Programme Officer, Regional Water Observatory 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, Regional Water Observatory

Job Code: 20000699
Location: Ouagadougou, Burkinafaso
Institution: ECOWAS Commission
Grade: P3/P4
Status: Permanent
Agency: Water Resources Management Centre
Department: Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalization
Division: Water Governance and Policies
Line Supervisor: Principal Programme Officer, Water Governance and Policies

Role Overview

• Under the Supervision of the Principal Programme Officer, Water Governance and Policies, the incumbent shall be responsible for ensuring that the development and implementation of relevant regional programs and projects in the water sectors are properly coordinated in line with best practices associated with water management.

Role and Responsibilities

• Ensure the technical and scientific coordination of the Observatory.
• Ensure the development and implementation of relevant regional water programmes and projects.
• Effectively organize programming, planning, and budgeting,
• Regularly assess the impact of climate change on the evolution and availability of water resources in West Africa.
• Support countries in reducing environmental risks (floods, droughts, pollution, ecosystem degradation, silting).
• Establish a multi-partner collaboration platform to ensure the effective functioning of the Observatory network.
• Establish and manage a network for the exchange of information, knowledge and sharing with member countries and basin organizations for the supply of water resources data to the system.
• Manage and monitor the data collection process.
• Update Observatory data.
• Support the PPO Governance and Policy, in the harmonization of water information collection and management processes in countries and other partners of the Observatory.
• Support the PPO Governance and Policy, in the analysis of water sector development indicators.
•  Support countries in the development of their National Water Information Systems (Water NIS), collection and analysis of indicators.
• Develop and deliver projects, training programs, workshops, and awareness campaigns to enhance stakeholders’ understanding of water-related issues, sustainable practices, and best management techniques.
• Monitor and evaluate frameworks to assess the effectiveness of water resource management programs, track progress, and identify areas for improvement. Prepare reports and recommendations based on findings.
• Support and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to develop and implement projects, policies, guidelines, and regulations related to water resource management and conservation, aligned with regional and national priorities.
• Write annually, the report on the state of water in West Africa.
• Build and supervise technical partnerships with national and sub-regional actors.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive database of water-related information, including monitoring data, research findings, and relevant policies, for easy access and retrieval.
• Capitalize on the experiences acquired and ensure their dissemination to partners.
• Facilitate consultations with various partners and donors.
• Any other duties assigned from time to time by the PPO Water Governance and Policies

Academic Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree (or equivalent) in Water Management, Regional Planning and Development, Rural Development, Environment Science, Agricultural Economics, Agronomy, Forestry, or a related field from a recognized university.
• 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in water-related fields and implementation of biodiversity and water-related projects.
• Solid understanding of water resources, management and use and ability to keep abreast of developments in the field.
• Excellent knowledge of water sector policies and projects, intra-regional and regional cooperation activities in the water sector and of the role of water resources in developing rural economies and reducing poverty.
• Demonstrated professional skills and abilities related to best practices in programme and project management associated with water management.

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 instill a spirit of teamwork to engage employees and achieve a well-defined set of activities.
• Ability to respect 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 the subordinates to build strong working relationships and improve performance.
• Contribute to maintaining organizational unit’s performance goals and standards.
• Interpersonal skills with 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 need, mitigates issues and that 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 judgement, 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/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, 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.

Annual Salary

• UA39,738.72 / USD62,699.75 - UA46,539.98 / USD73,430.77.

Application Closing Date
15th May 2024.