VACANCY – ASSISTANT FINANCE OFFICER

1. 1. ABOUT WACSOF

The West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) is the umbrella network of civil society organizations (CSOs) from the 15 member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which works to enhance efforts aimed at fostering regional integration and development in West Africa. WACSOF was founded in 2003 with the purpose of channeling the civil society energies towards complimenting the regional integration and development agenda of the ECOWAS. WACSOF envisions a well-organized and vibrant civil society which contributes to the attainment of a stable and prosperous sub-region characterized by respect for democracy and good governance, constitutionalism and rule of law, economic prosperity, social justice and human rights. WACSOF covers 18 thematic areas.

The West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) was created in 2003, with the support and approval of ECOWAS is the institutionalized umbrella network of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) with representations in each of the 15 ECOWAS countries. WACSOF, which is a privileged partner and advisor to ECOWAS and other institutions, is an organization whose members are civil society organizations from West Africa.

2. 2. FUNCTION OF THE DEPARTMENT

The Finance function’s role is to provide a complete accounting and financial management service to enable WACSOF to meet statutory requirements projects and partners objectives and exercise effective financial control. The department is responsible for the overall finances of the organisation and provides a complete financial and management accounting service to enable the organisation to meet the external statutory financial and tax requirements while adhering to internal accounting policies and procedures.

1. a. Financial Accounting
   • - Ensure comprehensive financial accounts are maintained in order to comply with local regulations & corporate governance.
   • - Record all financial transactions by entering them into the accounting system including but not limited to invoices, purchase invoices, supplier payments.
   • - Review the monthly P&L and balance sheet, ensuring that the balance sheet is reconciled on a monthly basis.
2. b. Management Accounting
   • - Manage and review monthly management accounts providing detailed commentary for actual versus budget analysis.
   • - Assist management with the preparation and review of required budgets and forecasts, including the annual corporate budget. Preparation of meaningful statistics, KPIs and variance analysis. Posting of required month end journals such as accruals and prepayments.
3. c. Project Accounting: Manage the project accounting for any delivered project / contracts. Work with project managers to ensure project expenditure incurred in line with budget whilst adhering to all controls. Support in the preparation and submission of partner reports as and when required.
4. d. Treasury: Forecast cash flow positions, related funding needs and available funds for cash-pooling. Ensure that sufficient funds are available to meet ongoing operational and project delivery requirements.
5. e. Payroll: Undertake the preparation of the monthly payroll ensuring all necessary payment adjustments and deductions are efficiently and accurately reflected. Ensure compliance with internal payroll policies as well as local statutory payroll and tax requirements.
6. f. Control function: Ensure that adequate financial and internal audit controls are in place, are aligned with polices and are monitored on a regular basis. Substantiate financial transactions by reviewing and verifying supporting documentation.
7. g. Taxation / Company Secretarial: Ensure that local taxation requirements for the organisation are adhered to including meeting Revenue Authority deadlines (corporation tax, sales tax, withholding tax, payroll etc).
8. h. Fixed Assets: Manage the fixed asset process, ensuring assets are correctly capitalized, depreciated and disposed in line with internal controls and processes.
   
   

3. 3. THE CHALLENGE

WACSOF is looking for a dynamic ASSISTANT FINANCE OFFICER with a high level of integrity, self-driven and competent person, that will help pursuing the effective implementation of WACSOF activities and mandate. This position will be based at WACSOF Secretariat, located in Abuja, Nigeria. The successful candidate should have an intimate understanding of NGO, Civil Society, and project management best practices. The ideal candidate will be able to hit the ground running as soon as he/she starts.

4. 4. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The assistant financial Officer will be responsible for helping the financial officer delivering the promises of the financial department listed in this document:

1. a. Implementing projects. Planning, organising activities as per WACSOF standards. Participation in WACSOF’s Programmatic activities to achieve objectives and mandate
2. b. Work simultaneously on multiple projects and deliver on time
3. c. Providing adequate and timely management information. Preparing Activity Reports in accordance with a prescribed schedule;
4. d. Actively participating in call for proposals, developing proposal budgets, etc.

5. 5. QUALIFICATION

2. a. Minimum of a degree in Accounting, Finance or a related field from a recognized institution plus a professional qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent locally recognized qualification.
3. b. High level of proficiency in MICROSOFT OFFICE (EXCEL, WORD, POWERPOINT)
4. c. Experience with ERP, QUIKBOOK Accounting System
5. d. Minimum 3 years’ professional experience in finance. Knowledge of local tax legislation
6. e. Should be experienced with Donor budgeting and reporting (eg EUROPEAN UNION (EU), USAID, ETC.)
7. f. Experience with major humanitarian donors and donor compliance issues.
8. g. Experience in working with international and national NGOs, Civil Society, ECOWAS
9. h. Proven track record in financial accounts and management reporting
10. i. Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, set priorities and work independently
11. j. Fluency in at least two languages (English, French, Portuguese). Nice to have.

7. 6. THE SKILLS YOU HAVE

1. a. Strong leadership, oral and written communication skills.
2. b. Ability to work in a team (strong task management and team leading competencies);
3. c. Ability to work with a diverse group in a professional service-oriented manner. Cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
4. d. Good work ethic, agility, resilience, honesty, integrity and strong interpersonal skills
5. e. Ability to work under pressure in cross-cultural environment and willing to travel

7. 7. HOW TO APPLY?

1. a. Please send your resume and letter of motivation to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
2. b. Only selected candidates will be contacted. The Work location is Abuja, Nigeria
3. c. The remuneration for this position will be based on the candidate’s experience.
4. d. WACSOF is an equal opportunity employer
5. e. WACSOF web site: wacsof-foscao.org

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

On this day set aside to celebrate women around the world for their immeasurable contributions to development and humanity, we we join our voice with theirs to speak against gender-based ills and we push to BREAK THE BIAS

#BreakTheBias #IWD

2. WACSOF NATIONAL PLATFORMS’ COORDINATION TEAM ELECTION PROCESS

1. 1. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION

As part of its transformation efforts for a couple of years now to enhance its overall governance system to better serve its members and West Africa people; to enhance its relations with ECOWAS and other stakeholders, the West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) has been structuring its national platforms and and renewing or upgrading the platform governance in all countries. This includes the election of a new leadership or coordination team alongside with the implementation of WACSOF thematic groups, aligned with citizen’s needs, as well as ECOWAS departments and activities.

So far, the following ten (10) countries’ have been covered with the establishment of coordination teams and thematic groups: Ghana, Liberia, The Gambia, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo and Guinea-Bissau. The following remaining countries will be completed in the next few weeks right before the General Assembly. The election process is anchored on a workshop on strengthening the engagement of the civil society organisations (CSO’s) with ECOWAS and other stakeholders in each of the countries.

2. 2. OBJECTIVE

The main objective of the event (election component) is:

1. a. To set up an inclusive coordination team for each national platform through a voting session to elect five (5) officers from civil society organisations in each WACSOF national platform to assume the leadership of the national forum;
2. b. To appoint thematic working groups and their leaders.

3. 3. METHODOLOGY

1. a. Candidates applicants shall apply through online process by filing a candidacy form with all the required documents. Here is the link https://forms.gle/rHs86NtQjcszZqLJ8;
2. b. To mainstream gender and diversity, WACSOF encourages the candidacies of Youth and Women
3. c. The coordination team positions shall be occupied by at least 2 representatives of each gender. (Minimum of 2 Males or 2 females over 5). Same for thematic groups
4. d. Candidates shall be declared by WACSOF Regional Secretariat after an assessment of candidacy;
5. e. Candidates will have opportunity to present themselves during the voting day.
6. f. The election shall be through a simple majority secret ballot.
7. g. Should a tie arise, the two candidates with most majority of vote cast in the tie shall be encouraged to nominate one of them for the position.
8. h. In the absence of a consensus, a ten (10) minutes debate competition shall be held between them to determine the winner through participants raise of hands. A topic of the debate shall be determined by the election management team.

4. 4. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR CANDIDATES
5. a. Candidate must apply via the link: https://forms.gle/rHs86NtQjcszZqLJ8
6. b. Accept to work under the leadership, values and rules of the regional secretariat of WACSOF while adapting tools to country realities.
7. c. Citizen of a West African country or its diaspora
8. d. A CSO member from WACSOF web site (wacsof-foscao.org) .
9. e. Void of any conflict of interest and without a criminal record
10. f. Professional and result driven. Passionate about WACSOF and its cause
11. g. For gender mainstreaming purposes, the coordination team position shall be occupied by at least 2 representatives of each gender
12. h. NOTE: The team shall a result driven one. For performance purposes, and in order to deliver values to members and to the country Civil Society, every team member shall be held accountable. Availability, team work, regular participation to team meeting, hard work are some criteria. Annual team and individual performance review shall be implemented and mandatory. Any individual that is not delivering is subject to be terminated and replaced according to agreed performance criteria. Note that meetings are held in capital city. Encouraged to be resident of capital city
13. i. NOTE: In the country of the headquarter of WACSOF regional secretariat, it is obvious that the regional secretariat works with all officials of the country and international partners. In order to avoid any conflict in communications targeting the same stakeholders or officials, and to align views, the communication lead and the coordinator shall work under the leadership of the team of the regional secretariat.

8. 5. ACCREDITATION FOR VOTERS

1. a. To be accredited as voter, CSOs are strongly encouraged to register their organizations on WACSOF following the link: https://wacsof-foscao.orghttp://csohub.org/membership/member/register 
   
2. b. Only registered voters (members) will be allowed to the voting meeting

1. c. No registration at door is allowed. Please refer to ELECTION TIMETABLE for deadlines

6. 6. COMPOSITION OF THE NATIONAL PLATFORM COORDINATION TEAM

The positions for the national platform coordination team shall be as follows:

1. d. A COORDINATOR

Provide leadership and management of the national platform under the guidance and oversight of the General Secretary. Serve as the chief financial officer.

1. e. A DEPUTY COORDINATOR

Serve as the resource mobilization official of the national platform and support the coordinator in the leadership and management of the national platform.

1. f. A FINANCE LEAD

Serve as the financial officer of the national platform. As such, he shall keep the financial books, develop operational and proposal budget; and ensure that WACSOF approach and standards are maintained in a transparent, effective and timely manner.

1. g. A COMMUNICATION LEAD

Lead the communications of the platform with the help of the COMMUNICATION officer of WACSOF Regional Secretariat. Lead the development and management AND GROWTH of the Country’s WhatsApp group. Constantly look for opportunities of media, visibilities for the platform and the General Secretariat. Ensure good visibility of the organization to CSOs, government, the public and all stakeholders.

1. h. A DOCUMENTATION LEAD (SECRETARY)

Classify and archive the documents of the platform. Be the institutional memory of the platform.

1. i. THEMATIC GROUPS LEADERS

Thematic groups and their leaders are constituted largely along ECOWAS Commission programs areas. A total of eighteen (18) thematic groups and leaders are scheduled.

The members of the election management team shall be members of CSOs except the chairman who shall be a consultant with work experience at a Senior Management level in a Nonprofit or Corporate Organization

The election management team members shall remain neutral, not interested in any position or any candidate. The team shall be composed of five (5) members; two at least must be of the opposite gender.

The short list of qualified candidates shall be published on all WACSOF communication platforms before the election day.

8. 8. VENUE

Venue to be precised later via a different communication

11. 9. ELECTION TIMETABLE

Election timetable has been duly set for each of the national platform.

To register as a Member, kindly click:http://csohub.org/membership/member/register 

To register as a Candidate for the election, kindly click: https://forms.gle/rHs86NtQjcszZqLJ8 

COMUNICADO # 2022_002 (PARA DIVULGAÇÃO IMEDIATA)

GOLPE MILITAR EM BURKINA FASO

O FOSCAO, CONDENA GOLPE MILITAR,

LANÇA CHAMADA PELO RETORNO DA GOVERNANÇA DEMOCRÁTICA COM CIVIL 

ABUJA, LE 25 JANVIER 2022 : O Fórum da Sociedade Civil da África Ocidental (FOSCAO), está preocupado com o golpe militar ocorrido na segunda-feira, 24 de janeiro de 2022 em Burkina Faso, que levou à derrubada e prisão do presidente eleito Roch Marc Christian KABORE, à suspensão de a constituição, bem como a dissolução do governo e parlamento de Burkina Faso. Firmemente comprometida com o estado de direito e a democracia, O FOSCAO:

1. 1. Condena veementemente este golpe de força no Burkina Faso;

2. 2. Reafirma a sua preocupação com a recorrência de golpes militares na sub-região da África Ocidental, situação sintomática de um profundo mal-estar, resultante de uma crise de governação e corrupção endémica nos Estados e da politização de exércitos nacionais extremistas que devem permanecer republicanos;

3. 3. Recorda a este respeito as disposições do artigo 1.º, alínea e), do Protocolo da CEDEAO sobre Democracia e Boa Governação, que estabelece que “o exército é apolítico e está sujeito a uma autoridade política regularmente estabelecida”;

4. 4. Solicita, por conseguinte, o restabelecimento da Constituição e do Estado de direito no Burquina Faso, bem como o rápido regresso à governação civil em estrita observância da Constituição e das leis aplicáveis;

5. 5. Recorda aos Estados Membros da CEDEAO a absoluta necessidade de cumprir as leis e regulamentos sobre democracia e boa governação. Instrumentos relevantes como o “Protocolo da CEDEAO sobre Democracia e Boa Governação” e a “Carta Africana sobre Democracia, Eleições e Boa Governação (ACDEG)” devem ser respeitados sem qualquer compromisso.

6. 6. Lança um forte apelo à CEDEAO e aos Chefes de Estado para que se esforcem por uma melhor ligação aos cidadãos, tendo em conta as suas aspirações mais profundas, e que os envolvam activamente e a sociedade civil nos processos de decisão e resolução de litígios. Tal abordagem garantirá, por um lado, que os cidadãos se sintam envolvidos e considerados, o que reduziria as frustrações e revoltas e, por outro, promoverá a eficácia de uma CEDEAO DOS POVOS e não apenas dos Estados, como expressa em sua VISÃO 2020.

7. 7. Exorta também a CEDEAO e todas as partes interessadas nesta crise a trabalharem em conjunto para garantir a paz no Burkina Faso, favorecendo métodos de resolução pacífica de litígios, nomeadamente bons ofícios, mediação, conciliação e facilitação com base no diálogo, negociação e arbitragem.

8. 8. Exorta a CEDEAO a estabelecer uma verdadeira cultura de democracia e boa governação nos Estados-Membros da sub-região da África Ocidental, para retirar ensinamentos da situação política, de segurança e social na região, a fim de melhor apoiar os Estados-Membros em causa e evitar um efeito dominó noutros Estados-Membros. Isso é necessário para curar a imagem da organização entre os povos da África Ocidental e restaurar a confiança entre as partes.

9. 9. Convida a CEDEAO a envolver-se a montante na situação dos Estados em crise, a denunciar e corrigir com a mesma energia os casos de corrupção, má governação, violações dos direitos humanos, bem como ataques às constituições que estão em curso na região e que são fontes de sofrimento e frustração para as populações.

10. 10. Exorta a CEDEAO a uma mudança radical de paradigma na resolução de crises, mantendo-se verdadeiramente conectada com a população.

11. 11. Afirma a sua plena disponibilidade para contribuir, juntamente com a CEDEAO, o povo do Burkina Faso e todas as partes interessadas, para um rápido regresso à ordem constitucional, à paz, ao desenvolvimento económico e à coesão social.

12. 12. Permanece atento à situação no Burkina Faso e convida todas as organizações da sociedade civil a contribuírem para o regresso da ordem constitucional, da paz e da coesão social.

Contacts: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / WhatsApp’s +234 814 438 0226 

SOBRE O FÓRUM DA SOCIEDADE CIVIL DA ÁFRICA OCIDENTAL (FOSCAO)

Com mais de 1000 organizações membros, o FÓRUM DA SOCIEDADE CIVIL DA ÁFRICA OCIDENTAL (FOSCAO) é a rede de cúpula da sociedade civil na África Ocidental, abrangendo 18 áreas temáticas, com representação nos 15 países da CEDEAO. O FOSCAO é o canal institucionalizado para o diálogo entre as organizações da sociedade civil e a CEDEAO. O FOSCAO constrói capacidades, defende, mobiliza a sociedade civil, envolve-se na formulação, implementação, monitorização e avaliação de políticas para uma África próspera, estável e pacífica. Para parceiros institucionais, o FOSCAO é um excelente canal, um balcão único para o envolvimento sistemático entre instituições e organizações da sociedade civil, para resultados impactantes.

www.Wacsof-Foscao.Org