Vacancy title:
Senior Officer – Policy and Strategy
Employment type: Full time, Industry: Public Administration, and Government, Category: Management, Civil & Government, Business Operations
Jobs at:
Southern African Development Community
Deadline of this Job:
Wednesday, November 18 2026
Duty Station:
Gaborone, Botswana | Lusaka
Summary
Date Posted: Wednesday, November 4 2026, Base Salary: Not Disclosed
JOB DETAILS:
Background
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is a regional economic community founded and maintained by countries in Southern Africa. It aims to further the socio-economic, political, and security cooperation among its Member States and foster regional integration in order to achieve peace, stability, and wealth. SADC currently has sixteen (16) Member States with a population of approximately 340 million and a combined GDP of US$720 billion.
The Secretariat is currently recruiting for various positions to enhance its capacity to deliver on the above mandate. The Secretariat is therefore inviting suitably qualified and experienced citizens of SADC to apply for the following positions tenable at its Headquarters in Gaborone, Botswana or as stated in the job advert:
Job Grade: 4
The Southern Africa Development Community Secretariat (SADC) is seeking to recruit highly motivated and experienced professionals who are citizens of Member States of the SADC to fill the following regional position in its Organisation Structure.
Primary Purpose of the Job
- Conduct research to inform periodic reviews of policies and implementation of strategies in the areas of regional integration, development and cooperation as defined in the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP)
- Coordinate the development, review and updating of policies and strategies in the areas of regional integration, development and cooperation
- Coordinate the harmonization of regional frameworks with Member States
- Manage the efforts and performance of the team falling under the responsibility of the Senior Officer
Duties and Responsibilities
Policy and Strategy
- Support the policy and strategy formulation process in the fields of regional integration, development and cooperation within the SADC Secretariat in consultation with Member States
- Facilitate the development and review of the Medium-Term Strategies including the SADC Strategy Development, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation and Reporting (SPMER) and the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plans (RISDP)
- Coordinate and ensure alignment of SADC regional policies and strategies to continental and international development initiatives
- Promote the Secretariat’s role of a policy think-tank on key regional integration issues, in collaboration with regional and international research networks
- Coordinate with Research and Statistics unit to conduct research that feeds into policy development, analysis and monitoring of key regional integration, development and cooperation issues and produce Research and Policy Paper Series
- Initiate relevant reports to Council and Summit
- Provide technical advice to align national policies of member states with overarching regional integration policies and strategies
- Analyse and assess the effectiveness and outreach of SADC policies and programmes; and make appropriate recommendations for corrective actions
- Coordinate with external policy-making bodies in Member States to develop papers on issues that interest SADC, and that can inform policymaking
- Strengthen the partnerships between the Secretariat and Stakeholders through the implementation of a stakeholder engagement mechanism
- Facilitate periodic Policy Dialogue Forums between Member States and other stakeholders on strategic regional integration and development issues
- Organise and coordinate policy dialogue forums on key regional integration issues
- Facilitate effective functioning of SADC National Committees and follow-up on implementation of regional policies at national level
- Feed information into and service the think tank mechanism led by the DES
Regional Integration
- Coordination with regional, continental, and global bodies to promote strategic partnerships in order to advance the SADC Agenda
Servicing of Relevant Technical & Policy Committees, Meetings & Workshops
- Prepare reports, documents and annotated agenda for submission to various policy structures of SADC
- Liaise with Conference Services Unit to (a) organise the logistics for the meetings and workshops, and (b) process / produce the necessary meeting and conference documents and presentations
- Facilitate technical committees, meetings and workshops as required
- Prepare records of the technical and policy meetings including communiqué for policy meetings
Management of the Unit
- Develop, update and implement policies, strategies, processes, systems and procedures for the effective delivery of the unit’s objectives
- Participate in formulation of the Corporate Strategy
- Develop short- and long-term plans and budgets for the unit, monitor progress, assure adherence and evaluate performance on a regular basis
- Manage the delegated unit budget to ensure optimal use
- Achieve the mission, goals and objectives of the unit, and report progress to the Head
- Ensure team compliance with all relevant Secretariat values, policies and standards, and statutory requirements
- Work towards building a positive workplace and team culture, and a climate that attracts, retains and motivates top quality personnel
- Plan the unit’s activity and maintain direct oversight on its operations and the staff in terms of (a) work scheduling, (b) estimating resource and staffing needs, (c) allocating and delegating tasks, and (d) recruiting, training, developing, supporting, supervising, mentoring, motivating and appraising staff
- Research and adopt best practices in own area of work, and maintain high level of knowledge in order to effectively undertake the duties of the post
- Undertake any other duties as delegated by the Director
Qualifications and Experience
Education
- At least a Masters Degree in Economics; Development Studies; International Relations; Public Policy Studies, or related technical field from a recognized institution
Specialised Knowledge
- Knowledge and understanding of research, analysis and policy advisory
- Proficient in the use of computers and computer software relevant to the position.
Experience
- At least 10 years professional experience in development policy research, analysis, and advisory activities within a policy research or academic institution, public sector, private entity or social sector
- Experience of working with multiple stakeholders, including governments, non-state actors and regional or international organisations
- This includes a minimum of 4 years in a line management position
Skills Requirements
- Communication and presentation skills
- Conflict management skills
- Decision-making skills
- International relations skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Leadership skills
- Mentoring and coaching skills
- Negotiation, persuasion, advocacy, networking, relationship building and stakeholder management skills
- Organisational skills (planning, budgeting, work prioritisation, time management)
- Research, analytical and problem-solving skills
- Strategy and policy development skills
- Team building skills
Competency Requirement
- Apply interpersonal styles/methods to develop, motivate and empower individuals toward achievement of goals
- Capable of maintaining quality whilst working under pressure and adhering to deadlines
- Capacity to motivate and influence people positively, and create a climate where people want to do their best
- Conceptual and practical thinking
- Customer focused
- Decisive
- Demonstrated ability to work well, present and win support for ideas in an international, multi-cultural and highly political environment
- Organisational awareness with an understanding of how to engage the organisation to get things done
- Maintain confidentiality and respectful of sensitive situations
- Methodical and organised, and able to look at the big picture without losing attention to details
- Professionalism and adherence to good work ethics
- Question status quo / conventional approaches and encourage new ideas and innovations for progress
- Resilience and personal drive, self-motivation
- Results and performance driven
- Visionary, thinks and acts strategically
Work Hours: 8
Experience in Months: 120
Level of Education: postgraduate degree
Job application procedure
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