Job Opportunity: Africa Programme Officer -Natural Resource Governance Institute, Ghana

Natural Resource Governance Institute

Africa Programme Officer

The Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) is a non –profit policy institute and grant-making organization that promotes the responsible management of oil, gas and mineral resources for the benefit of all. Improving natural resource governance is one of the most significant development challenges of the decade and will determine the future of 1billion people globally who live in the scarcity in the midst  of resource abundance.  Countries with non-renewable resource wealth face both a challenge  and an opportunity –when used poorly or squandered, non-renewable resource wealth can  cause economic instability, social conflict  and  lasting  environmental impacts; used well, they can create prosperity for current and future  generations. NGRI is a recognized leader in the field  of natural  resource governance, helping people to realize the benefits of their  countries’ endowments of oil, gas  and minerals in order to build a more stable and sustainable future. For more information, please visit www.resourcegovernance.org

Job Overview/ summary:

NRGI is seeking a programme officer to support its work across Anglophone and Francophone Africa. The programme officer’s portfolio includes work with various stakeholders to promote more effective management of the region’s mineral and petroleum resources, including through capacity development, technical assistance and the provision of policy advice to government actors, parliamentary bodies, civil society, media and other agents of change, and through engagement with private sector actors. This position is a unique opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of actors in the extractive industries, to broker dialogue, and to improve good governance in the natural resource sector.

Major Responsibilities

The programme officer’s primary responsibility will be to support the implementation of NRGI’s Anglophone Africa, Francophone Africa, and Governance Programme strategies and coordinate with lead person  at the country level and within  the governance program the organisation’s work with various agents of change, including decision makers in the private sector, government, parliament, civil society organization, and the media, ensuring synergies and identifying new opportunities. The position will work closely with other NRGI staff members in the Governance team and based in the Africa region. The Programme officer will also be responsible for:

• Leading the evolution of this work through support to the implementation of regional and country strategies.
• Provide general programmatic support to the Francophone portfolio, including engaging with government, parliament media and civil society, private sector, and EITI processes, in coordination with relevant countries staff.
• Support the Africa Co-directors’ engagement with regional and continental initiatives and bodies on natural resource governance through research, material production, communication, outreach and participation in meetings.
• Lead development and implementation of evidence-based analytical and  advocacy  tools aimed at increasing national uptake of governance  best practices  in line with  country  strategy  priorities  (e.g open  contracting /subcontracting SOE transparency), especially using RGI data.
• Support research, analysis and advocacy on understanding and leveraging private sector influence to advance good governance in the region and globally.
• Develop, implement and report on activities to support oversight actors to play their role. This will involve delivering training, providing technical assistance and leveraging internal and external expertise.
• Establish collaborative relationship with oversight groups, donors, NGO, industry and other actors interested in the governance of the extractive industries across Anglophone and Francophone Africa to remain informed of the environment and opportunities for engagement.
• Lead monitoring and evaluation of selected regional projects and activities, including tracking activity expenditures and monitoring the overall program budget, and preparing periodic activity reports according to the agreed schedule with donors.
• Contribute to internal and external communications, sharing lessons learned and strategies employed to benefit NRGI and the field more broadly.

Requirements:

Demonstrated Knowledge and Experience

• At least five years’ experience in running and managing projects in an international development context;
• Experience working with variety of stakeholders –private sector, media, parliamentary and civil society (prior experience with stakeholders in the Anglophone and Francophone Africa region a plus)
• Experience designing and delivering trainings, and network-building in low income countries;
• Knowledge of the extractive sector, governance and development issues, particularly in Anglophone and Francophone Africa.
• Experience managing complex and multiple projects.

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated project management skills and ability to manage several simultaneous  projects in a fast-paced environment;
• Excellent communications, writing and analytical skills;
• Strong oral presentation skills;
• Fluency in French and English;
• Ability to manage a team to coordinate and leverage different competencies;
• Strong attention to detail;
• Demonstrated ability to learn quickly and to work independently;
• Integrity and professional discretion;
• Pleasant, diplomatic manner and disposition in interacting with colleagues and the general public

Education

• Master’s degree in relevant field (economics, political science, law, public administration, development studies).

Location: Accra, Ghana

TO APPLY: Please send a covering letter, CV/Resume with salary expectation to gafriyie@resourcegovernance.org by February 15, 2018. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Please include in subject line NRGI/Africa Program Officer