Programme Officer, External Trade Statistics 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: Programme Officer, External Trade Statistics

Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Job Code: 20000570
Institution: ECOWAS Commission
Grade: P2/P3
Department: Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research
Status: Permanent
Directorate: Research and Statistics
Division: Statistical Harmonization and Data Management
Line Supervisor: Director of Research and Statistics

Role Overview

• Under the supervision of the Program Officer, Statistical Harmonization, the incumbent will produce all methodology guides necessary for harmonization of Regional Trade Statistics and to manage regional trade database and produce Regional Trade Statistics Publications.

Role and Responsibilities

• Lead development of regional harmonized statistical methodology documents and guides for external trade statistics
• Collecting, processing, and disseminating external trade statistics, and responding to user requirements.
• Managing the EUROTRACE software and databases and providing technical assistance to ECOWAS Member States in the use and updating of the software.
• Advising ECOWAS Member States on external trade statistics quality issues.
• Performing trade statistics analysis, using sound statistical tools.
• Contributing to the monitoring of the regional trade surveillance and policies.
• Any other responsibility that may be assigned to him/her by the supervisors.

Academic Qualifications and Experience

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics, Economics, Social Studies or any related field.
• A minimum of 3 years progressively experience as professional experience as external Trade Statistician.
• A firm grasp of macroeconomic statistics, socio-economic and development issues particularly in the sub-region.
• Strategic mindset, a strong capacity to analyze actions from the perspectives of stakeholders and translate strategic thinking into a compelling plan of action.
• Ability to build, lead motivated and committed teams across functional boundaries, and utilize the talent and expertise of team members in a productive way.
• Demonstrated ability to present and win support.
• Good listener and cultural sensitivity, commitment to diversify and capacity to initiate and manage innovations or change.
• Ability to build a partnership with other institution and deliver results that meet the community needs and long-term interests within and outside the institution.
• Must be computer literate with knowledge of trade statistics database management software.

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
USD 67,713.70 - USD 77,480.72 annually.

Application Closing Date
15th May, 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.