Principal Legal 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: Principal Legal Officer

Location: Dakar, Senegal
Institution: ECOWAS Commission
Grade: P5
Division: Legal Unit
Line Supervisor: Director Evaluation and Compliance

Role Overview

• Under the direct supervision of the Director of Evaluations and Compliance, the Principal Legal Officer shall be responsible for following functions.

Role and Responsibilities

• Supervise the Legal Unit by managing the personnel of the Division and ensuring that they are up to date on developments related to their functions
• Supervise the coordination of GIABA ME and related follow-up exercises as well as the production of related reports including mutual evaluation reports MERs and follow-up reports FURs
• Participate fully in GIABA mutual evaluation exercises and draft reports on sections of the MERs covering relevant FATF Recommendations and Immediate Outcomes
• Manage ME-related trainings including training for mutual evaluation assessors country pre-assessment and training on the FATF Standards and Methodology
• Analyze assigned follow-up reports of Member States
• Coordinate the identification design and delivery of training and capacity building activities for legal professionals prosecutors judges and not-for-profit organisations
• Coordinate and manage the activities of the Evaluation and Compliance Group ECG including the allocation and review of mutual evaluation-related documents MERs FURs and meetings of the ECG
• Undertake the identification design and implementation of capacity building activities in the legal sector
• Organise capacity building activities on issues in the legal area for relevant stakeholders in Member States
• Coordinate and assist in the development and revision of AML CFT CPF legal framework at national and regional supra-national levels
• Participate in other capacity building activities organised by other units or divisions other than the Legal Unit
• Coordinate the provision of input into the revision of the Financial Action Task Force Standards Methodology Guidance and Best Practice papers Universal ME Procedures and GIABA ME Process and Procedures and other relevant documents and organise programmes to improve knowledge and compliance with AML CFT CPF requirements by Member States
• Represent GIABA at meetings or programmes organised by Member States the AML CFT CPF Global Network FATF FATF-Style Regional Bodies technical partners alone or as part of GIABA’s delegation as necessary
• Coordinate the production of the reports of GIABA Statutory meetings TC Plenary GMC and any other fora
• Coordinate the provision of inputs into GIABA Annual reports Strategic Plans Annual Work Plan or any other relevant publications of GIABA and or Members of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Global Network
• Participate in the mutual evaluations and training activities of other assessment bodies either as an expert or a delegate
• Participate in the technical assistance needs assessments of Member States in the area of legal issues relating to AML CFT CPF compliance
• Liaise with technical partners on new developments on relevant AML CFT CPF matters
• Serve as part of the in-house legal team to the GIABA Secretariat
• Serve as a Member of designated committees of GIABA Secretariat as may be assigned from time to time
• Perform any other functions as may be assigned by the head of Compliance and Evaluation and or the General

Academic Qualification and Experience

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Law with a specialisation in International Administrative or Corporate Law from a university of recognised standing
• Must have completed school of law been called to the Bar and licensed to practice law in any of the ECOWAS member States
• The prospective candidate must be a lawyer in good standing in any of the ECOWAS member States
• Ten years of progressive experience as a lawyer in the legal office of a private public or inter-governmental institution or agency including at least five years of experience in AML CFT PF and five years at a supervisory level
• Broad and sound knowledge of international standards on AML CFT CPF especially the FATF Standards the FATF Methodology for Assessing Technical Compliance with the FATF Recommendations and the Effectiveness of AML CFT CPF Systems and relevant international and regional instruments including Conventions Protocols and Resolutions
• Ability to apply legal expertise in analyzing a diverse range of complex and unusual legal issues and problems and in developing innovative and creative solutions
• Exceptional knowledge of legal issues relating to the functions structure and activities of ECOWAS which may bear upon constitutional international public private and administrative law
• Knowledge and skill of comprehensive legal research on a range of issues including those of a unique and complex nature with proficiency in legal writing and ability to prepare legal briefs opinions legal submissions and a variety of legal instruments and related documents
• Experience in not less than three AML CFT CPF mutual evaluations or follow-up actions as part of an assessment body coordination assessment review or a national coordination team
• Experience in developing or reviewing relevant policy or legal frameworks at national regional or international levels
• Experience in organising and managing multi-stakeholder meetings at the national regional or international level.

Age limit:

• Be below 45 years old This provision does not apply to internal candidates. 

ECOWAS Key Competencies:

• Ability to lead in assigned programmes and projects by providing the necessary managerial and operational expertise required for the fulfilment of the organization’s mandate
• Ability to lead by example and organize teamwork to encourage cooperation to achieve targeted results champion and build momentum for change and to bring about employee engagement
• Develop and implement internal controls for the pilot program to manage potential barriers to implementation
• Ability to respect the chain of commands in an appropriate manner
• Excellent self-management skills demonstrating ethics and integrity confidentiality and displaying due regard for internal controls rules delegations and transparency
• Ability to bring together complementary skills and expertise assess individual contributions and recognize or address accomplishments and shortcomings in a manner that brings continued success to the organization
• Knowledge of program management at the level usually acquired from a certification in program management
• Ability to research benchmarks and trends to bring about the best recommendations for the development and improvement of programs or projects that will best serve the community or organization
• Well-developed networking and interpersonal skills to seek feedback information and data from a network of professionals from multiple countries sectors or organizations and to identify and prioritize the most critical community requirements
• Ability to manage and coordinate client management initiatives and make recommendations
• Ability to develop and implement best practices in client services
• Ability to develop and implement stakeholder management plans programs and initiatives to obtain buy-in on new initiatives to better understand dissenting views to obtain resources and to increase perceptions of success
• Ability to be diplomatic tactful and respectful of other people from varied backgrounds understanding diverse cultural views especially within West Africa with the ability to convert diversity into opportunities to improve program or operational outcomes
• Ability to create a diverse and inclusive interactive environment that benefits from diverse strengths bringing together innovative practices
• Ability to remain objective in managing conflict regardless of cultural differences positions gender differences and encourage other staff to overcome cultural and gender bias and differences
• Ability and responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work
• Ability to serve the interest of culturally diverse multinational teams organizations communities and people with disabilities without prejudice and bias
• Understanding of the ECOWAS organizational structure associated dynamics and expectations as required to collaborate participate contribute and lead effectively
• Knowledge of the ECOWAS mandate strategic plan and priorities as well as the economic political and social situation and trends in member states as pertains to own scope of work
• Knowledge of ECOWAS best practices program management approaches and research techniques to lead or contribute to the development or assessment of programs projects or initiatives
• Knowledge of the ECOWAS rules and procedures in order to appropriately interpret and apply directive text provide technical advice coach others and assess performance
• Ability to analyze a situation by using indicators to assess the costs benefits risks and chances for success in making decisions
• Ability to pull together information from different sources to identify the cause of problems consequences of alternative causes of action potential obstacles and ways to avoid the problem in the future
• Ability to break down very complex situations or information into simple terms to explain recommendations and conclusions aimed at solving problems or improving operations programs or projects
• Ability to develop new insights into situations apply innovative solutions to problems and to design new methods of addressing issues or disconnects where established methods and procedures are inapplicable or no longer effective
• Ability to communicate with impact clearly and concisely in a succinct and organized manner conveying credibility and confidence when making presentations setting expectations and explaining complex issues
• Ability to listen intently and correctly interpret messages from others and respond appropriately
• Accomplished technical writing and editing skills
• Exhibit active listening skills to encourage stronger communication amongst team members to show care and make them feel valued and to drive employee engagement in all institutions and agencies
• Ability to give constructive feedback provide recognition address shortcomings and motivate direct reports to work at peak performance
• Proficiency in information communication technologies ICT
• Fluency in oral and written expressions in one of the ECOWAS official languages of the Community English French or Portuguese Knowledge of an additional one will be an added advantage
• Organizational and project or program management skills with significant experience identifying timelines targets costs and resources necessary to deliver on operational program or project outputs in line with result-based management approach
• Ability to set effective goals and targets for self others and the work unit and adjust work or project priorities in response to changing circumstances
• Ability to use participatory approach in project planning and identify gaps affecting the achievement of program or project expectations and to design and implement intervention plans required to build the desired task
• Ability to implement rigorous monitoring and evaluation practices and to set in place regular reporting schedules relevant to key outputs
• Ability to plan organize control resources and comply with policies procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

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.
• 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.

Salary

•  UA 57,772.51 / USD 91,153.46 Annually. 

Application Closing Date
30th April, 2026. 

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Curriculum Vitae, Cover letter and Application form to: b60plegalofficergiaba@ecowas.int using the job title as the subject of the email.

Click here to download the application form (Docx.)

Note

• Failure to comply with any of these requirements will result in the cancellation of the application.
• All should be sent by email to the relevant email address against each position before the deadline.
• The application will not be considered if one of the Mandatory documents is not attached.

Assessment method:

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

Disclaimer:

• 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.
• This vacancy is subject to local recruitment, in accordance with Article 9.3 of the ECOWAS Personnel Regulations (revised in 2021).
• All staff in General Services and related categories will are recruited from among ECOWAS citizens residing in the Member State where the vacancy is advertised.
• A staff member subject to local recruitment will not be entitled to allowances or benefits applicable exclusively to international recruitment.