Regional Cyber Policy Advisor – Apply Today at Deutsche Gesellschaft Fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Position Title: Regional Cyber Policy Advisor
Employer: Deutsche Gesellschaft Fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Employment: Full-Time | Contract
Place of Work: Addis Ababa - Ethiopia
Posted date: 1 week ago
Deadline: December, 18/2025 (2 days left)
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a global service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development dedicated to shaping a future worth living around the world. As a public-benefit federal enterprise, GIZ supports the German Government and many public and private sector clients in achieving their objectives in international cooperation in around 120 countries.
Since 2004, GIZ has been a reliable and trusted partner of the African Union (AU) to enhance inclusive growth and sustainable development on the African continent in line with the AU’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. With around 250 staff, GIZ African Union cooperates with the AU Commission, as well as the AU’s specialised institutions and agencies, such as the Development Agency AUDA-NEPAD, at continental, regional and national level in more than 40 member states. Key areas of engagement include Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention, Governance, Sustainable Economic Growth, Health and Social Development, as well as Just Transition.
The GIZ global programme “Partnership for Strengthening Cybersecurity” has been commissioned by the German Federal Foreign Office in 2023. Its main goal is the reinforcement of selected bilateral and regional partners’ capabilities to prevent, mitigate and respond to cyber security threats, enabling partner countries and regional organizations to better protect the global, open, and free cyber space. Its regional components focus on the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as well as the Western Balkan and Eastern European countries. Based on a partnership between the AU Commission and the German Federal Foreign Office, the project aims to contribute to the AUC’s strategic and operational cybersecurity capacity and to developing and operationalising cybersecurity norms and policy frameworks at continental and member state level. The project applies a comprehensive perspective on cybersecurity, including cyber diplomacy, international law, the cyber-AI nexus, strategic cybersecurity guidelines and incident response, and cooperates with various units of the AU Commission. It is partially co-funded by the European Commission
Core Tasks
The position will be embedded in the GIZ-AU office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and at the same time fully integrated (virtually) in the global project team, based in Germany.
The Regional Cyber Policy Advisor (AU) is responsible for the following areas:
- Design and implementation of regional project activities to advance continental skills and mechanisms on cybersecurity, cyber diplomacy, international law in cyberspace, and operational response at governmental level across AU member states;
- Provision of advisory services and technical support to various directorates and departments of the AU Commission on strategic cyber diplomacy and cybersecurity approaches, with a particular focus on cyber norms and strategies, as well as policy implementation and capacity-building at AU member state level;
- Support activities which foster a cross-cutting approach to cybersecurity within AUC;
- Multi-stakeholder management and network-building, including with African and international experts, service providers, the local EU Delegation and other international partners;
- Continuous project management, including communication and visibility activities, operational planning and budgeting, results-based monitoring and reporting, and knowledge management.
The Regional Cybersecurity Advisor (AU) performs the following tasks:
- Regularly exchange and align with the AU Commission and its relevant divisions and units for strategic advice and the planning, preparation and implementation of joint activities, with a focus on change management and sustainable anchoring;
- Closely liaise and collaborate with cyber focal points within AUC to ensure successful partnership management;
- Steer the implementation of activities both in Addis Adaba and across the African continent (e.g. policy and technical trainings with external partners, workshops, conferences, organisational change and community development), including coordination of participants, partners, contributors and local GIZ offices, in line with the assigned budget and in close coordination with the global project team;
- Tendering and quality control of contractual project partners, e.g. grantees and service providers, jointly with the GIZ-AU office, other GIZ offices in Africa, and the global project team;
- Contribute to effective project management of the regional component (AU), including operational planning and reporting, and the creation of visibility and communication material;
- Function as a continental project focal point, e.g. participate in relevant events on behalf of the project and regularly liaise with regional experts or partners, including the EU delegation to the AU as co-funding party;
- Function as project focal point within GIZ-AU in Addis Ababa, e.g. by ensuring coordination with other relevant GIZ projects on site or contributing project-specific inputs to GIZ-AU portfolio steering, reporting or communication
- Collaborate with and regularly report back to the global project team on relevant developments, activities, stakeholder management, etc.
Your Profile
Qualifications
- A Masters degree in the field of political science or business economics, international relations, organisational development, cybersecurity or a comparable field relevant to the position and subject area. A first university degree in combination with strong qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of Masters degree or the advanced university degree;
- Professional proficiency in English (orally and written) is required, fluency in other relevant languages (Arabic, French, Portuguese, Kiswahili) is an added advantage.
Professional Experience
- Minimum of 5 years of professional experience and demonstrable knowledge at the interface of digital and security policy, preferably in the fields of international cybersecurity and cyber diplomacy. A strong professional network in cybersecurity within Africa is considered as an asset;
- Professional experience with regional or international organisations in the field of capacity building, organisational change and/or policy advice, preferably with active engagement of governmental decision makers;
- Solid experience in impact-oriented project management, event organisation (including setting up and running workshops and conferences, logistics and participants management), results monitoring and stakeholder management;
- Experience and knowledge of procedures and actors in international cooperation in digital or security policy fields, with a focus on the AU and its relevant organs;
- Experience in international relations or diplomatic contexts is a strong advantage;
- Experience in effectively cooperating in complex cross-cutting settings with the necessary skills in facilitation of non-hierarchical teams.
Skills
- Ability to develop and follow clear programme goals, plans and actions, including budgets, that are consistent with agreed strategies and focus on partnership and sustainable implementation, while being conscientious in observing deadlines and achieving results.
- Excellent analytical, drafting and report writing skills, as well as planning and organizational skills, combined with the ability to work independently and self-reliantly, with an interest to staying up to date with international cyber diplomacy, cybersecurity, AI and threat-related trends.
- Strong interpersonal, problem-solving and communication skills, both written and verbal, and a cooperative and supportive team spirit.
- Capacity to work under pressure in a multicultural and dynamic environment, and a demonstrated ability to initiate and promote collaborative approaches between geographically and culturally disparate partners, while acting comfortably in diplomatic circles.
- Strong sense of credibility, impartiality, and unconditional discretion with the ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations both internally and externally, in a politically and culturally sensitive environment.
- Proficiency in regular communications tools and software, including but not limited to Microsoft Office tools and information dissemination platforms
The position is based in Addis Ababa. Readiness for travel to African countries as well as Europe is a prerequisite to attend project activities, relevant events and conferences. The position is open to nationals of AU member states only.
GIZ is an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from individuals regardless of gender, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, age, or any other protected characteristic. We embrace diversity and believe that inclusivity in the workplace is essential to our success and we are committed to creating a work environment where all employees are valued and respected.
Don’t have a winning CV? Let GeezJobs write it for you! 👉 CLICK & Learn about the Service
