The Inter-Regional Coordinating Committee (IRCC), on behalf of COMESA, is looking for a : Technical Advisor to the COMESA – EU - IRCC Liaison function
Post Level : P4 (IRCC Salary Scale)
Terms of service : Fixed Term appointment
Duration of appointment : One year, renewable yearly, and NOT TO EXCEED 27 JULY 2014
Duty Station : IRCC Secretariat, COMESA, Lusaka, Zambia
Entry date : on, or as soon as possible as from, 1 Sep 2011.
Vacancy Notice No. : IRCC/2011/01
Eligibility : Natural persons eligible under Annex IV of the ACP – EU Cotonou Partnership Agreement . See also Annex A2b of the EU practical Guide1 to Contract procedures for EU external actions
Deadline for application : 22 August 2011 (17h00 Lusaka time)
General
The Technical Advisor will work under the overall guidance of the Assistant Secretary General-
Programmes (ASG-P) of the COMESA Secretariat. He/She will assist in strengthening the institutional cooperation and dialogue with the European Commission, in particular with the EU Delegation in Zambia, with emphasis on the implementation of the Cotonou Agreement, the 9th and 10th EDF COMESA-led programmes, and the other EU-funded programmes (more information on EU funding for COMESA available at http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/zambia/eu_comesa/index_en.htm ).
Duty Station
The Technical Advisor will be based at the COMESA Secretariat with frequent missions to the region and occasionally Europe/ Brussels.
Main portfolio responsibilities
- Cotonou Partnership Agreement : implementation of the relevant provisions at the level of the regional institution in consultation with the COMESA Brussels Liaison Officer
- EU-funded programmes (9th and 10th EDF and other EU budget sources) led by COMESA and others impacting on or involving COMESA
- SADC 9th and 10th EDF programmes where impacting on, or involving, COMESA or its Member countries, or related to the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite activities
- ACP-EU Technical cooperation and financing for All-ACP and Intra-ACP programming where COMESA is , or can be, involved.
Duties
The Technical Advisor will be responsible for the following duties:
- Maintain and develop contacts with the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Zambia, and other institutions of the European Union; facilitate regular monthly monitoring meetings between COMESA and the EU Delegation in Lusaka
- Undertake research and reporting on topics related to the EU – COMESA and EU – ESA-IO cooperation with emphasis on inputs for mid term reviews and negotiation of future financial protocols
- Represent COMESA in meetings with the European institutions and give support to the process of COMESA – EU regional political dialogue (Art 8, 2nd Revision of Cotonou).
- Provide support to COMESA high level dialogue on the specific trade chapter of Cotonou (EPA issues)
- Monitor the bilateral EC-COMESA cooperation programmes from the ESA-IO regional EDF and other EU budgets
- Prepare for COMESA participation in meetings and conferences in the context of the EU-funded programmes directly managed by COMESA and in the larger IRCC context
- Assist in developing programme proposals for submission to the IRCC; coordinate the preparation of COMESA inputs to the successive Annual Action Plans (AAP)
- Provide assistance to joint EU and COMESA field missions in the development of programme proposals ensuring compliance with Cotonou , ESA-IO RIP, and IRCC political priorities and donor rules and regulations
- Provide guidance and technical support (eg on EU Practical Guide, EDF Rules and Regulations, Tendering processes, etc ) to COMESA departments in charge of implementation of EU-funded programmes , and assist in definition of related capacity-building needs
- Assist in preparation and submission of financing requests under “All-ACP” funds and other EU financing instruments
- In relation to the IRCC :
- To collaborate with the IRCC Coordinator in respect of the COMESA RAO function for IRCC
- To assist with drafting and implementation of COMESA workplan within the IRCC Programme Estimates and in due respect and application of relevant EDF procedures, rules and regulations. - On Aid Effectiveness :
- To advise when required the COMESA Task Force on Contribution Agreement
- To represent COMESA in the Technical IRCC Working Group on Aid Effectiveness
- To relate to the Tripartite initiatives working groups (infrastructure, etc)
- To advise COMESA on other EU-Africa initiatives
- To assist COMESA in the OECD technical Working Party on Aid Effectiveness - Perform any other tasks or duties assigned by the ASG-P or the SG COMESA
Qualifications
- A University degree preferably in the field of Economics, Development Studies, Trade, Business Administration, Social Sciences, or related.
- Candidate must have at least :
- a Bachelors degree + 15 years qualified work experience, or,
- a Masters degree (or higher) + 10 years qualified work experience
General Professional Experience
- At least 10 years relevant professional experience , with an in-depth knowledge of financial and technical cooperation and a sound knowledge of the ACP – EU Partnership Agreement and its arrangements on technical cooperation and financing
- Experience in dealing with complex multi-cultural institutional environment and in working with donors in developing countries (ACP countries) at senior level.
Specific Professional Experience
- At least 8 years experience in the design and/or management and/or monitoring of EDF financed projects and programmes, covering all phases of Project Cycle Management (PCM),and handling of relevant technical dialogue with the European Union representations;
- In-depth knowledge of EC guidelines on EDF processes for both conventional project approach, budget support and contribution agreements;
- Prior experience with Technical Assistance to Regional or National Authorising Officer or
- European Union Delegations would be an asset;
- Experience in managing development projects in the context of regional integration preferably in the ESA-IO region;
- Exposure to practical issues of coordination of regional programmes at national levels;
- Experience in institutional capacity building for better aid delivery at both national and regional levels ;
- Experience in issues related to aid effectiveness and donor coordination in the context of the Paris Declaration and the Accra Action Agenda.
Skills
- Knowledge of the EU and its institutions and procedures is a must; experience of 9th and 10th EDF procedures and EU Standard Contribution Agreements with international organizations is required
- Ability to work in an international and inter-cultural environment
- Adequate proficiency in the use of Information and Communication Technologies including
standard office software , project management software, project accounting and project monitoring software.
- Languages
- ENGLISH : Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) and excellent drafting ability
- Working ability in French will be an added advantage.
- The indicative ALL-INCLUSIVE annual salary at IRCC P4 level at single rate (no dependents) ranges from US$ 78 739 to US$ 90 662. The exact positioning on the scale is determined solely by the Contracting Authority based on a set of factors including the number of years of qualified specific experience.
- For primary dependents annual allocations are as follows :
- US$ 300/child
- US$ 413 for spouse
- US$ 4950/child enrolled full-tile in an educational establishment
- No other remuneration or allowances are foreseen.
- How to Apply
Candidates are invited to fill , in their own handwriting, the application form available on the COMESA website under Opportunities>>Job Application format - Candidates will submit, in a single envelope, the application form, together with a Motivation Letter, such that they are received before 22nd August 2011 at 17.00 hours, EITHER by recorded delivery (official postal service) OR hand delivered (including courier services) to:
- The IRCC Coordinator
IRCC
COMESA,
Comesa Centre,
Ben Bella Road PO Box 30051,
10101 Lusaka,
ZAMBIA.
- The envelope should carry the following information:
a) the address for submission as indicated above;
b) the reference code of the Vacancy Notice No.
c) the words Not to be opened before the short-listing session
d) the name of the candidate
Additional information
- Applicants will be contacted only if they are short-listed and/or under serious consideration
- Applications received after the deadline will NOT be accepted.
- A written test may be held for some positions. Reference materials including candidate’s own work and material may be used if properly cited.
- It is expected that commencement of contract and work should start on, or as soon as possible as from, 1 September 2011.
- The post(s) will be funded from resources of the 10th European Development Fund under the the IRCC Support programme (financing decision no. FED/2009/021-403), signed between the EU and COMESA. The funding will be channeled -through annual programme estimates and successive renewals of the post until the 27 July 2014 is therefore subject to such funds being made available in due time.
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