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EXECUTIVE SECRETARY AFRICAN PEACE SUPPORT TRAINERS’ ASSOCIATION


POST OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY AFRICAN PEACE SUPPORT TRAINERS’ ASSOCIATION (APSTA)
APSTA Overview: African Peace Support Trainers’ Association (APSTA), was registered in Kenya under Registration Certificate No. OP.218/051/2010/0551/6793. It was started in 2002 by leading African training and research institutions as a framework for improving the capacity of peace keeping training institutions by facilitating the exchange of best practices and capacity development support, and for enhancing the impact of peace keeping initiatives by the African Union (AU) and regional economic communities / regional mechanism (RECs/RM). Through dialogue and joint research APSTA has continuously sought to deepen the debate on peacekeeping, capacity development in Africa such as protection of civilians and responsibility to protect. APSTA’s initial membership included members of the African Chapter of the International Association of Peace Keeping Training Centre (IAPTC) but has gradually grown and currently has 18 member institutions drawn from peace support operation (PSO) training related institutions across Africa.
APSTA Objectives: • To facilitate the ability of peace support Training centres to dialogue with each other; • To facilitate meetings and exchange information and best practices; • To facilitate efforts to harmonise doctrine, standard operating Procedures and training; • To serve as a depository that offers advisory services to the AU on peace support operations; • To act as a sounding board for the AU Commission on peace support operations, and • To serve as instrument for the dissemination of research and expert oriented training particularly in Africa. •
The core functions of APSTA are: • Standardization, harmonization coordination and certification of peace keeping training in Africa. • Development of lessons learned to provide input for the refinement of the AU PSO doctrine and training policy improvement of ongoing AU Missions • Exchange of information, best practices and research for the enhancement of the quality and efficiency of peace keeping training institutions.
Duties and Responsibilities The Executive Secretary is a senior position at the Secretariat in Nairobi. Key responsibilities for this position include: programme development, implementation, administration and management. The incumbent will be reporting to the Executive Committee, and shall be the Head of the Secretariat responsible for overseeing programs and explore new grant opportunities, ensuring the association’s objectives are translated into specific plans for achievement of the objectives, as well as to oversee the office administration. The incumbent shall oversee the coordination and implementation of the association’s programmes within the APSTA mandate and aspirations of the members within the core functions stated above and as may be outlined in the performance targets and timelines within the framework of APSTA strategic Plan.
Key deliverables • Providing leadership to programmatic activities • Facilitating training workshops and other activities in close collaboration with the programmes coordinator • Participating in the development of training materials and requirements by APSTA members • Ensuring compliance with donor requirements on periodic or annual narrative reporting • Ensuring that periodic activity plans are developed and set targets are achieved. • Assisting in addressing problems and challenges confronting programmes particularly in harmonization, standardization, coordination and advocacy. • Ensuring that the decisions of the Executive Committee are followed on time. • Ensuring resource mobilization and cooperation with partner in ensuring compliance with requirements on timely reporting;
Required Skills and qualifications Minimum qualifications, a recognised degree in social sciences or equivalent; desirable qualifications, post graduate degree in management, political science, international relations, conflict studies or international law. Holders of PhD in related fields will have an added advantage plus:- • Ten years of Previous experience in program management, • Proven record in peace support operation training, with proven track record in building partnerships with local and international partners • Excellent communication skills; • Proven record in negotiation and fund raising skills excellent organizer • Mature, excellent written and spoken English and any other AU language; • Should be confident, honest, team leader with leadership and management qualities; • Should be a self-starter/driven and capable of working without supervision and • Should be able to understand the various roles and capabilities of each member intuitions. Those with military or police background in the field of peace support operations training will have an added advantage.
Application Interested and qualified individuals must be interested to work and be resident in Kenya should send their electronic application and copies of their CV, academic and professional certificates and testimonial, stating their current position, remuneration, telephone contacts and names of three traceable referees to reach the undersigned on or before 18th March 2013 through email nsikasa@apsta-africa.org or apsta@apsta-africa.org. For more information on the specific and detailed duties of this senior position, visit APSTA websitewww.apsta-africa.org
Ms. Noel Sikasa, Administrative Officer APSTA Secretariat Nairobi Kenya Phone # +254 20 205 0504 +254 702 494 817
How to apply:
Application Interested and qualified individuals must be interested to work and be resident in Kenya should send their electronic application and copies of their CV, academic and professional certificates and testimonial, stating their current position, remuneration, telephone contacts and names of three traceable referees to reach the undersigned on or before 18th March 2013 through email nsikasa@apsta-africa.org or apsta@apsta-africa.org. For more information on the specific and detailed duties of this senior position, visit APSTA websitewww.apsta-africa.org
Ms. Noel Sikasa, Administrative Officer APSTA Secretariat Nairobi Kenya Phone # +254 20 205 0504 +254 702 494 817