Director, Early Warning at Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

ROLE OVERVIEW

• Under the supervision of the Vice President, the Director, Early Warning shall lead and supervise all activities relating to the operationalization of the early warning and response mechanism established for the purpose of conflict prevention in accordance with Article 58 of the Revised Treaty. He shall also supervise staff of the Directorate including Professional and General staff. He or she will utilize a range of transactional managerial skills to ensure that the staff of the Directorate perform efficiently and effectively and that they deliver the regular outputs needed at the sufficient quality and in a timely manner.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 Leadership Tasks

• Plan out procedures and processes to develop state-of-the-art technology to implement methodologies for data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Create and consolidate linkages with a network of peer technical specialists, Departments, Member States and Partners in all aspects of early warning and response.

Managerial Tasks

• Plan annual goals and objectives and delegate the development of activities and budgets tied to the Commission’s overall plans.
• Optimize program implementation and negotiate suitable adjustments to goals and budgets.
• Implement performance-based budgeting within the Directorate.
• Organize the Directorate in an efficient way with clear reporting lines, minimal bureaucracy and optimal delegation of responsibilities and authority.
• Coordinate with relevant Directorates to ensure efficient and effective services such as recruitment, action on performance decisions, promotions, and related matters.
• Set up mechanisms to monitor staff output and ensure that standards are maintained, and deadlines met without compromising the quality of work.
• Manage the system of setting individual performance planning and standards through available Performance Planning and Evaluation systems.
• Provide regular and prompt performance feedback to direct reports.
• Actively engage in the development of staff to ensure skills are built to match plans, goals, and existing structures.
• Create a productive working atmosphere within the Directorate to encourage staff participation.
• Provide technical guidance on programme design or implementation in an area where he or she has high-level technical expertise.
• Represent ECOWAS in professional meetings or working groups; make speeches, negotiate agreements, mediate disputes.
• Lead or participate in technical missions to develop projects and programmes.
• Advice the President, Vice President and Commissioners on issues relating to his or her area of technical expertise.
• Work with the relevant specialized Parliamentary Committee on regional legislation, as needed.

Technical Tasks

• Interpret and implement broad policy guidelines of the 1999 Protocol relating to the mechanism for conflict prevention, management, resolution, peacekeeping & security and the 2001 supplementary Protocol on Good Governance.
• Conduct strategic planning including budgeting and organization, effecting where necessary, major changes in the specialized sector’s activities.
• Align the Directorate’s work with the revised Treaty and Community’s priorities.
• Develop strategies with other directorates and Member States to link Early Warning with rapid response.
• Provide recommendations and policy guidance to the President of the Commission in matters of Early Warning options of responses.
• Maintain strategic partnerships in Observation and Monitoring to advance the work of the Community.
• Make necessary proposals for the reengineering of the System.
• Perform any other task assigned by the supervisor.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Social Science, Political Science, Business Administration, or a relevant field from a recognized University.
• 12 years of progressively responsible experience in early warning, disarmament, security, conflict resolution including experience conducting complex early warning analysis in Africa, as well as 6 years of relevant international work and 5 years at a supervisory level.
• Broad knowledge of policies and guidelines of the 1999 Protocol relating to the mechanism for conflict prevention, management resolution, peacekeeping & security and the 20001 Supplementary Protocol on Good Governance.
• Demonstrated expertise in successively setting up early warning and rapid response systems and integrating a gender perspective into mainstream policies and programmes with an expert ability to evaluate international situations and other human security issues within the West African region.
• Substantive knowledge of policies and mechanisms in the areas of peace and security, early warning mechanisms, preventive diplomacy, mediation, strategic planning, monitoring, analysis and coordination.

AGE LIMIT

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

ECOWAS KEY COMPETENCIES

• Senior leadership experience in establishing strategic partnerships, working collaboratively, and building consensus with multiple internal and/or external stakeholders on complex issues in a multi-disciplinary governmental or international organization.
• Knowledge of the ECOWAS mandate, strategic plan/priorities as well as the economic, political, and social state/trends of Member States, as pertains to own scope of work.
• Consistency in actions, values, methods, confidentiality, ethics, measures, principles, expectations, and outcomes which connote a deep commitment to do the right thing for the right reason, regardless of the circumstances.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Heads of Institutions, elected officials and statutory employees to facilitate compliance, build engagement, resolve conflicts, and obtain support for change.
• Ability to respect the chain of command in an appropriate manner.
• Ability to promote a culture where people hold themselves personally accountable for results.
• Ability to provide leadership management, and technical oversight for all project activities and program deliverables in accordance with ECOWAS legal and administrative practices and standards.
• Ability to conduct periodic reviews of staff performance in keeping with the ECOWAS performance management system and to mentor staff to ensure high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity, and teamwork.
• Ability to oversee project management, internal controls, and stewardship of financial resources and to address issues in a confident and capable manner whilst making decisions that exemplify impartial and non-partisan decision-making.
• Ability to exercise the initiative and resourcefulness necessary for simultaneously addressing a variety of stakeholder needs, pursuing multiple tasks, and achieving positive outcomes.
• Ability to create synergies with client groups and others to achieve objectives in setting and monitoring service standards and indicators.
• Ability to motivate and engage others in promoting or adopting best practices in client services.
• Ability to identify and improve services and client interactions through appropriate networks and to create innovative ways of addressing these in an accountable and transparent manner.
• Knowledge of anti-discriminatory/human rights regulatory environment and ability to advance strategies to foster an inclusive working environment and healthy organization respectful of cultural diversity and gender equality and free from harassment and discrimination.
• Understanding of diverse cultural views especially within West Africa, being sensitive to group differences, and gender issues and ability to contribute to, advocate for, and/or develop policies that are gender sensitive and responsive to various cultures.
• Ability to foster a diverse and inclusive interactive work environment that can effectively bring together a wide spectrum of ideas and experiences to solve problems, develop projects/programs and improve results.
• ability and responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Ability to remain objective in managing conflict regardless of cultural differences /positions, and gender differences, and encourage other staff to overcome cultural and gender bias and differences.
• Understanding of the ECOWAS organizational structure, workplace culture and dynamics.
• Ability to apply knowledge of ECOWAS legal framework, strategic priorities, and operational standards to develop/modernize policies and programs and/or to implement policies and programs in a sustainable and effective manner.
• Well-developed business, social and political acumen, demonstrating a strong commitment to the vision and mandate of ECOWAS coupled with a broad knowledge of the economic, political and social situations and trends in Member States.
• Sound judgment and decision-making skills on matters relating to policy and strategy development important to the realization of the ECOWAS mandate and the improvement of outcomes for Member States.
• Ability to analyze reports as well as socio-economic and institutional dynamics and recognize areas of potential obstacles or challenges and develop innovative solutions or alternatives to address barriers and achieve strategic/operational priorities.
• Ability to anticipate and interpret the effects of environmental changes (social, economic, and political), and its impact and make recommendations.
• Ability to identify/address strengths and weaknesses, stimulate creativity, reduce resistance to change and improve the achievement of strategic objectives.
• Ability to make prudent decisions relating to the management of human, financial and material resources.
• Ability to actively listen and understand the perspectives of others to make informed assertions, decisions, or recommendations.
• Ability to build multiple external collaborative relationships to support strategic and operational objectives; identify the key issues and accommodate the key players with well-thought-out communication and stakeholder management plans.
• Ability to communicate with clarity and conviction, make compelling presentations that promote new insights, ideas and perspectives and a better understanding of issues and challenges.
• 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.
• Excellent negotiation and conflict management skills focusing on building and nurturing effective and collaborative relationships.
• 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 prepare plans, set clear objectives in a consistent manner and have effective oversight of performance management practices to ensure that goals and standards are met.
• Ability to set effective goals/results and manage change in a manner that demonstrates resilience, composure, and a positive outlook in an environment of uncertainty and ambiguity.
• Ability to enable the development of organizational and individual talent throughout the implementation of strategic, operational, programme, project, and individual plans.
• Ability to implement plans, mobilize/engage people, identify critical success factors, mitigate risks, monitor indicators and feedback, initiate corrective measures, and build capacities for sustainability.
• Ability to institute rigorous monitoring, and evaluation practices and to learn from setbacks and mistakes to ensure continuous improvement.