Recruitment Notice: ICT Expert needed at The African Union (AU)

ICT Expert

Location: Cameroon, Cameroon

Organization: African Union

AU Values

​​• Respect for diversity and teamwork • Africa first
• Transparency and accountability • Integrity and impartiality
• Efficiency and professionalism • Information and sharing of Knowledge

Organization Information
Reports to: Project Unit Coordinator for ECCAS
Directorate/Department/Organ: Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy
Division: Sustainable Environment
Number of direct reports: 0
Number of indirect reports: 0
Job Grade : P2
Number of positions: 1
Type of contract: Fixed-Term
Location: Douala, Cameroon

Purpose of the position
The African Union Commission (AUC) has secured funding from the European Union for the implementation of the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) under the Intra-ACP Program for Climate Services and Applications (ClimSA ). The program addresses climate information along the climate services supply chain, including the production and delivery of climate services, access to information, user interface platforms and capacity building of key stakeholders including Regional Economic Communities (RECs), National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) of Member States and Regional Climate Centers (RCCs). Its purpose is to enable Member States to develop science-based climate information and predictions and to integrate them into development planning and decision-making at all levels, and to better manage the risks associated climate variability and its evolution. Furthermore, it aims to improve policies and decision-making at continental, regional, national, community and individual levels.

The AUC is responsible for the overall continental coordination of program implementation, which includes the development and application of weather and climate information services; facilitating capacity building for RECs and Member States; promoting the sharing of best practices and the coordination of knowledge management; purchase and supply of equipment for Member States and Regional Climate Centers; establishing and operationalizing the continental monitoring and reporting framework; facilitating the preparation of reports and outlooks on the state of the climate in Africa; prudent management of financial resources; and monitoring and evaluation.

Qualified candidates from AU Member States of the ECCAS region are particularly encouraged to submit their applications.

Main duties
Under the authority and supervision of the ClimSA/GFCS Project Coordinator and the Head of the MIS Division of the AUC, and in close collaboration with the members of the Project Management Unit, the post holder assumes the duties and following responsibilities:
• Ensure functions related to communication, visibility and knowledge management;
• Participate in the computer processing of meteorological data.

Specific responsibilities
Under the supervision of the ClimSA/GFCS project coordinator and in close collaboration with the technical experts, the ICT expert assumes the following specific responsibilities:
• Manage the installation and maintenance of infrastructures (climatological stations, PUMA stations and others) at CAPC-AC and in ECCAS Member States;
• Follow up on customs clearance of infrastructure in ECCAS Member States to avoid delays;
• Manage IT infrastructure and databases, including networks, servers and telecommunications to ensure their proper functioning;
• Ensure proper configuration and maintenance of network access privileges, applications, data storage and regular backups;
• Develop and test software according to project needs;
• Manage the project’s meteorological and climatological monitoring databases;
• Ensure capacity building of NMHSs, ATPC-AC staff, national staff and provide training on data access to NMHS focal points, as well as stakeholders in the region;
• Support the production, collection and dissemination of real-time climate services information;
• Facilitate the reception of meteorological data from partners and ensure the transfer of data to NMHSs;
• Provide IT support and feedback tools to users, as needed;
• Work closely with experts from ACMAD, JRC and ECMNF to develop the CSIS (Climate Services Information System) and Climate Data Management System (CDMS) for the region and ensure its effective implementation throughout the production chain of climate services;
• Develop and implement the project’s communication and visibility plan or strategy for the ECCAS region and execute communication, visibility and knowledge management activities, including social media;
• Ensure the efficient delivery of the climate services production chain, the dissemination of climate services and the provision of training;
• Provide general administration, management, planning, design, implementation and maintenance of network infrastructure (LAN, WAN, copper cables, fiber, wireless connections, data center, cabling) , network hardware (switches, hubs, routers, access points, controllers) and network security (firewall/access control/VPN);

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• Prepare statistical reports on ICT related data and parameters; implement, where appropriate, measures to ensure compliance with the required standards;
• Ensure successful backup of servers, routine testing of disaster recovery planning, backups and restore procedures of local drives; maintain records, determine critical versions of data and perform corresponding archiving procedures;
• Ensure successful backup of servers, routine testing of disaster recovery planning, local drive backup and restore procedures;
• Manage the electrical system in the CAPC-AC premises and ensure that it is in good working order – generators and power supply (UPS), fire detection systems and other electrical equipment;
• Develop a feedback tool for users;
• Work closely with ACMAD, JRC and ECMWF to develop a Climate Services Information System (CSIS) and ensure its effectiveness;
• Ensure effective procurement, installation/configuration, operation and maintenance of systems hardware and software and related infrastructure at CAPC-AC level and in NMHSs of ECCAS Member States;
• Develop, test, implement and update project website and portal and update information such as newsletters, event communication, feedback etc. ;
• Develop effective web support tools to enable dynamic and secure dissemination of web content related to the project;
• Produce communication and visibility documents in collaboration with the program team, manage network and database infrastructures, software, servers and web applications, provide troubleshooting, reinforce IT equipment and put set up backup routines;
• Execute communication, visibility and knowledge management actions;
• Carry out any other task related to the program that may be entrusted to him.

Academic training and experience required
• The candidate must hold at least a Bachelor’s degree (Bac+3) in ICT, computer science, engineering or a related field, with relevant professional experience of five (5) years, including at least two (2) years in the field of meteorological applications.
OR
• He must hold a Master’s degree (Bac+5) in one of the aforementioned fields, with relevant professional experience of two (2) years, with proven experience in the use of IT applications in the field of meteorology .
• A higher university qualification would be an asset.
• Good experience in database management, production, collection and dissemination of computer and satellite data; in-depth experience in the computerized processing of meteorological data, the management of computer systems, Internet and satellite networks.
• Knowledge of programming languages ​​(Bash, R, Python, NCL, Fortran, Matlab) and mastery of issues related to information technology.
• Work experience in the ECCAS region would be preferred.

Required Skills
• Proven skills in the area of ​​climate services industry applications;
• Good knowledge of analysis methods, interoperability technologies, geo-referenced data, python language, etc. ;
• Excellent skills in interpersonal relations;
• Excellent planning and organizational skills;
• In-depth knowledge of the technical processes of climate change and meteorology;
• Knowledge on the use of data from regional and global climate models for climate simulations and forecasts in the sub-region, countries, watersheds, as well as on the impacts and forecasts of climate-related risks and disasters ;
• Demonstrated knowledge and practice of policy development and analysis;
• Proficiency in one of the official working languages ​​of the African Union (English, Arabic, Spanish, French, Portuguese). Knowledge of another AU language would be an added advantage.
• Experience in the ECCAS region is an asset;
• Proficiency in LINUX and Windows operating systems and the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher);
Desired skills
• Additional training and experience in project management;
• Excellent teamwork skills and ability to interact with all kinds of people;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to communicate specialist information to non-specialists;
• Ability to work under pressure and be flexible with schedules, and ability to multi-task;
• Acute sense of detail and precision in the work;
• Experience in project management;
• Ability to work under pressure within a multidisciplinary team;
• Developed sense of human relations;
• Good communication skills.

Leadership skills
Change management
Risk management
Core competencies
Team spirit and collaboration
Awareness of responsibility and respect for rules
Perception of learning
Approach focused on continuous improvement
Functional Competencies
Awareness of responsibility and compliance with rules
Knowledge of the job and information sharing
Drive for results
Approach focused on continuous improvement
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY:

The African Union Commission is an equal opportunity employer men and women, and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

DURATION OF CONTRACT AND TAKING OFFICE:

Engagement in this position is on the basis of a contract for a period of 1 year, the first three months of which are considered a probationary period. The contract is renewed subject to satisfactory results and the availability of funds.

COMPENSATION:

The salary corresponding to this position (P2 Step 5) is an annual lump sum of US$80,801.70 all allowances included in accordance with the regulations governing international civil servants of the Commission, and of US$65,992.92 all allowances included in accordance with the regulations governing local civil servants of the Commission.

Applications must be submitted no later than September 8, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. GMT+3.
-Only candidates who have met all the requirements of the position and who have been selected for interviews will be contacted.
-Only complete application files submitted online, with a curriculum vitae (CV), an African passport and the required university qualifications, such as a Bac+2 level diploma, a Bachelor’s degree, a Master’s degree or any other relevant certificate in related to the field of expertise, will be examined.
-The African Union is an equal opportunity employer and applications from women are strongly encouraged.
-Nationals of the least represented countries within the African Union are strongly encouraged to submit their applications for positions that match their profiles: Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, Egypt Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Sahrawi DR, Sao Tome and Principe Seychelles, Somalia, Tunisia.

Requisition ID: 1944

Apply ONLY online via the form available at:

 https://jobs.au.int/