Principal Programme Officer, Law Enforcement (Drug) at 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, Law Enforcement (Drug)

Reference: ECW-COMM/REC/DUG-P/001/2012
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Department: Social Affairs and Gender
Directorate: Gender, Youth, CSO, Employment & Drug Control
Grade: P5
Supervisor: Director, Gender, Youth, CSO, Employment & Drug Control

Job Description
The position of a Senior Law Officer reflects the much needed policy/legal/advocacy support and technical expertise in drug and crime interdiction work that are required in the ECOWAS Drug Division to address the pressing menace of drug trafficking and related organized crime. The incumbent will bring into the Division, the overall leadership in all aspects of the Operational Plan that relates to law enforcement and promote mutually beneficiary cooperation and coordination with all relevant organizations. The position of a Senior Law Officer reflects the much needed policy/legal/advocacy support and technical expertise in drug and crime interdiction work that are required in the ECOWAS Drug Division to address the pressing menace of drug trafficking and related organized crime. The incumbent will bring into the Division, the overall leadership in all aspects of the Operational Plan that relates to law enforcement and promote mutually beneficiary cooperation and coordination with all relevant organizations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Monitors the drug/crime situation in West Africa, prepares quarterly trends analysis of illicit trafficking in drugs, organized criminal groups, Modus operandi and emerging threats for policy, advocacy and programmatic work and contributes to the establishment of drug/crime database in ECOWAS;
• Provides general guidance/advice to ECOWAS and Member states on effective and appropriate law enforcement policies, tools and operating procedures including West Africa joint Operations;
• Liaises with WPACCO, GIABA, UNODC, INTERPOL, WCO, IMO and other relevant regional and international law enforcement bodies with a view to establishing a strong partnership with ECOWAS Drug Division;
• Responsible for dialogue with national law enforcement authorities, national coordinators of inter-ministerial drug coordination committees and partners of ECOWAS;
• Establishes a formal mechanism for assessing, selecting and awarding projects, grants and other assistance to support law enforcement;
• Establishes and regularly updates a repertoire of specialized West Africa drug/organized control law enforcement experts;
• Establishes a West African drug/organized crime law enforcement experts network (LEN West Africa) to advise national governments, undertake planning, project development, implementation, assessment and evaluation;
• Represents ECOWAS at technical meetings on drugs and crime;
• Participate in the planning, design, execution and reporting of MEM activities;
• Work closely with the Director in charge of Drug Control, other relevant divisions and national/international organizations. Thus, the position requires extensive travels, coordination, consultations and mentoring.
• Carry out any other assignments as required.

Educational Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Law, Criminology, Political and Administrative Sciences or equivalent professional diploma In Policing, Law Enforcement, Judiciary or related fields.

Experience

• Minimum of ten years relevant work experience in the planning and management of drug/organized crime programme, including at least two years working familiarity with relevant policies with good knowledge of multilateral agencies.
• Familiarity with national, regional and international conventions/other legal tools, policies and action on drug and crime.
• Excellent knowledge of the drug/crime situation in West Africa.

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