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UNHCR-Senior Learning Officer-P4-Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (RAUECA)
Addis Ababa, EthiopiaPosition Title: Senior Learning Officer
Receiving Agency: UNHCR (RAUECA)
P Level: P4
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Duration: until 31 March 2026
Language: Fluency in English, working knowledge of French is a strong asset
The African Union Humanitarian Law and Policy training Course, otherwise known as the Livingstone Syllabus was established in 2016. This course is founded on international and regional norms and standards governing the protection and assistance of displaced persons. A distinctive feature of the course is its emphasis on fostering a deeper understanding of the principles and obligations contained in these instruments.
It aims to strengthen the capacity of AU decision-makers and AUC civil service, NGOs, civil society, and youth to understand, respect and implement as applicable, the standards and state obligations contained in international and regional instruments.
Its key objective is to reinforce Member States' primary responsibility to predict, prevent, initiate, respond to, and coordinate humanitarian actions in a timely and predictable manner.
Seven successful training sessions have been held in Livingstone and Lusaka- Zambia; Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Burundi and Togo, with over 350 participants trained.
Therefore, concurrently, the course seeks to support the AU Assembly’s call to promote the implementation of AU instruments, aligning with the broader vision of its Agenda 2063 and the UN Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, with the commitment to "leave no one behind and reach the furthest behind."
The course serves as a cornerstone for the effective functioning of the African Humanitarian Agency (AfHA), by building the capacity of member states to respond more effectively to humanitarian situations across the continent. To achieve this, it aligns with the AU’s 10-year Humanitarian Action Plan, which emphasizes sensitization, capacity building, and training across different levels of government (executive, judiciary, and legislature) and non-state actors.
The ultimate impact of the course is to achieve the effective protection of and assistance to forcibly displaced persons and stateless persons, through improved understanding and effective implementation of the legal and policy provisions contained in relevant international and AU instruments and frameworks. Tailored to address the specific challenges and contexts of forced displacement in Africa, the course remains grounded in the fundamental principles of international law and Africa doctrine and ideals, ensuring its relevance and applicability to the continent’s unique humanitarian challenges.
The target audience of the Livingstone Syllabus are policymakers, senior and mid-level civil servants from different branches/tiers of the AU institutions and from the AU Member States (executive, judiciary and legislative), as well as academia, civil society, women and youth.
The incumbent prepares the budget submission and activities under her/his responsibility. The incumbent makes decisions regarding fund expenditure and establishes and maintains efficient administrative control mechanisms to ensure compliance with UNHCR financial, administrative, and staff rules and regulations.
Essential requirements
Personal Characteristics
Receiving Agency: UNHCR (RAUECA)
P Level: P4
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Duration: until 31 March 2026
Language: Fluency in English, working knowledge of French is a strong asset
Operational Context
Established as a full-fledged office in 2009, the Representation to the African Union and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (RAUECA) represents UNHCR at the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). RAUECA presently engages with a wide range of stakeholders in and outside of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Regarding the entities that comprise the AU Commission, RAUECA collaborates and engages the following constitutive organs: The Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHS); Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Development across AU policy organs, decentralized and autonomous institutions of the AU, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Regional Mechanisms (RMs), the United Nations System, development actors, multinational private sector entities, international financial institutions, as well as other State and non-state entities that are either accredited to and/or possess observer status with the AU and/or UNECA. The office collaborates closely with Regional Bureaux in Africa, Divisions at UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva, UNHCR Liaison Offices in New York and Brussels, and the UNHCR Special Envoy for the Central and Western Mediterranean and Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa.The African Union Humanitarian Law and Policy training Course, otherwise known as the Livingstone Syllabus was established in 2016. This course is founded on international and regional norms and standards governing the protection and assistance of displaced persons. A distinctive feature of the course is its emphasis on fostering a deeper understanding of the principles and obligations contained in these instruments.
It aims to strengthen the capacity of AU decision-makers and AUC civil service, NGOs, civil society, and youth to understand, respect and implement as applicable, the standards and state obligations contained in international and regional instruments.
Its key objective is to reinforce Member States' primary responsibility to predict, prevent, initiate, respond to, and coordinate humanitarian actions in a timely and predictable manner.
Seven successful training sessions have been held in Livingstone and Lusaka- Zambia; Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Burundi and Togo, with over 350 participants trained.
Therefore, concurrently, the course seeks to support the AU Assembly’s call to promote the implementation of AU instruments, aligning with the broader vision of its Agenda 2063 and the UN Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, with the commitment to "leave no one behind and reach the furthest behind."
The course serves as a cornerstone for the effective functioning of the African Humanitarian Agency (AfHA), by building the capacity of member states to respond more effectively to humanitarian situations across the continent. To achieve this, it aligns with the AU’s 10-year Humanitarian Action Plan, which emphasizes sensitization, capacity building, and training across different levels of government (executive, judiciary, and legislature) and non-state actors.
The ultimate impact of the course is to achieve the effective protection of and assistance to forcibly displaced persons and stateless persons, through improved understanding and effective implementation of the legal and policy provisions contained in relevant international and AU instruments and frameworks. Tailored to address the specific challenges and contexts of forced displacement in Africa, the course remains grounded in the fundamental principles of international law and Africa doctrine and ideals, ensuring its relevance and applicability to the continent’s unique humanitarian challenges.
The target audience of the Livingstone Syllabus are policymakers, senior and mid-level civil servants from different branches/tiers of the AU institutions and from the AU Member States (executive, judiciary and legislative), as well as academia, civil society, women and youth.
Aim of the Mission
The main role of the Senior Learning Development Officer is to to develop a strategy and dissemination plan for the Livingstone syllabus. In addition, he/she will be expected to develop and strengthen relevant corporate learning strategies, design and deliver customized solutions to improve the African Union Humanitarian Law and Policy Training Course, (Livingstone Syllabus) for staff from the AU institutions and Member States and youth and women in functional areas to gain knowledge on principles governing response to forcible displacements and be able to respond in a professional manner to forcible displacements and statelessness in Africa, and to prevent statelessness as well. In doing so, this contribute to building a positive learning culture and outcome.The incumbent prepares the budget submission and activities under her/his responsibility. The incumbent makes decisions regarding fund expenditure and establishes and maintains efficient administrative control mechanisms to ensure compliance with UNHCR financial, administrative, and staff rules and regulations.
Mission OBJECTIVES
- The main objective is to develop a strategy and dissemination plan for the Livingstone syllabus.
- The incumbent will also coordinate the translation of all training materials in English and French languages.
- review and improve the content of the modules, considering the essence of the course in improving the knowledge and appreciation of AU humanitarian architecture.
- formulate a new syllabus that considers recommendations from member states and stakeholders, considering the latest developments in AU legal and policy regime as well as the humanitarian context.
- from a pedagogical perspective, to review and improve the teaching methodology of the course.
- explore and recommend ways of rolling out the course, through e learning, and similar combination of virtual and in-person modalities, to achieve a wider impact, as a central pillar in the operationalization of the African Humanitarian Agency.
- Facilitate specific modules as a trainer, covering topics on response to refugees influx, IDPs and statelessness
Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the UNHCR RAUECA Representative/Senior Liaison Adviser, the Senior Learning Officer will:- Develop a strategy and dissemination plan for the Livingstone syllabus, as a main responsibility. In addition, he / she will support in the following :
- Contribute to the development of the course syllabus and formulation of strategies, policies, standards, procedures and guidelines that would enhance learning and knowledge sharing through the African Union Humanitarian Lan and Policy training Course, the Livingstone Syllabus.
- Oversee and manage, design, develop, organize and facilitate related learning activities using a variety of methodologies, such as workshops, distance learning, e-learning or training courses, and platforms in collaboration with UNHCR RAEUCA and other stakeholders
- Manage and oversee the development of skills-informed learning solutions for participants that provide maximum value added based on the clients' resources and needs.
- Build systems and processes that optimize the use of external vendors for the development of written materials, guides, job aids, manuals, online content including videos, etc., for training, learning and staff development purposes.
- Oversee the preparation of regular and ad hoc reports and compilation of statistics.
- Advise users at all levels on the optimal use and development of learning and technical infrastructure.
- Manage staff performance in the Unit.
- Support the management of budgets for direct implementation, prepare the submissions and reports for the budget and activities under responsibility and review submissions of direct reports. Within this context, make decisions on fund expenditure based on agreed work plans and maintain efficient administrative control mechanisms to ensure compliance with UNHCR financial, administrative, and staff rules and regulations.
- Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate, as needed.
- Perform other related duties as required.
PROFILE
Experience
- For P4/NOD - 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
- Field(s) of Education, Adult Education; Projects Management, Communication, Legal Protection, Human Rights, Political Science; Humanitarian Affairs, or other relevant field.
Essential requirements
- Experience in planning and goal setting, audience analysis, clear writing and speaking skills in English, Experience in the design, development, delivery, data analysis, social media management and evaluation of learning activities. Proven project management experience, especially in a more agile, fast-paced, multi-project, multi-vendor context. Experience in skills and learning strategy development, either as a lead or part of a team. Demonstrated experience in managing people and resources. Proven experience in coaching, guiding and supervising staff.
Personal Characteristics
- Strategic thinking, Maturity, ability to work under pressure, a good team player, and with a calm disposition. Knowledge of French language would be an asset.
CANADEM and its partners have a no-tolerance policy for inaction to prevent, respond to and follow up on alleged cases of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH). For this reason, we adhere to all policies, procedures and training of the United Nations on The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). CANADEM mandates all deployees successfully complete the PSEA online course. This e-learning course is composed of a set of lessons designed to raise awareness about SEAH, become familiar with a range of measures to combat SEAH, understand the impact on victims and the consequences for UN Personnel who commit Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment.