Job Title: Operations Officer – Infrastructure Economist

The European Union (EU) is a unique economic and political partnership between 28 European countries that together cover much of the continent. The EU was created in the aftermath of the Second World War. The first steps were to foster economic cooperation: the idea being that countries who trade with one another become economically interdependent and so more likely to avoid conflict. The result was the European Economic Community (EEC), created in 1958, and initially increasing economic cooperation between six countries: Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Since then, a huge single market has been created and continues to develop towards its full potential.

Job Summary: The Operations Officer – Infrastructure Economist will be responsible, under the overall guidance of the Head of Section and in close collaboration with other members of the section, to facilitate the preparation, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and closure of EC supported projects and programmes. The projects and programmes of responsibility of the Operations Officer will be related to the infrastructure (transport, energy, water and sanitation, telecommunications) and regional portfolio of the Delegation, with particular attention to the economic impact assessment of public investments in infrastructure, cost-benefit analyses for financing proposals, and risk analysis for grant financing by the EU in grant/loan blending operations. Part of the portfolio may be the rural infrastructure component in a multi-sectoral EU support programme for Northern Uganda. Where applicable, the Officer will also be expected to participate and contribute to the policy dialogue between the Government of Uganda and the European Commission on regional integration related issues and to  insure a better visibility of the EU action in the sector.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:  

1. General Program Management – Management and monitoring of assigned programmes and projects in the Infrastructures sector:
2. Procurement & Contract Management: Preparation and management of calls for tender
3. Quality Management and Evaluation – Evaluation of the implementation of programmes
4. Procurement and Contract Management – Financial management of programmes
5. Policy Development – Policy development in the area of Infrastructures in Uganda

• Analyse and instruct proposals for assigned programmes/projects submitted by the Government of Uganda. Prepare the decision of the Commission approving the proposal submitted.
• Oversee, monitor and/or evaluate the implementation of assigned programmes/projects in Uganda in line with the conditions of the Financing Agreements and the objectives of the respective programmes and projects. Analyse annual and final implementation reports.
• Offer technical guidance and assistance to national, regional or local authorities in implementing the assigned programmes and projects.
• Prepare relevant updates/amendments of assigned programmes and projects during the implementing period.
• Prepare contributions to section’s planning and reporting requirements (JAR, EAMR, AMP).
• Ensure that CRIS is updated on a regular basis and all necessary documents are attached.

• Launch, manage and monitor calls for proposals/tenders, evaluation and selection of projects, in coordination with the Finance & Contract Section.
• Make sure that the follow-up of the implementation of the projects and the performance of project managers and partners, monitor contractual obligations (via periodic reviews, audits, reporting and assistance, etc.) and gather and handle external expertise.
• Deal with horizontal activities, coordination and networking aspects of programmes and projects in the Section.

• Organise and lead evaluations as foreseen in the Regulations (ex-ante, mid-term, ex-post).
• Assess the relevance, effectiveness and efficiency of the approved programmes/projects and the Commission strategy.
• Intuitively analyse and follow up the results and recommendations of evaluation reports and audits.
• Ensure the “retro-feeding” of experiences.

• Supervise, co-ordinate and/or act as operational initiator of contracts
• Monitor the financial expenditure as reported in cost statements and provide reasonable assurance that claimed costs correspond to the work accomplished.
• Provide the available information for audit and control by Commission services or the European Court of Auditors.

• Follow up policy developments particularly in the transport sector, at national and regional level. To act as focal point also for issues regarding Energy, Urban development, Telecom and Water and Sanitation
• Significantly contribute to macro-economic assessment of sector policies, financing models, and questions of debt sustainability

Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 

• The ideal candidate for the European Union job opportunity must be a holder of a Bachelor of Science in Economics or Engineering, possibly with an academic training focusing on project financing and/or regional development.
• Possession of a post-graduate degree (Master of Science or equivalent, PhD) in Economy or Engineering or relevant post graduate courses will be an advantage.
• A minimum of five or more years of post- academic work experience in development cooperation, preferably related to economic development and/or the infrastructure sector.
• Past exposure and experience with impact assessment will be highly desirable.
• Prior experience with project management along the complete project cycle is highly desirable.
• Good working knowledge of Government practices and development partners organization and in particular EDF procedures will also be an advantage.
• Broad experience of private and public sectors and good knowledge of the main actors of the Ugandan/EAC infrastructure sector would be a further asset.

Languages: Fluency in English. Knowledge of additional EU Working languages or African local languages will be an advantage.

How to Apply for the job:

All suitably qualified and interested candidates seeking to join the European Union Delegation in Uganda should send an application letter, a completed EU Standard Curriculum Vitae, download here,  that must include three relevant referees, reference letter(s) of previous employment(s)and  copies of education and training certificates addressed to:

Head of Delegation

European Union

Delegation to the Republic of Uganda

Crested Towers, 15th floor

Plot 17-23 Hannington Road

Kampala, Uganda.

Email to: DELEGATION-UGANDA@eeas.europa.eu

NB: Please clearly indicate: Application – Operations Officer; Infrastructure – Economist in the subject of the E-mail.

Deadline:  26^th September, 2014 by 13:30 hours. 

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