Programme Officer, Security Sector Reform at the 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, Security Sector Reform

Job Code: 20003311
Location: Abuja
Job type: Full-Time
Grade: P2
Division: Regional Security
Line Supervisor: Principal Programme Officer / Head of Division, Regional Security
Directorate: Directorate of Peacekeeping and Regional Security
Institution: ECOWAS Commission
Department: Political Affairs, Peace and Security

Role Overview

• Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Head of Division Regional Security, the incumbent provides technical support to the implementation of the ECOWAS Policy Framework for Security Sector Reform and Governance (SSRG), particularly in facilitating and conducting security sector review and assessment in Member States, and accompanying Member States’ initiatives in police reform, security services reform, defense reform, intelligence reform and prisons reform.

Role and Responsibilities

• Provide technical support to the implementation of the ECOWAS Policy Framework for Security Sector Reform and Governance (SSRG), particularly in facilitating and conducting security sector review and assessment in Member States, and accompanying Member States’ initiatives in police reform, security services reform, defense reform, intelligence reform and prisons reform.
• Support consultations with government officials, civil society, national stakeholders and partners through field visits, dialogues, workshops to foster a common understanding of social, economic, and political conditions that may enable or challenge SSR processes.
• Support the conduct of joint needs assessment together with relevant partners including the AU, RECs, UN, EU, and promote ECOWAS’ lead role, mandate, and comparative advantages in sharing responsibilities.
• Support capacity building, sensitization workshops, meetings conferences, and other activities relating to relevant areas of SSR in Member States and at the regional level.
• Facilitate collation, sharing, analysis and dissemination of data and statistics relating to SSR from Member States to promote evidence-based decision making by stakeholders.
• Support result-oriented and mutually beneficial partnerships with relevant Member States’ agencies and institutions, civil society organizations, think tanks, other Regional Economic Communities, and development partners in relevant areas of SSR.
• Provide advice on planning, implementation, coordination, monitoring, evaluation, and review of SSR in Member States and at regional level.
• Support dissemination and implementation of the ECOWAS Policy Framework for Security Sector Reform and Governance, the Code of Conduct for the Armed Forces and Security Services of ECOWAS, and the ECOWAS Toolkit for SSRG in Member States.
• Monitor all communications relating to SSR review and assessment, police reform, security services reform, defense reform, intelligence reform, and prisons reform, and propose responses.
• Conduct research on key issues of SSR at the national and regional levels, particularly on police reform, defense reform, intelligence reform, prisons reform, and make proposals for support/response.
• Conduct review and analysis of SSR issues and trends, preparation of reports or related studies.
• Support and contribute to knowledge production and knowledge sharing, including the development and production of documentation and written materials relating to the programme.
• Assist in programme information dissemination and implementation of communication strategy.
• Support resource mobilization and manage budgeting and financial disbursements for the programme.
• Undertake other duties as may be assigned by the line supervisor.

Academic Qualification and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree or its equivalent in Social Sciences, including Political Science, International Relations, Peace and Security Studies, Strategic Studies, Criminology, Development Studies, Law, or a relevant field.
• Minimum of three (3) years relevant and progressive professional experience in Security Sector Reform and Governance
• Experience working in an international organization or at a multi-country level highly desirable.
• Experience in conducting Security Sector Reform assessments and reviews in Member States will be an advantage.
• Strong knowledge of ECOWAS, AU and UN policies, strategies, and approaches in SSR is required.
• Experience in research, knowledge production and knowledge management, analytical and problem-solving responsibilities highly desirable.
• Knowledge of the Commission and its mandates and relevant instruments in peace and security will be an advantage.
• Knowledge of relevant provisions of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty, Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Resolution, and the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework is required.

Age Limit:

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

ECOWAS Key Competencies:

• Ability to lead in the execution of tasks, contacting colleagues and contributors as needed making decisions to ensure tasks are completed as expected.
• 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 lead small 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 understandings and reduce uncertainties and conflicts.
• Ability to keep a client 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/stakeholders.
• Good judgement 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 attitudes, 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 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 they relate to assigned responsibilities and information systems.
• Ability to apply ECOWAS standards in emailing, reporting, correspondence, etc., and to contribute to implementing associated changes as directed.
• Ability to carefully review and check the accuracy of information in work reports provided by management, management information systems, or other individuals.
• Good knowledge of office monitoring indicators of relevance to own work (e.g., travels, purchases, accounts, meetings, etc.) 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 basic data management operations.
• Ability to condense information and/or produce concise summary notes to help others with decision-making, problem-solving, and/or assessment work.
• Proficiency in communicating orally and in writing in English and French.
• Demonstrated computer skills to communicate using tools such as email, Skype, word processing, Excel, social media, etc., and to write and format documents appropriately for presentation, the web, proposals, reports, and other documents.
• Ability to proofread, edit, and revise documents to ensure documents are grammatically correct, follow standard punctuation and mechanics conventions and formatted per ECOWAS communication standards.
• Ability to relay/redirect complete and accurate messages to appropriate persons/departments.
• Fluency in one of the three ECOWAS official languages (English, French & Portuguese)
• Ability to organize information or materials for others, solving minor problems and checking for completeness and compliance to standards or instructions.
• Knowledge of techniques to prioritize tasks in 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 level.
• Good initiative with an ability to identify what needs to be done and act before being asked or required to.

Assessment method:

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

ECOWAS Work Environment:

• ECOWAS provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and a healthy work-life balance.
• We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore, we encourage women to apply for positions that suit their competencies.

Annual Salary
UA 44,142.33 (USD 69,647.77)

Application Closing Date
24th July, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Applications to: b53posecuritysectorreformp2@ecowas.int using the Job Title as the subject of the email.

Click here to download the application form (Docx.)

Note

• Selection and appointment will be subject to background and reference checks and other administrative requirements.
• ECOWAS does not charge for any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing in connection with application or recruitment processes and does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.
• Individuals from minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are also highly encouraged to apply. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of ECOWAS’s workforce.