Senior Mediation & Dialogue Officer, AU, P3, Addis Ababa, NORCAP

The Senior Mediation & Dialogue Officer will be expected to: 

Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide technical support and expertise on mediation and dialogue, including on process design. Where needed, this includes provision of technical support to the relevant Member States and other national actors, in the convening of multi-stakeholder dialogues, mediation processes and/or national reconciliation processes;
• Provide technical facilitation in processes as in (a) above, while ensuring that a gender-sensitive and inclusive strategy is employed at both the design and convening stages;
• Maintain good knowledge on the political and regional dynamics in priority countries/regions, and their expected impact on any potential or ongoing peace processes, including mediation, negotiation or dialogue;
• Support AU mediators and mediation teams in field missions and/or organizing meetings, workshops and dialogues with various national stakeholders and groups, with the view to build trust, develop a deeper understanding of their needs, expectations, and way of reasoning; in order to be able to predict what they do, and the expected impact on broader mediation and dialogue processes;
• Maintain a reasonable working knowledge on issues around electioneering, the prevention and countering of violent extremism (P/CVE), demobilization, disarmament and reintegration (DDR), and security sector reforms (SSR) in order to provide advice related to these, as needed, during mediation and dialogue processes;
• Provide technical expertise in the convening of trainings related to mediation and dialogue for national stakeholders and civil-society, including marginalized and/or under-represented groups, in order to disseminate knowledge and guidance on effectively engaging in mediation and dialogue processes;
• Maintain meticulous records and documentation on any mediation, dialogue and national reconciliation processes supported by the AU, through the MDD Knowledge Management Platform, for easy reference and dissemination on best practices and lessons learned;
• Advocate and promote the systematic mainstreaming of women and youth participation in preventive diplomacy, mediation and dialogue efforts supported by the AU. This will include through liaising with women/youth groups in different country/regional contexts as needed;
• Develop and maintain relations with government officials and national stakeholders, and oversees the development and management of partnerships with regional and international organizations, especially the relevant RECs/RMs working on supporting mediation, negotiation and dialogue processes;
• Perform any other related duties as may be assigned by the Head of Mediation and Dialogue Division.

You are encouraged to read the full Terms of Reference before applying.

• Education:
  • A Master’s university Degree in Peace & Security Studies, Governance, International Studies, Political Science, Public Policy, Law, Public Administration, Social Studies, or other related disciplines with at least seven (7) years relevant experience.
  • A Bachelor degree in the above-mentioned fields with at least ten (10) additional years relevant experience will be considered in lieu of a Master’s degree.
  • Additional trainings/ certification in the field of mediation would be an added advantage.

• Work Experience:
  • A minimum of five (5) years working experience in the field of mediation, alternative dispute resolutions (ADR), political affairs, conflict prevention, conflict management or peacebuilding.
  • Concrete experience in supporting a negotiation, mediation or dialogue process is required.
  • Good comparative knowledge of the AU mediation and negotiation structures/processes, or those of other Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) or the UN would be desirable.
  • Experience in the promotion of institutional gender mainstreaming and/or implementing women peace and security agenda would be advantageous.

• Skills and Competencies:
  • Good comparative knowledge of the conflict, peace and security dynamics in Madagascar and Comoros.
  • Good comparative knowledge of workings and establishment of mediation support structures of the African Union and the REC’s/RMs, including the AU Panel of the Wise and similar mechanisms.
  • Ability to establish priorities and to plan work assignments.
  • Ability to work closely with government and local officials, civil society organizations (CSO’s), NGOs, and other multi-lateral institutions in peace and security related issues.
  • Excellent communication and writing skills, including sound reporting skills.
  • Computer literate and well versed in the use of the Internet, Power Point, Excel and Word.
  • Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• Languages:
  • Proficiency in English is a must.
  • Knowledge of a third or all of the other AU working languages ( Arabic, Portuguese and Spanish) would be an added advantage.

Remuneration

The salary attached to the position is at P3 Step 5 inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff.

The main competencies of a NORCAP Expert: 

• Building working relationships
• Planning and organising
• Adaptability
• Resilience

What we offer 

• Rewarding work for a renowned global organisation
• Access to a network of humanitarian, peace, and development professionals
• A dedicated Staff Care Unit

How to apply 

• When submitting your application, kindly register in English your full employment history and education. Please include your full name as written in your passport. Uploaded CVs alone will not be reviewed.
• NORCAP values diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates.
• NORCAP reserves the right to conduct a full background check on shortlisted candidates .
• Approved Health Certificate will be required prior to contract commencement and assignment.
• Feedback will be given to all applicants within four weeks after the closing of this advertisement.
• Apply before 4th January 2025, 23.59 PM (Oslo time)