Job Description

Background 

• The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was established in 1975 with the purpose of promoting regional cooperation and economic integration in West Africa.Today, ECOWAS provides an important forum for cooperation among its member states with the ECOWAS Commission playing a driving role in West African regional integration. 
• As a German federal enterprise, the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH supports the German Government in achieving its objectives in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. The services delivered by GIZ draw on a wealth of regional and technical expertise and tried and tested management know-how. GIZ operates in more than 130 countries worldwide with more than 16,000 staff across the globe. 
• Since 2006, GIZ has been cooperating with the ECOWAS Commission through its "Support Programme to the ECOWAS Commission". It has focused on the following three areas: Strategic management and organizational development, Trade and customs and Peace and security. Work on trade and customs has dealt with core issues of regional economic integration in West Africa. In the current programme phase (2014-2019), activities on trade and customs will be carried out in cooperation with the European Union (EU). The EU contribution to the programme budget amonts to 10 mio EUR over about 50 months (starting around 01-10-2014). 
• In pursuance of the EU contribution to the current programme phase, GIZ is looking for a Senior Advisor in Customs. 

The senior advisor is responsible for 

• managing GIZ support to the ECOWAS Commission in the area of regional economic integration and trade, including but not limited to the ECOWAS Common External Tariff and other customs-related topics 
• assisting programme initiatives to provide professional advisory services to and cooperate with a broad range of target groups 
• innovation and knowledge management

Tasks 
Advising the partner institution 
The senior advisor 

• advises the ECOWAS Customs Directorate and other relevant Directorates if needed on Customs issues, CET implementation, international customs practices, WTO and WCO standards and regulations etc. 
• supports the ECOWAS Customs Directorate in strategic planning, defining long-term projects and objectives, implementation of yearly activities 
• assists and monitors the development and implementation of programme plans and activities in close consultation with counterparts and in line with GIZ and EU rules and regulations 
• deals with the design, preparation and implementation of workshops, 
• seminars, trainings and other events on issues connected with the programme's area of activity 
• develops and organises quality assurance measures and suggests necessary changes, improvements and initiatives 

Networking and cooperation 
The advisor 

• supports cooperation,regular contact and dialogue with, partners, assists with PR work and cooperates with relevant organisations and individuals in the programme environment and with other projects to improve and maintain good working relationships 
• communicates local interests and efforts, forwards these and encourages sharing ideas and information for the benefit of the programme 
• coordinates work with other development partners in the relevant areas 

Knowledge management 
The advisor 

• ensures knowledge transfer 
• develops ready-to-use strategies and technical concepts, including guidelines, manuals and procedures 
• draws up reports, publications and presentation documents 
• prepares appropriate input for various programme reports including EU annual implementation reports, and contributes to other reports as requested 
• assists with research activities and studies 

Coordination and other tasks 
The advisor 

• assists with general project planning and develops project concepts including preparation, organisation and moderation of planning exercises and their implementation, management, monitoring, quality management, evaluation, communication and documentation 
• assists in the preparation and follow-up the development of Terms of Reference for various consultants and contractors 
• compiles the relevant information for joint activities and assignments 
• handles day-to-day programme management on behalf of GIZ (e.g. offer preparation, impact monitoring, project progress review, reporting) 
• provides regular updates to the Head of Component on the progress of activities 
• carries out other related tasks as assigned by the Head of Component 

Required Skills or Experience

We expect the following from the advisor: 
Academic background

• An advanced degree in economics, business administration, law, trade policy or a similar area 

Professional experience

• sufficient background in international trade and regional integration with relevant knowledge in tariff issues and customs procedures. 
• Knowledge and experience on trade facilitation reforms. 
• at least Twelve (12) years of relevant professional experience 
• knowledge of the ECOWAS region and already established contacts to relevant actors are regarded as assets 

Other knowledge, additional competences

• excellent communication and interpersonal skills with ability to work in a multicultural and multilingual environment 
• very good working knowledge of ICT technologies (related software, phone, fax, email, the internet) and computer applications (e.g, MS Office) 
• Mastery of one of the three official working languages of ECOWAS (English, French, and Portuguese) is required. Proficiency (both written and oral) in a second official working language of the ECOWAS Commission is essential 
• willingness to update skill as required by the tasks to be performed 
• willingness to undertake regular travels throughout the ECOWAS region