Job Title: Director of Conference and Protocol
Following the restructuring of the ECOWAS Commission from an Executive Secretariat in 2006, the number of Directorates was increased from 16 to 25. A Directorate in ECOWAS Community Institutions is a subset of Departments headed by Commissioners. Directorates are headed by Directors.
Directors are responsible within the Commission for providing the technical expertise in particular technical areas for the design and implementation of technical projects within the region in line with ECOWAS objectives.
Department: Administration and Finance
Directorate: Conferences and Protocol
Grade: D1
Salary: USD 92,866.73
Supervisor: Commissioner, Administration & Finance
Reference: ECW-COMM/REC/CAF-D/001/2011
Duration: Permanent
Closing date: 08-03-2011
Directors in ECOWAS provide leadership and management to major sector(s) of technical activities which are substantively important to the accomplishment of the Institution’s mandate. They are responsible for interpreting governing bodies’, the President’s and the Commissioner’s broad visions and policy guidelines, and for developing and managing goals and objectives to meet that mandate. D1 positions typically supervise 10 or more professionals some of who may be Division Chiefs at the P5 level and thus supervise other professional staff.
Duties and responsibilities
Leadership Tasks
Directors report directly to respective Commissioners who head Departments. As the principle link between the Directorate and the wider beyond, the Director is responsible to:
Clearly communicate the President’s and Commissioner’s vision to staff, explain how the Directorate’s activities aligns with them and how the Director expects the Directorate to carry-out set tasks on it.
Stay on top of fast-moving technical, political, social or economic changes.
Remain in frequent contact with the other Directors in the Institution to ensure that the work is harmonized with that of other Directorates as needed.
Maintain a network of peer technical specialists and decision-makers in Member States, needed to ensure the smooth introduction of ECOWAS programmes.
Managerial Tasks
The Director will supervise staff of the Directorate including Professional and General staff. He or she will utilize a range of transactional managerial skills to ensure that staff of the Directorate performs efficiently and effectively, and that they deliver the regular outputs needed at sufficient quality and in a timely manner.
Managerial tasks will include:
Plan annual goals, objectives, activities and budget tied to the Commission’s overall plans; measure and monitor goal achievement; negotiate suitable adjustments to goals and budgets;
Implement performance-based budgeting within the Directorate;
Organize the Directorate in an efficient way with clear reporting lines, minimal bureaucracy and optimal delegation of responsibilities and authority;
Work with the relevant Directorate to ensure efficient and effective services such as recruitment, action on performance decisions, promotions and related matters;
Set standards of work and creating mechanisms to monitor staff output and ensure that standards are maintained and deadlines met without compromising quality of work;
Manage the system of setting individual performance planning and standards through available Performance Planning and Evaluation systems;
Provide regular and prompt performance feedback to direct reports;
Actively engaged in the development of staff to ensure skills are built to match plans, goals and existing structures;
Create productive working atmosphere within the Directorate to encourages staff participation.
Use of Personal Expertise
While the Director will have a staff of skilled professionals to draw upon, he or she may at times be called upon to apply his or her personal expertise directly in the relevant technical field in any of the following ways:
Direct technical guidance on programme design or implementation in an area where he or she has high-level technical expertise;
Represent ECOWAS in professional meetings or working groups; make speeches, negotiate agreements, mediate disputes;
Lead or participate in technical missions to develop projects and programmes;
Advise President, Vice President and Commissioner on issues relating to his or her area of technical expertise;
Work with the relevant specialized Parliamentary Committee on regional legislation, as needed
Technical Tasks
Develops and puts into place effective machinery for the management and delivery of all protocol services of the Commission.
Develop and puts into place effective machinery for the management and delivery of all conference services of the Commission.
Develop and implement a service delivery mechanism of management for the department.
In consultation with other directors of the Commission, develop machinery for ensuring that all their concerns in relation to the conference and protocol services are addressed in an effective manner.
Develops and implements innovative approaches, policies and procedures for the effective and efficient management of the department.
Provides leadership within the department, develop and implement mechanisms of enhance strategies, policies and guidelines
Advises the commission on all issues pertaining to conference and protocol.
Pool resources with other directors of the Commission to support their efforts at organizational change and render it as efficient as possible.
Qualifications/Experience/Skills
Educational Qualification
A Masters degree (or equivalent) in the Humanities, Arts, the Social Sciences or related field.
EXPERIENCE
Minimum of 12 years progressively responsible and relevant work experience
Minimum of 5 years work experience managing others, preferably in a supervisory capacity within an international organization;
Experience in coordinating language services
Management and coordination of meeting logistics and Diplomatic Protocols
Experience in organizing, planning and managing larger diplomatic & International Conferences
COMPETENCES
Ability to chair meetings efficiently and effectively;
Good communication skills for influencing groups of peers and stakeholders outside the organization (public speaking, writing, persuasiveness, credibility, negotiation, problem-solving)
Good interpersonal social skills for working with peers and subordinate staff (listening ability, approachability, clear oral expression)
Able team-player with peers (creates solutions to problems, creates ideas, takes on share of the work, reliable). Ability to align self and Directorate to the Commission;
Drive and energy;
Demonstrates fairness;
Self-control and stress management methods;
Good personal organization with ability to prioritize comfortably, adjust to rapidly changing priorities and to manage time well;
Ability to delegate authority clearly and effectively to staff. In particular, ability to use support staff available to the Directorate
Age
Candidates must not be fifty (50) years old or over at the point of recruitment and must be a citizen of one of the ECOWAS member states.
Languages
Must be fluent in one of the official languages of ECOWAS: English, French and Portuguese. A working knowledge of a second official language would be an advantage.
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Job Title: Expert in Energy Access and Renewable Energy
Whereas it has been proved that access to modern energy services is highly necessary for the Millennium Development Goals(MDG) to be achieved. Energy access has made little progress as well as the energy sector at large in the ECOWAS region. This has had real consequences on economic development as well as poverty eradication. Both the analysis of the challenges facing the region and that of its potential resources make it clear that a common action should be undertaken and an efficient and creative regional cooperation developed in order to successfully increase access to energy services in ECOWAS Member States in a significant way.
Department: Infrastructure
Directorate: Energy
Grade:
Salary: USD 120,000 per annum
Supervisor: Director of Energy
Reference: ECW-COMM/REC/INFRA-C/001/2011
Duration: Two (2) years
Closing date: 28-02-2011
To this effect, the Heads of State and Government adopted Decision A/DEC.24/01/06 in January 2006 relative to the joint ECOWAS-UEMOA Regional Policy for increasing access to energy services by rural and sub-urban populations, fully compatible with the commitments made by NEPAD. This Policy named as the White Paper geared towards increasing access to energy services for rural and peri-urban population in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, sets out a number of objectives :
- To ensure that 100% of the total populations have access to improved cooking fuels;
- At least 60% of the rural population have access to transport to boost productivity of economic activities and access to modern community services;
- 66% of the population have access to electricity supply.
To achieve these ambitious objectives, four intervention axis including formulation of investment programmes have been identified. And, it calls for each member state having a programme on access to energy services and mobilizes the necessary resources for implementation with a view to achieving the MDGs in line with the White Paper.
To implement the regional policy, important recommendations have been made to the Member States; they include mainly the following:
- promotion of a national vision regarding access to energy services and putting in place institutional frameworks that will help integrate such policy into national policies and strategies fostering sustainable human development and poverty reduction;
- development of energy programmes based on national policy context focused on reducing poverty in the rural and peri urban areas;
- establishment of an access to energy services unit;
- and in the long term, putting in place a Centre for access to energy services.
In addition, ECOWAS with the support of UNDP has elaborated a five step approach for which access to energy service activities and tools could be made available. Moreover, a series of actions that have allowed the elaboration of national action program on Access to Energy Services are emerging in several countries of the region.
Finally, ECOWAS through the technical assistance of UNDP has received the support of the European Union(EU) to develop investment programmes in several ECOWAS member states. With a view to ensure sustainability and strengthen organizational capacities, ECOWAS intends to create an Access to Energy Services Unit within the Directorate of Energy. The Access Unit shall support member states in elaborating a programme on access to energy services, strengthening capacities, and mobilization of financial resources.
The Unit will consist of three consultants directly working under the supervision of the Director of the Energy Directorate. The Director may delegate some of his responsibilities to one of the consultants, who will then serve as the Chief of the Unit. This Team leader will be responsible for coordinating overall outputs of the other consultants. Two of these consultants will be recruited by UNDP (financed by the UNDP Energy and Poverty Eradication team based in Dakar under the Regional Programme for Energy and Poverty -PREP- funding )and the third one by ECOWAS from the Pool Fund.
It is in this context that the ECOWAS Commission has the intention of recruiting one consultant who will be working under the supervision of the Energy Directorate with a view to contributing efficiently to the development of the access to energy services with the support of UNDP
Objective
The broad objective of the Consultant is to assess the status of the implementation of the White paper, define and implement an action plan for achieving the goals set in the Energy policy, and contribute in the coordination of activities of the Directorate of Energy in Energy Access scaling-up, develop short, medium and long-term work programs and action plans, monitor the implementation of the community Energy Access program and propose necessary adjustment.
Specific objectives
To assist ECOWAS in the implementation of the White Paper geared towards increasing access to energy services for rural and peri-urban population in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
Duties and responsibilities
Responsibilities
The consultant will report directly to the Director of Energy, he/she will be responsible for the elaboration of national programmes on access to energy services, capacity building and finance mobilization in view of the implementation of the White paper. He/She will initiate the activities for increasing the access to energy services in the region.
Specifically, the consultant will;
- Analyze the Development of regional energy service lines to support Member States in the definition and formulation of a national harmonized Energy Access strategy and policy;
- Elaborate and apply an action plan for the implementation of the Regional White Paper for increasing access to Energy Services;
- Supervise the implementation of the Regional White Paper for increasing access to Energy Services;
- Coordinate the implementation of a Regional Energy Information System and the establishment of a Regional Energy Observatory;
- Ensure and support ECOWAS advocacy on Energy Access and the fight against poverty;
- Strengthen the regional institutional and coordination framework dedicated to the White Paper, as well as other programs to be developed;
- Contribute to the regional/national coordination among ECOWAS Energy Program;
- Promote program development for scaling-up productive uses of energy, access to modern domestic cooking fuels, rural electrification (including renewable energy) and Energy Efficiency;
- Ensure smooth coordination with ECOWAS partners and support partnership development;
- Provide leadership to expand Regional Energy Policy in line with Member States requests in Energy Access, Renewable Energy (in collaboration with the Centre for Renewable Energy in Praia) and Energy Efficiency sub-sectors, and oversight functions for the conduct of studies relating to pertinent issues in the ECOWAS Energy program;
- Assist in the coordination of activities of the Department of Energy in Energy Access scaling-up, develop short, medium and long-term work programs and action plans, monitor the implementation of the community Energy Access program and propose necessary adjustment;
- Assist in the settling in of new staff to the Department and ensure that they are familiar with the various activities of the consultancy, and able to continue the work, before the end of the projects term;
- Take account of experience with other similar units and the lessons learnt.
- Ensure effective communication and coordination with the ECOWAS Centre for the Promotion of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Praia to ensure that developments in renewable energy are reflected in the energy access programme;
- Ensure effective communication with the Project Preparation and Development Unit (PPDU) in view of getting Energy Access project in the pipeline of PPDU projects;
- Assist in the compiling Energy Access documents in the ECOWAS central data/information management, archiving system;
- Perform any other related tasks that may be assigned by the Director, Department of Energy.
Expected Results, time schedule and duration
At the end of the tenure of the consultant, it is expected that all the Member States would have adopted their national harmonized Energy Access strategy and policy, National Multisectoriel Groups will start implementing energy access projects, funds will be raised for energy access projects. To monitor the progress of his assignment, the consultant will be expected to:
- Prepare an inception report in which He/She will make the assessment of the status of implementation of the White paper, analyze the regional energy access issues and propose an action plan for his mandate. In this inception report, the Consultant will suggest more detailed activities and output that will contribute to the objectives/responsibilities described above, including specific and monitorable milestones for each of the Consultant’s tasks;
- Prepare quarterly reports on the progress made in implementing the White paper, highlighting areas where ECOWAS needs to follow up with Member States to ensure progress;
- Prepare an annual report;
- Prepare periodic meetings with experts from Members States and other partners like UNDP;
- Prepare a Capacity Building Action for the National Multisectoral Groups and monitor its implementation.
The ultimate objective will lead to the following:
- Capacity building in Energy Access strategy and policy;
- Increase in Access to energy services in the rural and peri-urban areas, including access to renewable energy;
- Security of Supply and the reduction of economic vulnerability to external shock, such as oil prices raise;
- Exchange, promotion and dissemination of sub-regional experiences relating to energy services in local production of energy goods and services using renewable resources;
- Affordable Energy services access to all Community Citizens.
The total duration of the project will be for two years, separate into two phases. Phase 1 will be for three months during which the Inception Report will be produced and assessed. The review of the Inception Report will constitute the vehicle for assessing performance during Phase 1 and confirmation for the continuation of the work in Phase 2, which will make up the balance for the two years.
Qualifications/Experience/Skills
Qualifications:
- At least a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering, or other relevant field like electro-techniques, Energy Policies or a related field;
- A relevant combination of Master Degree in Electrical Engineering and a Degree in Management, Business Administration (MBA) will be a plus.
- Possession of a higher degree (PHD Level) would reduce the required professional experience to eight (8) years.
Experience:
- Ten (10) years professional experience in the energy sector, with pertinent achievement in energy access programmes or projects.
- Knowledge and experience in coordination of Energy Programs and projects at national and regional levels.
- Experience in preparation and Management of donor-funded projects and working with development partners would be an advantage.
- Highly motivated with established leadership credentials in the energy and development community, with the diplomatic skills necessary in an often highly charged, high-profile political environment, and a track record of successful dealings at the highest levels of Government and the private sector/civil society.
- Demonstrated experience in program and project management, strategic planning, resource mobilization and fund raising.
- A sound knowledge and experience in coordination of Energy Programs and projects at national and regional levels.
Competences:
- Ability to work in a team and establish good team spirit in a multi-national/multi-cultural environment.
- Extensive experience in West Africa.
- Must be computer literate.
- Good writing and communication skills
Age
Candidates must be a citizen of one of the ECOWAS member states.
Languages
Excellent in one of the official languages of ECOWAS: English, French or Portuguese. A working knowledge of another would be an advantage
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