Programme Officer, Women, Peace & Security & Civil Society 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.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Programme Officer, Women, Peace & Security & Civil Society  

Job Code: 20002331
Location: Abuja
Commission: ECOWAS Commission
Grade: P3/P4
Division: Human Security & Civil Society Organization
Directorate: PPO Human Security & Civil Society Organization
Line Supervisor: PPO Human Security & Civil Society Organization
Status: Permanent

Role Overview

• Under the supervision of the Principal Program Officer Human Security and Civil Society Organization, the incumbent shall ensure the effective implementation of programs in relation to mainstreaming gender in security sector reform and governance, conflict prevention and peacebuilding (including community peace initiatives), implementation of an ECOWAS Protection framework for persons especially vulnerable to specific criminal victimization etc. The Officer will also provide support to the Principal Program Officer in ensuring that routine services and activities are properly implemented.

Role and Responsibilities

• Implement ECOWAS initiatives in relation to Women, Peace and Security including integrating gender into Security Sector Reform, Human Rights and Governance.
• Coordinate actions aimed at promoting full engagement of women in the political and economic spheres; Specifically in Elections, Mediation, SALW and Peace Keeping Operations - Civilian and Military and Regional Security related matters.
• Develop and implement initiatives aimed at mitigating the impact of violence against women.
• Implement activities addressing underlying socio-economic problems, including women’s access to health and education, food security, and global problems such as climate change.
• Prepare reports and analytical documents on sensitive and crucial issues which are of concern to the Division.
• Build, manage, and expand relationships with national partners to support implementation and expansion of the Women Peace and Security action program.
• Develop policies to strengthen local organizations dealing with issues relating to women peace and security.
• Coordinate implementation of programs with partners on mainstreaming women peace and security and gender into emergency response and peacebuilding.
• Provide technical support to inter-agency coordination on WPS to coherence and alignment of ECOWAS programmes with other partners in the Member States.
• Contribute technically to the development of programme strategies in women’s peace and security.
• Provide substantive inputs to advocacy, knowledge building and communication efforts.
• Perform any task assigned by the supervisor.

Academic Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree (or its equivalent) Law, International Relations, Gender studies, Sociology, Economics, or Social Science or related field from a recognized University.
• 5 years of experience in Humanitarian Affairs, Emergency Preparedness, Crisis/Emergency Relief Management, Rehabilitation, Development, or other related areas.
• Technical analytical capacity and in particular the ability to conduct research, including the ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess the impact on the humanitarian rights situation in an assigned country/area.
• Ability to analyse and articulate the humanitarian dimension of issues that require a coordinated response, and contribute to the formulation of options and recommendations.
• Knowledge of a range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and related humanitarian issues, including approaches and techniques to address difficult problems.

Age Limit

• Be below 50 years old. This provision does not apply to internal candidates.

ECOWAS Key Competencies:

• Ability to persuade/influence others to consider a certain point of view, adopt a new idea or implement new methods and practices.
• Ability to lead a team of trainees/junior staff and instil a spirit of teamwork to engage employees and achieve a well-defined set of activities.
• Ability to respect the chain of command in an appropriate manner.
• Ability to resolve challenges that occur with minimal direction and/or to recommend and explain solutions or alternatives for approval.
• Ability to utilize the Code of Ethics to manage self, others, information, and resources.
• Ability to mentor others and create feedback loops with supervisors, colleagues, and subordinates to build strong working relationships and improve performance.
• Contribute to maintaining the organizational unit’s performance goals and standards.
• Interpersonal skills with the ability to keep a client informed of progress or setbacks in projects of relevance to the timeline, quality and quantity.
• Ability to proactively interact with clients and build strong trusting relationships based on mutual respect and regular discussions.
• Ability to establish and sustain professional credibility with clients/stakeholders in a manner that anticipates their needs mitigates issues and carefully balances professional obligations with the need to be sensitive and responsive to their needs.
• Ability to counsel, advise, consult and guide others on matters pertaining to assigned client service responsibilities and established client service standards.
• Demonstrate respect for cultural differences, fairness and ability to relate well with people from varied backgrounds, nationality, gender, ethnicity, race and religion.
• Understanding of diverse cultural views especially within West Africa, with sensitivity to group differences; ability to challenge bias and to practice tolerance and empathy.
• Ability to listen actively, consider people’s concerns and apply judgment, tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to work in a diverse and inclusive interactive environment that benefits from diverse strengths.
• Ability and responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Ability to encourage, empower, and advocate for people in an unbiased and transparent manner.
• Knowledge of ECOWAS institutions, sectors, programmes and policies.
• Knowledge of ECOWAS internal operational requirements of programs, projects, services and systems required to achieve work assignments and meet performance goals.
• Knowledge of rules and procedures of ECOWAS-associated assigned responsibilities and ability to explain these clearly to others.
• Knowledge of the ECOWAS culture, structures and performance issues and priorities impacting assigned responsibilities.
• Knowledge of member states development trends, indicators, challenges and opportunities as it relates to project/programme assigned to own position.
• Ability to study data/information from a variety of sources, identify anomalies, trends and issues, present findings, and make recommendations
• Ability to break down problems or processes into key parts to identify and solve gaps in service, quality assurance, compliance, and performance targets.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply techniques to generate creative ideas and new approaches to meeting goals
• Ability to use evidence and research to inform policies and programs and identify relevant and appropriate sources of information, including stakeholders, regional institutions and/or internal committees.
• Demonstrate operational computer proficiency using appropriate tools.
• Ability to make sound use of graphics and tables to effectively present numerical data to write semi-complex technical reports/proposals and edit/check templates, letters, etc.
• Ability to convey information clearly and concisely in a succinct and organized manner through both writing and verbal means.
• Exhibit interpersonal skills, make presentations, express opinions and debate ideas with others in a constructive manner.
• Proficiency in information communication technologies (ICT).
• Fluency in oral and written expressions in one of the ECOWAS official languages of the Community (English, French & Portuguese). Knowledge of an additional one will be an added advantage.
• Ability to develop, implement an individual action plan for achieving specific work goals.
• Identify, organize and monitor tasks throughout to facilitate execution.
• Ability to contribute and/or lead on projects as per accepted project management standards and techniques, to co-ordinate contributions by others to set and meet deadlines.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, and work within timelines, giving attention to details, stakeholders, indicators and risks.
• Ability to identify, collect and assess indicators to monitor performance and to take proactive remedial action as required.

Salary
USD 77,480.72 - USD 89,289.87 annually.

Application Closing Date
6th March, 2024.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their correctly filled Application Form, Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a Motivation letter to: [email protected] using the Job Title as the subject of the mail.

Click Here to Download Application Form (Docx.)

Note

• Female applications are encouraged.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Applications initially submitted with only the CV remain acceptable.
• ECOWAS does not charge a fee for recruitment and will not request for your account details.