Financial Assistant at Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Location: Republic of Sierra Leone   
Category: ECOWAS National Volunteer
Type of Contract: ECOWAS Volunteers Programme. Non-Family Position
Expected start date: 1st September 2018
Duration: One (01) year, renewable (depending on budget availability and satisfactory performance)

Preamble
The ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre (EYSDC), was created by the Decision A/DEC.13/01/05 of 19th January 2005 at Accra, Ghana as a specialized Agency of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

At the 32nd session of the ECOWAS Summit held in June 2007, the Heads of States and Government adopted a new approach to regional integration by approving a new global vision called the ECOWAS Vision 2020. The principal objective of this vision is to move the Community from an «ECOWAS of States» to an «ECOWAS of Peoples» by the year 2020.

Consequently, the EYSDC implements her policies, activities and strategic action plans, as well as the ECOWAS vision in the areas of youth and sports, including the ECOWAS Volunteers Programme. The EYSDC’s objective is to initiate, develop, coordinate and implement youth and sports programmes within the Community. To this end, it works to:

• Mobilise the different segments of the population to ensure their integration and effective participation in the social development of the region, as well as the promotion of youth organisations and professional associations to ensure maximum participation in the activities of the Community;
• Provide a permanent institutional framework within ECOWAS through which issues related to Youth and Sports activities in the sub-region can be developed and promoted.

Organizational Framework of the Centre

• The Youth and Sports Development Centre (EYSDC) is one of the Directorates under the Social Affairs and Gender Department of the ECOWAS Commission. It is based in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) under the headquarters agreement signed between the Burkina Faso authorities and the ECOWAS Commission.
• Decision N° A/DEC 13/01/2005 of 19th January 2005 had adopted the organizational structure comprising of four Divisions (Youth, Sports, Administration and Finance, and TIC). However, since 2008, the Centre has undergone some structural modifications following the transfer of the ECOWAS Volunteers Programme (EVP) from the Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department of the Commission (CPAPS) to the EYSDC, under the Social Affairs and Gender Department.
• The EVP is centralized in organisation, but decentralized in its application to allow for flexibility and adaptation to the current realities of each country. The strategic directions, including the formulation of the overall vision, goals and objectives of the Programme, is the responsibility of the Regional Coordination Council (RCC), whose role, among others, is to ensure that the EVP becomes a genuine voluntary arm of ECOWAS.
• Being a cross-cutting programme, the ECOWAS Volunteers Regional Coordination Council (RCC) includes representatives of relevant departments of the ECOWAS Commission. The RCC is chaired by the Commissioner for Social Affairs and Gender of the ECOWAS Commission. She is assisted by the Director of the ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre (EYSDC), as Alternate Chairman of the RCC.
• The executive arm of the RCC is the Regional Office, provided by the EYSDC in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). The programme’s regional coordination activities are coordinated by a Regional Coordinator under the supervision of the EYSDC Director. Although the EVP is under the Youth Division of the EYSDC, it is directly supervised by the EYSDC Director for effectiveness.
• At the National level, the National Coordination Council (NCC) serves as the national body through which national policy guidelines for the Programme are given. This Council works towards the understanding and entrenchment of the Volunteer Programme in the national environment. It also serves as advisor to the country office, which is responsible for the coordination of the Programme at national level.
• The NCC is chaired by the Head of the ECOWAS National Office in the country. It is made up of Focal Points/Representatives of the various ministries, Civil Society Organisations, United Nations Agencies and local youth associations involved in the implementation of the Programme at the National level.

Duties and Responsibilities
The ECOWAS Volunteer Financial Assistant will work directly with the Ministry of Finance of Sierra Leone and undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

• Process Financial and Business Form for the purpose of checking account balances, facilitating purchases etc.
• Perform Routine Calculations to produce analysis and report as requested by the Financial Director
• Create, send and follow up on Invoices
• Collect and enter data for various financial spreadsheets.
• Review and Audit Financial Statement and Report
• Suggest changes or improvement to increase accuracy efficiency and cost reduction
• Answer Questions and provide assistance to EVP Country Office

Required Qualifications and Experience
Education:

• A High School Diploma or a professional qualification/training and experience from which comparable skills can be acquired

Work experience and Other Skills:

• At least Two (2) Years of Basic knowledge of accounting or financial principles/reporting
• Basic knowledge in book keeping or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Solid working knowledge on MSOffice particularly Excel
• Some knowledge about ECOWAS Volunteers and capacity building.
• Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Sense of initiative and anticipation
• Knowledge of volunteerism is an asset
• Ability to work with little supervision
• Being proactive and enterprising (taking initiative)
• Good computer skills - Office Suite

Language Requirements:

• Perfect command of the English language (written and oral) is mandatory.
• Knowledge of any other official language of ECOWAS (French or Portuguese) will be considered an asset / advantage

Conditions of Service

• An initial 12 months contract will be offered with a total basic monthly living allowance of $247.5USD or equivalent in local currency.
• A life and health insurance cover for the incumbent will be provided.
• Other conditions of service as stipulated in the EVP Management and Administration Manual and handbook of Conditions of Service shall apply.

Other Conditions:

• This position is open to ONLY nationals of Sierra Leone. Candidates must not be older than 35 years at the date of recruitment
• The allowance for this position is that of an ECOWAS National Volunteer with coordination/supervision responsibilities (a ‘non family’ position).
• ECOWAS is committed to the promotion of gender equality and equity and therefore strongly encourages female candidates to apply.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.