Purpose of Job
Reporting to the Executive Secretary, the Protocol Officer shall have responsibility for all protocol related liaison and facilitation matters within the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC).
Main Functions
- The Protocol Officer will:
• Be in charge of the practical implementation of the relevant provisions of Treaties on the Additional Protocol on privileges and immunities and the Host Agreement signed between the Government of Zambia and the AU Commission for the ECOSOCC.
• Ensure the practical implementation of all procedures linked to protocol processes, Staff Regulations and rules, and other administrative guidelines.
Specific Responsibilities
- Ensure that issues on privileges and immunities of the ECOSOCC and its officials and staff are handled in accordance with the relevant provisions of the above-mentioned Treaties;
- Provide the necessary advice on protocol-related issues to the AU and its constituents in accordance with diplomatic norms, especially with regards to privileges and immunities;
- Maintain close working relationship with relevant authorities of the Host Country with a view to updating the Executive Secretary and the relevant AUC Department on the challenges faced in the practical implementation of some provisions of the host agreement;
- Initiate and follow up on requests for diplomatic privileges and immunities from Zambian authorities on behalf of the ECOSOCC and its staff members and officials;
- Co-ordinate requests for import/export permits for vehicles and other goods and personal effects for the ECOSOCC and its staff;
- Facilitate issuance of administrative and legal documents on behalf of officials and staff (resident IDs, Visas etc);
- Facilitate of separation procedures of officials and staff from the services of the AU-ECOSOCC;
- Receive, evaluate and processing of requests of officials and staff for diplomatic privileges and immunities, thereby facilitating provision of related information and benefits;
- Handling of ceremonies and official functions;
- Contribute to and engage in the periodic review of the AU Protocol Manual;
- Make a periodic review of the Diplomatic List of AU Heads of State and Government, Ministers of Foreign/External Affairs, Heads of Diplomatic Missions and Heads of International Organizations;
- Provide advice on policies and procedures regarding the appropriate use of the AU flag as well as the flags of Member States;
- Ensure that AU and Member States’ flags, nameplates, and anthems are procured and properly kept;
- Prepare and updating the country profiles of Member States of the AU;
Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience
- A minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations, Diplomacy or any of the Social Science disciplines with courses in International Relations and Diplomacy with at least Two (2) years relevant work experience preferably in an international working environment.
- Training in Protocol and Etiquette will be a preferred advantage.
- Higher academic or professional qualifications in the above-mentioned or related fields within the Social Sciences will be an added advantage.
Required Skills
- Ability to work in a multicultural setting in good team spirit;
- Good management and leadership capabilities
- Very good planning and time management skills
- Excellent diplomacy and international relations skills
- Ability to negotiate and persuade
- Computer literacy, especially (MS office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Good policy development and analytical skills
- Very strong skills in drafting
- Ability to make routine decisions
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Strong analytical skills
- Ability to work across business units / geographies; culturally sensitive environment
- Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (English, French, Arabic, Portuguese, or Spanish) or fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.
TENURE OF APPOINTMENT:
The appointment will be made on a regular-term contract for a period of three (3) years, of which the first twelve months shall be considered a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of two years, subject to satisfactory performance and 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, Portuguese, and Spanish) and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage
REMUNERATION:
Indicative basic salary of US$ 25,523.00 (P1 Step1) per annum plus other related entitlements, e.g. post-adjustment (44% of basic salary), Housing allowance US$ 16,819.80 (per annum), and education allowance (100% of tuition and other education-related expenses for every eligible dependent up to a maximum of US$ 10,000.00 per child per annum) for internationally recruited staff and a maximum of $3,300 per child per annum for locally recruited staff
- Only candidates who have met all the requirements of the post and have been selected for an interview will be contacted.
- Only applications registered online with a complete curriculum vitae (CV) attached will be considered.
- The Africa Union is an equal-opportunity employer, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Applications must be submitted no later than November 23, 2023 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, Bachelor’s degrees, Master’s degrees 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 less-represented countries within the African Union are strongly encouraged to apply for positions that fit their profiles. These countries include Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Sahrawi D.R., Sao Tome and Principe., Seychelles, Somalia and Tunisia.
