Programme Coordinator (SEWA) (ARBE)

Purpose of Job

The African Union Commission (AUC) has secured funding from the European Union for the implementation of the Space for Early Warning in Africa (SEWA) project. The main objective of SEWA is to enhance the capacity of AU Member States to produce and deliver space-based services and applications, data, and information for early warning systems related to hazardous weather or climate events. The AUC is responsible for the overall continental coordination of the project, which has five outputs:

1. Improved access to, processing, applicability, and use of Earth Observation (EO) data, focusing on meteorological data and Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) products and services for Early Warning.
2. Established and operated African Meteorological Satellite Application Facility (AMSAF), including possible support for forecasting capabilities at different temporal and spatial scales.
3. Co-designed and delivered Impact-Based Forecast services, products, and tools.
4. Enhanced coordination with institutional frameworks for hazardous weather and climate Early Warning and shared knowledge across regions.
5. Strengthened human capacities, knowledge, and community shaping across the Early Warning value chain with a focus on space-based data and technologies.

To implement the SEWA project, AUC seeks to recruit a project coordinator to manage the initiative on the continent.

Main Functions

Under the line supervision of the Head, the Programme Coordinator heads the team and ensures overall management of the programme. The officer has the major duty to oversee day-to-day management, coordination, and implementation of the programme ensuring linkage to AU policies and strategies in meteorology, disaster risk reduction, and early warning. The coordinator is expected to:

• Supervise staff under the programme and strengthen partnerships with partners.
• Lead preparation of reports for monitoring and evaluation of the action’s activities.
• Update and develop information notes for AU policy and decision-making organs.
• Ensure that all efforts are executed in accordance with expected outputs and aligned with relevant policies, rules, and commitments of the AU.
• Maintain collaboration with other stakeholders including Regional Climate Centres (RCCs), National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) community.

Specific Responsibilities

• Ensure day-to-day management and implementation of the SEWA project.
• Coordinate the implementation of actions in the framework of the SEWA project, including preparation of project updates, policy briefs, and management of project workplans, budgets, and reports.
• Organize SEWA project governance meetings (Steering committees, preparation of project documents).
• Facilitate establishment and implementation of governance arrangements of AMSAF.
• Coordinate with SEWA implementing partners (ECMWF, EUMETSAT, AfSA) to ensure complementarity and synergy of actions.
• Support the establishment and implementation of high-level platforms to promote and strengthen weather and climate policy.
• Maintain sound working relations with other SEWA implementing entities.
• Promote synergy building and complementarity with related initiatives including ClimSA, DRR, AMHEWAS, GMES&Africa, etc.
• Support the use of Earth Observation (EO) data and application, and development of products and services for Early Warning in Member States.
• Support training of Member States experts and knowledge sharing across the Early Warning value chain.
• Strengthen co-designing and co-production of impact-based services and products at continental, regional, and national levels.
• Support the implementation of the Integrated African Strategy on Meteorology.
• Coordinate the development, validation, adoption, and implementation of the data sharing policy.
• Ensure coordination of activities with RECs, RCCs, AU Member States, and partners in the framework of the SEWA project.
• Coordinate project actions on capacity building of Member States.
• Support the Directorate in resource mobilization and partnership for sustainability of SEWA and ClimSA projects.
• Perform any other related duties assigned by the Programme Coordinator.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• A Master’s degree in Climate sciences, Meteorological Sciences, Environmental Science, Atmospheric Physics, Disaster Risk Management, or other related fields with seven (7) years of progressively relevant work experience.
• Or a Bachelor’s Degree in the above fields with ten (10) years of progressively relevant work experience.
• At least three (3) years of experience must be at a supervisory level.
• Proven experience and extensive engagement with knowledge on the roles of RECs, RCCs, NMHSs in the relevant sector.
• Additional experience in managing a project would be an asset