Investigation Officer 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: Investigation Officer

Job Code: 20003595
Location: Banjul, The Gambia
Job type: Full-Time
Grade: P3 / P4
Directorate: Investigations & Law Enforcement Monitoring
Divison: Legal, Investigation, Compliance & Enforcement
Line Supervisor: Principal Officer, Legal, Investigation, Compliance & Enforcement
Institution: ECOWAS Commission
Department: Economic Affairs & Agriculture

Role Overview

• Under the supervision of the Principal Officer, Legal, Investigation, Compliance & Enforcement, the incumbent shall provide legal services and advice to the Authority and on all matters of investigations geared towards the protection of the interests of the Community.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Conduct investigation into matters that may be in contravention of rules and regulations of competition in the community.
• Carry out research into legal and regulatory regimes internationally and in the sub-region and provide advice that will serve the best interest of the Community.
• Implement relevant guidelines/procedures/manual pertaining to investigations procedures and ethics, confidentiality issues, exemptions, etc under the Competition Regulations and Rules.
• Keep an update on all key developments or best practices at regional and international levels in competition law and recommend appropriate policy and legal review.
• Collect and analyze evidence through interviews, document reviews, data analysis, and other investigative techniques.
• Analyze information and evidence to identify patterns, inconsistencies, and potential leads.
• Conduct research to understand relevant laws, regulations, policies, and industry practices related to the investigation.
• Draft legal documents and general notices for publication.
• Provide performance reports to the supervisor as required.
• Perform any other tasks assigned by the supervisor.

Requirements
Academic Qualification & Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent) in Law, Economics, Statistics, Business Administration Law, with a specialization in Commercial / business law, competition, or trade related matters. International, Administrative or Commercial Law from a recognized University.
• 5 years progressively practice experience in as economics/market analysis, commercial law practice, market investigations, competitional Lawyer in the Legal Office of an intergovernmental organization or government.
• Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to competition, trade, market analysis techniques, survey techniques and methodologies, international law.
• Knowledge and understanding of international law, theories, concepts and approaches relevant to the competition organization.
• Knowledge of relevant regulations and rules of regional/continental, international organizations, as well as of applicable jurisprudence.
• Legal and administrative expertise to analyze a diverse range of issues and problems, in the context of the disciplinary process, market investigations and to develop innovative and creative solutions to market investigations and to litigate employment-related matters.
• Ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams and under time constraints.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information.
• Proficiency in compliance management software and tools.

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 the chain of commands 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 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, 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, genders, ethnicities, races 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 unbias 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 the 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 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 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
UA40,659.53 – UA47,395.28 (USD 64,152.61 – USD 74,780.28 ).

Application Closing Date
31st July, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their filled job application form with three (3) professional references, resume (CV) and a cover letter to: b54investigationofficererca@ecowas.int using the job title as the subject of the email.

Click here to download the application form (Docx.)

Note

• Shortlisted candidates may be required to undergo a written test and subsequently an interview session.
• Successful candidates shall be subjected to further screening / background checks.
• Employment offers are contingent upon satisfactory background check.