Technical Advisor to the COMESA – EU - IRCC Liaison function
Vacancy Notice No. : IRCC/2013/01
Post Level : P4 (IRCC Salary Scale)
Terms of service : Fixed Term appointment
Duration of appointment : One year, renewable yearly, and NOT TO EXCEED 31 December 2015
Duty Station : COMESA Secretariat, Lusaka, Zambia
Entry date: on, or as soon as possible, from, 1 September 2013.
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 : 18 July 2013 (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 (political and operational) with the European Commission, in particular with the EU Delegation in Zambia, with emphasis on the implementation of the Cotonou Agreement, the 11th EDF programming, 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 : assist the COMESA secretariat in implementation of the relevant provisions at the level of the regional institution including the political dialogue provisions
• Coordination of COMESA units for EU-funded programmes identification, formulation, and implementation (9th, 10th, 11th EDF and other EU budget sources) led by COMESA and others impacting on or involving COMESA
• Observatory on SADC 9th, 10th, 11th EDF programmes where impacting on, or involving, COMESA or its Member countries, or related to the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite activities
• Follow-up and advise on ACP-EU Technical cooperation and financing for All-ACP and Intra-ACP programming where COMESA is , or can be, involved
• Follow-up and advise on EU-AU Technical cooperation and financing where COMESA is , or can be, involved
Tasks
The Technical Advisor will be responsible for the following duties:
1. Maintain and develop contacts with the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Zambia, and other institutions of the European Union, where necessary in collaboration with the COMESA Brussels Liaison Office;
2. Facilitate regular monthly monitoring meetings between COMESA and the EU Delegation in Lusaka
3. Undertake research and reporting on topics related to the EU – COMESA and general EU support to regional cooperation and integration and to the African integration agenda
4. 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).
5. Monitor the bilateral EC-COMESA cooperation programmes and assist in the joint monitoring with IRCC
6. 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
7. Assist in developing programme proposals for submission to the IRCC or whichever platform/instance to be effective for the 11th EDF; coordinate the preparation of COMESA inputs to the successive Annual Action Plans (AAP)
8. 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
9. 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
10. Assist in preparation and submission of financing requests under “All-ACP” funds and other EU financing instruments
11. 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.
12. 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
13. 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, Diplomacy, 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
• Experience with EU institutions in the context of ACP EU dialogue on regional integration and cooperation issues at both levels of Member States and Regional organizations
• Experience with ACP and AU institutions on RECS issues in relation to the EU
• Exposed to the various EDF envelopes, including intra-ACP, potentially benefiting regional integration through the regional organisations
• Experience in design and/or management and/or monitoring of EDF financed projects and programmes, Project Cycle Management (PCM) ;
• Knowledge of EC guidelines on EDF processes for both conventional project approach, budget support and , in particular, exposed to contribution agreements;
Will be an asset :
• 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, and exposure ot 11th EDF discussions on regional programming, 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.
Remuneration
• 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 :
o US$ 300/child
o US$ 413 for spouse
o 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 at www.comesa.int
• Candidates will submit, in a single envelope, the application form, together with a Motivation Letter, such that they are received before 18 July 2013 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 this position. 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 2013.
• The post(s) will be funded from resources of the 10th European Development Fund under 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 31 December 2015 is therefore subject to such funds being made available in due time.
COMESA Technical Advisor
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