Principal Programme Officer Customs Procedures at Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen West African countries. Founded on 28 May 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, its mission is to promote economic integration across the region. Considered one of the pillars of the African Economic Community, the organization was founded in order to achieve collective self-sufficiency for its member states by creating a single large trading bloc through an economic and trading union. It also serves as a peacekeeping force in the region. The organization operates officially in three co-equal languages French, English, and Portuguese.

We are currently recruiting for the position below

Job Title: Principal Programme Officer Customs Procedures

Reference: ECW-COMM/REC/CUS-P/001/2012
Duty Station: Abuja, Nigeria
Department: Trade, Customs, Free Movement and Tourism
Directorate: Customs
Grade: P5
Supervisor: Director Customs & Tourism

Job Description
In accordance with the relevant provisions of the ECOWAS revised treaty (articles 3, 35, and 55) ECOWAS is in the process of establishing a Customs Union. In addition to several initiatives under way, member states are required to take appropriate measures to harmonize and standardize their Customs regulations and procedures to facilitate the movement of goods across their frontiers. In this regard, ECOWAS Commission is looking for a suitable person to handle the establishment and implementation of a Community Customs Code in West Africa; Trade facilitation and the acceleration of the process towards the establishment of the concept of free circulation in the region.

Duties and Responsibilities
The Principal Programme Officer, Customs Procedures shall, under the authority of the Director of Customs, contribute to the harmonisation of customs laws and procedures within ECOWAS. S/he shall ensure that the laws and procedures comply with the recommendations of the World Customs Organisation (WCO). Specifically, s/he shall:

• Work towards the adoption of an ECOWAS Customs Code and its implementation in Member States
• Initiate work leading to the simplification and harmonisation of custom procedures in the region
• Contribute to the preparation of regional custom standards in line with WCO recommendations and undertake activities leading to the simplification and harmonisation of custom regimes
• Undertake activities within the region to support fraud prevention and control, the fight against counterfeiting and piracy and promotion of ethics in customs administrations
• Carry out activities aimed at modernising customs administrations and building their capacities
• Contribute significantly to work on the networking of the computer systems of Customs administrations in ECOWAS countries and in particular, putting in place of the ALISA project (ECOWAS computerised transit system)
• Support Member States in the implementation of WCO recommendations on customs matters
• Embark on activities which can lead to better flow of goods within the region and in particular, more efficient implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Inter-State Road Transit (ISRT)
• All other duties assigned by the Director of Customs

Qualifications/Experience/Skills
The candidate must:

• Be a holder of a bachelor's degree in a relevant field in any of the following areas: Economics, International trade, International relations, Finance, Political science;
• Have worked in a Customs administration for at least 10 years at progressively senior level;
• Have attended courses (local and international) in Customs operations;
• Be well versed in Customs regulations and procedures;
• Have a clear understanding of the role of Customs in the facilitation of international trade;
• Be conversant with the World Customs Organization (WCO) instruments relative to Trade facilitation, and Customs Procedures: Revised Kyoto Convention; SAFE Framework of Standards; and Time Release Study Guide.
• Be familiar with the Customs landscape in the region and the barriers to intra-community trade;
• Understand issues relating to regional economic integration.

Personal qualities

• Must be a team player
• Must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Must be computer literate
• Must be able to work to tight deadlines with little supervision
• Must have a very high level of analytical capacity
• Should be able to relate to any level of authority

Age
Candidate should not be 50 years old or over at the point of recruitment and must be a citizen of one of the ECOWAS member states.

Language
Must be fluent in one of the official languages of the Commission; English, French and Portuguese. A working knowledge of another would be an advantage.

Remuneration
Annual Salary: USD 52,273 - USD 59,100

Application Closing Date
3rd April, 2014

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online