Senior Programme Officer - Diaspora Engagement (CIDO)

Purpose of Job

The Senior Programme Officer, Diaspora Engagement, will be responsible for coordinating and strengthening the engagement of African Diaspora organizations in the effective implementation of the African Union Theme of the Year 2025: "Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations." This role aims to leverage the influence and reach of the global African Diaspora to advance the theme's objectives and foster a united front for reparatory justice.

Main Functions

• Stakeholder Coordination

Engage African Diaspora organizations, AU Member States, RECs, and global partners to support the implementation of the AU Theme of the Year 2025.

• Strategic Planning and Programme Delivery

Develop and manage strategies and programmes that mobilize Diaspora engagement in support of reparatory justice.

• Policy and Advocacy Support

Contribute to policy development and advocacy efforts that advance reparations, including drafting relevant documents and supporting campaigns.

• Partnerships and Resource Mobilization

Build strategic partnerships and advocate for resources to support Diaspora-led initiatives and activities.

• Information Management and Reporting

Monitor implementation progress and prepare reports for AU decision-making bodies and stakeholders.

• Event Coordination

Support the planning and delivery of high-level events and consultations with active Diaspora participation.

Specific Responsibilities

• Strategic Engagement: Develop and implement strategies for effective engagement with critical stakeholders in the African Diaspora, including within CARICOM, and other significant global stakeholders, to coordinate the implementation of the Theme of the Year 2025.
• Transcontinental Collaboration: Support the establishment and operationalization of a Transcontinental Partnership Framework embracing the AU, CARICOM, and the African Diaspora in Latin America, North America, Europe and UK, and elsewhere in the world, to build a strong common front in pursuit of reparations and reparatory justice at the global level.
• Program Development: Contribute to the development of an African Reparatory Programme of Action, ensuring it reflects the priorities and needs of the African Diaspora.
• Coordination and Reporting: Work in close collaboration with AU Member States, relevant AU Organs and institutions, and RECs to coordinate the implementation of the Theme of the Year 2025. Monitor progress of Diaspora engagement and contribute to the preparation of progress reports for the 7th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting and the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly.
• Resource Allocation Advocacy: Advocate for Member States and Partners to allocate adequate resources for the implementation of the theme at the national level, with specific attention to Diaspora-led initiatives.
• Conference Support: Assist in the coordination and organization of international conferences and events related to reparations, ensuring high-level participation from the African Diaspora.
• Partnership Development: Identify, cultivate, and strengthen partnerships with key African Diaspora organizations and networks to ensure their active participation in the global movement for reparations.
• Advocacy and Mobilization: Facilitate the Diaspora's contributions to advocacy efforts for accountability and the provision of remedies, compensation, reparations, restitution, and reparatory justice for historical crimes, including the transatlantic slave trade, colonialism, genocide, and apartheid.
• Institutional development: develop the relevant concept notes, strategic direction, and composition of the newly established mechanisms related to the Theme of the Year, mainly the African Union Reference Group of Legal Experts on Reparations (AU LER) and the African Union Committee of Experts on Reparations (AUCER), as well as coordinate the logistical and substantive preparatison of its meetings, with a focus on diaspora engagement..

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• A University Master’s degree in International Relations, Diaspora Studies, Human Rights, Political Science, Law, Social Sciences, or any other relevant qualification with Seven (7) years ‘relevant experience in programme management, international relations, diaspora engagement, or related fields, with a strong focus on the African Diaspora out of which three (3) years at expert level.

OR

• Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, Diaspora Studies, Human Rights, Political Science, Law, Social Sciences, or any other relevant qualification with Ten (10) years ‘relevant experience in programme management, international relations, diaspora engagement, or related fields, with a strong focus on the African Diaspora out of which three (3) years at expert level.
• Demonstrated experience in working with African Diaspora organizations and networks across different regions, including CARICOM.
• Experience in coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives and reporting on project progress.

Required Skills

• Technical Skills: Strong understanding of issues related to reparations, human rights, and the historical and contemporary experiences of people of African descent globally.
• Interpersonal Skills: Excellent communication, negotiation, and diplomatic skills. The ability to build and maintain effective partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including governmental and non-governmental actors.
• Analytical Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with attention to detail.
• Organizational Skills: Proven organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and deliver results under pressure.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Knowledge of other AU official languages (Arabic, French, Portuguese) is an added advantage, particularly relevant for engaging a diverse diaspora.
• IT Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and relevant project management software.
• Research Skills: Crafting effective policy articulating the problematic, analyzing policy options, and recommending concise, actionable solutions, as well as developing concept papers outlining foundational ideas, objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes.

Leadership Competencies

Fosters Accountability Culture

Communicating with impact

Driving Change

Strategic Insight

Developing Others

Core Competencies

Building Relationship

Accountable and Complies with Rules

.Learning Orientation

Functional Competencies

Conceptual Thinking

Job Knowledge Sharing

Drive for Results

Continuous Improvement Orientation

.

TENURE OF APPOINTMENT:

The appointment will be made under an Appointment of Limited Duration contract for a period of six months and will not be automatically renewable.

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$ 48,460.67 (P3 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 39,230.54 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.

Skills Required:

• Hr / Public / Admin
• Legal / Law
• Political / Science / Ir
• Social / Science / Project / Management / Development