Program Officer, Agriculture & Environment at Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) - 2 Openings

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: Program Officer, Agriculture & Environment

Job Code: 20000452
Location: Abuja
Commission: ECOWAS Commission
Grade: P2/P3
Department: Office of the Vice President
Division: Analysis
Directorate: Early Warning
Line Supervisor: Principal Programme Officer, Analysis
Status: Permanent
Slot: 2 Openings

Role Overview

• Under the supervision of the Principal Programme Officer, Analysis, the incumbent shall monitor regional peace and security indicators with a particular focus on political governance, elections, youth bulge, unemployment, gender etc. and analyze and draft early warning reports with recommendations and identify options for response.
• Role and Responsibilities
• Review early warning incident and situation reports submitted by the Field Monitors through the ECOWARN platform.
• Perform quality control on the various data and information for subsequent input to the ECOWARN system.
• Document early warning information gathered through other networks for incorporation into the early warning reports.
• Analyze early warning information and produce different early warning reports with recommendations and options for response.
• Prepare briefing notes and organize daily situation meetings to discuss and identify priority areas for reporting.
• Collaborate with a network of sectorial analysts contributing efficiently to enhancing the Early Warning Directorate’s capacity in the analysis of the Regional Security Situation on Governance and Human Rights related events/situations.
• Evaluate and update the Daily Highlight with reference to security in the ECOWAS region and submit to the PPO Analysis for validation.
• Develop and maintain networks with other experts in the Member States for information collection, verification, analysis, and reporting.
• Perform any other task as assigned by the supervisor.

Academic Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in International Relations, Political Science, Humanities Social Sciences, or a similar filed from a recognized University.
• 3 years of relevant experience in coordination of the operations of the Early Warning Situation Room, monitoring of peace and security indicators with a particular focus on epidemics, pandemics, public health infrastructure etc. with a multilateral or international organization is highly desirable.
• Knowledge and understanding of ECOWAS early warning mechanism with particular focus on any of the thematic areas of governance, drug/human trafficking, organized crime, health cyber criminality, migration, and environment.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze, summaries and interpret early warning data accurately, making use of different sources utilizing a working knowledge of relevant data analysis tools.
• Demonstrates an ability to effectively communicate appropriate levels of confidence and uncertainty to support effective decision-making.

Age Limit:

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

Ecowas Key Competencies:

• Ability to execute tasks, contact colleagues and contribute as needed towards decision-making to ensure tasks are completed in a timely manner.
• Ability to respect the chain of command in an appropriate manner.
• Ability to guide own work by setting and monitoring goals with strong personal initiative and commitment to ECOWAS.
• Ability to model and advocate for compliance, good work ethics, flexibility, and persistence to get the job done coupled with an ability to influence positive teamwork and cooperation.
• Ability to work in teams to carry out semi-routine work including assigning work, training, and checking work.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to engage with clients in positive exchanges that establish mutual expectations, and understanding and reduce uncertainties and conflicts.
• Ability to keep clients informed on matters of relevance to expectations, establishing “bring forward” systems and introducing other procedures/techniques to ensure that service standards are maintained.
• Ability to make decisions based on guidelines, procedures and precedents and maintain confidentiality and discretion with clients.
• Good judgment and demonstrated ability to be assertive – rather than passive or aggressive when interacting with clients.
• Well-developed problem-solving, critical thinking and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to perceive the moods and feelings of others, and to understand the attitude, interests, needs, and perspectives of others.
• Well-developed ability to relate well with people from varied backgrounds, open to understanding diverse cultural differences, especially within West Africa.
• Ability to listen attentively to people’s ideas, requests, and concerns and to explain to others the need for diversity management in everyday workplace practices.
• Ability and responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Ability to factor in diversity when providing services, responding to requests, recognizing, and releasing preconceived notions and stereotypical views of certain groups and individuals.
• Basic understanding of the ECOWAS organization mandate and its functions.
• Ability to explain the functional area assigned to and the contributions it makes to the organization and its mandate.
• Knowledge of ECOWAS semi-routine procedures, processes and practices as it relates to assigned responsibilities and information systems.
• Ability to apply ECOWAS standards in emailing, reporting, correspondences, etc. and to contribute to implementing associated changes as directed.
• Ability to carefully review and check the accuracy of the information in work reports provided by management, management information systems or other individuals.
• Good knowledge of office monitoring indicators of relevance to own work and ability to provide brief reports or updates.
• Ability to edit, check, track and review documents prepared by others and reorganize data or information according to instructions using the latest technology.
• Efficiently retrieves, inputs, edits, formats, transmits and links electronic file data used for analysis and understands data management operations.
• Ability to condense information and/or produce concise summary notes to help others with decision-making, problem-solving and/or assessment of work.
• Demonstrated computer skills to communicate using tools, to write and format documents appropriately for presentation, the web, proposals, reports and other documents.
• Ability to proofread, edit and revise documents to ensure they follow standard conventions for punctuation and mechanics and formatted in accordance to ECOWAS communication standards.
• Ability to relay/redirect complete and accurate messages to appropriate persons/departments.
• 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 organize information and materials for others, solving minor problems and checking for completeness and compliance to standards and instructions.
• Knowledge of techniques to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced workplace with frequent interruptions and moving deadlines and adaptability/ flexibility to meet work expectations.
• Understanding and adherence to the policies, procedures and guidelines required to support the ECOWAS planning cycle at the individual and organizational levels.
• Good initiative with an ability to identify what needs to be done and act in a proactive manner.

Assessment method:

• Assessment of qualified candidates may include a written exercise and a competency-based interview.

Salary
USD 67,713.70 - USD 77,480.72 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 the 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.