Senior Legal Advisor Expert (AfCFTA)

Purpose of Job

Facilitate and provide legal support and provide appropriate legal advice in various levels of the structure of the AfCFTA negotiations

Main Functions

• Provides technical support in the preparation and implementation of programs developed out of the Division’s strategic plan
• Ensures effective coordination and implementation at various levels
• Liaises with Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and other stakeholders on relevant matters
• Prepares and develops reports, budget and work programs related to the functioning of the Division
• Provides technical support for the development of resource mobilization strategy with stakeholder’s coordination
• Engages with relevant mid-level stakeholders and develop relationships
• Conducts complex analysis and generates accurate reports in a timely manner for the Division and AU’s internal use.
• Liaises with the various for coordination and alignment purposes
• Contributes in the development of strategies, policies, programs and plans

Specific Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on AfCFTA issues raised by the Member State representatives participating in meetings at the various levels of the AfCFTA negotiations structure;
• Provide appropriate legal advice to the AfCFTA Secretariat, AfCFTA Bureau and others entities;
• Collaborate closely with the Office of AU legal Counsel in the discharge of his/her duties;
• Maintain and disseminate an up-to-date record of the status off all chapters and annexes of the text;
• Assist Member states with “legal scrubbing” of the text and annexes once they have been finalized;
• Assist the AfCFTA Secretariat in providing secretarial support to the AfCFTA negotiations committees;
• Produce the required inputs on work done on AfCFTA legal issues arising from the negotiations to the Secretary General Office for the periodic reports of the activities of the Unit, and ensure that agreed deadlines for these inputs are strictly adhered to;
• Manages and supervises employees under his/her supervision with regard to organization and performance evaluation and
• Perform any other related duties as may be assigned

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

Candidates must have a university Master’s Degree in law, international law, international trade law or another appropriate related discipline.

• Candidates must have had at least seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience as a negotiator or legal advisor in regional integration or trade negotiations at a national, regional, continental, or international organization, and should have involved the negotiation of legal provisions or other legal issues or the provision of legal advice to the negotiators involved.
• Candidates with University Bachelor Degree can be considered provided they have ten (10) years of relevant work experience out of which three (3) must be at expert level.

Required Skills

• A demonstrated ability to initiate and promote collaborative approaches and implementing joint activities;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations both internally and externally in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment, with sensitivity and respect for diversity, including gender balance
• Ability to assist in developing clear program goals, plans and actions that are consistent with agreed strategies and to appropriately delegate, monitor and adjust these plans and actions
• Ability to produce clear and professional reports
• Proficiency in one of the AU officials working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese and Spanish) and fluency in another AU language(s) is an added advantage;

Leadership Competencies

Core Competencies

Functional Competencies