Programme Officer, Geological Resources 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, Geological Resources

Job Code: 20003544
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Grade: P3/P4
Department: Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalization
Status: Permanent
Directorate: Energy and Mines
Division: Mining Development and Geological Resources
Line Supervisor: Mining Development and Geological Resources

Role Overview

• The Programme Officer Geological Resources shall work in the Directorate of Energy and Mines under the direct supervision of the Principal Programme Officer Mining Development & Geological Resources.
• He/She shall assist in designing and executing programmes and activities towards optimization of benefits from the extraction of geological resources in the Community, under the coordination of the Principal Programme Officer.

Role and Responsibilities

• Assist in developing and harmonizing policies, regulations, and institutional frameworks for the development of the mining sector.
• Liaise with related stakeholder-groups to promote the design and execution of other specialized programmes/projects relating to geological resources in the region.
• Assist in the design and implementation by Member States of policy options that will encourage all stakeholder institutions and operating entities to adopt relevant quality standards to enhance the competitiveness of the geo-extractives sector.
• Collate data/information on national, regional, and global issues of currency to inform strategic decisions on geological resources in the Community.
• Develop and periodically update a database of relevant Community-origin and non-Community-origin Experts and Institutions, Operating Entities, Suppliers, and other key stakeholders in the Sector.
• Promote activities that generally will enhance the realization of optimal benefits from geological resources within the Community.
• Participate in the preparation of Budgets and M & E activities.
• Represent ECOWAS Commission in specialized technical meetings and conferences.
• Initiates projects and prepares project documents, monitors, and evaluates project implementation.
• Performs any other related tasks as may be assigned by the PPO Mining Development and Geological Resources.

Academic Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of Bachelor's Degree (or equivalent) in Geological Sciences or Geological Engineering or a similar field from a university of recognized standing.
• Minimum of five (5) years of active professional work experience conducting activities in connection with the Geo-sciences or Mining Engineering and related fields, within a public or private entity or a regional organization.
• Good knowledge of the geological resources and related issues at national and regional levels as well as aspects related to mining database.
• Strong understanding of the multiple components that contribute to policymaking, project and program development, and implementation in this sector.

Age Limi:

• 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 appropriately.
• 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 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, mitigate 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 about 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, nationalities, genders, ethnicities, races, and religions.
• 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 they relate to the project/program 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 and 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 coordinate 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.

Annual Salary
UA49,106.81 / USD77,480.72

Application Closing Date
15th May, 2024.