sixth ordinary session of the Assembly of African Union Heads of State and Government (AU-AHSG) held on 30th January 2016 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia adopted the Statutes establishing the AMDC as a semi-autonomous Specialized Agency of the African Union (Decision No. Assembly/AU/Dec.589 (XXVI)). The AU Assembly Heads of State and government in its July 2018 summit in Nouakchott, Mauritania further decided the AMDC shall be hosted by the Republic of Guinea (under Decision No. Assembly/AU/Dec.697 (XXXI)).
Recently, the AUC and the UNDP have been partnering to support the AMDC in developing its five-year Business Plan and organizing the First Africa Forum on Mining. The AMDC is being supported through the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme (Phase II), initiated by the Secretariat of the OACPS (the Organisation for African, Caribbean and Pacific States, formerly known as the ACP Group of States), financed by the European Commission and UNDP, and implemented by UNDP at the request of the OACPS. This arrangement seeks to ensure the effective implementation of the services of the AMDC through a coordinated approach under a professional and semi-independent structure. This will allow the AMDC to respond to AU members’ needs with the flexibility and swiftness needed to address the current challenges in the mineral sector.
Therefore, UNDP is seeking a Senior Advisor on Policy and Mineral Resource Governance, with focus on the mineral sector. The Senior Advisor will work closely with the Interim AMDC Director and other interim staff and consultants of the AMDC.
Institutional Arrangements:
- The Senior Advisor will report to the Interim AMDC Director and to UNDP’s Programme Manager of the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme;
- The position will be administered by the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Scope of Work:
The Senior Advisor on Policy and Mineral Resource Governance will be responsible for providing technical advisory and strategic policy support in the mineral sector, focusing on the implementation of the AMV, mineral-focused trade and economic policies, and regulatory frameworks under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and other AU Policy Instruments.
Particularly, the Senior Advisor shall perform the following duties and responsibilities:
Policy analysis, development and knowledge generation:
- Conceptualizing, conducting, guiding and overseeing studies and research related to the AMV’s pillar programmes, with focus on mineral resource governance, legal, regulatory and contractual frameworks with special focus of the African Governance Framework (AMGF); economic and trade policies across mineral exploration, exploitation, and beneficiation value chains;
- Gathering and analyzing data and conducting reviews of available information; where necessary, working to develop capacities to create and manage data systems in the above focus areas;
- Leading the development of key publications of the AMDC;
- Drafting policies, model laws, regulations and agreements related to the AMV pillars programmes in the above focus areas.
Partnership and capacity development:
- Engaging and coordinating with the African Union Member states on mineral resource governance, legal, regulatory and contractual frameworks; economic and trade policies across mineral exploration, exploitation, and beneficiation value chains;
- Conceptualizing and organizing AMDC’s workshops, seminars and meetings, including identifying and engaging experts in these events;
- Contributing to capacity development of government and non-government stakeholders of the African Union Member states in the above focus areas;
- Contributing to communication and knowledge sharing in the above focus areas.
Programme development and management:
- Providing project and programme management support for the operationalization of the AMDC;
- Preparing programmes and project proposals;
- Producing and submitting periodic reports on activities;
- Conducting review, monitoring and tracking continental projects in the above focus areas;
- Performing other relevant duties to support the objectives of the AMDC.
COMPETENCIES
UN CORE VALUES AND COMPETENCIES:
- Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s and AU’s values and ethical standards;
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the AU and the UN;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
- Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment;
- The individual will serve in his/her individual capacity and not as a representative of a Government institution, corporate body or other authority external to UNDP.
Required competencies:
- Strategic and analytical thinking: Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with the organization’s objectives, based on systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities. Linking the vision of the organization to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions. Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends and to demonstrate foresight. Ability to conceptualize and analyze problems and complexity to identify patterns and propose new ideas, approaches and solutions;
- Knowledge generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need;
- Achieving results: Demonstrate focus on achieving quality results and impact; Consistently strive to meet or exceed excellence standards; Hold self and others accountable for results; Efficiently establish appropriate plans and resources for self and others to accomplish goals.
Desired additional skills and competencies:
- Engage and partner: Demonstrate and encourage teamwork and collaboration internally and externally to achieve joint objectives and results; Establish and develop networks that deliver powerful collaborations; Encourage and respect the views of others; accept views and ideas other than one’s own; Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills;
- Communication skills: Demonstrate excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to communicate technical concepts and information to non-technical audiences.
REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
Minimum Academic Qualifications:
- A Master’s degree in Economics, International Trade or another relevant field from a recognized educational institution;
- Specialization in mineral or natural resources is an advantage.
Minimum years of relevant Work experience:
- Ten (10) years of experience, including at least two (2) years of supervisory experience providing technical and policy advice and/ or implementation in Mineral Resource Policy and Governance;
- Prior experience of working in or partnering with Regional or Global mining governance institutions, including the African Union, its specialized agencies or other international organizations is an advantage;
- Knowledge of and experience working in the mining sector in Africa; Knowledge of the Africa Mining Vision and its implementation instruments – The Africa Minerals Governance Framework (AMGF); Country Mining Vision (CMV); African Union Commodity Strategy – is an advantage.
Required skills:
- Demonstrated track record in research and preparation of reports and publications within the theme of mining resource governance and economic policies;
- Requisite data analysis skills; skills using the essential software for performing the duties.
Language(s) (at working level):
- English is required;
- Proficiency in French is an added advantage.