COMMON MARKET FOR EASTERN AND SOUTHERN
AFRICA
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
A. MASE COORDINATOR (P4)
B. FINANCE SPECIALIST, MASE (P3)
I.
Introduction and Background
The ESA-IO region has increasingly been subject to security challenges linked to
piracy, maritime insecurity and organised crime. International Maritime Bureau
(IMB) reported in 2009 that the ESA-IO region had become the most pirateinfested waters in the world. Somali pirates have been attacking vessels in the
marine areas of Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles, and Madagascar and further off
into the Indian Ocean. Piracy and lack of maritime security continue to increase
transport costs, trade costs and insurance. This ultimately affects the regional
integration process by undermining development efforts which negatively impact
on the inclusion of the region in the global economy. Furthermore piracy
increases the risks of terrorism and smuggling of weapons and drugs.
The increasing concern in the region from a political, social and economic
perspective, especially in the economically vulnerable small island states
prompted the region to attribute to all the Regional Organisations a specific
mandate for the fight against piracy. The 13 th COMESA Summit held in June
2009 in Zimbabwe called upon the International Community to adopt a
coordinated approach in a holistic manner through the UN. Following this, a high
level regional Ministerial Meeting on Piracy was held on 7 October 2010 in
Mauritius and adopted the ESA-IO Regional Strategy and Action Plan against
Piracy and for Promoting Maritime Security. In line with the Action Plan, the
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African
Community (EAC) and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
and the Indian Ocean Community (IOC) under the initiation of the IRCC, have
created a common Eastern and Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region (ESAIO) regional programme to support maritime security. The Programme was
developed in accordance with the provisions of the ESA-IO 10th EDF Regional
Strategy Paper/Regional Indicative Programme.
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COMESA component in this regional programme is seeks to strengthen regional
capacity to disrupt the financial networks of pirate leaders and their financiers
while also addressing the structural vulnerability factors and minimize the
economic impact of piracy. COMESA will initially focus on ten ESA countries that
are signatories of the Djibouti Code of Conduct as its core countries 1 but it shall
also give secondary attention to other neighbouring countries to prevent money
laundering shifting their activities especially the less regulated jurisdictions as
found in the FATF ICRG list of countries that have deficiencies with respect to
compliance with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards.
The programme is intended to enable the countries to identify how the proceeds
from ransom payments are laundered, identify vulnerabilities in current regional
Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering regimes and develop the capacity to
address these vulnerabilities, including the development or strengthening of
Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs). The programme will ensure that capacity
building to FIUs is done in compliance to recommendations of the FATF.
Another important component of the programme will be to enhance the capacity
of the region in financial investigation. This component will be implemented
jointly with INTERPOL, which will initially focus on Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya,
Mauritius, Seychelles and Tanzania, through an implementation Agreement with
COMESA.
Information sharing and collaboration will be very crucial to the
success of analysis, investigation and prosecution of money laundering crimes.
The programme will address institutional setting and development; support
coordination and inter-agency linkages and address legal and legislative issues
including strengthening legal action against financial crimes. The implementation
will continuously draw from outputs of the 5th Working Group of the International
Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS); the Eastern and
Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) among others. The
Programme will also receive support from the COMESA Monetary Institute in
Nairobi.
The MASE programme falls within the Governance Peace and Security Unit
operating in the Office of the Secretary General and will include a dedicated
Programme Coordinator, a finance specialist and an administrative assistant.
COMESA would hereby like to recruit a Programme Coordinator to manage the
programme and a finance specialist to provide support for the financial aspects of
the programme, while at the same time ensuring coherence and providing
guidance on finance matters to other programmes under the Governance Peace
and Security.
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The target countries comprises Somalia frontline states and countries in the Eastern and Southern Africa and Indian
Ocean (ESA-IO) region that border the Indian Ocean including, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya,
Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Somalia, and Tanzania.
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TERMS OF REFERENCE
A.
JOB TITLE :
GRADE
:
MASE Coordinator
P4
Expected Results
The MASE Coordinator will ensure that COMESA has in place a fully functioning
programme to address piracy by building capacity of Member states to curb
money laundering. Specifically, the MASE Coordinator will ensure:
a. Financial analytical capacity in the region enhanced by setting up and
strengthening of national Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) and other
analytical tools, and strengthening the financial institutions in the region to
analyse, detect and track financial flows linked to piracy, proceeds from
financial crimes and other illicit maritime transactions
b. Common, coordinated and inter agency framework on anti-money laundering
and piracy funding are developed in ESA-IO, including supporting linkages
with national Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs)
c. National money laundering laws and regulations are drafted or amended and
regional policy frameworks to counter piracy and to address economic impact
of piracy are adopted
d. Regional capacity to investigate and prosecute financial crimes at national
and international levels assessed and strengthened
Tasks of the MASE Coordinator
The specific tasks for the MASE Coordinator (MC) are listed below. The MC
shall:
i. Keep abreast of all incidents of piracy and terrorism in the COMESA
region including the ongoing programmes and initiatives to address piracy
and specifically money laundering
ii. Maintain a good understanding of the status and capacity of member
states and particularly the core countries with respect to their response to
piracy crimes; specifically:
 The status and capacity of the Financial Intelligence Units
 The AML/CFT laws that exist in Member states and status of
implementation
 The status and capacity of the relevant Law enforcement agencies in
member states
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iii. Keep abreast of other regional and international initiatives that aim at
addressing money laundering including the Financial Action Task Force
(FATF) and FATF-Style Regional Bodies such as the Eastern and
Southern Africa Anti-money Laundering Group (ESSAMLG); and the five
Working Groups of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia,
particularly the Working Group 5.
iv. Work in close collaboration with INTERPOL in the implementation of its
component; also ensuring to receive its reports
v. Ensure to maintain the broader regional aspects of MASE by collaborating
with similar officers at the East African Community (EAC), the InterGovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Indian Ocean
Community (IOC) on the implementation of MASE
vi. Collaborate with the African Union Peace and Security Department and
ensure linkages with the 2050 Africa Integrated Maritime (AIM) Strategy;
vii. Develop programmes and activities, including capacity building
programmes that target FIUs in the region by among others:
 Initiating courses and programmes that will continuously improve
knowledge and understanding AML, CFT and piracy funding;
 Advising and providing inputs to the various programmes and
activities, required improvements of content and sourcing of resource
persons
 Ensuring delivery of high quality regional capacity building seminars,
workshops, short-term training etc; and,
 Prepare annual MASE Work plans in consultation with the Unit Head
viii. Produce quarterly activity plans, quarterly aide memoirs and
implementation plans for decisions of Council/ Ministers of Foreign Affairs
that relate to Maritime Security
ix. Manage the approved budget for MASE ensuring value for money;
x. Produce MASE quarterly, annual and other reports that may be required
for the Unit and for the EU; and ensure that financial reports are produced
in time
xi. Keep abreast of the financial status of the programme and ensure that
requests for replenishment of funds, requests for reallocations are done in
time
xii. Provide advice and technical assistance on the laws, procedures,
practices, and reforms thereof, related to financial intelligence, AML and
CFT, and Piracy funding.
xiii. Carry out research, sharing information and monitoring compliance with
international and regional regulatory framework relating to Financial
intelligence, AML and CFT, and Piracy funding
xiv. Study and analyse policy frameworks of FIUs in COMESA region with the
objective of recommending harmonization and improvements of such
frameworks.
xv. Develop concept papers, reports, presentations, briefs, legal and
economic opinions to inform decision making in COMESA Financial
Intelligence Units.
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xvi. Any other assignments assigned to him/her to ensure the accomplishment
of the objectives of the Programme on Peace and Security.
Profile of the MASE Coordinator
a) Qualifications and skills
The candidate should possess a Master’s degree from a recognized
university in a relevant field such as Economics, International Relations,
International Conflict Management, Diplomacy or Security studies, and at
least ten years of relevant working experience.
b) Professional Experience
The candidate should have professional experience in Economics, and
Security related fields and also demonstrate practical knowledge in legal
matters, International Relations and Diplomacy. The candidate should
also be well versed with developmental issues.
An Economic degree should be supported with demonstrated knowledge
on security matters where certification on AML, CFT criminology,
international relations, Diplomacy, ethics and anti-corruption and
economic crime, will be an added advantage.
A Security/International relations or Diplomacy degree should be
supported by demonstrated knowledge on economics where a first degree
in a business related area will be an added advantage.
The ideal candidate also be conversant with the security, political and
economic environment in COMESA member states and have a sound
appreciation of all COMESA Programmes.
The candidate should have very strong inter-personal skills, good writing
and analytical skills and be conversant with computer software.
(c)
Language
The candidate should be conversant with English, Arabic or French while
a working knowledge of one of the other languages will be an added
advantage.
V.
Duration and Location
The MASE Coordinators’ position is for a four-year term and will be based at the
COMESA Secretariat in Zambia. The position will also include travel to
COMESA member states.
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VI.
Reporting
The candidate shall work under the supervision of the Head of Governance
Peace and Security.
B.
JOB TITLE :
GRADE
:
Finance Specialist
P3
Expected Results
The Finance Specialist will be expected to provide support for the financial
aspects of the programme, while at the same time ensuring coherence and
providing guidance on finance matters to other programmes under the
Governance Peace and Security.
Functions
Under the direct supervision of the Director of Budget and Finance, the Finance
Specialist shall perform the following duties:
Specific Tasks
The specific tasks for the Finance Specialist will include the following:
a) Maintain accounting records of MASE, GPS and other assigned projects
in the Sun Accounting System for timely submission to Management and
to the relevant cooperating partners;
b) Prepare replenishment requests (with the relevant monitoring of previous
payments, contractual requirements etc) for the signature of the relevant
Authorising Officers;
c) Assist in the preparation of project documents, work programmes and the
corresponding budgets in the Annual Work Programme and Budgeting
System of the Secretariat;
d) Monitor disbursement of funds with regard to meetings, workshops, goods
and services; and ensuring that each payment is released on time;
e) Participate in the successful implementation of programme activities eg
seminars, meetings, etc
f) Assist in the preparation of accurate monthly and annual financial reports
for MASE, GPS and other assigned projects;
g) Monitor cash flows on the MASE programme account and other assigned
projects
h) Maintaining the Fixed Asset inventory and depreciation schedules that are
maintained on sun Accounting Software;
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i) Maintaining the creditors and debtors ledgers and ensuring that payments
are effected or received on time.
j) Perform any other related duties that may be assigned by the Director of
Budget and Finance from time to time.
IV.
Profile of the Finance Specialist
a) Qualifications and skills
The candidate should also possess either a MBA or a Master of Finance
degree from a recognized university and holder of a professional
accounting qualification, ACCA or CIMA
b) Professional Experience
The candidate should have at least 5 (five) of professional experience in
financial accounting and financial management in an international
organisation.
c) The candidate should have very strong inter-personal skills, good writing
and analytical skills and be conversant with computer software.
V.
Duration and Location
The Finance Specialist Position is for a four-year term and will be based at the
COMESA Secretariat in Zambia. The position will also include travel to
COMESA member states.
VI.
Reporting
The candidate shall work under the supervision of the Director of Budget and
Finance.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE POSTS
1.
Type of Contract: COMESA non-established professional staff
service contracts. Remuneration will be in accordance with COMESA
conditions of service for non-established professional staff.
2.
Remuneration: Remuneration will be calculated on the basis of
background and professional experience and will be determined
according to the level indicated against each post.
3.
Terms of appointment: The successful candidates will be contracted
for twenty four (24) months renewable up to 14th July 2018 depending
on satisfactory performance.
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4.
Expected time for commencement of services: The successful
candidates are expected to commence work in November 2014
5.
Legal form for competitors: Only Nationals of countries (ACP and
EU) that are signatories to the Cotonou Agreement of 23rd June 2000
are encouraged to apply.
6.
Final date for receipt of applications: 19th September 2014
7.
Addresses: Applications may be submitted by e-mail or fax) to:
The Secretary General
COMESA Centre
Ben Bella Road
P O Box 30051
10101 Lusaka
Zambia
Fax: (260 1) 227318
E-mail: recruitment@comesa.int with copies to e-mail address:
abinda@comesa.int;
8.
Applications should contain the applicant’s Curriculum Vitae, present
and permanent address, telephone and fax numbers and e-mail. The
C.V
format can be downloaded from the COMESA Website
http://www.comesa.int/vacancies
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