ECOWAS Quality Infrastructure & Sanitary and Phytosanitary Expert at The United Nations Industrial Development Organization - UNIDO

Functional Responsibilities

• The Associate ECOWAS QI Expert will work under the overall guidance of the ECOWAS Regional Programme Coordinator, in collaboration with the UNIDO Industrial Development Officer (Programme Manager), MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation Division (TCS/SME) at UNIDO Headquarters, or his/her representative; in close collaboration with the UNIDO-ITC ATCMA Project team in Abuja.
• His/Her role will be to ensure the effective implementation of the QI component of the ECOWAS ATCMA Programme within the ECOWAS Commission and its alignment with ECOWAS policies and strategies.

The Expert will be responsible for the following Main tasks:
Policy Alignment and Strategic Planning:

• Support the alignment of ATCMA QI and SPS activities with ECOWAS regional policies and frameworks, including the ECOWAS Quality Policy (ECOQUAL), ECOWAS Regional Quality System and the ECOWAS Regional Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP).
• Assist the ECOWAS Regional Programme Coordinator, in technical coordination, reporting, and implementation support.
• Contribute to strengthening the functioning and visibility of the ECOWAS Quality Agency (ECOWAQ) through administrative and technical support.
• Participate in relevant ECOWAS technical committees and ensure QI and SPS activities contribute to regional trade facilitation.

Technical Implementation, Harmonization and Capacity Building:

• Assist in the implementation of ATCMA-supported QI and SPS interventions.
• Promote regional harmonization of standards and support Member States in implementing ECOQUAL and the Regional Quality System.
• Support the organization of capacity-building activities in collaboration with ECOWAS, national QI and SPS institutions, and the UNIDO Team.
• Support the operationalization of the ECOWAS Quality Agency.

Stakeholder Engagement, Knowledge Management and Reporting:

• Liaise with Member States, regional and national  QI and SPS bodies, private sector actors, and development partners to ensure inclusive and coordinated implementation.
• Collect and analyze data on QI and SPS service capacity and contribute to ECOWAS monitoring efforts.
• Prepare technical briefs, knowledge products, and contributions to ECOWAS and UNIDO reporting.

Ad-hoc requests:

• Any other assignments related to a timely and effective implementation of the project as deemed necessary.
• A final report is to be provided at the end of each contractual period, covering the activities and the results of the assignment.

The tasks mentioned in the job description above will be implemented in accordance with the principles and guidelines of ECOWAS, UNIDO, ITC, and the EU, and in compliance with their respective communication and visibility requirements.

Minimum Organizational Requirements
Education: 

• Advanced university degree in engineering, or any other related field, with a strong understanding of quality infrastructure, TBT/SPS and Project Management in general is required.
• Professional Certificates in Quality including Lead Auditor or Lead Implementer certificates is desirable.

Technical and functional experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of practical experience in the field of quality infrastructure and SPS, including experience in supporting and promoting quality and SPS, is required;
• Knowledge of quality-related and SPS issues at the ECOWAS level as well as the various actors in the regional and national quality infrastructure systems in the Region is desirable;
• Good Knowledge of ECOWAS institutions, sectors, programmes, policies is required.
• Experience in auditing, developing and implementing Quality Management Systems is desirable.
• Excellent organizational and editorial skills are required.
• Experience with EU-funded programmes is desirable.
• Experience in implementing regional programmes is desirable.
• Good ability to work under pressure and take initiatives is required.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment.
• Proficiency in office tools (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Project Management Tools, AI services, etc.);

Language Skills:

• Fluency in written and oral English and French is required.  Fluency or working knowledge of Portuguese is desirable.

Required Competencies
Core Values:

• We Live and Act with Integrity: Work honestly, openly and impartially.
• We Live and Act with Integrity: Work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.
• We Respect Diversity: Work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Key Competencies:

• We Focus on People: Ccooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.
• We Focus on Results and Responsibilities: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those, we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.
• We Communicate and Earn Trust: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.
• We Think Outside the Box and Innovate: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.