AFRICAN UNION UNION AFRICAINE UNIÃO AFRICANA P. O. Box 3243, Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA Tel.: (251-11) 5517700 Fax: (251-11) 5517844 www.au.int VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: FINANCE OFFICER TO WORLD BANK FUNDED PROJECTS (CAADP AND CAPACITY BUILDING). The African Union, established as a unique Pan African continental body, is charged with spearheading Africa's rapid integration and sustainable development by promoting unity, solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among the peoples of Africa and African states as well as developing a new partnership worldwide. Its Headquarters is located at Addis Ababa, capital city of Ethiopia. The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development program (CAADP) was adopted at the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Maputo in July 2003 as a framework to spearhead and accelerate agricultural and rural development in Africa. CAADP s main objective is to assist African countries accelerate economic growth through agriculture-led development, which eliminates hunger, reduces poverty and enhances food and nutrition security as well as growth in exports. The following main principles and targets define the CAADP framework: Agriculture-led growth as a main strategy to achieve targets on food security and poverty alleviation consistent with the Millennium Development Goal of reducing hunger and halving poverty by 2015; (MDG-1) Pursuit of a 6 percent average annual sector growth rate at the national level Allocation of at least 10 percent of national budgets to the agricultural sector Exploitation of regional complementarities and cooperation to boost growth Application of principles of policy efficiency, dialogue, review, and accountability, shared by all NEPAD programs Use of partnerships and alliances including farmers, agribusiness, and civil society Assigning roles and responsibility of program implementation to individual countries, coordination to designated RECs and facilitation to the NEPAD Agency.
The project is expected to deliver increased political support for African agriculture and improved CAADP implementation, including resource mobilization; to achieve the overall objectives the project has classified in to four basic components. The first component is coordinating implementation of CAADP which mainly focuses on the coordination and advocacy of CAADP to boost the political engagement of the Member state. It consists the following sub components: Mainstreaming SPS, and related issues into CAADP Advocacy for resources and alignment of continental and international institutions with CAADP framework Advocating for CAADP implementation at regional and country level Facilitate policy harmonization and coordination through M&E, Mutual Accountability and Peer Review Strengthening regional policy harmonization and Joint Planning Strengthening communication for political engagement Co-organize and participate in bi-annual CAADP Partnership Platform meetings and CAADP Forums Technical assistance/long Term Consultants for AUC-DREA CAADP Coordination MDTF Partnership Committee Activities Equipment and Administrative Costs The second and third component is mainstreaming the CAADP activities into Environment, Natural Resources including Climate Change and Rural Economy activities The fourth and the final component is to facilitate policy harmonization and adoption related to AU decisions and other key meetings. The CTFgrant is proposed to be USD 4,000,000.00 which is financed by the World Bank.The Recipient(s) of the CTF grant is African Union Commission;
1.2 Africa Union Commission: Building Capacity for a Results-Oriented Engagement between African Union Commission and Regional Economic Communities - IDF Grant No-TF014039 The objective of the Project is to enhance institutional capacity for collaboration between the Recipient and the Regional Economic Communities ('RECs") to advance on growth and development in AU Member States. The Project consists of the following parts: Component 1: Stakeholder Consultations and Development of a Results Oriented Engagement Framework Development of a result oriented engagement framework to facilitate the monitoring of regional development programs, through: (a) carrying out stakeholder consultations and reviewing the existing information sharing arrangements between AU Commission, RECs, and selected stakeholders; (b) identifying opportunities and constraints of information flows including preparation of an integrated policy framework. Component 2: Pilot Test of Results Orientated Engagement and Knowledge Outreach Pilot testing a program for result-oriented engagement between the AU Commission and participating RECs on regional development programs, through carrying out: (a) workshops to discuss key sectors on priority areas of investments and or policy development; and (b) capacity building activities on selected areas including technical visits by the AU Commission's staff and participating stakeholders to sister organization within and outside Africa. Component 3: Capacity Development, Communication, and Project Monitoring and Evaluation Carrying out capacity building activities for AU Commission and RECs selected staff to use result oriented engagement information, channels, and networks, through: (a) designing of engagement training modules; (b) carrying out workshops for the selected participants on engagement and outreach concepts and methods; (c) supporting communication and dissemination for the project; (d) procurement of media and survey tools; and audits of the Project The recipient of this Institutional Development Grant (IDF) grant is the Africa Union Commission (AUC). The amount of grant is USD 1,000,000. An annual audit will be conducted in line with the fiscal year end of the Commission.
1. Post Job title: Grade: Department: Supervisor: Duty Station: Finance Officer to World Bank Funded Projects (CAADP and Capacity Building) P2 PBFA Head of Division External Resources Management Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2. Major Duties and Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Finance Officer will be responsible for the following duties: I. Ensuring the availability of resources (inputs) including: Grant Agreements, Financial Rules and Regulations, Financial Management Manual and relevant project documents; II Recording and reporting functions including Maintain an up-to-date and reliable financial management system Verify accuracy of data posted in the system frequently Compile Annual Work Program and budget documents; Compile monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual budgets and cash flows; Pass budget information, containing budget/account codes with corresponding amounts and break down for each month, at the start of the fiscal period to the implementation of the budget; Monitor budget performance; Monitor the performance of fund flow mechanisms of the Project and ensure that timely replenishments are made to implementing departments & regional offices and the required funds are received from Donors: Maintain opening balances of the project accounts in the new fiscal year; Ensure compliance of budgetary and internal control procedures; Follow up the submission of periodic replenishment requests, monthly bank reconciliation and reports from the Regional offices; Preparation of IFR and yearend financial statements accurately and timely as indicated in the grant agreement: Ensure that payments are made as per the budget allocated for each project
and expenditure category; Prepare explanations for major budget variances; Prepare monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual reports including budget and actual comparison reports; and Prepare the required financial statements and supporting schedules and makes available documents and financial information to internal and external auditors. Ensure that audited statements are sent to the Donor within six months after the end of the fiscal period. Properly file all financial documents for easy access. III. Fund flows: Ensure adequate fund flows from the donor to the Projects Understand and implement World Bank disbursement procedures for the Project; Ensure that proper Withdrawal applications are prepared and submitted to the Bank; Reconcile regularly with the World Bank s and the project s records; Review designated accounts and other bank accounts and ensure that Bank reconciliations on time for all accounts; Review World Bank disbursement database client connection for the project;s disbursement activities; Ensure the preparation of acceptable IFRs for disbursement purposes and address queries and questions that may be raised in these reports; Ensure that fund is transferred to Regional offices on acceptable basis and ensure on time reporting or accounting or settlement of the advances from these offices. IV. Conducting monthly routines including: Ensuring monthly bank statements are received and reconciliations are prepared immediately; Reconciling of advances and prepayments; Preparing monthly reports; Making sure that all fixed assets acquired by the project funds are kept safe and are provided with identification number. V. Planning and budgeting including: Ensuring that every payment is supported by budget and that there is no overspending;
Producing monthly budget utilization report; analyzing commitments payable and receivables at the end of the fiscal year; and VI. VII. Outstanding audit issues (as per audit findings) and recommendations are well taken and the appropriate corrective actions are taken on time. Facilitation and dissemination of financial management information including: Facilitating the completion of annual audit of project financial statements not later than six months after the close of the fiscal year; Assisting the various teams seeking information including Internal and External Auditors, Bank s implementation support missions. VIII. Networking (Having a strong working relationship) including: Following-up on fund arrival and availability, collecting advice and bank statements; Working with other finance and program officers of the organization as a team. Reading and keeping full understanding of AUC applicable rules and regulations, WB Project Implementation Manual and Financial Management Manual. 3. Qualifications and Work Experience Required: Academic Qualification Must have University Degree in in Accounting and Business Administration. A Higher Qualification will be added Advantage. Professional Qualification Experience with complex computerized financial systems and with finance modules of enterprise planning software (ERP) such as sun system, SAP as well as Microsoft office application is desirable. Experience with application of International Public Sector Accounting Standards(IPSAS) is advantageous Work Experience A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in managing donor funded projects and financial management or related field is desirable. Experience working with international organizations and WB funded projects is an asset.
Knowledge, skills and abilities Computer literacy: Management experience: excellent interpersonal skills and ability to organize and motivate others and to work in multi-cultural environment: excellent drafting and reporting skill: good communication and negotiation skill: good planning and organizational skill. 4. Language Requirement Candidate must be Proficiency in one of the African Union working languages. Proficiency of two or more of the other working language(s) would be an added value. 5. Tenure of Appointment The appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of Two (2) year s, of which the first Six (6) month will be considered as a probationary period. 6. Gender Mainstreaming The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply. 7. Remuneration The salary attached to the position is a fixed monthly lump sum of US$ 6,002.83 (P2 Step5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 5,035.86 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff. Applications must be made through the AUC E-recruitment Website http://www.aucareers.org not later than 6 st September 2015. Directorate of Administration and Human Resource Management African Union Commission