Head of Department (Cellule Info-Stocks) at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional grouping with 15 Member States in West Africa (three landlocked and one island) with a population of about 300 million with an annual economic growth rate of around 6%. The ECOWAS Commission is one of the eight Regional Economic Communities supporting the African Union to coordinate the implementation of continental and regional integration and development programmes in the West African region.

We are currently recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Head of Department (Cellule Info-Stocks)

Vacancy code VA / 2015 / B5302 / 8266
Location: Lome, Togo
Duration: 1 year subject to availability of fund and good performance
Department/office: AFO, CIOH, Cote d'Ivoire
Contract type: Fixed Term

Background Info - Job-specific

• ECOWAS has studied the feasibility of a regional food security reserve (ASSR), intended only for emergency operations in the event of cyclical food crises.
• The proposal to create an ASSR was adopted by the ECOWAS Agriculture Ministers in September 2012 and by the Heads of State in February 2013; thus, the 42nd regular session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS held in Yamoussoukro (Republic of Côte d'Ivoire) adopted an additional act (AS / 2/02/13) establishing a regional food security reserve, and instructed the Commission to take the suitable measures to its actual start.
• On this basis, the Commission has worked to mobilize its international financial partners to supplement this allocation.
• The European Union (EU) was willing to support ECOWAS in the implementation of the reserve and to consider the support to be implemented as part of a project in line with the region's decisions.
• The proposed project aims to support ECOWAS in the implementation of its regional food security strategy storage, based on complementarity / subsidiarity between three lines of defense to address these repetitive food crises: Stocks close, national stocks, and finally, a regional food security reserve for regional solidarity to play in a major food crisis.
• The goal is to help respond effectively to food crises and strengthening the resilience of households in a perspective of sustainable regional security and food sovereignty, through the promotion of food reserve systems at different levels of urgency.
• The project is funded by the European Union and will be implemented through centralized management with the French Development Agency (AFD), the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation for Development (AECID).

Functional Responsibilities

• Placed under the hierarchical responsibility of the Head of UTGR, he will lead and coordinate the activities of the Unit Info-Stocks which he is responsible. He will be responsible for all administrative, financial and technical related to the management and operation of the Cell.
• He is the representative of the Cell to the different working meetings within ECOWAS and with external partners. Specifically, he will be responsible for:
  • Preparation of annual program estimates and technical reports and annual financial performance related to the Cell Info-Stocks, for submission to the ARAA
  • The development of information products and decision support for the Reserve Management Committee
  • Preparation of contracts and memoranda of understanding with partners to submit to ARAA, and control of their execution
  • The technical and financial monitoring of the functioning of the Cell
  • Support for cell leaders (analysis, statistics and IT) for a better work organization, planning and monitoring actions within their field of competence
  • The electronic platform of the Cell

Competencies:

• He will be a senior economist expert or administrator of a system of information and decision support
• He should have a good command of the regional institutional context and be available to travel extensively in the region with great writing skills, synthesis and communication
• It must have proven experience in the management of an analysis tool and decision support and in areas relevant to food security (agricultural policies in the region which ECOWAP and PAU, food supply strategies safety nets, major donors' aid policies and strategies, etc.)

Education / Experience / Language requirements
Education:

• Higher diploma equivalent to a BAC + 4 in Agricultural Economics, Statistics, Economics or related field with 5 years experience
• Higher diploma equivalent to a BAC + 5 in Agricultural Economics, Statistics, Economics or related field with 3 years of professional experience

Experience:

• Have a good capacity management, tracking and capture of technical posts including regional actors, makers and donors
• Have experience in management of security food stocks

Languages:

• Being fluently bilingual in French and English, both orally and in writing
• Knowledge of Portuguese would be an asset

Additional Requirements:

• Have the nationality of a member state of ECOWAS or CILSS member States not members of ECOWAS
• Enjoy their civic rights and be of good character

Application Closing Date
30th August, 2015.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• This job ends at the closing date at midnight, Copenhagen (CET)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for maintenance
• We strongly encourage qualified women to apply.