Program Officer, Transboundary Animal Disease (TAD) and Disease Control at Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen West African countries. Founded on 28 May 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, its mission is to promote economic integration across the region.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Program Officer, Transboundary Animal Disease (TAD) and Disease Control

Location: Bamako, Mali
Grade: P3/P4
Agency: Regional Animal Health Center (Rahc) – Bamako
Status: Permanent
Departement: Agriculture, Environment & Natural Resources
Division: Animal Health And Epidemiological Surveillance
Line Supervisor: Principal Program Officer, Animal Health And Epidemiological Surveillance

Role Overview

• Under the supervision of the Principal Program Officer on Animal Health and Epidemiological Surveillance, the Program Officer on Transboundary Animal Disease (TAD) and Disease Control will ensure the strengthening of regional epidemiological surveillance systems for the improvement of terrestrial, aquatic and wildlife animal disease and zoonoses disease prevention and control.
• The Program Officer will further work closely in a team to support the effective and efficient delivery of veterinary services to support food security and nutrition, livelihoods, wealth creation and poverty reduction through the efficient management of animal health in the ECOWAS region in line with the goal of the ECOWAP/CAADP.

Role and Responsibilities

• Ensure the strengthening of regional epidemiological surveillance systems for the prevention and control of transboundary animal diseases (TADs) and zoonoses.
• Support team work to ensure improved disease notification systems for early warning and response.
• Support project planning, formulation, and implementation of regional animal health and zoonoses prevention and control strategies.
• Support regional disease risk assessment, mitigation and reporting.
• Support facilitation of activities for strengthening regional animal health networks including epidemio-surveillance (RESEPI), veterinary laboratory (RESOLAB), and Directors of Veterinary Services (DVS);
• Facilitate regular regional publications on regional animal disease and zoonoses issues.
• Support resource mobilization for increased investments in national and regional epidemiological surveillance, data collection and knowledge management infrastructure to ensure evidence-based planning in for TADs and zoonoses control;
• Support capacity building, particularly online education and training for continuing education and improved service delivery.
• Ensure the alignment of activities with the implementation of ECOWAP/CAADP and related projects.
• Undertake other duties that may be assigned by supervisors.

Academic Qualification and Experience

• PhD's Degree in Veterinary Medicine or an Advanced University Degree in Veterinary Public Health, Epidemiology, Pharmacology and Regulatory Medicine, or related field from a recognized university.
• 5 years of relevant experience in the field of prevention and control of animal diseases.
• knowledge of principles pertaining to livestock disease and treatment, livestock by-laws and regulations, land policy, public health, and related topics.
• proven expertise in animal production science, policy formulation and advocacy related to animal production and sustainable development.
• Demonstrated in-depth technical knowledge and proven analytical skills on issues related to animal production and sustainable development.

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
UA 44,017.43 / USD 69,450.71 - UA 51,439.88 / USD 81,161.85 Annually.

Application Closing Date
2nd March, 2024.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their correctly filled Application Form, Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a Motivation letter to: [email protected] using the Job Title as the subject of the mail.

Click here to download the application form (Docx.)

Note

• Female applications are encouraged.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Applications initially submitted with only the CV remain acceptable.
• ECOWAS does not charge a fee for recruitment and will not request for your account details.