Programme Officer, Capacity Building, Private Sector and Coordination at Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

ROLE OVERVIEW

• Under the supervision of the Principal Program Officer, the Officer will collaborate with the humanitarian and disaster management team to take implementation and coordination role in designing and implementing programmes on need assessment, emergency response, humanitarian capacity building, innovation and influencing. He/she will provide technical and implementation support to formulate advocacy in delivering cash transfer program, in good linkage with Resilience and Social Protection work, influence on relevant ministry and private sector and other humanitarian actors including private sector.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure coordination with the private sector in relevant interventions along the entire spectrum of the disaster management cycle.
• Manage the Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) and resource mobilization.
• Coordinate the implementation of flash appeals and coordination with United Nations Emergency Funds and other resources.
• Capacity to lead Cash transfer programme/project to address humanitarian action and needs of the disaster-affected population.
• Coordinate Internal Coordination Mechanism within ECOWAS, Secretariat for GECEAO with the GECEAO serving as the coordination function with Member States and operating a peer review and reporting system based on annual reporting, synthesis and technical monitoring and evaluation of capacities and implementation; and the IASC.
• Lead on capacity building (a broad capacity building program including at the level of TTP’s – tactics, techniques and procedures; mainly EERT driven, operational, strategy and institutional/policy i.e. application of the National Disaster Management Agency etc.); Integrate capacity building also in areas such as humanitarian response to environmental emergencies, application of the Humanitarian Handbook, including integration into training curricula, collaboration with tertiary institutions etc.
• Ensure effective communications with stakeholders, advocacy and knowledge management and sharing.
• Perform any other task assigned by the supervisor.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent) in International Humanitarian Action/Affairs, International Relations, International Development, Sociology, Economics, or Social Science or in a similar field from a recognized University.
• 5 years’ experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or another related area.
• Technical analytical capacity and in particular the ability to conduct research, including the ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess the impact on the humanitarian rights situation in an assigned country/area.
• Ability to analyse and articulate the humanitarian dimension of issues that require a coordinated response, and contribute to the formulation of options and recommendations.
• Knowledge of a range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and related humanitarian issues, including approaches and techniques to address difficult problems.

AGE LIMIT

• Be below 50 years old. This provision does not apply to internal candidates.

ECOWAS KEY COMPETENCIES

• Ability to persuade/influence others to consider a certain point of view, adopt a new idea or implement new methods and practices.
• Ability to lead a team of trainees/junior staff and instil a spirit of teamwork to engage employees and achieve a well-defined set of activities.
• Ability to respect the chain of command in an appropriate manner.
• Ability to resolve challenges that occur with minimal direction and/or to recommend and explain solutions or alternatives for approval.
• Ability to utilize the Code of Ethics to manage self, others, information and resources.
• Ability to mentor others and create feedback loops with supervisors, colleagues, and subordinates to build strong working relationships and improve performance.
• Contribute to maintaining organizational unit’s performance goals and standards.
• Interpersonal skills with ability to keep a client informed of progress or setbacks in projects of relevance to timeline, quality and quantity.
• Ability to proactively interact with clients and build strong trusting relationships based on mutual respect and regular discussions.
• Ability to establish and sustain professional credibility with clients/stakeholders in a manner that anticipates their need, mitigates issues and that carefully balances professional obligations with the need to be sensitive and responsive to their needs.
• Ability to counsel, advise, consult, and guide others on matters pertaining to assigned client service responsibilities and established client service standards.
• Demonstrate respect for cultural differences, fairness, and ability to relate well with people from varied backgrounds, nationality, gender, ethnicity, race, and religion.
• Understanding of diverse cultural views especially within West Africa, with sensitivity to group differences.
• Ability to challenge bias and to practice tolerance and empathy.
• Ability to listen actively, consider people’s concerns and apply judgement, tact and diplomacy;
• Ability to work in a diverse and inclusive interactive environment that benefits from diverse strengths.
• Ability and responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Ability to encourage, empower, and advocate for people in an unbiased and transparent manner
• Knowledge of ECOWAS institutions, sectors, programmes, and policies.
• Knowledge of ECOWAS internal operational requirements of programs, projects, services, and systems required to achieve work assignments and meet performance goals.
• Knowledge of rules and procedures of ECOWAS associated with assigned responsibilities and ability to explain these clearly to others.
• Knowledge of the ECOWAS culture, structures and performance issues and priorities impacting assigned responsibilities.
• Knowledge of member states development trends, indicators, challenges, and opportunities as it relates to project/programme assigned to own position.
• Ability to study data/information from a variety of sources, identify anomalies, trends and issues, present findings, and make recommendations.
• Ability to break down problems or processes into key parts to identify and solve gaps in service, quality assurance, compliance, and performance targets.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply techniques to generate creative ideas and innovative approaches to meeting goals.
• Ability to use evidence and research to inform policies and programs and identify relevant and appropriate sources of information, including stakeholders, regional institutions and/or internal committee.
• Demonstrate operational computer proficiency using appropriate tools.
• Ability to make sound use of graphics and tables to effectively present numerical data to write semi-complex technical reports/proposals and edit/check templates, letters, etc.
• Ability to convey information clearly and concisely in a succinct and organized manner through both writing and verbal means.
• Exhibit interpersonal skills, make presentations, express opinions, and debate ideas with others in a constructive manner.
• 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 develop, implement an individual action plan for achieving specific work goals.
• Identify, organize, and monitor tasks throughout to facilitate execution.
• Ability to contribute and/or lead on projects as per accepted project management standards and techniques, to co-ordinate contributions by others to set and meet deadlines.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, and work within timelines, giving attention to details, stakeholders, indicators, and risks.
• Ability to identify, collect and assess indicators to monitor performance and to take proactive remedial action as required.