International Aid / Cooperation Officer at European Union

Job No: 55429

Job Summary

• The Delegation of the EU to Nigeria is considering the recruitment of a Project Officer - Cooperation. The successful candidate will be responsible for specific projects/programmes with primary focus on rural electrification and renewable energy.

Functions and Duties

• The section "Economic Cooperation & Energy" of the European Union Delegation to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS is seeking to fill the vacancy of a Project Officer.
• The section is responsible for identifying, implementing and managing projects and programmes of the European Development Funds and of the thematic lines of the Development Cooperation Instruments.
• Under the supervision of the Head of Section/Team leader, the responsibilities include the following:

Policy/Sector Analysis:

• Analyse developments in the sector, contributing to the preparation of sector reports for the Delegation and HQ
• Support policy dialogue with relevant ministries, agencies, development partners and other relevant stakeholders in all areas of concern to the sector

Management of EDF/EU projects:

• Contribution to programming and mid-term review of the Nigeria National Indicative Programmes. Identification and formulation of programmes and projects - Internal monitoring of projects' implementation in co-ordination with Nigerian authorities (NAO), ensuring that EU regulations and procedures are followed.
• Liaising with EU Headquarters for the dissemination and implementation in Nigeria of global EU initiatives in support of rural electrification, renewable energy and other relevant topics
• Contributing to reporting requirements: Annual Management Plan (AMP); External Assistance Management Report (EAMR); Joint Annual Report (JAR); project, sector and ad-hoc reports. Contributing to the visibility of the EU development cooperation activities.
• In the performance of the above-mentioned duties, the Project Officer will work closely together with other staff in the Section and within the Delegation, particularly with the Finance and Contracts section and the "Health, Nutrition & Resilience" section, responsible for the implementation of programs related to better access to quality health care, improved resilience, enhanced food security and nutrition.

Monitoring and Reporting:

• Reporting to the Head of Section/Team Leader and the Head of Cooperation, the Project Officer is expected to contribute and provide technical expertise to the EU Delegation in all phases of the project management cycle, in particular to ensure proper project appraisal and subsequently monitoring of project implementation, and sector reviews.
• The Project Officer will be assigned specific projects/programmes with primary focus on alleviation of poverty among the most vulnerable groups through increasing the access to power through rural electrification and the use of renewable energy sources, in particular solar energy.

Communication and Networking:

• The position requires excellent analytical, drafting and communication skills. Furthermore, the ability to work under pressure in a team or individually on specific tasks and to adapt to a multi-cultural environment is required.
• Candidates are also expected to be able to communicate complex information in a comprehensible manner, be flexible towards new demands and deliver their outputs in a structured way.
• The Project Officer will contribute to information exchange, coordination and policy dialogue with national and international development partners, regional, national and local government actors, civil society and the private sector.

Job Requirements
Education and training:

• A University level education in a relevant field, such as civil engineering, rural development, development planning or development studies with at least 7 years of relevant experience. Alternatively, a Master's degree with 5 years relevant experience in the fields mentioned is required. Additional education and/or experience in the area of rural electrification or project management would be highly advantageous.

Experience:

• At least 5 years relevant experience in development cooperation and related project management activities in Nigeria. Specific knowledge in the areas of energy policy, rural electrification, renewable energy and rural development.
• Previous experience in development cooperation activities in Northern Nigeria would be considered an advantage as well as experience in working for international organisations in the area.

Knowledge:

• Full computer literacy, covering all relevant Office applications
• Familiarity with the 11th EDF and other EU development cooperation instruments, EU project management cycle and procurement/financial procedures would be an advantage
• Knowledge of project monitoring methods and techniques

Skills:

• Capacity to deliver results in a structured way
• Capacity to communicate technical or specialised information
• Ability to work in a proactive, autonomous and organised way

Languages:

• Fluent in spoken and written English
• French and Hausa at working level would be considered advantageous

Remuneration
Gross remuneration will be fixed depending on the provided proof of years of relevant professional experience as foreseen by the EU Local Agents’ Framework Rules.