Column by Renato D'Arca

Linking opportunities and curriculum vitae


The aim of our column is to inform the general public about the opportunities for qualified jobs in Africa. This issue focuses on the
demand for skills useful in creating partnerships, strengthening "alliances" and collaborations between different public as well as private entities engaged in projects and undertakings to improve and optimize, as much as possible, the "social products" they intend to provide. Also required is the capcity to create lasting partnerships. For this reason very often the activity of "building" alliances is accompanied by programmes to train local operators in maintaining and perhaps even enhancing said alliances.

The afore-mentioned were found by consulting the lists of job opportunities on line at the following Web sites:
www.afriquemploi.com;
www.africajob.com;
www.africaonline.com;
www.findajobinafrica.com;
www.emploi.sn;
www.icijob.com,
www.jobfood.com.

Many job offers coming from the principal employers are posted at these sites. The main employers are entities for international cooperation and development, both private and public, and private companies in the expanding sector of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). About 250 job offers chosen, were published between August and October 2002, for countries such as the Congo, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, SouthAfrica, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

The professional profile in greatest demand (70% of the offers) is a managerial one. There are many job offers for engineers,
agronomy experts or graduates in economics with a Masters (MBA) in Management and Business Administration or similar, and with a few years (3-5) of experience. In this sector, the specializations required the most are in telecommunications or the management and organization of water supply systems (both in urban and rural environments).

As regards management, the traditional-type, that is, the building of infrastructures, the management of plants and industrial processes, the organization of trade, is being flanked by the social or institutional-type, oriented towards improving and strengthening relations between entities and bodies engaged in similar sectors, like the development of a country or, in general, an area. In fact, it is in this last sector that the job opportunities presented in the next few pages were found.

As can be seen from the insertions, the medical profession is still in great demand although, in this case too, preferably with
managerial skills. There is an urgent need for doctors both to realize and manage many projects that target the treatment and prevention of AIDS, or to carry out programmes for control over nutrition and in the public health sector, in general. Numerically lower is the demand for teachers and educators and experts in public communication, but managerial qualifications hold their own in these sectors as well.

Following are some of the job opportunities offered:

In Ethiopia, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) together with the regional office of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) are looking for an expert to promote relations and strengthen contacts with the principal entities involved in the development of the area, with the prospect of establishing New Partnerships for Africa's Development. Further information can be had by visiting o www.unep.org

The Panos Institute (Eastern Africa) is looking for a Regional Director for its Kampala Office (Uganda). Of particular interest are
candidates who are African nationals or long-time residents in Eastern Africa and the Horn of Africa. Also, particular attention will be given to female applicants. The Panos Institute and specifically the Eastern Africa office has been active for some time in promoting the creation of independent and democratic means of information (reviews, publications, magazines on line, etc.), with the idea that they are fundamental instruments for the sustainable development of the region. Within this context, the institute is working to strengthen the communication capacities of the civil society organizations. Coordination and Planning Unit, annelised@panoslondon.org.uk,For further information contact Annelise Dennis, Coordination and Planning Unit, www.panoseasternafrica.org.ug, www.panoseasternafrica.org.ug

Also in Uganda, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Sports and the Ministry of Gender, Labor & Social
Development are looking for qualified personnel to participate in a programme aimed at increasing the capacities of operators in these public administrations to coordinate and optimize the services provided by the numerous suppliers. Specifically, the project aims to identify a series of best practices, from which to establish a sort of protocol that can be a point of reference for officials and suppliers. For more details visit websites http://www.uafparl.org e www.abtassociates.com

The UNDP is searching for a coordinator for South-South relations in Cameroon. The position involves developing relations between the local UNDP office and the many organizations in the local civil society, helping to set up projects and initiatives to be presented to the principal donors and local governments. For greater detail visit website: : www.undp.org

From Mali comes the need for a sales expert in the farm produce sector. This person should know how to train personnel from the local trade organizations, above all in skills related to the identification of the major actors in the farm-produce market. Further information may be had by contacting mbrazill@chemonics.net or by visiting website www.chemonics.com.

In Sudan the humanitarian organization Concern is looking for an expert in capacity building, preferably a native of the area and speaking Arab, to widen the network of local partners and other participants of the organization, so as to facilitate the realization and sustainability of the activities in course. For more details visit website: www.concern.ie

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, another large non-governmental organization needs a manager, expert in relations
with local administrative bodies, who can strengthen the network of contacts with the local institutions. The aim is to facilitate the successful realization of IRC programmes. Further details can be had visiting website: www.theirc.org


Also in Uganda, the humanitarian organization Save the Children, requires an institutional memory preserving advisor to preserve and not disperse the institutional memory of this organization in 40 years of activity in the African country. The research will involve the numerous partners who participated in the many programmes carried out, and identification of the principal recommendations that could be useful in the future. For further information visit website : www.scfuk.org.uk