Programme Officer (PO), Forestry and Biodiversity Conservation at Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Job Code: 20003860
Grade: P3/P4

Role Overview

• Under the supervision and guidance of the Principal Programme Officer, Natural Resources, the incumbent will be Contributing to the creation of an enabling sub-regional institutional and legal environment conducive to the implementation of the West Africa Forest Convergence Plan for the Sustainable Management and Utilization of Forest Ecosystems.

Role and Responsibilities

• Assist in developing reliable methods for assessing knowledge of forest and wildlife resources based on specific guidelines for sound inventories and forest management practices.
• Contribute to the promotion of intra-West African trade in tropical timber and service products, wood products and Non-Timber Forest Products in the ECOWAS region.
• Support the effective participatory management of protected areas in a regional perspective for optimizing benefits for local communities living in the vicinity of the Protected Areas.
• Provide support to the harmonization and coordination of national and sub regional responses to wildlife crime.
• Facilitate the development and adoption of a West Africa Strategy on Combating Wildlife Crime.
• Support capacity building of Member States in developing common positions for the negotiations during the COP of the major Multilateral Environmental Agreements affecting forests.
• Follow up of the Member States commitments to implementation of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements.
• Enhance the collaboration and synergies with other intergovernmental organizations (UEMOA, CILSS, ADB, NEPAD etc) and international (UNEP, Mechanism Mondial, etc.) within the framework of the sustainable management of forests and biodiversity conservation.
• Assist in other responsibilities, duties and responsibilities delegated by the Head of the Division and the Director.

Academic Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Resources Management, Environmental Sciences, or related fields from a university of recognized standing.
• 5 years of relevant professional responsible experience dealing with environment and natural resources issues such as forestry and biodiversity.
• Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to corporate sustainability and environment.
• Proven experience in technical guidance, situation analysis and environmental impact assessments.
• Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter.

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 instill 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 the ability to keep a client informed of progress or setbacks in projects of relevance to the 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 needs, 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 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 new 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 committees.
• 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 and 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.

Salary
USD77,480.72 - USD89,289.87 Annually.