The United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) was created in 2010 to strengthen the United Nations’ interaction with the African Union. UNOAU is mandated to contribute to enhancing the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union in the area of peace and security, provide coordinated and consistent United Nations advice to the African Union on both long-term capacity-building and short-term operational support, and streamline the United Nations presence in Addis Ababa to be more cost-effective and efficient in delivering United Nations assistance to the African Union. UNOAU plays a key role in the implementation of the Joint UN-AU Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security, signed by the United Nations Secretary-General and Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) on 19 April 2017. This position is located in the United Nations Office to the African Union in Addis Ababa.
The position is embedded in the Political Affairs Section, and the incumbent will report to the Chief of Section. The Climate, Peace and Security Advisor will lead UNOAU’s work on the linkages between climate change, peace and security, including in the areas of analysis, coordination, advocacy, and partnerships. The Advisor will work closely with relevant counterparts in the African Union to build capacity, provide technical advice and support knowledge management.
Within delegated authority, the Climate, Peace and Security Advisor will be responsible for the following duties:
• Provide up-to-date strategic analysis and policy advice to UNOAU leadership on the interlinkages between climate change, peace and security in Africa and their implications on strategic objectives of the Mission, liaising closely with the African Union in developing such analysis and advice.
• Proactively promote the integration of climate considerations into the work of UNOAU and the AUC in implementation of the Joint AU-UN Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security, including to strengthen a common vision across the UN system for integrated delivery on mandated priorities and operations.
• Support the AUC in the design of policy initiatives for different contexts on key emerging policy agendas.
• Monitor and report on policy developments regarding climate, peace and security in Africa, including at the level of the UN Security Council, the AU Peace and Security Council, Regional Economic Communities (REC), governments, civil society, academic institutions, and other partners.
• Enhance coordination and cooperation on climate, peace and security between UNOAU and the African Union, including in the assessment of climate-related security risks, policy development and implementation, and capacity building.
• Serve as UNOAU’s technical focal point on climate, peace and security, including by collecting and sharing good practices and strengthening partnerships with the UN system, the Climate Security Mechanism (CSM), and other Climate, Peace and Security Advisers within UN peacekeeping operations and special political missions, particularly those based in Africa, and other partners.
• Support the AUC in engagement of its member states, RECs/Regional Mechanisms, (RMs) and UN agencies to effectively collaborate on issues of climate security, including joint analysis, response, and capacity building.
• Contribute to the production and dissemination of knowledge, particularly at the political and strategic level.
• Support the African Union in mainstreaming climate, peace and security approaches into policy and operational frameworks, and in the implementation of the peace and security component of “the AU Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan,” as requested.
• Contribute to the preparation of reports and other research activities and studies related to climate, peace and security in Africa, as needed.
• In collaboration with the UN system and other partners, identify funding gaps related to climate, environment, peace and security issues in Africa and develop proposals for resource mobilization.
• Collaborate with the AU and entities from across the UN system and other partners who are leading on climate finance to support advocacy for increased climate finance to Africa and to identify opportunities to support peacemaking and peacebuilding activities in Africa.
• Participate in conferences, seminars and academic fora related to climate, peace and security, including providing strategic analysis, think pieces, briefs and reporting.
• Draft notes, background papers, talking points, speeches, and other correspondence.
• Perform other related duties, as required.
• Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provides insights through graphs, charts, tables, and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation, and reporting.