Job Description
AU Values
• Respect for Diversity and Team Work • Think Africa Above all
• Transparency and Accountability • Integrity and Impartiality
• Efficiency and Professionalism • Information and Knowledge Sharing
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Organization Information
Reports to: Principal Civil Affairs Officer
Directorate/Department/Organ: Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security
Division: AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia
Number of Direct Reports: 0
Number of Indirect Reports: 0
Job Grade: P3
Number of Positions: 1
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Location: Mogadishu, Somalia
Purpose of Job
The Senior Civil Affairs Officer reports to the Principal Civil Affairs Officer and supports the implementation of Civil Affairs activities in support of the AUSSOM mandate and stabilization objectives. The incumbent contributes to conflict management, community engagement, local governance support, reconciliation, social cohesion, and coordination activities at the national and sub-national levels. The Officer supports liaison and coordination with host authorities, civil society organizations, community leaders, Mission components, and relevant stakeholders to enhance local engagement, conflict prevention, stabilization, and the restoration of trust and confidence within affected communities in a complex and high-risk operational environment.
Main Functions
• Supports the implementation and coordination of Civil Affairs activities in support of the AUSSOM mandate, stabilization priorities, and local engagement efforts.
• Contributes to conflict management, conflict prevention, reconciliation, social cohesion, and community engagement initiatives at the national and sub-national levels.
• Supports liaison and coordination with host authorities, civil society organizations, community leaders, Mission components, and relevant stakeholders on Civil Affairs-related activities.
• Contributes to local governance support, community stabilization initiatives, and activities aimed at strengthening dialogue, confidence-building, and peaceful coexistence within affected communities.
• Supports the planning, coordination, monitoring, and implementation of Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) and other Civil Affairs-related initiatives in accordance with Mission priorities and applicable AU guidelines.
• Contributes to integrated Mission planning, information-sharing, and coordination activities with civilian, police, and military Mission components to support mandate implementation and operational coherence.
• Supports the preparation of analytical reports, briefing materials, assessments, and updates relating to conflict dynamics, community engagement, local developments, and Civil Affairs activities within the Mission area.
Specific Responsibilities
• Supports the implementation and coordination of Civil Affairs activities relating to conflict management, reconciliation, community engagement, social cohesion, and local stabilization initiatives within the Mission area.
• Contributes to dialogue facilitation, mediation, conflict prevention, and confidence-building activities involving local communities, host authorities, civil society organizations, and relevant stakeholders.
• Supports liaison and coordination with host authorities, community leaders, civil society actors, women and youth groups, and other relevant stakeholders on Civil Affairs-related matters.
• Assists in monitoring and analyzing local conflict dynamics, political developments, community concerns, and stabilization challenges affecting the implementation of the AUSSOM mandate.
• Supports the planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) and other community stabilization initiatives in accordance with Mission priorities and applicable AU guidelines.
• Contributes to integrated Mission planning, coordination, and information-sharing activities with civilian, police, and military Mission components to support operational coherence and mandate implementation.
• Supports activities aimed at strengthening local governance engagement, accountability, peaceful coexistence, and community resilience in affected areas.
• Assists in preparing analytical reports, briefing notes, assessments, situation updates, and other documentation relating to Civil Affairs activities and local developments within the Mission area.
• Supports field coordination activities and contributes to maintaining constructive engagement and communication between Mission components and local stakeholders.
• Assists in supervising, guiding, and coordinating the work of subordinate staff and field-level Civil Affairs activities as required.
• Supports awareness-raising, civic engagement, and outreach activities relating to peacebuilding, reconciliation, and stabilization efforts within local communities.
• Performs any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience
• Master’s degree (BAC+5) in Political Science, International Relations, Public Administration, Peace and Conflict Studies, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Law, Anthropology, Governance Studies, or a related field with a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant professional experience, including at least three (3) years in Civil Affairs, conflict management, community engagement, reconciliation, local governance support, peacebuilding, stabilization, or field mission environments.
Or
• Bachelor’s degree (BAC+3) in Political Science, International Relations, Public Administration, Peace and Conflict Studies, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Law, Anthropology, Governance Studies, or a related field with a minimum of ten (10) years of relevant professional experience, including at least three (3) years in Civil Affairs, conflict management, community engagement, reconciliation, local governance support, peacebuilding, stabilization, or field mission environments.
• Experience in AU, UN, or other international field missions, particularly in conflict or post-conflict environments, is desirable.
• Experience in mediation, reconciliation, dialogue facilitation, social cohesion, conflict prevention, or community stabilization initiatives is desirable.
• Experience supporting engagement with host authorities, civil society organizations, community leaders, women and youth groups, and other stakeholders is desirable.
• Experience in the planning, implementation, monitoring, or coordination of Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) or community-based initiatives is an added advantage.
• Experience working in integrated civilian, police, and military environments is desirable.
• Strong analytical, reporting, coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills are required.
Required Skills
• Strong conflict management, mediation, dialogue facilitation, and reconciliation skills within complex field mission environments.
• Ability to engage effectively with host authorities, community leaders, civil society organizations, women and youth groups, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Good understanding of local conflict dynamics, stabilization processes, community engagement, social cohesion, and peacebuilding approaches.
• Ability to monitor, analyze, and report on local political, social, security, and community developments affecting Mission activities and mandate implementation.
• Strong coordination, communication, stakeholder engagement, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to support integrated Mission planning, information-sharing, and operational coordination activities with civilian, police, and military Mission components.
• Ability to support the planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) and community stabilization initiatives.
• Strong analytical, drafting, briefing, and reporting skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and respond to evolving operational and community-related challenges in a fast-paced field mission environment.
• Ability to maintain professionalism, impartiality, cultural sensitivity, and sound judgment when engaging with diverse stakeholders and communities.
• Proficiency in the use of standard Microsoft Office applications and information management tools.
Leadership Competencies
Core Competencies
Functional Competencies
.
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$ 125,607.58 (P3 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 91,058.73 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.
Applications must be submitted no later than July 13, 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.
-Candidates from least represented and underrepresented countries within the African Union are strongly encouraged to apply for positions that fit their profiles.
Least represented countries: Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Sahrawi D.R., Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, and Somalia.
Under represented countries: Congo, Mozambique, South Africa, Sudan and Tunisia.