| Position | InCORE Regional Expert to be seconded at the Infrastructure and Energy Department (IED) at the African Union Commission (AUC) |
| Place of Assignment | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| Salary Band | The position is assigned to GIZ Salary Band 4 which is equivalent to AU P3 |
| Initial Contract Period | 01 May 2026 – 31 October 2029 |
| Application Deadline | 16 March 2026 |
Background
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a global service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development dedicated to shaping a future worth living around the world. As a public-benefit federal enterprise, GIZ supports the German Government – in particular the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) – and many public and private sector clients in achieving their objectives in international cooperation in around 120 countries.
Since 2004, GIZ has been a reliable and trusted partner of the African Union (AU) to enhance inclusive growth and sustainable development on the African continent in line with the AU’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. With more than 250 staff, GIZ African Union cooperates with the AU Commission, as well as the AU’s specialised institutions and agencies, such as the Development Agency AUDA-NEPAD, at continental, regional and national level in more than 40 member states. Key areas of engagement include Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention, Governance, Sustainable Economic Growth, Health and Social Development, as well as Just Transition.
The AUC’s Infrastructure and Energy Department (IED) leads efforts to accelerate the implementation of Agenda 2063 infrastructure programmes as well as the AU’s activities aimed at promoting, coordinating, implementing and monitoring programmes and policies on infrastructure development, transport, energy resources, information communications technology (ICT). IED oversees the Programme for Infrastructure Development (PIDA), an African Union initiative for interconnecting, integrating and transforming African in Transport, Energy, ICT and transboundary water management.
Short Description of the Programme “Africa InCORE – Integrated Corridors for Economic Growth in Africa (Support to PIDA)”
The “Integrated Corridors for Economic Growth in Africa (Support to PIDA)” programme (in short: “Africa InCORE”) aims to support the planning and implementation of integrated, climate-resilient cross-border infrastructure projects.
The programme is to be implemented in collaboration with the AUC, AUDA-NEPAD, the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA) as well as with SADC (North-South Corridor). It is a continuation of technical cooperation by GIZ with the partners to strengthen the low carbon and climate-resilient development of infrastructure.
For the period of 2025-2029, Africa InCORE aims at
- Strengthening continental leadership to provide strategic direction for the development and communication of integrated infrastructure corridors
- Enhancing project preparation and bankability, through e.g. AUDA-NEPAD’s Service Delivery Mechanism (SDM)
- Building Corridor Management Institutions’ Capacities through training, peer learning and technical support for promoting green economic growth, gender equality and climate resilience
- Engaging the private sector to support closer cooperation between public institutions and the private sector for better utilization of synergies. Private investment is critical in closing the infrastructure financing gap; hence a close cooperation is essential to advance on the topic.
In this context, GIZ AU is seeking to recruit an embedded InCORE regional expert with AUC IED.
Core Tasks
- Support the PIDA Coordinator with project management activities related to the GIZ InCORE programme, e.g. planning, budget formulation, implementation, stakeholder engagement with project partners such as AUDA-NEPAD, RECs, Corridor Management Institutions and Member States, impact monitoring and reporting
- Support the development of an overarching framework for integrated infrastructure corridors development to boost intra-African trade, regional integration gender equality and social inclusion, building on the Continental Policy for Climate-Smart and Resilient Infrastructure
- Actively contribute and support the harmonization process for AU national, regional, and continental infrastructure strategies, policies, programs and plans.
- Prepare and support in the management of related InCORE consultancies, e.g. on the development of the integrated corridor approach
- Support in the mobilization of public and private sector actors in the field of infrastructure development and infrastructure finance. Follow-up and report on implementation of joint AUC–AUDA-NEPAD–GIZ objectives with respect to PIDA’s integrated corridor development and related regional initiatives.
- Support in the promotion and related communication activities to increase visibility and awareness on infrastructure/PIDA matters within African Union institutions but also to raise awareness with other stakeholders as mentioned above
Your Profile
- Advanced university degree (Master or equivalent) in Economics, Finance, Engineering, Social Sciences or fields related to the position’s profile
- Preferably 15 years post-graduation general experience
- 8 years of specific professional experience in the field of development cooperation collaborating with continental and international networks of public and private sector actors in the field of infrastructure development and infrastructure finance on the African continent
- Experience in advising and supporting decision-makers in the public sector at various hierarchical levels, as well as diplomatic skills and intercultural competence; experience in advising AU and AU Continental, and regional specialized Infrastructure institutions
- Proven experience with multi-stakeholder management and target-group-oriented communication, using modern formats and media
- Very good organizational, moderating, presentation and communication skills (oral and written) as well as consulting experience at all hierarchical levels preferably on the African Continent
- Ability to think and act strategically and analytically, as well as quick comprehension and an eye for the essentials, with personal responsibility for conceptually developing new topics and structuring efficient processes
- English at least on C1 level, French on at least B2 level is an advantage