Company Profile

WASCAL is a leading academic and trans-disciplinary research organization serving policymakers in West Africa with science-based advice on adaptation to climate change of land use and management. It cooperates with many agencies and universities in the region, providing a knowledge platform of excellence for its partners. WASCAL is linked closely with other international organizations in its mandate zone.

Job Description

• Location: WASCAL Competence Centre in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
• Duration of Contract: 3 years fixed-term renewable contract (with possibility of renewal
• Date of Publication: 20th July, 2020  
• Closing Date: 20th August, 2020
• Supervisor: Research Director

WASCAL with support from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany (BMBF) is implementing a Renewable Energy priority theme in the West African sub-region.

WASCAL seeks to hire Regional Thematic Coordinator to work directly on its Renewable Energy Priority theme, to complement the existing four (04) priority themes under the ongoing action research Plan (WRAP2.0). This is an international position and shall be based at the WASCAL Competence Centre in Ouagadougou. Burkina Faso.

WASCAL, therefore, seeks to fill the position of Regional Thematic Coordinator. The successful candidates will be expected to:

• Coordinate all Renewal Energy Priority theme and related initiatives
• Identify enabling factors and facilitate the scaling up of the countries pilot projects aeross the sub-region
• Develop Renewable Energy theme related services to respond to countries needs
• Conceptualise the needs of the countries and the region in partnerships with ECREEE in a comprehensive review report
• Support the strategy of sustainable renewable energy supply for West Africa, including research-development and capacity building
• Stakeholders consultation within countries
• Organise feasibility studies in WASCAL member countries
• Monitor and evaluate programme/project performance against contract requirements, keep tracks of deliverables, and other performance goals, participate in the analysis and reporting for impact assessment
• Lead the drafting and the submission of grant proposals and coordinate recruitment and manage integration of a new staff members as needed
• Synthetise output from programmes and or projects and identify salient results
• Lead the development of Renewable Energy priority theme information relevant for WASCAL member countries sectors and communities, as well as regional political bodies
• Identify, develop and implement ways of improving access to, and use of CES for sectors, communities and regional political bodies
• Develop tools, approaches and products for effective delivery of CES and integration to day-to-day activities with support from the data management department of WASCAL
• Establish training guidelines on technical aspects of CES, organise stakeholder engagement workshops and prepare communication materials for dissemination
• Provide scientific analysis and interpretation to support the timely delivery of the results and output
• Contribute to knowledge products (reports, briefs, data products, scientific publications)
• Carry out research, when relevant (e.g. in the framework of the project), and deliver science that can be used in practice by the West African adaptation community
• Any other duties that may be assigned from time to time

Required Skills or Experience

Desired Skills and Experience

• PhD or equivalent in renewable energy or related field
• At least five years post qualification experience
• Knowledge of green hydrogen value chain desirable
• High Decree of initiative and self-motivation
• Good track record in resource mobilisation and research proposal development
• Experience in developing training materials and organising and conducting trainings
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, experience in working and interacting effectively with a variety of stakeholders, and demonstrated ability to collaborate well across disciplines and with key collaborative institutions and agencies
• Research experience in interdisciplinary working environments
• Strong publication and record in peer reviewing journals
• Excellent written and spoken communication in English and French
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Ability to generate new ideas and implement them
• Ability to work as part of a dynamic and multicultural team