Legal Officer (French & Portuguese) at Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Role Overview

• Under the supervision and guidance of the Senior Legal Officer, Civil Law shall Provide support role and/or participate (when required) in GIABA mutual evaluation exercises and draft reports on sections of the mutual evaluation reports (MERs) covering relevant FATF recommendations and immediate outcomes.

Role and Responsibilities

• Provide support role and/or participate (when required) in GIABA mutual evaluation exercises and draft reports on sections of the mutual evaluation reports (MERs) covering relevant FATF Recommendations and Immediate Outcomes;
• Provide support roles in the organization of GIABA assessors training; pre-assessment training; training on FATF Standards and Methodology organized for Member States;
• Analyze follow up reports by member States;
• Provide inputs and participate in the assessment of money laundering and terrorist financing risks;
• Undertake the identification, design and implementation of training and capacity building activities in the legal sector;
• Provide support in the organization of the GIABA Evaluation and Compliance Group meetings;
• Provide inputs in the identification, design and implementation of capacity building activities in the legal sector;;
• Support the organization of capacity building activities on issues in Legal area for relevant stakeholders in Member States;
• Assist in the development and revision AML/CFT legal framework at national, supranational and regional levels;
• Participate in other capacity building activities organized by other units or divisions other than legal unit ;
• Provide inputs into revision of FATF Standards; Methodology; Guidance and Best Practice papers; Universal Mutual Evaluation (ME) Procedures; and GIABA ME Processes and Procedure and other instruments for the purpose of improving the AML/CFT compliance by Member States;
• Produce draft reports for GIABA Statutory meetings (TC/Plenary; GMC and any other fora)
• Provide the inputs into GIABA Annual reports, Strategic Plans; Annual Work Plan or any other relevant publications of GIABA and/or Members of the AML/CFT Global Network
• Participate in the mutual evaluations and training activities by other assessment bodies either as an expert or delegate as the case may be;
• Participate in the technical assistance needs assessments of Member States in the area of legal issues relating to AML/CFT compliance;
• Serve as part of the in-house legal team to GIABA Secretariat;
• Perform any other functions as maybe assigned by the supervisor.

Academic Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Law with a specialization in International, Criminal, Administrative, Civil, or Commercial Law from a recognized University.
• 3 years of progressively responsible experience in AML/CFT and risks monitoring.
• Knowledge of the AML/CFT strategic surveillance operational framework and FATF standards and instruments used in conducting national risk assessment.
• Knowledge and understanding of the relevant aspects of anti-money laundering, combating terrorism finance (AML/CFT), proceeds of crime, mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, and extradition legislation.
• Knowledge and understanding of relevant ECOWAS treaties, Security Resolutions and Conventions relating to money laundering and the financing of terrorism
• Ability to foster regional and international contacts and cooperation for the continuous monitoring of risks in GIABA member states and to the effective operation of a country’s AML/CFT/financial/economic regime;
• Familiarity with the conduct of AML/CFT Mutual Evaluation.

Age Limit:

• To be at least 24 years and less than 50 years old. This age limit does not apply to internal candidates.

Ecowas Key Competencies

• Ability to execute tasks, contact colleagues and contribute as needed towards  decision making to ensure tasks are completed in a timely manner;
• Ability to respect chain of command in an appropriate manner;
• Ability to respect chain of command in an appropriate manner;
• Ability to guide own work by setting and monitoring goals with strong personal initiative and commitment to ECOWAS;
• Ability to model and advocate for compliance, good work ethics, flexibility and persistence to get job done coupled with an ability to influence positive teamwork and cooperation;
• Ability to work in teams to carry out semi-routine work including assigning work, training and checking work.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to engage with clients in positive exchanges that establishes mutual expectations, understanding and reduces uncertainties and conflicts;
• Ability to keep clients informed on matters of relevance to expectations, establishing “bring forward” systems and introducing other procedures/techniques to ensure that service standards are maintained;
• Ability to make decisions based on guidelines, procedures and precedents and maintain confidentiality and discretion with clients;
• Good judgement and demonstrated ability to be assertive – rather than passive or aggressive when interacting with clients;
• Well-developed problem-solving, critical thinking and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to perceive the moods and feelings of others, and to understand the attitude, interests, needs, and perspectives of others;
• Well-developed ability to relate well with people from varied backgrounds, open to understanding diverse cultural differences especially within West Africa;
• Ability to listen attentively to people’s ideas, requests and concerns and to explain to others the need for diversity management in every day workplace practices;
• Ability and responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work;
• Ability to factor in diversity when providing services, responding to requests, recognizing and releasing preconceived notions and stereotypical views of certain groups and individuals.
• Basic understanding of the ECOWAS organization mandate and its functions;
• Ability to explain the functional area assigned to and the contributions it makes to the organization and its mandate;
• Knowledge of ECOWAS semi-routine procedures, processes and practices as it relates to assigned responsibilities and information systems;
• Ability to apply ECOWAS standards in emailing, reporting, correspondences, etc. and to contribute to implementing associated changes as directed.
• Ability to carefully review and check the accuracy of information in work reports provided by management, management information systems or other individuals;
• Good knowledge of office monitoring indicators of relevance to own work and ability to provide brief reports or updates;
• Ability to edit, check, track and review documents prepared by others and reorganize data or information according to instructions using latest technology;
• Efficiently retrieves, inputs, edits, formats, transmits and links electronic file data used for analysis and understands data management operations;
• Ability to condense information and/or produce concise summary notes to help others with decision-making, problem solving and/or assessment of work.
• Demonstrated computer skills to communicate using tools, to write and format documents appropriately for presentation, the web, proposals, reports and other documents;
• Ability to proofread, edit and revise documents to ensure they follow standard conventions for punctuation and mechanics and formatted in accordance to ECOWAS communication standards;
• Ability to relay/redirect complete and accurate messages to appropriate persons/departments;
• 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 organize information and materials for others, solving minor problems and checking for completeness and compliance to standards and instructions;
• Knowledge of techniques to prioritize tasks in fast paced workplace with frequent interruptions and moving deadlines and adaptability/ flexibility to meet work expectations;
• Understanding and adherence to the policies, procedures and guidelines required to support the ECOWAS planning cycle at the individual and organizational level;
• Good initiative with an ability to identify what needs to be done and take action in a proactive manner.

Annual Salary
UA 37,674.89 - USD 59,443.44
UA 43,414.62 - USD 68,499.59