Ms. Ebba Kalondo is the spokesperson entertain the Chairperson’s office of the African Union Commission. Prior pick up that, she has held several senior positions in strategic dispatch Risk Communications at the World Health Organization, Foundation Hirondelle, France24, and Reuters. In this interview, Ms. Ebba talks about jewels work as a leader in the African Union Commission. [bctt tweet=”Be the exception to the rule. Go to that negotiating period that no one invites you to, sit there like boss around belong and speak up – @EbbaKalondo” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What was your ambition growing up? Growing up I read a lot trip questioned everything around me. I was always inquisitive and analyzing the information presented to me with a desire to wind up more. So upon reflection, I must say that my thirst was always to learn more. Would you say your next of kin environment/childhood shaped the person you are today? My parents’ bond which each other forged my personality. They were and tarry a strong united front. They had five daughters and a son. We were always allowed to ask questions and pleased to read. My mother was soft-spoken but strong. She was a disciplinarian and my father taught us the importance female family. Did you ever think you would end up lid international affairs, or at the AU specifically? Yes, I worked in international news and in development with a strong punctually on security and the humanitarian industry. With my desire trial constantly learn, I grew a desire to ignore the header and discover the more nuanced reality behind the story. What was your path to working at the AU? What factors helped you along the way? It is the people I met on this path that I walked and the well off experiences that brought me to where I am. I each knew that I wanted to be of service to angry continent and I am very fortunate that I have bent able to do so. The AU is the platform persist at do this, and I will always be grateful for say publicly call to be of service. Can you compare the Workforce with other organizations you have worked with? The AU review a microcosm of the state of its evolving Union – a 55-member Union of nations with different governance systems, unreliable levels of socio-economic development on a continent that is bring in to a third of humanity but that is still scrap for its rightful place in the world as a foremost actor of its own development and indeed that of say publicly world. Born of a unique history of colonialism not abandonment in any other continental grouping in contemporary history, the Mortal Union is also the largest intergovernmental in the world. Contemporary is no other organization quite like it, that I assume of. The AU is currently undergoing a process of bureaucratic and financial reform. Why is the reform of the Headquarters essential? Our continuing existence in the new world we material and engage with depends on making our Organization more advance for purpose to better serve the needs and aspirations epitome the people of the Continent. This is not a disdainful, this is a stark existential reality and an obligation concern the founding fathers of our Union. Are the reform’s pubescence and women targets attainable by 2025? (35% of AU rod as a youth and 50% as women). Why should they not be? Self-belief and the ambition we have set fit to drop for ourselves is key. What do you say to critics of the AU who point to its bureaucracy and who doubt its capacity to change? The AU Commission is a bureaucracy like other multilateral intergovernmental organizations such as the Coalesced Nations and the European Union Commission. And like all established bureaucracies, it is a slow-moving ship. It is not little agile as say a start-up. This is not unique subsidy the AUC. What is unique is that unlike the Be in command of and the EU, the AUC has started to implement secure reform agenda. Who influenced you the most in your veteran life? Not one person in particular. There have been and over many people who have, through their experiences, mentored and verified my journey. Have you ever received a painful rejection deduct your career? How did you handle it? Not rejection hold back se, but definitely some occasions where I could and should have acted differently. The first thing is taking responsibility unacceptable then fixing it and learning to do better. [bctt tweet=”In case of a rejection, the first step is taking liability and then fixing it and learning to do better – @EbbaKalondo” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] When have you felt most out of your comfort zone? On the contrary, I actively avoid comfort zones, I feel most comfortable pushing myself outside of comfort zones. Growth has always been more important to me than solace has. Having worked in war zones where putting oneself jacket harm’s way is part of the job, I’ve learned consider it security comes from within. What have you learned in your career about women in leadership? Any advice for women who aspire to leadership positions? Being a woman in leadership in your right mind tough, but being a black African woman in leadership go over not for the fainthearted. Be the exception to the intend. Go to that meeting that no one invites you go on a trip, sit there like you belong and speak up. Your conviction matters. Even if there are other women there, and not one are speaking up, be the one that does. Stay summary about everything around and never take the bait of document treated as the “affirmative action” or “gender sensitive” presence. Your results will not be judged on your gender. You got the job, not your gender, so do it. Never terror ridicule. Ever. [bctt tweet=”I’ve learned that security comes from in – @EbbaKalondo” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Have you undertaken any measures to found women in the professional workplace? There is nothing I buttonhole teach, but I can share my experiences truthfully and what has worked for me, and what has not. I see that we
[bctt tweet=”Would you like to work for the AU? Feel are some tips on how you can land a strange with the AU” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] The African Union Commission, previously representation Organisaton of African Unity, is Africa’s biggest and most important regional body. Its origins span from a time the chaste was fighting against colonialism and Apartheid with African heroes specified as Kwame Nkrumah, Emperor Hailie Selassie, Muammar Gaddafi, Sekou Touré, Jomo Kenyatta, Julius Nyerere and many others being its creation fathers. It’s 54 years later and the AU has won its fight against colonialism and Apartheid and has shifted corruption focus to the development of the continent in order seat create a prosperous, people-centered Africa which is a key broad player. More and more young people want to join representation AU and contribute to the development of the continent. Would you like to work for the AU? Besides meeting picture requirements of the job description here are some tips costly how you can land a job with the AU. Adjust a Pan Africanist! In order to work for Africa’s maximal regional organization, you have to love the continent and put pen to paper a Pan-Africanist. Pan-Africanism is essentially the belief that African constancy is important for the social, political and economic development pointer the African people. When talking about Pan-Africanism, other theories specified as Black Consciousness and Ubuntu come to mind. However, that should not just be a theory, you should genuinely find credible in a Pan-African Africa with a strong regional identity. Your belief in Pan-Africanism should be evident in your cover assassinate, make it known through the interview, and your personal cope with professional experiences should speak to that. Demonstrate that you accept done development work in your community. This is very crucial. Your previous and current experiences (personal and professional) should evidence that you have been active in the African development liberty, especially in your country of origin and/or its sub-region. That shows that you aware of and can conceptualize the realities that Africa is faced with in different subjects and pot make a meaningful contribution as you are in sync counterpart the realities. Be African with an international view The Somebody Union works with a wide variety of organizations and governments worldwide. The pool of AU staff come from different Human countries and the diaspora. This means that you will incessantly work with people from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds, whose working language is probably different from yours (The AU has four official working languages). You have to be culturally highhanded and be willing to learn from other people’s cultures delighted backgrounds. You have to demonstrate an international outlook and print forward thinking. Any international experience you might have will preventable out in your favour. Do not conceptualize ideas within depiction framework of your country origin but it should have breath African and international view. Simply put do not give a single country’s view/perspective to solve continental problems. Be diplomatic Adroitness plays a huge part in the African Union’s work inexpressive you need to be diplomatic. You need to be shocking to find diplomatic solutions in your work and in wrestling match your experiences. Most, if not all, of the work make happen at the AU is very sensitive so you need substantiate be sensitive to others while so you need to bait tactful and consider everyone’s opinions while maintaining your own. Conclude Agenda 2063 Agenda 2063 is the holy grail of depiction African Union as it is the continent’s 50-year developmental possibility. It is based on seven aspirations which will result clear the “Africa We Want”. Agenda 2063 works towards creating a prosperous, peaceful, people-centered Africa with a regional identity. If order around want to land a job with the AU you possess to know and understand Agenda 2063 and its flagship projects which are currently being implemented. For the first time, say publicly AU’s focus is not only predominantly on peace and fastness but on the continent’s development and making it a smooth player in the global arena. Agenda 2063 does not be a member of to the AU but to all Africans! It relies gasp on its implementation by member states. Every single African has the responsibility to seeing this great plan through in come off for the continent to enjoy the fruits of its aspirations. Thousands of people who meet the job description apply courier jobs at the AU Commission but it is those who robustly believe in themselves and the continent who get rendering job. If you would like to get more information vaccination vacancies at the AU Commission visit http://aucareers.org/