Adviser and Head of Africa Section - Political Affairs Division

Reference: 120600406
Location: London, UK
Closing Date: 30 Jul 2012

General Information

The Political Affairs Division (PAD) leads the Secretariat’s programme promoting democracy and good governance in the Commonwealth. The division is responsible to the Deputy Secretary-General for political affairs and works closely with the Secretary-General, providing advice and support on all political issues. Its work ranges from monitoring and analysing political developments and preparing briefings, to organising election observation and providing technical assistance to building/strengthening democratic institutions and supporting the Secretary-General’s ‘good offices’ role. This work is highly sensitive and involves demanding timetables.

PAD is also responsible for organising and servicing the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (CHOGM) and others, including those of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG).

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director, the Adviser and Head of the Africa Section:

• provides expert political advice and support to senior management on African issues
• represents and negotiates at senior levels on behalf of PAD and the Secretariat
• leads/participates in Commonwealth election observations missions when needed
• organises, manages and services high-level Commonwealth meetings
• performs management functions.
  

The job requires overseas travel, often at short notice and at times in challenging circumstances.

Task Description

The post-holder:

• Responsible for the preparation of policy papers and briefing materials, including speeches for the Secretary-General and other senior officers, on relevant member countries and regional and international issues, both for bilateral consultations as well as in the context of regional and international meetings, and co-ordinates and integrates the contributions from other divisions into these documents;
• Monitors and analyses political developments relating to Commonwealth member countries in Africa, in order to identify, prioritise and advise on issues to provide a basis for the Secretariat's strategic decision-making, policies and programmatic direction;
• Works with the Democracy Section in preparing briefing material on countries of assigned responsibility for election observer missions, also leading or participating in such missions when required, and providing substantive input into the post-mission report;
• Works closely with the Good Offices Section to support the Secretary-General's Good Offices role in countries of responsibility, including by offering his/her own mediation and good offices as the Secretary-General's emissary when required, which involves negotiation at high political levels.
• Assists in the organisation and servicing of high-level meetings such as CHOGM and coordinating follow-up action on decisions taken in these meetings;
• Supports meetings of the Secretary-General and other senior officials with Heads of Government, ministers, high level officials, and senior representatives of international and non-governmental organisations, including by accompanying the senior officers on official travel overseas.
• Represents the Secretariat by participating in seminars, colloquia and workshops as required, promotes the Commonwealth through speaking engagements in a broad range of diplomatic, political, academic and civil society fora;
• Leads and manages the Africa Section by undertaking administrative and management duties including planning, budgeting and evaluation and with staff and other establishment matters;
• Performs any other duties as may be required from time to time, including supervising the work of the Division in the Director’s absence.

Person Specification

Education:

• A post graduate degree or other advanced qualification in a relevant subject such as
• political science or international relations.

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in providing policy advice to senior management in a Government department or international or regional organisation, especially on African issues;
• Minimum ten years’ experience of supervising multi-disciplinary staff;

Desirable:

• Significant policy formulation experience in an international context;
• Experience of working in a multilateral organisation.

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Job Description for Adviser and Head of Africa Section - PDF version