Programme officer, railway transport infrastructure

1. PROGRAMME OFFICER, RAILWAY TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE  

• Department: Infrastructure
• Directorate: PPDU
• Grade: P4
• Annual Salary: USD 44,328 – USD 51,637
• Supervisor: Director, PPDU
• Reference: ECW-COMM/REC/PPDU-P/001/2016
• Duration: One year renewable, based on performance
• Duty Station: Lomé, Togo

By Regulation C/REG.18/01/05 dated 18th January 2005, the ECOWAS Council of Ministers created within the ECOWAS Executive Secretariat, a unit for the implementation of NEPAD infrastructure projects, known as PDIU. This unit was responsible for the development and implementation of regional infrastructure projects, especially those of NEPAD.

Creating the PPDU was an idea designed by the African States to implement regional integration policies which will ensure their development and those related to infrastructure projects of the NEPAD’s Short-Term Action Plan (PACT).(STAP).  As a Regional Economic Community (REC), the ECOWAS Commission was mandated by the African Union to implement STAP in its region.  The main findings drawn from the lack of infrastructural investment in the region are:

• Energy: with a mere 30% access to energy, this rate is one of the poorest in the world (53% in the urban area and 8% in the rural area). Consequently, only 54% of the energy demand is met despite the region’s huge resource potentials. Out of an available 26 GW hydraulic power, only 16% are being exploited.

• Air transport: The sector is marked by a lack of connection between the various capitals of the region, a car crash rate three times higher than the global average, high cost of passenger tickets and freights unaffordable by the general public;

• Road transport: The road networks built are in a dilapidated state causing serious accidents, with numerous checkpoints and hindering the construction of regional highways;

• Railway networks are in a state of disrepair and inadequate for modern rail transport, and the existing rail lines are not interconnected;

• Maritime transport has ceased to exist along with the national shipping lines. The exit delay is 15 days against a global average of 3 days, including the fact that most ports do not meet international standards.

• Telecommunications: Poor international connectivity and high costs for consumers are the main characteristics of this sector.

This situation affects the competitiveness of the region’s companies and industries when compared with others worldwide as infrastructure is a major cause of high production costs.  This can be mainly attributed to poor implementation of investment due to lack of funds.  The PPDU was therefore created to develop feasibility studies that will make regional projects viable, integrating and bankable.

As part of its support to PPDU and in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in February 2015 between the ECOWAS Commission and  the Kingdom of Spain,  a dedicated part of the financing  contribution will be allocated for the recruitment of one Specialist who will assist the Unit in railway infrastructure .

1. OBJECTIVE

The general objective of the services is to:

• Provide the PPDU with qualified technical assistance for the smooth implementation of its project preparation activities; and

• Enhance the capacity of the Unit

The specific objectives of the services are to:

• Contribute to the development of projects studies in the railway sector;

• Complete successfully the selection process of eligible regional infrastructure projects for the development of feasibility studies and closure of funding requests;

• Attract more private sector participation in financing railway infrastructure projects;

• Assist in the mobilization of resources for the closure of regional infrastructure projects financing;

• Support and strengthen the Unit’s capacity with qualified personnel.

1. Duties & Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Director PPDU, the Programme Officer Transport(Railway) shall provide general support for all activities related to the development of railway infrastructure projects and more specifically:

• Identify the potential and development opportunities of railway projects that may be supported by the Unit across West Africa;

• Assist/advise the PDDU on how to conduct and monitor the progress of regional railway regional projects in terms of studies, funding and implementation and propose appropriate solutions;

• Advice on how to supervise the various stages of preparation and development of railway projects to make them bankable: identification, studies, funding, achievements;

• Monitor for a short, medium and long term, the study on the elaboration of a master plan for the development of railway infrastructure in West Africa as well as the implementation of identified programs and projects.

• Assist/advise on any infrastructure regional project in terms of design, funding & implementation.

1. Qualifications & Experience

The candidate should have the following profile:

• At least a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering, Public Works or equivalent;

• Diploma in management, administration, project management or finance will be an advantage;

• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in all aspects of development of railway projects and projects funding. Experience in an international field will be an advantage.

• Leading role in the preparation, conduct or financing of major railway projects at national or international level;

• a sound knowledge of the situation of ECOWAS infrastructure as well as its opportunities and challenges;

• proven experience in the elaboration of infrastructure projects by use of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) approach;

• a sound knowledge of procurement procedures with multilateral banks or international organizations;

• Good knowledge of IT tools (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, PowerPoint, Ms Projects, Internet).

• Age

Candidates should not be over 50 years old at the point of recruitment and must be  citizens of one of the ECOWAS Member States.

• Language

The candidate must be fluent (written and spoken) in one of the ECOWAS official languages: English, French or Portuguese. Proficiency on another working language would be an advantage.

Programme officer, railway transport infrastructure