Policy and Liaison Officer (AUSSOM)

The Policy and Liaison Officer reports to the Head of Mission Support and supports policy coordination, liaison, stakeholder engagement, and information-sharing activities in support of the Mission’s mandate. The incumbent contributes to coordination and engagement with Mission components, host authorities, international partners, regional stakeholders, and other relevant actors to facilitate effective communication, policy support, and operational coordination. The Officer assists in supporting liaison, reporting, and coordination activities relating to Mission priorities within a complex and high-risk operational environment.

Main Functions

•    Supports liaison, coordination, and stakeholder engagement activities in support of the Mission’s mandate and operational priorities.
•    Assists in maintaining coordination and communication with Mission components, host authorities, international partners, regional organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.
•    Supports policy coordination, information-sharing, and reporting activities relating to Mission operations and strategic engagement priorities.
•    Assists in preparing briefing materials, meeting records, analytical inputs, correspondence, and coordination products relating to liaison and policy activities.
•    Supports engagement and follow-up activities relating to meetings, coordination platforms, consultations, and stakeholder interactions involving the Mission.
•    Contributes to maintaining effective communication and coordination mechanisms to support Mission cooperation, partnership, and operational coordination activities.

Specific Responsibilities

•    Supports liaison and coordination activities between the Mission and relevant stakeholders, including host authorities, international partners, regional organizations, and other relevant actors.
•    Assists in facilitating communication, information-sharing, and coordination between Mission components and external stakeholders in support of Mission priorities and operational activities.
•    Supports the preparation of briefing notes, reports, meeting summaries, talking points, correspondence, and analytical inputs relating to liaison and policy coordination activities.
•    Assists in coordinating meetings, consultations, stakeholder engagements, and follow-up activities relating to Mission coordination and partnership initiatives.
•    Supports the monitoring and analysis of developments relevant to Mission coordination, stakeholder engagement, and operational priorities.
•    Assists in maintaining liaison records, stakeholder databases, contact directories, and information management tools relating to Mission coordination activities.
•    Supports coordination and follow-up activities relating to agreements, partnership initiatives, coordination mechanisms, and Mission engagement processes.
•    Assists in facilitating coordination between civilian, police, and military Mission components and relevant stakeholders on issues relating to Mission priorities and operational coordination.
•    Supports the preparation and dissemination of coordination products, updates, and communication materials relevant to Mission liaison activities.
•    Maintains effective working relationships and communication channels with relevant stakeholders in support of Mission coordination and engagement efforts.
•    Performs any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

•    Master’s degree (Bac+5) in International Relations, Political Science, Peace and Conflict Studies, Public Administration, Law, Diplomacy, Communication, Security Studies, Social Sciences, or a related field with a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in liaison, coordination, stakeholder engagement, policy support, Mission coordination, or field mission environments. 
Or
•    Bachelor’s degree (Bac+3) in International Relations, Political Science, Peace and Conflict Studies, Public Administration, Law, Diplomacy, Communication, Security Studies, Social Sciences, or a related field with a minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in liaison, coordination, stakeholder engagement, policy support, Mission coordination, or field mission environments.

•    Experience in AU, UN, or other international field missions, particularly in conflict or post-conflict environments, is desirable.
•    Experience in stakeholder engagement, liaison, coordination, partnership support, or policy coordination activities is desirable.
•    Experience supporting coordination between civilian, police, and military components and external stakeholders is an added advantage.
•    Experience in drafting reports, briefing materials, analytical notes, correspondence, and coordination products is desirable.
•    Experience in information management, stakeholder coordination tools, and standard Microsoft Office applications is desirable.

Required Skills

•    Ability to support liaison, coordination, and stakeholder engagement activities in complex and high-risk operational environments.
•    Good understanding of Mission coordination processes, stakeholder engagement mechanisms, and liaison functions within field missions.
•    Ability to prepare briefing notes, reports, correspondence, meeting summaries, and coordination products in a clear and professional manner.
•    Strong communication, interpersonal, coordination, and relationship-management skills.
•    Ability to engage effectively with civilian, police, and military Mission components, host authorities, international partners, and other stakeholders.
•    Good analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
•    Ability to support information-sharing, follow-up, and coordination activities across multiple stakeholders and Mission components.
•    Ability to work effectively under pressure and respond to evolving operational coordination requirements in a fast-paced environment.
•    Proficiency in the use of information management tools, stakeholder coordination databases, and standard Microsoft Office applications.
•    Ability to maintain professionalism, confidentiality, and accuracy in handling liaison and coordination-related information.

Leadership Competencies

Change Management

Managing Risk

Core Competencies

Teamwork and Collaboration

Accountability awareness and Compliance

..Learning Orientation

Communicating with Influence

Functional Competencies

Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving

Job Knowledge and Information Sharing

Drive for Results

Continuous Improvement Focus

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TENURE OF APPOINTMENT:

The Appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of one (1) year, of which the first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract may be renewed for a similar period subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance and agreed deliverables. 

GENDER MAINSTREAMING:

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

LANGUAGES:
Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, and Spanish) is mandatory and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage

REMUNERATION:

Indicative basic salary of US 76,908.58 per annum P2 (Step 5) locally recruited staff of the Commission.

Applications must be submitted no later than June 29, 2026 11h59 p.m. EAT
- This position is restricted to Somali nationals

- Only candidates who meet all job requirements and are selected for interviews will be contacted.
- Consideration will be given only to those candidates who have submitted a fully completed online application with a curriculum vitae (CV), a valid African passport, and the required academic qualifications, such as Diplomas (Bac+2), Bachelor's degrees (Bac+3), Master's degrees (Bac+5) and any relevant certificate in line with the area of expertise.
- The African Union is an equal opportunity employer, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.