• Employer: Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

• Job Time: Full-Time

• Job Type: Contract

• Place of Work: Addis Ababa, Addis Abeba - Ethiopia

• Deadline: January, 05/2025 (30 days left)

Job Description

NORCAP’s mission is to improve aid to protect and empower people affected by crises and climate change. With expertise in the humanitarian, development, and peace-building sectors, we collaborate with local, national, and international partners to find solutions that meet the needs of people at risk.

We do this by:

• Supporting humanitarian, development, and peace-building initiatives that protect and empower people

• Improving impact at the global and local level through joint projects with partners and stakeholders

• Providing expertise and developing capacity that enable partners to meet the needs of people in fragile situations and crises

• Strengthening the global system that we are part of through support for leadership, coordination, and policy development

• Building bridges between the humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding sectors

We are seeking a highly qualified Senior Mediation & Dialogue Officer, for an initial period of 1 year including a 3-month probation period, The assigned location will be Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The successful candidates shall provide technical expertise and support for mediation, dialogue, and reconciliation processes, with a focus on gender-sensitive and inclusive strategies. The main responsibilities include maintaining knowledge of regional political dynamics, supporting AU mediators in field missions, and advising on related issues such as electioneering, countering violent extremism, and security sector reforms.

Only applicants from the AU member states will be considered.

African Union

The African Union (AU), established in 2002 as a unique Pan-African continental body, is charged with spearheading Africa’s rapid integration and sustainable development by promoting unity, solidarity, cohesion, and cooperation among the peoples of Africa and African States as well as fostering international cooperation. Its Headquarters is located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Mediation and Dialogue Division (MDD)

The Mediation and Dialogue Division (MDD) of the African Union’s (AU) Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department (PAPS) was established in 2021 and is mandated to provide technical and operational support on the preventive diplomacy, mediation, dialogue, and reconciliation efforts undertaken by the Commission (i.e., through Special Envoys, High Representatives, Panel of the Wise and its subsidiary mechanisms – PanWise & FemWise-Africa, etc.), as well as to the RECs/RMs and Member States.

Organizational Setting and Reporting

Working in the framework of the Mediation and Dialogue Division, in the implementation of its mandate, the Senior Mediation & Dialogue Officer will be under the direct supervision of the Head of the Division. He/she will primarily be responsible for providing technical support and advice on mediation and dialogue-related processes, including process design, as well as supporting any ongoing national reconciliation processes. In fulfilling his/her mandate, the officer will work closely with the Regional Desk Coordinators for analysis of related data, and other relevant units as needed in the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS).

Duties & Responsibilities:

The Senior Mediation & Dialogue Officer will be expected to:

Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide technical support and expertise on mediation and dialogue, including process design. Where needed, this includes the provision of technical support to the relevant Member States and other national actors, in the convening of multi-stakeholder dialogues, mediation processes, and/or national reconciliation processes;

• Provide technical facilitation in processes as in (a) above, while ensuring that a gender-sensitive and inclusive strategy is employed at both the design and convening stages;

• Maintain good knowledge of the political and regional dynamics in priority countries/regions, and their expected impact on any potential or ongoing peace processes, including mediation, negotiation, or dialogue;

• Support AU mediators and mediation teams in field missions and/or organizing meetings, workshops, and dialogues with various national stakeholders and groups, with the view to build trust, and develop a deeper understanding of their needs, expectations, and way of reasoning; to be able to predict what they do, and the expected impact on broader mediation and dialogue processes;

• Maintain a reasonable working knowledge on issues around electioneering, the prevention and countering of violent extremism (P/CVE), demobilization, disarmament and reintegration (DDR), and security sector reforms (SSR) to provide advice related to these, as needed, during mediation and dialogue processes;

• Provide technical expertise in the convening of trainings related to mediation and dialogue for national stakeholders and civil society, including marginalized and/or under-represented groups, to disseminate knowledge and guidance on effectively engaging in mediation and dialogue processes;

• Maintain meticulous records and documentation on any mediation, dialogue, and national reconciliation processes supported by the AU, through the MDD Knowledge Management Platform, for easy reference and dissemination of best practices and lessons learned;

• Advocate and promote the systematic mainstreaming of women and youth participation in preventive diplomacy, mediation, and dialogue efforts supported by the AU. This will include liaising with women/youth groups in different country/regional contexts as needed;

• Develop and maintain relations with government officials and national stakeholders, and oversee the development and management of partnerships with regional and international organizations, especially the relevant RECs/RMs working on supporting mediation, negotiation, and dialogue processes;

• Perform any other related duties as may be assigned by the Head of Mediation and Dialogue Division.

You are encouraged to read the full Terms of Reference before applying.

Job Requirements

To excel in this role, candidates should possess the following qualifications and skills:

Education:

• A Master’s university Degree in Peace & Security Studies, Governance, International Studies, Political Science, Public Policy, Law, Public Administration, Social Studies, or other related disciplines with at least seven (7) years of relevant experience.

• A Bachelor's degree in the above-mentioned fields with at least ten (10) additional years of relevant experience will be considered instead of a Master’s degree.

• Additional training/ certification in the field of mediation would be an added advantage.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years of working experience in the field of mediation, alternative dispute resolution (ADR), political affairs, conflict prevention, conflict management, or peacebuilding.

• Concrete experience in supporting a negotiation, mediation, or dialogue process is required.

• Good comparative knowledge of the AU mediation and negotiation structures/processes, or those of other Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) or the UN would be desirable.

• Experience in the promotion of institutional gender mainstreaming and/or implementing women's peace and security agenda would be advantageous.

Skills and Competencies:

• Good comparative knowledge of the conflict, peace, and security dynamics in Madagascar and Comoros.

• Good comparative knowledge of the workings and establishment of mediation support structures of the African Union and the RECs/RMs, including the AU Panel of the Wise and similar mechanisms.

• Ability to establish priorities and to plan work assignments.

• Ability to work closely with government and local officials, civil society organizations (CSOs), NGOs, and other multi-lateral institutions in peace and security-related issues.

• Excellent communication and writing skills, including sound reporting skills.

• Computer literate and well-versed in the use of the Internet, PowerPoint, Excel, and Word.

• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.

Languages:

• Proficiency in English is a must.

• Knowledge of a third or all of the other AU working languages ( Arabic, Portuguese, and Spanish) would be an added advantage.

Remuneration

• The salary attached to the position is at P3 Step 5 inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff.

The main competencies of a NORCAP Expert:

• Building working relationships

• Planning and organizing

• Adaptability

• Resilience

What we offer

• Rewarding work for a renowned global organization

• Access to a network of humanitarian, peace, and development professionals

• A dedicated Staff Care Unit 

How to Apply

When submitting your application, kindly register in English your full employment history and education. Please include your full name as written in your passport. Uploaded CVs alone will not be reviewed.

Apply using THIS LINK

NORCAP values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates.

NORCAP reserves the right to conduct a full background check on shortlisted candidates.

An approved Health Certificate will be required before contract commencement and assignment.

Feedback will be given to all applicants within four weeks after the closing of this advertisement.

Apply before 4th January 2025, 11.59 PM (Oslo time)