Senior Civil Affairs Officer

The Senior Civil Affairs Officer supports the implementation of Civil Affairs activities in support of the AUSSOM mandate and stabilization objectives. The role involves conflict management, community engagement, local governance support, reconciliation, social cohesion, and coordination activities at national and sub-national levels in a complex and high-risk operational environment.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Contributes to dialogue facilitation, mediation, conflict prevention, and confidence-building activities involving local communities, host authorities, civil society organizations, and relevant stakeholders.
• Assists in monitoring and analyzing local conflict dynamics, political developments, community concerns, and stabilization challenges affecting the implementation of the AUSSOM mandate.
• 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.

Requirements

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Skills

• Civil Affairs
• Conflict Management
• Community Engagement
• Reconciliation
• Local Governance Support
• Peacebuilding Processes
• Stabilization
• Field Mission Experience
• Mediation
• Dialogue Facilitation
• Social Cohesion
• Conflict Prevention
• Community Stabilization
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Quick Impact Projects
• Integrated Mission Coordination
• Analytical Reporting
• Drafting
• Briefing
• Microsoft Office Suite

Languages

Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, Spanish