Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations (ADG/PAX), the direct supervision of the Director of the UNESCO Addis Ababa Liaison Office, the incumbent will act as Progamme Specialist/Liaison Officer with the African Union Commission (AUC) and Regional Economic Communities by promoting joint actions aiming at enhancing the impact of UNESCO’s Priority Africa Programmes in Africa.

• As such, the Programme Specialist/Liaison Officer will undertake the following tasks:
• Assist the Director of the Office by maintaining close contacts and developing working relationships with the relevant technical departments of the AUC in close cooperation with the Sector for Priority Africa and External Relations (Division of Priority Africa Coordination), Programme Specialists in the Regional/National Offices in Africa and at Headquarters.
• Assist the Director of the Office in the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of UNESCO-AUC joint programmes in line with the approved UNESCO’s operational strategy for Priority Africa and its flagship programmes. Provide intellectual, strategic, and technical expertise in the preparation of documents and reports related to AUC/UNESCO joint programmes.  
• Facilitate and ensure UNESCO’s participation in the high-level events of the AUC (Ministerial meetings, Summit of Heads of States…) by providing the Director of the Office and the ADG/PAX with strategic and analytical position papers in relation with the themes of these events.
• Participate and represent UNESCO in the UN/AUC coordination mechanisms relevant to UNESCO’s mandate and ensure follow-up of Specialized Technical Committees’ decisions in close cooperation with the concerned Sectors at Headquarters and in the Field Offices. Participate and contribute to the activities of the United Nations Liaison Team (UNLT) and other UN/AU joint programmes.
• Contribute to the visibility and promotion of UNESCO's mission by contributing to the elaboration and dissemination of the Liaison Office newsletters, focused brochures, and other promotional materials as well as to the elaboration of statutory reports as requested by Headquarters.
• Undertake other tasks which may be assigned by the Director of the Office and/or the ADG/PAX.

Required Qualifications:

Education:

• Advanced University degree (Masters or equivalent) in International Relations, Social Sciences and/or African development studies, or in an other related field.

Work Experience:

• Minimum four (4) years of professional experience in one of UNESCO's areas of competence, of which preferably two (2) years acqurired at international level.
• Experience in working with African regional and continental organizations.
• Experience in drafting strategic position papers and analytical documents.

Languages:

• Excellent knowledge of English or French and good knowledge of the other language.