How to Apply
Qualified civilians are welcome to join the ASC Roster
- Click here to check if you meet the application criteria.
- Email your regional focal point to express interest. S/he will direct you to the application database. Please click here to find your contact.
- Register on the ASC database and create a personal profile using the link that your regional Focal Point sent you.
- Complete your database profile by filling in all mandatory fields. The system will then ask you to release your profile. Your application will now be visible to your regional Focal Point.
- We kindly ask for your patience. The regional focal point will now screen your profile. You will receive feedback as soon as possible.
Areas of Expertise
The ASC is a unique roster because it is the only continental personnel pool in the world. The ASC is open to a wide range of civilians with diverse professional backgrounds. ASC members are grouped in over 140 areas of expertise from “A”, for Air Operations and Aviation Safety to “W” for Webmaster.
List of Areas of Expertise and their specific job families
Substantive Areas
Political Affairs
Monitor and analyze the political aspects of the peace process and provide the mission leadership and headquarters with advice and reports on short, medium and long term developments and prosects | Undertake conflict prevention and peacemaking initiatives and partake fully in the implementation of any ceasefire and peace agreements as may be required | Draft the Reports of the SRCC to the Chairperson of the AU Commission | Facilitate the work of the Mission Analysis Cell (MAC)
Legal Advice
Monitor mission planning and operations and provide legal advice to the mission on the legal implications of any intended actions and their consequences.
Planning & Coordination
Facilitate the mission planning process (multi-year, annual, phase transitions, special events, drawing down, etc.) | Analyze and evaluate mission progress and provide periodic reports to mission leadership on progress against plans, problem areas and unintended consequences | Facilitate coordination between mission, internal and external stakeholders and partners | Facilitate mission coordination processes and mechanisms, includingthe Mission Operations Centre (MOC) and the Mission Planning and Evaluation and Cell (MPEC)
Public Information
Act as Spokesperson for the SRCC and mission | Develop and implement an effective public information campaign to keep the general public, mission members, stakeholders and partners informed of developments in support of the peace process and role and activities of the mission | Develop a media strategy, proactively gather and generate mission information and conduct regular press briefings | Develop regular public information guidelines that will assist mission staff with sharing a coherent mission view with all stakeholders and the media
Humanitarian Liaison
Facilitate the establishment of a positive relationship between the humanitarian community and the various mission components, based on recognition and respect for humanitarian principles, including independence | Explore ways in which the mission can support the humanitarian community and coordinate mission support to the humanitarian community, in coordination with the Civil-Military Coordination (CIMIC) section of the military component, where relevant Reintegration | Refugee/IDP Camp Management | Refugee Tracing and Registration.
Human Rights
Monitor mission planning and operations and provide legal advice to the mission on the legal implications of any intended actions and their consequences.
Gender
Provide policy and technical advice to the senior mission leadership, the host government and partners on strategies for advancing gender equality and women’s rights in accordance with the African Union instruments on gender equality and women’s rights and the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security | Provide expert technical advice to inform policy and operational activities of Mission components and ensure the delivery of appropriate training for all levels of personnel | Strengthen and expand partnerships including with the national machinery for the advancement of women’s rights and gender equality | Document and disseminate good practices and lessons learned to inform policy decisions.
Child Protection
Facilitate and promote child protection in the peace process through advice, education and coordinating the child protection efforts among stakeholders internally and networking with external stakeholders and partners.
Conduct and Discipline
Disseminate, promote and familiarise AU staff with the AU PSO Code of Conduct | Monitor compliance with the Code of Conduct and the AU PSO Conduct and Discipline policies, and investigate all complaints according to the AU PSO Conduct and Discipline policies | Undertake proactive training and monitoring to prevent cases of
sexual abuse and exploitation (SEA).
Rule of Law (RoL)
Judicial
Monitor the judicial process and provide advice and assistance to promote the independence of the judiciary, highlight any improper pressure on judges, prosecutors and courts | Provide expertise to improve the quality of justice and access to justice through reform of criminal law, policy and practice | Collect, analyze and disseminate criminal justice data | Assist the government to re-establish the authority of the judiciary and the rule of law throughout the territory | Coordinate closely with the police and other state security services to ensure a coherent and system-wide rule of law approach.
Corrections
Monitor and advise on reforming the correction services.
Electoral Affairs
Provide technical and logistical advice and support to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) | Facilitate and participate in the monitoring of elections Education.
Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR)
Assist the parties to the conflict, in consultation with all stakeholders and partners, with the design and implementation of the national DDR programme.
Civil Affairs
Facilitate liaison between the mission and national, provincial and local authorities and civil society to assist with the recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction of social services and the extension of state authority | Coordinate with other stakeholders and partners active in this area | Facilitate inter-communal dialogue and consultations as a confidence building measure
Security Sector Reform (SSR)
Advise SRCC, Force Commander, Commissioner of Police and other relevant components on issues or initiatives associated with Security Sector Reform.
Mission Support
Human Resources
Human resources services, including recruitment and contract management of local and international personnel, managing staff conduct and behaviour | Provision of staff welfare and counselling services | Provide insurance and medical services including emergency medical evacuation.
Finance
Financial management services, including budgeting, accounting,
cash management, payments and contractor management.
Procurement
The procurement of all aspects of logistical support, including life cycle management for the mission. Including provision of: mission
assets to all mission components, fleet management, provision of an integrated communications infrastructure system (CIS) including design, installation, etc.
Logistics
Logistics and integrated support, including distribution of mission
assets to all mission components, including vehicles, computers and
stationery and provide bulk supplies of water, fuel products and foodstuffs
Engineering
Provide accommodation, building management and civil engineering
services.
Geographical Information Services (GIS)
Geographical information and mapping services.
Information Technology and Communications (ITC)
Design, install, operate and maintain mission-wide communications, including telephone, radio and data systems, proprietary information management systems; internet; intra-mission mail and diplomatic pouch service
Transport
Fleet management and maintenance services.
Contingency Owned Equipment (COE)
Monitoring, database management and inspection of Contingency Owned Equipment.
Security
Provide security services to protect mission staff and assets
Integrated Training Services
Provide induction briefings for all military, police and civilian staff | Support pre-deployment training by providing T/PCCs with mission specific information | Identify training needs and facilitate in-mission training | Act as a clearing house for out-of-mission training opportunities offered to mission staff
Minimum Selection Criteria
Citizenship of an African Union Member State
At least a Bachelor’s degree in the respective fields or at least seven years of continuous work experience relevant for Peace Support Operations (in the absence of a Bachelor’s degree)
A minimum of three years working experience relevant to Peace Support Operations
Working proficiency in a minimum of one official language of the respective organization (Arabic, English, French, Protuguese)
Below retirement age and maximum recruitment age as per AU organization
Gender Mainstreaming
In accordance with Agenda 2063, the Protocol to the African Charter und Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), the AU Strategy on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment and the AU Commission Statues, the African Standby Capacity promotes gender mainstreaming and female participation in its civilian expert roster.
Even though the AU has a Gender Policy which seeks to promote a gender responsive environment and practices and to undertake commitments linked to the realization of gender equality and women’s empowerment at the international, continental, regional and national levels, there is no gender policy specific for Peace Support Operations. Therefore, the ASC is currently working on Gender Mainstreaming Guidelines to ensure that gender is mainstreamed into the full cycle of recruitment, training and deployment of roster members as well as on strategies to increase the number of women on the ASC roster.
Why is it important to have female civilian experts in Peace Support Operations?
Having more women deployed in peace support operations leads to more efficiency. Women improve the performance of peace support operations by having greater access to communities, helping in promoting human rights and protection of civilians as well as by encouraging women to become a meaningful part of peace processes.
Benefits of being an ASC Expert
Why should you become part of the ASC roster? Although joining the roster does not guarantee an immediate engagement, it makes sure that the right person is available at the right time and the right place. Read on to find out more about the benefits of being deployed into an AU Peace Support Operations.
