AU-IBAR is a specialized technical office of the African Union Commission (AUC), headed by the Director who reports directly to the AUC through the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA).

Summary

Under the direct supervision of the Project Team leader at AU-IBAR the incumbent will undertake the following targeted areas of work so as to achieve the objectives of the Project ‘Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in African Blue Economy’

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support relating to the Legal, Policy and institutional aspects of the project;
• Strengthen capacity for effective participation in Continental and Global Fora on aquatic biodiversity and environmental management;
• Drafting of MoUs, Protocols or Agreements for Regional cooperation on transboundary issues in shared aquatic ecosystems for biodiversity conservation and environmental management;
• Actively coordinate the formulation of Policies, Strategies, frameworks, regulations in the project to support the conservation of aquatic biodiversity and environmental management in the context of African Blue Economy;
• Identify and strengthen capacity of negotiators to guide and provide technical support to AU stakeholders for effective participation in Continental and Global regimes related to aquatic biodiversity and environmental sustainability;
• Develop priority issues for enhancing ratification and implementation of Continental and Global Instruments related to aquatic biodiversity and environmental management;
• Assist AU Member States for review of their National Instruments (e.g. Policies and legislations) for alignment or coherence with relevant Continental and Global Instruments;
• Develop harmonized Regional biodiversity frameworks and technical guidance to AU Member States to mainstream biodiversity strategies in relevant National Instruments;
• Support to gender mainstreaming in aquatic biodiversity conservation and environmental management;
• Identification and development of new initiatives or projects for sustainable Blue Economy development in Africa; and,
• Any other duty as may be assigned by the Project Team Leader.

Academic Requirements

The incumbent should have a Minimum of a Master’s degree in Marine or Ocean Policy and Law, Environmental sciences, Natural Resource Law and Policy. A qualification in public Law would be an added advantage.

General Experience

• Record of familiarization of African Blue Economy Sector;
• Record of working experience with and/or familiarization with Regional Economic Communities and specialized Regional institutions with mandates related to management of aquatic biodiversity and environmental management;
• Experience in planning, implementing and facilitating stakeholders’ consultative workshops;
• Familiarization of Continental and Global Instruments related to aquatic biodiversity;
• Experience in formulation or supporting formulation of Policies, Strategies, Frameworks, regulations to support governance of transboundary aquatic ecosystems in Africa; and,
• Recommendation of experience in promoting harmonized frameworks for management of transboundary aquatic ecosystems.

Specific Experience

• Record of experience in drafting of involvement in MOUs, Protocols, Agreements, legislations at National and Regional levels in Africa;
• Demonstrated experience of facilitating reviews of Policies and legislations for alignment with best practices in Continental and Global Instruments related to aquatic biodiversity conservation and environmental management in Africa;
• Proven record of articulating (or facilitating) coordinated common positions for effective participation of African stakeholders in Global Fora;
• Experience of supporting development of mechanism and capacity building of AU Member States and Regional institutions in negotiation skills for effective participation in Continental and Global initiatives; and,
• Record of familiarization with and knowledge on Continental and Global Fora related to aquatic biodiversity and environmental governance