Civil Affairs Officer (AUSSOM)

A new full time opportunity for a Civil Affairs Officer (AUSSOM) has been announced by African Union in Mogadishu. Professionals with a background in Community/protection and at least 5 - 6 years of experience are encouraged to apply. Qualified candidates are urged to apply before the Jun, 29 deadline.

Organization Information

Reports to: Principal Sector Coordinator

Directorate/Department/Organ: Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security

Division: AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia

Number of Direct Reports: 0

Number of Indirect Reports: 0

Job Grade: P2

Number of Positions: 1

Contract Type: Fixed Term

Location: Mogadishu, Somalia

Purpose of Job

The Civil Affairs Officer reports to the Principal Sector Coordinator and supports the implementation of civil affairs, stabilization, conflict management, and community engagement activities in support of the Mission’s mandate. The incumbent contributes to strengthening relations between AUSSOM, local authorities, communities, and other stakeholders through dialogue, confidence-building, conflict prevention, reconciliation, and support to local governance structures in complex and high-risk operational environments.

Main Functions

• Monitors local conflict dynamics and supports efforts aimed at conflict prevention, mediation, reconciliation, and stabilization in support of the Mission’s mandate.
• Supports engagement between AUSSOM, local authorities, communities, civil society actors, and other stakeholders to strengthen confidence-building and local peace initiatives.
• Contributes to early warning, conflict analysis, and information gathering relating to political, social, security, and community developments at the local level.
• Supports dialogue, reconciliation, and social cohesion initiatives aimed at reducing tensions and strengthening community resilience in conflict-affected areas.
• Assists in promoting civic engagement, local participation, and interaction between communities, local authorities, and relevant institutions.
• Supports efforts aimed at strengthening local governance structures, rule of law, and stabilization, and state authority extension initiatives in areas affected by conflict and insecurity

Specific Responsibilities

• Supports information gathering and analysis on political, social, and economic issues affecting local conflict dynamics, and provides inputs to senior civil affairs staff.
• Assists in monitoring developments at the local level and prepares regular updates for the Senior Civil Affairs Officer.
• Supports engagement with local communities, civil society groups, and local authorities to understand concerns, perceptions, and emerging issues.
• Contributes to drafting reports, briefings, talking points, and analytical notes for internal use and for senior leadership.
• Assists in maintaining effective working relationships with AUSSOM components, UN agencies, local authorities, and other stakeholders.
• Supports the implementation of Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) by assisting with field visits, documentation, monitoring, and reporting, in line with AU directives.
• Provides logistical and coordination support for meetings, workshops, consultations, and community-level engagements.
• Assists in identifying local capacity-building needs and supports senior officers in coordinating responses with relevant partners.
• Supports activities aimed at promoting dialogue, reconciliation, and social cohesion under the guidance of the Senior Civil Affairs Officer.
• Helps maintain databases, records, and information management tools relevant to civil affairs work.
• Contributes to mission planning and monitoring processes by providing field-level observations and inputs.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Senior Civil Affairs Officer

About Mogadishu

Mogadishu, known locally as Muqdisho, is the capital of Somalia and the country's largest city. It serves as the political, economic, and cultural heart of the nation. The city hosts the headquarters of numerous UN agencies, international NGOs, and government institutions, offering diverse career opportunities for development and humanitarian professionals.

Ereyada Soomaaliga (Somali Keywords): Shaqo Muqdisho • Shaqo Buuxda • Shaqo Cusub • Ilaalinta

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Master’s degree (Bac +5) in social sciences, Political Science, International Relations, Public Administration, Anthropology, Law, Economics or other relevant field with two (2) years of relevant professional experience.

Or

• Bachelor’s degree (Bac +3) in social sciences, Political Science, International Relations, Public Administration, Anthropology, Law, Economics or related field with five (5) years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience in public administration, institutional capacity building, and working with local authorities.
• Experience designing and implementing initiatives to build trust, promote dialogue, and enhance social cohesion.

Required Skills

• Negotiation and mediation, political analysis and report-writing skills, and the ability to operate in high-stress, austere operational environments;
• Ability to analyze local dynamics, identify stakeholders, and understand the concerns of local populations in conflict and post-conflict environments;
• Sound, rapid decision-making in emerging complex situations, respect for local cultures and the ability to work in multi-ethnic/multi-cultural/multi-religious settings.
• Ability to act as a bridge between communities, local authorities, and AUSSOM and a high degree of flexibility to work in stressful, insecure, or isolated environments.
• Proven ability to engage with non-state actors, community groups, women, and marginalized groups.
• Strong analytical and research skills.
• Good drafting and reporting abilities.
• Ability to engage with local communities and stakeholders respectfully and effectively.
• Good organizational and coordination skills.
• Ability to work in a multicultural and multi-ethnic environment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to support project implementation and monitoring.
• Computer literacy, including MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Leadership Competencies

Change ManagementManaging Risk

Core Competencies

Teamwork and CollaborationAccountability awareness and Compliance..Learning OrientationCommunicating with Influence

Functional Competencies

Analytical Thinking and Problem SolvingJob Knowledge and Information SharingDrive for ResultsContinuous 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

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This position is restricted to Somali nationals

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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.

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