Program Assistant | ReliefWeb

Africa Union Commission/Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (AUC/DREA)

Recruitment of staff to strengthen AUC/DREA’s capacity to deliver

New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition Initiatives

Position:Program Assistant

Nationality: AU Member Countries Only

Location: Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia (with extensive regional and international travel)

Period of Performance:2 – 3 years (estimated begin date July 2015)

Background

Public investment in agriculture and food security has significantly increased in Africa over the last decade. Although there is considerable impact being created, governments alone cannot forge the path to sustainable food security as agricultural transformation is a shared interest of the public and private sectors and presents a unique opportunity for a new model of partnership. The New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition was launched in 2012 in order to:

· Reaffirm continued donor commitment to reducing poverty and hunger

· Accelerate implementation of key components of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)

· Leverage the potential of responsible private investment to support development goals

· Help lift 50 million people out of poverty in Africa by 2022

· Achieve sustained inclusive, agriculture-led growth in Africa

The New Alliance is a partnership in which stakeholders commit to specific policy reforms and public and private investments that accelerate the implementation of African country food security strategies. These commitments, along with a set of Enabling Actions, address key constraints to agriculture-led growth in Africa, including those that prevent smallholder farmers, particularly women, from increasing their productivity and accessing markets. The New Alliance directly contributes to and catalyses the implementation of CAADP’s overarching goals to end hunger and halve poverty in Africa by 2025 as outlined in the 2014 Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agriculture Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods.

StrengtheningDREA’s capacity to deliver New Alliance initiatives

The African Union Commission’s Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (AUC-DREA) has developed a staffing plan to strengthen DREA’s capacity to deliver with respect to the New Alliance in support of CAADP and the 2014 Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods.

Responsibilities

The Program Assistant will provide logistical, programmatic and operational support to the New Alliance initiatives. The Project Assistant will report to the Senior Coordinator

Specific Administrative Support Responsibilities related to New Alliance (NA) Initiatives

· Conduct orientation visits to New Alliance and Grow Africa countries as required

· Collect and manage data and other inputs for use in the drafting of guidance documents on the implementation of New Alliance in member countries

· Create and manage a database of partners from whom feedback is regularly received and with whom NA implementation reports are shared

· Provide logistical support for the convening of Leadership Council and other NA meetings, including communications in run-up to meetings, note taking, meeting room logistics, and developing and printing materials for meetings

· Populate and regularly update the DREA New Alliance M&E database??

· Update and maintain the NA website to ensure stakeholder access to targeted and impactful documents, success stories and other communications related to New Alliance Initiatives

Programme Management Tasks

· Maintain and update database of service providers, REC and Country CAADP and New Alliance contacts, key stakeholders and donor/development partners

· Coordinate office administration requirements to ensure smooth operations within AUC/DREA

· Participate and contribute to regular DREA meetings and other meetings of the AU as necessary

· Provide support to other national and continental meetings where AUC/DREA is contributing to the technical agenda of the meeting, especially when related to New Alliance content

· Provide notetaking and transcription at meetings, as required

· Support the Senior Coordinator and Program Analyst as required

Performance Criteria

The Project Assistant hired to work on DREA’s New Alliance initiatives will be part of the performance based programme within DREA, which is dependent on individual and team core competencies.

Qualifications, Background and Experience

· University degree in agricultural development, public administration, international affairs, project management or related field is required.

· Minimum of 2 years of experience contributing to multi-faceted international development programmes.

· A background in agricultural development, public administration, international affairs or project management is preferred.

· Proven experience assisting in the management of projects/programs.

· Experience of working successfully as part of a team where building and maintaining positive working relationships across the organisation and a wide range of stakeholders was essential. Attention to detail is an essential requirement.

Skills

· Excellent IT skills including web maintenance, database management, and Microsoft office

Tasks/Responsibilities

· Maintain NA website

· Maintain a range of NA databases/contact lists

· Collate feedback data and prepare the data for inclusion in NA reports

· Support the team working on New Alliance initiatives with booking travel and accommodations

· Develop checklists for use in NA planning meetings and events

· Make arrangements for New Alliance meetings including producing draft agendas, handouts and binders

· Book facilities, travel and catering for NA meeting participants. Assist with preparation for NA meetings by sending invitations, making travel and hotel reservations for participants, keeping updated excel files on participant contact information, liaising with meeting venue on room selection, AV requirements and catering.

· Prepare and order all materials for NA meetings including photocopying, ordering stationary supplies, t-shirts, binders as needed and compile binders

· Proofread a range of documents and prepare them for dissemination (including mailings and electronic distribution)

· Coordinate and distribute bulk communications to NA stakeholders

· Ensure that stationary levels for the New Alliance initiatives within DREA are maintained and orders are placed with the necessary suppliers

· Draft purchase orders when necessary

The successful candidate should demonstrate a commitment to:

· The value and vision of the AUC, CAADP, the Malabo Declaration and the New Alliance with respect to agricultural transformation and food security and nutrition.

· Ensure equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice and promote diversity

· Recognise and value the contribution of others

· Demonstrate flexibility and open mindedness

· Give feedback and support