PO, Agriculture & Environment X 2 at Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

ROLE OVERVIEW

• Under the supervision of the Principal Programme Officer, Analysis, the incumbent shall monitor regional peace and security indicators with a particular focus on political governance, elections, youth bulge, unemployment, gender etc. and analyze and draft early warning reports with recommendations and identify options for response.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Review early warning incident and situation reports submitted by the Field Monitors through the ECOWARN platform.
• Perform quality control on the various data and information for subsequent input to the ECOWARN system.
• Document early warning information gathered through other networks for incorporation into the early warning reports.
• Analyze early warning information and produce different early warning reports with recommendations and options for response.
• Prepare briefing notes and organize daily situation meetings to discuss and identify priority areas for reporting.
• Collaborate with a network of sectorial analysts contributing efficiently to enhancing the Early Warning Directorate’s capacity in the analysis of the Regional Security Situation on Governance and Human Rights related events/situations.
• Evaluate and update the Daily Highlight with reference to security in the ECOWAS region and submit to the PPO Analysis for validation.
• Develop and maintain networks with other experts in the Member States for information collection, verification, analysis, and reporting.
• Perform any other task as assigned by the supervisor.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in International Relations, Political Science, Humanities Social Sciences, or a similar filed from a recognized University.
• 3 years of relevant experience in coordination of the operations of the Early Warning Situation Room, monitoring of peace and security indicators with a particular focus on epidemics, pandemics, public health infrastructure etc. with a multilateral or international organization is highly desirable.
• Knowledge and understanding of ECOWAS early warning mechanism with particular focus on any of the thematic areas of governance, drug/human trafficking, organized crime, health cyber criminality, migration, and environment.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze, summaries and interpret early warning data accurately, making use of different sources utilizing a working knowledge of relevant data analysis tools.
• Demonstrates an ability to effectively communicate appropriate levels of confidence and uncertainty to support effective decision-making.

AGE LIMIT

• Be below 50 years old. This provision 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 the 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 the 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 establish mutual expectations, and understanding and reduce 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 judgment 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 everyday 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 the 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 the 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 a 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 levels.
• Good initiative with an ability to identify what needs to be done and act in a proactive manner.