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Do you want to be part of a new and exciting journey to reset Africa Europe relations?  We are looking for professional and strategic leaders to apply as a Task Force Leader for the new “Africa Europe Alliance”.

Task Force Leaders for the Africa Europe Alliance: Digitalisation”, “Sustainable Energy” and “Transport and Connectivity”.

Friends of Europe, Brussels’ most innovative think-tank, is embarking on a new and exciting journey to expand and intensify its work on Africa. The launch of the “Africa Europe Alliance”, a large-scale initiative we are undertaking with the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and IPEMED, will ensure a strategic and continuous dialogue on Africa’s digital and connectivity, sustainable agriculture and energy, with transversal strategic focus on youth leadership and climate change. We are looking for experienced professionals to lead the strategic development of the Africa Europe Task Forces for “Digitalisation”, “Sustainable Energy” and “Transport and Connectivity”.

Vacancy Description

Duration (2 years), Part-time (on average 2 days a week). Travel within Africa and Europe connected to Task Force meetings (twice a year on average). 

Context

Africa and Europe need to revise and re-energise their relations. In a world of increased geopolitical competition with new and old actors jostling for influence across the continent, Europe and Africa must act urgently to modernise and revitalise relations. European and African narratives about each other need a fundamental reset.

Funded by the European Union, this project brings together a leading African think tank, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation renowned for its work in supporting good governance and exceptional leadership in Africa, a leading and innovative European think tank working on a more inclusive, sustainable and forward-looking Europe, Friends of Europe, and IPEMED, a respected academic institute. Together, this consortium has a vast depth of expertise on African and European policymaking and the investment environment across both regions as well as extensive networks of high level political and business contacts.

At the heart of this project is a mission to deliver practical policy recommendations for sustainable investment and jobs which may underpin both political dialogue and financial cooperation between Africa and Europe.  The project aims at creating a framework for a structured continuous and strategic dialogue between both regions’ stakeholders from business, politics and civil society. Four task forces will be set up in the following key sectors and themes: digital economy; transport and connectivity; sustainable energy and sustainable agriculture.

As project coordinator, Friends of Europe is recruiting three Task Force Leaders whose main roles will be each to develop, coordinate and implement the programme for the Sustainable Energy Task Force, the Digital Economy Task Force and the Transport and Connectivity Task Force.

Responsibilities and main duties:

Overall responsibility

The Task Force leader has the overall responsibility for driving, leading and supporting the strategic development, coordination and delivery of one Africa Europe Alliance’s Task Force, in order to meet agreed impact targets, develop action-able recommendations at a policy and programming level, secure buy-in from multi-stakeholders and contribute to the overall visibility for the Alliance.

Accountabilities, responsibilities and main duties

1. Strategic Leadership: provide leadership for the creation, development and action of the thematic Task Force

• Building an effective dialogue process across the membership of the Task Force;
• Preparing the Task Force meetings with a focus on a strategically focused and action-oriented agenda;
• Nurturing and developing effective partnerships which ensure the “buy-in” of key stakeholders relevant to the scope of work of the Task Force;
• Working with the co-chairs of the Task Force meetings, to ensure the agenda is effectively facilitated and delivered.

1. Expertise and Team Leadership: provide sector expertise to drive the content of the Task Force

• Developing and maintaining an effective regional network on the thematic focus of the Task Force;
• Contributing to professional forums and debate which increase the profile of the Alliance and the Task Force work;
• Contributing to effective knowledge sharing to build capacity across the Alliance;
• Providing a mentoring role to the designated Project Manager for the Task Force thematic.

1. Technical Leadership: provide professional rigour for the implementation of the work plan of the Task Force

• Ensuring coherence, regional relevance and professional rigour around the development of the Task Force;
• Assessing, evaluating and editing outcomes of research, and providing guidance on where the evidence-base can be further strengthened;
• Orientating the research and work of the project managers on mapping of existing practice;
• Contributing to effective monitoring, evaluation and communications for the overall project; and based on the work of the Task Force.

Behaviours, competences and skills:

Behaviours

• Creating shared purpose and connecting with others, building trust and understanding with people who have different views;
• Making it happen, achieving stretching results when faced by change and major obstacles;
• Working together, creating an environment in which others who have very different aims can work together;
• Being accountable, showing real dedication to the long-term mission and expected outcomes of the Alliance.

Skills and Knowledge

• Proven record of dialogue facilitation and partnership development for high impact outcomes;
• Experience of successful strategic dialogue processes which build shared views around common issues of concern;
• Familiarity with facilitating dialogue processes face-to-face and from remote through digital platforms;
• Strong understanding of Africa-Europe cooperation, its development challenges, diverse country contexts, investment practices;
• Excellent analytical, writing and editing skills;
• Fluent English speaker; good working level of French is an asset.

Experience

• Proven ability to develop relations and dialogue processes which deliverable measurable impact;
• Minimum 15 years professional sector expertise in the Task Force thematic;
• Active and up-to-date network of contacts in the theme of the Task Force;
• Proven ability to present well in professional forums, conferences and strategic meetings;
• Experience of working effectively in a matrix management structure.

Application:

The position is to start in the next quarter (April), 2020.

To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter, indicating the position in the subject line, to:

jobs@friendsofeurope

this job offer is not open for applications