Programme Officer (Head of 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 (Head of Observatory)

Job Code: 20003110
Location: Abuja
Institution: ECOWAS Commission
Grade: P4
Department: Human Development & Social Affairs
Directorate: Humanitarian and Social Affairs
Division: Humanitarian Affairs
Line Supervisor: PPO Humanitarian Affairs
Supervising:  PO Observatory Communication, Research & Documentation

Role Overview

• Under the supervision of the PPO Humanitarian Affairs, the incumbent shall support the ECOWAS Commission in coordinating multi-hazard early warning and action, data collection, analysis and reporting periodically in consultation with the Member States, Regional Climate Centers, River Basin Organizations, and CLIMDEV Centers.
• He/She will contribute to develop and operationalize the regional multi-hazard early warning and early action systems for disaster monitoring and humanitarian actions.

Role and Responsibilities

• Coordinate and collect periodic early warning data (weekly and monthly), analyse and report in time.
• Document reliable early warning information needed for planning and development of emergency mitigation and preparedness strategies emergency response concept note development.
• Ensure effective risk identification and analysis, risk profiling and compiling and managing a database of risks and management of knowledge.
• Produce reports and warnings (daily reports, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual, and prospective/thematic) etc.
• Coordinate and facilitate capacity building of scientific warning institutions e.g., ACMAD, AGRHYMET, seismological services etc.
• Manage personnel, conduct over-watch, and issue reports and warnings. He/she is also to liaise with Member States’ regional agencies and ECOWAS Directorates including Environment, Science and Technology, Early Warning, Agriculture, the ECOWAS Emergency Response Team, and other relevant Directorates, for information sharing and synergy.

Academic Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent) Disaster Risk Management, Information Technology Agriculture, GIS, Gender Studies Humanitarian Studies, Sociology, Economics, Social Science, International Studies, Health Sciences and Public Health from a recognized University.
• 7 years of professional experience in socio-economic development, policy analysis, sociological research or related field.
• Demonstrates professional skill in computer, information technology, technical project report writing and policy briefs on topical issues.
• Proven knowledge of programmes on disaster risk reduction and climate change, as well as mapping and capacity assessment of specialized institutions in ECOWAS region.
• Knowledge of the work of ECOWAS expertise in the field of human rights, international relations and/or women’s rights, together with a thorough understanding of the concepts and practices related to gender issues, particularly gender mainstreaming.

ECOWAS Key Competencies

• Ability to get groups to work together cooperatively, by enlisting active involvement, creating a climate for respect and openness, and applying effective techniques for group facilitation, exploring their potential, motivate and guiding them.
• Organize and lead cross-divisional work group in developing creative solutions to address problems and or lead a small group of entry-level professionals and administrative support staff.
• Ability to respect the chain of command in an appropriate manner.
• Develop on-the-job training techniques paired with excellent coaching and mentoring skills; knowledge of new staff orientation approaches to facilitate understanding of the position and organization.
• Ability to assign work to direct reports and provide timely and consistent feedback regarding technical proficiency and effectiveness.
• Ability to represent the organization effectively before external parties.
• Ability to consider the impact of a shift in programmatic direction to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to promote and consider staff feedback to streamline processes to meet deadlines of relevance to client expectations.
• Ability to consistently maintain composure and direction in high-pressure situations.
• Develop problem solving, mediation and conflict-resolution skills to address discrepancies, complaints, bottlenecks, and time constraints affecting the quality and quantity of client services.
• Ability to anticipate growing client needs and expectations to continuously improve quality, timelines, and service delivery and address client questions in a timely manner.
• Ability to communicate openly with clients, keeping them informed of progress and issues requiring attention/resolutions.
• Ability to implement programmatic changes in a manner that ensures a biased-free work environment, fair and equitable application to new rules/regulations.
• Experience and ability to adhere to policies, goals, objectives, and principles of valuing diversity in performing everyday duties and responsibilities; promoting/modelling behaviours that demonstrate tolerance and understanding of various cultures.
• 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 to build value by leveraging diverse capabilities and inputs from various cultures, staff and clients.
• Ability and responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Ability to create a diverse and inclusive interactive environment that benefits from diverse strengths bringing together innovative practices.
• Ability to seek out best practices to make organizational decisions of relevance to diversity management, ensuring that project and programme activities identify vulnerable areas and contain systemic checks.
• Knowledge of ECOWAS institutions and how the different organs relate to each other, particularly as it relates to own work sector/programs.
•  Knowledge of approaches to policy and programme development of an international organization as well as project management.
• Knowledge of the rules, processes, and procedures of an international organization, of pertinence to tasks related to own position.
• Knowledge of member states development trends, indicators, challenges, and opportunities as it relates to project/programme assigned to own position.
• Creativity and flexibility to deviate from traditional methods in developing new procedures, processes, and tools, using technology to simplify methods and approaches whenever possible.
• Ability to re-evaluate current procedures and suggest improvements to ensure an effective, streamlined process.
• Ability to gather and summarize information to predict stakeholder views on a new policy/programme; and excellent analytical skills to assess external policies and trends when reviewing policy/programme options, pros, cons and recommendations.
• Ability to synthesize complex information gathered from a variety of external and internal sources and disseminate it to others in a logical manner.
• Ability to apply the appropriate methodology to discover or identify policy issues and resource concerns.
• Ability to evaluate, incorporate, and communicate the latest developments in specialty area using institution/agency guidelines and criteria.
• Develop interpersonal, negotiation, networking, and presentation skills with proven abilities to influence, explain complex information and demonstrate empathy and open-mindedness.
• Ability to demonstrate operational proficiency in the use of computer in communicating using technology tools.
• Ability to convey information clearly and concisely in a succinct and organized manner through both written and verbal expressions.
• 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.
• 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.
• Knowledge of internal planning cycles and ability to contribute to the development and to implement Community-wide or institutional policy by determining the target audience, building coalitions with the appropriate population, and monitor progress.
• Ability to consider external circumstances, factors and trends when organizing project activities to ensure the best outcomes.
• Ability to review process outcomes, correspondence, reports, and policy documents to develop achievable plans.
• Ability to conduct meetings with staff, stakeholders, colleagues, and others to ascertain organizational programme and/or project needs, adjusting plans and activities accordingly.
• Ability to adjust project plans based on input from staff and stakeholders and/or ability to design and implement guidelines, tools, and templates to accommodate new or revised programmes and services.

Salary
USD77,480.72 – USD89,289.87 Annually.

Deadline: 6th March, 2024.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their correctly filled Application Form, Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a Motivation letter to: b43headofobservatory@ecowas.int using the Job Title as the subject of the mail.

Note

• Female applications are encouraged.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Applications initially submitted with only the CV remain acceptable.
• ECOWAS does not charge a fee for recruitment and will not request for your account details.