– Program Officer Alternative Energy and Energy Transition

Deadline For Application : 15th May 2024

 Role Overview:                                                                                                                                                 

Under the direct supervision of the Director of Energy and Mine, the Principal Program Officer, Energy Access and Alternative Energy Division shall be responsible for the implementation of all the activities related to increasing energy access in the region and development of alternative energy solution use, under the coordination of the Director.

Role and Responsibilities

·       Coordinate the development and harmonization of regional policies, regulations, and institutional frameworks related to energy access and alternative energy.

·       Coordinate the implementation of regional programmes, projects, and activities for the development of alternative energy solutions in the region.

·       Coordinate and monitor the development of renewable energy resources and technologies in the region.

·       Promote the use of biofuels and biogas in the region through capacity building and pilot projects.

·       Develop a regional capacity building program to facilitate the readiness of Member states toward the transition to clean fuels in the region (biogas and biofuel).

·       Lead the formulation and implementation of regional projects and programmes to increase access to energy services, that generally contribute to the achievement of optimal results for the benefit of the Community.

·       Coordinate with regional financing mechanisms and partners and Oversee donor coordination mechanisms in the alternative energy sector.

·       Develop partnerships and support fund mobilization for program development and implementation.

·       Advise the Director Energy and Mines in the Coordination of the activities and synergies enhancement with the ECOWAS Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

·       Set the objectives of the Division and ensure alignment with the ECOWAS Community Strategic Plan.

·       Coordinate the development of the Division’s annual work Programme and ensure effective management of the financial resources.

·       Supervise the implementation of the annual work program of the Division and the activities of the Program Officers under his / her responsibility.

·       Contribute to the preparation of the monitoring and evaluation reports as well as special reports of the Directorate.

·       Participate at regional and international meetings and conferences on technical topics related to energy access and alternative energy.

·       Inform the Management on international and regional trends regarding the alternative energy sector through analysis, networking, and self-improvement.

·       Perform any other related tasks that may be assigned by the Supervisor.

Academic Qualifications and Experience

·       Master’s degree or equivalent in Power/Electrical Engineering, Renewable Energy, Electromechanical Engineering, or other related fields from a reputable institution.

·       At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in conducting activities in connection with renewable energy, access to energy services, alternative energy development, bioenergy, and advanced energy technologies within a public or private entity or within a regional organization, and 2 years of which at the supervisory level.

·       Sound knowledge of the energy sector as well as energy access and alternative energy framework in the region and related issues at national and regional levels.

·       Strong understanding of the multiple components that contribute to policy making, project and programs development, and implementation in the energy access and alternative energy fields.

·       Working experience on development partners’ projects and programmes would be an added advantage.

AGE LIMIT

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

ECOWAS KEY COMPETENCIES

·       Ability to lead assigned programs and projects by providing the necessary managerial and operational expertise required for the fulfillment of the organization’s mandate (e.g. establish networks and benchmarks).

·       Ability to lead by example and organize teamwork to encourage cooperation to achieve targeted results, champion and build momentum for change, and bring about employee engagement; develop and implement internal controls for pilot Program to manage potential barriers to implementation.

·       Excellent self-management skills, demonstrating ethics and integrity and displaying due regard for internal controls of rules, delegations, and transparency.

·       Ability to bring together complementary skills/expertise, assess individual contributions, and recognize/address accomplishments and shortcomings in a manner that brings continued success to the organization.

·       Knowledge of program management at the level usually acquired from a certification in program management (e.g. Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) or Program Management Professional PgMP).

·     Ability to research benchmarks and trends to bring about the best recommendations for the development and improvement of programs/projects that will best serve the community/organization.

·     Well-developed networking and interpersonal skills to seek feedback, information, and data from a network of professionals from multiple countries/sectors/organizations and to identify and prioritize the most critical community requirements.

·     Ability to manage and coordinate client management initiatives (e.g. feedback loops, surveys, studies, needs assessments) and make recommendations.

·     Ability to develop and implement best practices in client services (e.g. dashboards, incentive management, feedback mechanisms).

·     Ability to develop and implement stakeholder management plans, programs, and initiatives to obtain buy-in on new initiatives, to better understand dissenting views, to obtain resources, and to increase perceptions of success.

• Diplomacy, tact, and respect of other people from varied backgrounds, understanding diverse cultural views especially within West Africa with the ability to convert diversity into opportunities to improve program/operational outcomes.
• Ability to create a diverse and inclusive interactive environment that benefits from diverse strengths bringing together innovative practices.
• Ability to remain objective in appraisals, evaluations, and in managing conflict regardless of cultural differences positions, gender issues, or opinions, and encourages staff to overcome cultural and gender barriers and background differences.
• Ability to serve the interests of culturally diverse multinational teams/organizations/communities and some disabled groups without prejudice, bias, or sympathy for a select group.

• Solid understanding of the ECOWAS organizational structure, associated dynamics, and expectations as required to collaborate, participate, contribute, and lead effectively.
• Applied knowledge of the Community mandate, strategic plan/priorities as well as the economic, political, and social state/trends of member states, especially as pertains to own scope of work.
• Knowledge of ECOWAS best practices, program management approaches, and research techniques to lead and/or contribute to the development or assessment of programs, projects, or initiatives.
• Superior knowledge of the rules and procedures of ECOWAS to appropriately interpret and apply directive text, provide technical advice, coach others, and assess performance.

• Ability to analyze a situation by way of indicators (e.g. performance, technical) to assess the costs, benefits, risks, and chances for success, in deciding.
• Ability to pull together information from different sources to identify the source of problems, consequences of alternative courses of action, potential obstacles, and ways to avoid the problem in the future.
• Ability to break down very complex situations/information into simple terms (using charts, diagrams, and effective expository writing) to explain recommendations and conclusions aimed at solving problems or improving operations/programs/projects.
• Ability to develop new insights into situations, apply innovative solutions to problems, and design new methods of addressing issues/disconnects where established methods and procedures are inapplicable, unavailable, or no longer effective.

• Proficiency in oral and written French and English languages.
• Ability to communicate with impact, clearly and concisely in a succinct and organized manner conveying credibility & confidence when making presentations, setting expectations, and explaining complex issues.
• Ability to listen intently and correctly interpret messages from others and respond appropriately.
• Accomplished technical writing skills (e.g. proposals, terms of reference, program assessments, blueprints, business processes) with well-developed editing.
• Ability to give honest feedback, provide recognition, address shortcomings, and motivate direct reports to work at peak performance.
• Fluency in one of the three ECOWAS official languages (English, French & Portuguese)

• Superior organizational and project/program management skills with significant experience identifying timelines, targets, costs, and resources necessary to deliver operational/program/project outputs.
• Ability to set effective goals and targets for self, others, and the work unit and adjust work or project priorities in response to changing circumstances.
• Ability to identify gaps affecting the achievement of program/project expectations and to design and implement intervention plans required to build the desired capacity (e.g. training, structural realignment, partnerships, reallocation of resources.
• Ability to implement rigorous monitoring, and evaluation practices and to set in place regular reporting schedules relevant to key outputs (e.g. management indicators, project milestones, program results, processing targets).

• Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals.