Head of Compliance, Protection of Civilians and Gender

The Head of Compliance, Protection of Civilians and Gender provides strategic leadership, policy guidance, oversight, and coordination on compliance, protection, gender, conduct and discipline, and accountability-related matters within the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The role supports mission leadership in strengthening accountability, risk mitigation, protection mechanisms, and institutional compliance systems across civilian, police, and military components in a complex operational environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation, oversight, and monitoring of Mission-wide compliance, protection, gender, conduct and discipline, and accountability frameworks in support of the AUSSOM mandate and applicable AU policies and standards.
• Provide strategic policy guidance and technical advice to Mission leadership on IHL, IHRL, PoC, child protection, gender mainstreaming, conduct and discipline, and compliance-related matters.
• Oversee the integration of compliance, protection, gender, and accountability considerations across civilian, police, and military Mission components to support operational effectiveness and institutional accountability.
• Lead Mission-wide efforts aimed at strengthening compliance with AU compliance frameworks, applicable international legal standards, conduct and discipline requirements, and prevention and response measures relating to SEA / SH.
• Oversee the development and implementation of Mission policies, directives, guidance documents, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), compliance mechanisms, and accountability measures relating to protection and gender-related thematic areas.
• Provide strategic oversight on compliance monitoring, risk mitigation, protection assessments, investigation support mechanisms, and accountability processes relating to allegations of violations of applicable standards and frameworks.
• Lead strategic coordination and engagement with Mission components, host authorities, AU structures, UN entities, humanitarian actors, civil society organizations, and relevant stakeholders on compliance, protection, gender, and accountability-related matters.
• Oversee training, awareness, capacity-building, and institutional strengthening initiatives relating to compliance, protection, human rights, conduct and discipline, child protection, and gender mainstreaming within the Mission area.
• Provide strategic reporting, assessments, briefings, and advisory support to Mission leadership on compliance, protection, accountability, and gender-related developments affecting the implementation of the AUSSOM mandate.
• Lead and oversee Mission-wide compliance, protection, gender, conduct and discipline, and accountability-related activities in support of the implementation of the AUSSOM mandate and applicable AU frameworks and standards.
• Provide strategic guidance and technical advice to Mission leadership, civilian, police, and military on IHL, IHRL, PoC, child protection, gender mainstreaming, conduct and discipline, and accountability-related matters.
• Oversee the development, implementation, review, and monitoring of Mission policies, directives, SOPs, guidance documents, and compliance mechanisms relating to compliance, protection, gender, and accountability thematic areas.
• Lead Mission-wide efforts aimed at strengthening compliance with the AU Compliance and Accountability Framework (AUCF), the UN Human Rights Due Diligence Policy (HRDDP), conduct and discipline requirements, and applicable international legal and policy standards.
• Oversee compliance monitoring, risk mitigation measures, accountability mechanisms, investigation support processes, and institutional response measures relating to allegations of violations of applicable standards, including SEA/SH-related matters.
• Oversee the development, implementation, and monitoring of Mission compliance and accountability mechanisms relating to civilian harm mitigation, incident tracking, response measures, and related frameworks, including Civilian Casualty Tracking, Analysis and Response Cell (CCTARC) processes and associated SOPs.
• Provide strategic oversight and guidance on protection-related activities involving civilians, women, children, vulnerable populations, and affected communities within the Mission area.
• Lead strategic coordination and engagement with Mission components, host authorities, AU structures, UN entities, humanitarian actors, civil society organizations, and relevant stakeholders on compliance, protection, gender, human rights, and accountability-related matters.
• Oversee the development and implementation of Mission-wide training, awareness, sensitization, and capacity-building initiatives relating to compliance, protection, human rights, child protection, gender mainstreaming, conduct and discipline, and accountability frameworks.
• Support Mission leadership in integrating compliance, protection, gender, and accountability considerations into Mission planning, operational directives, policy processes, and decision-making activities.
• Oversee the preparation of strategic reports, assessments, briefing notes, compliance updates, analytical products, and advisory materials relating to Mission compliance, protection, accountability, and gender-related developments.
• Provide leadership, supervision, mentorship, and performance oversight to personnel within the Compliance, Protection and Gender component.
• Represent the Mission, as delegated, in strategic engagements, coordination mechanisms, technical meetings, and consultations relating to compliance, protection, human rights, accountability, and gender-related matters.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Law, Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law, International Relations, Political Science, Gender Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, Social Sciences, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of twelve (12) years of progressively responsible professional experience, including at least seven (7) years at managerial level and five (5) years at supervisory level within complex operational or field mission environments.
• Advanced professional training or higher qualifications in IHL, IHRL, gender, protection, compliance, accountability, conduct and discipline, child protection, or related thematic areas is an added advantage.
• Experience in AU, UN, or other international peace support operations, particularly in conflict or post-conflict environments, is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in compliance oversight, protection mainstreaming, gender integration, accountability mechanisms, conduct and discipline frameworks, or human rights advisory functions is required.
• Experience in policy development, strategic planning, institutional coordination, compliance monitoring, investigation support mechanisms, and risk mitigation processes is desirable.
• Experience engaging with governments, humanitarian actors, civil society organizations, multilateral institutions, and international partners on protection, compliance, accountability, and gender-related matters is desirable.
• Strong analytical, strategic reporting, policy advisory, stakeholder coordination, and leadership skills are required.
• Strong strategic leadership, policy advisory, coordination, and institutional oversight skills within complex operational and field mission environments.
• Excellent knowledge of AU compliance frameworks, IHL, IHRL, PoC, conduct and discipline standards, child protection, gender mainstreaming, accountability mechanisms, and protection-related frameworks applicable to peace support operations.
• Ability to provide strategic guidance and technical advice to Mission leadership and Mission components on compliance, protection, accountability, and gender-related matters.
• Strong analytical, policy development, risk assessment, strategic reporting, and briefing skills.
• Ability to oversee compliance monitoring, accountability mechanisms, investigation support processes, and institutional risk mitigation measures relating to Mission operations.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, negotiation, coordination, and partnership-building skills with governments, humanitarian actors, civil society organizations, multilateral institutions, and international partners.
• Ability to lead and coordinate Mission-wide training, awareness, sensitization, and capacity-building initiatives relating to compliance, protection, gender, conduct and discipline, and accountability frameworks.
• Ability to work effectively within integrated civilian, police, and military Mission structures and support Mission-wide policy alignment and operational coherence.
• Strong leadership, mentorship, team management, and performance management skills.
• Ability to maintain professionalism, sound judgment, confidentiality, impartiality, and accountability in handling sensitive compliance, protection, and human rights-related matters.
• Proficiency in the use of standard Microsoft Office applications, reporting systems, and information management tools.
• Proficiency in one of the AU official working languages is required. Knowledge of another AU working language is an added advantage.

Skills

• International Humanitarian Law
• International Human Rights Law
• Gender Mainstreaming
• Protection Mainstreaming
• Compliance Oversight
• Accountability Mechanisms
• Conduct and Discipline Frameworks
• Child Protection
• Policy Development
• Strategic Planning
• Institutional Coordination
• Compliance Monitoring
• Investigations Support
• Risk Mitigation
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Negotiation
• Partnership Building
• Leadership in Field Missions
• Team Management
• Performance Management
• Microsoft Office Suite

Languages

English