African Union Commission Chairperson’s Youth Envoy

Organization Information

Reports to: Cabinet of the Chairperson
Directorate/Department/Organ: Women, Gender and Youth – WGYD
Division: Youth Division
Number of Direct Reports: 0
Number of Indirect Reports: 0
Job Grade: P3
Number of Positions: 1
Contract Type: Fixed Term

Purpose of Job

The African Union (AU) Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, recognizes that the future of Africa is intrinsically linked to the skills, knowledge, innovation, talents and commitment of its young people. The agenda’s aspirations reflect Africa’s collective vision for shared prosperity and well-being, unity and integration, and a continent of empowered citizens with expanded opportunities, where the full potential of women and youth is realized, free from fear, disease, and want. Specifically, Aspiration 6 envisions “an Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children.”

In line with this vision, AU and its Member States have increasingly prioritized youth development, participation and leadership. Across the continent, most Member States have adopted youth-related policies, strategies, and programmes that recognize both the challenges faced by young people and the immense opportunities they represent for Africa’s transformation. Efforts to strengthen youth participation in governance and decision-making are reflected in the establishment of national youth councils, youth advisory mechanisms, and the appointment of young people to leadership and executive positions. Youth networks and platforms at all levels have also been established to facilitate meaningful youth engagement and to ensure that the perspectives, aspirations and contributions of young people are integrated into policies, strategies and programmes. These mechanisms have contributed significantly to advancing youth inclusion; however, there remains a need for stronger coordination, advocacy, and representation of youth voices within AU processes and across Member States.

In recognition of the role young people play in shaping Africa’s development and building on AU’s longstanding commitment to placing young people at the center of the continent’s development agenda, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) seeks to appoint the 3rd African Union Commission Chairperson’s Youth Envoy (AUCYE) for the period of a two year term with the possibility of renewing for another term. In close collaboration with WGYD, the Youth Envoy will serve as a dedicated advocate for the interests, aspirations and concerns of Africa’s youth, facilitating dialogue between young people and AU leadership, promoting the implementation of continental youth commitments, and ensuring that youth perspectives inform policies and programmes.

Main Functions

In the discharge of his/her duties, the Youth Envoy will:

• Champion AU Youth Policies and Priorities;
• Amplify Youth Voices and Participation;
• Mobilize Partnerships and Advocacy for youth development and empowerment; and
• Serve as a Strategic Liaison between Youth and the AU, including representing African youth voices in AU policy processes.

Specific Responsibilities

The AUC Chairperson’s Youth Envoy will be responsible for the following functions, among others:

• Champion AU Youth Policies and Priorities by promoting the implementation of the African Youth Charter, the AU 1 Million Next Level Initiative (1mNL) Initiative, and other relevant AU frameworks and initiatives, while fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships to advance youth development and empowerment.
• Promote Youth Engagement and Representation by facilitating the meaningful participation of young people, including marginalized and vulnerable groups, in AU policy dialogues, decision-making processes, and continental development initiatives.
• Strengthen Partnerships and Youth Networks at national, regional, continental, and global levels to amplify youth voices, enhance collaboration, and support the implementation of AU youth commitments.
• Lead Advocacy and Awareness Efforts to elevate youth issues, promote youth leadership and inclusion, mobilize political commitment, and advocate for increased investment in youth development and youth-centered policies.
• Support Strategic Youth Platforms and Events by advancing youth participation in key AU-led engagements, including youth dialogues, commemorative events and intergenerational platforms.
• Advance Youth Inclusion within the AU by advocating for greater youth representation and participation across AU institutions and processes, including initiatives that promote youth leadership and diversity.
• Coordinate Closely with WGYD to ensure alignment with AU priorities, strengthen institutional collaboration and support the effective delivery of youth development and engagement programmes.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Candidates must have a Masters Degree OR a Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, Public Policy, Political Science, International Relations, Information Technology or a related field with at least seven (7) OR ten (10) years of relevant work experience respectively and three (3) years at expert and/or senior level.
• Demonstrable understanding of youth empowerment frameworks and initiatives.
• Proven advocacy and influencing experience, including ability to identify key youth priorities and lead initiatives that drive meaningful social, institutional and policy change.
• A strong track record in youth mobilization and empowerment, demonstrating the ability to organize, inspire and support young people in advancing transformative change at community, national, regional or international levels.
• Proven leadership and management capabilities, including the ability to coordinate initiatives, build partnerships, and deliver results in complex and multi-actor environments.

Required Skills

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Sound planning and organizational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities effectively.
• Established leadership experience in multi-stakeholder engagement, working effectively with youth networks, governments, private sector actors, media, civil society organizations and development partners.
• Proven capacity to generate innovative ideas and translate them into practical improvements and results.
• Diplomatic negotiation skills and ability to build consensus among diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multi-cultural environment and adapt to changing circumstances.
• Ability to delegate the appropriate responsibility, accountability, and decision-making authority with regard to performance management and professional development.
• Demonstrable pan-African youth leadership skills through engagement with AU, UN agencies, and global development platforms.
• Strong ability to mobilize and coordinate youth networks across Africa for advocacy and development initiatives, including digital advocacy and campaign leadership.
• Skilled in strategic influence and storytelling, shaping narratives that drive policy attention and action.
• Ability to connect day-to-day actions with long-term goals, ensuring short-term decisions align with and contribute to broader strategic objectives.
• Ability to drive innovation by adopting new approaches, taking calculated risks and creating an environment where others feel safe to share ideas and contribute to change.
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, and Spanish) is mandatory and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Insight
• Change Management
• Managing Risk

Core Competencies

• Building Relationship
• Accountable and Complies with Rules
• ..Learning Orientation
• Communicating with Influence

Functional Competencies

• Conceptual Thinking
• Job Knowledge and Information Sharing
• Drive for Results
• Continuous Improvement Orientation

Notes

• Candidates must be between the ages of 18-35 for the duration of the appointment.
• Only candidates who meet all job requirements and are selected for the next stage of the selection process will be contacted.
• Consideration will be given only to those candidates who have submitted a fully completed online application with an updated curriculum vitae (CV) (not longer than 3 pages), a bio page of national passport or national ID, and the required academic qualifications, such as Diplomas (Bac+2), Bachelor’s degrees (Bac+3), as well as names, email addresses and telephone number of three referee
• Only candidates from the West, East and Central regions are eligible to apply in accordance with geographical rotation.

TENURE OF APPOINTMENT:

The Appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of one (1) year, of which the first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract may be renewed for a similar period subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance and agreed deliverables

GENDER MAINSTREAMING:

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

LANGUAGES:

• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, and Spanish) is mandatory and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage

REMUNERATION:

The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of US$ 96,921.34 (P3 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 78,461.08 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Applications must be submitted no later than July 9, 2026 11h59 p.m. EAT.

-Only candidates who meet all job requirements and are selected for interviews will be contacted.

-Consideration will be given only to those candidates who have submitted a fully completed online application with a curriculum vitae (CV), an African passport, and the required academic qualifications, such as Diplomas (Bac+2), Bachelor’s degrees (Bac+3), Master’s degrees (Bac+5) and any relevant certificate in line with the area of expertise.

-The African Union is an equal opportunity employer, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.