Senior Programme Officer

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) is an independent, not-for-profit, non-partisan think-and-do tank dedicated to providing strategic analysis, project management, technical advisory services, capacity building and advocacy on democratic and economic governance, human rights, peacebuilding, security sector transformation and sustainable development in West Africa.

Job Summary

• The Senior Programme Officer will support the Head of Programmes in leading CDD’s democratic governance portfolio. The role will contribute to programme strategy, project design, donor engagement, implementation oversight, quality assurance and team supervision.
• The successful candidate will also coordinate programme teams, strengthen delivery systems, support resource mobilisation and ensure that programmes are evidence-based, impactful and aligned with CDD’s priorities.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

The role will focus on the following priorities:

• Support strategic coordination of the democratic governance, peace and security, and people-centred development portfolios, including planning, priority setting, internal communication and alignment with CDD-West Africa’s objectives.
• Lead assigned projects from design to reporting, ensuring timely, compliant and high-quality delivery within approved workplans and budgets.
• Support resource mobilisation through strong concept notes, proposals, budgets, workplans and donor engagement materials.
• Provide technical guidance and quality assurance to staff, consultants and partners, strengthening accountability and consistent delivery.
• Strengthen monitoring, evaluation, learning and research through data analysis, documentation, publications and evidence-based adaptation.
• Build productive relationships with government, civil society, development partners, researchers and communities to advance programme goals.
• Represent CDD-West Africa professionally in meetings, workshops, policy dialogues and public engagements as delegated.

Qualifications and Skills

• Master’s Degree in Political Science, (Political) Sociology, Development Studies, Public Policy, Law, International Relations, Governance, Peace and Conflict Studies or a related field. A higher degree or relevant certification in programme or project management will be an added advantage.
• At least seven years of progressive experience in programme design, implementation, coordination, monitoring and reporting, preferably in democratic governance, peacebuilding, public policy, international development or the non-profit sector.
• Proven experience managing donor-funded projects, supervising teams, coordinating consultants and partners, and supporting proposal development, budgeting, resource mobilisation and donor reporting.
• Strong leadership, analytical, research, policy writing, stakeholder engagement and results-based reporting skills, with the ability to explain complex governance issues clearly to diverse audiences.
• Excellent written and spoken English, strong interpersonal and organisational skills, and proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace and relevant programme management or collaboration tools. Working knowledge of French and/or Portuguese is an added advantage.
• The ideal candidate should combine sound academic grounding with practical programme management experience, strong judgement, collaborative working skills and clear professional communication.

Key Achievements/Performance Expectations:

• Timely, well-coordinated programme delivery, such as approved workplans implemented within agreed timelines.
• High-quality proposals, reports and donor products, including clear submissions that meet partner requirements.
• Stronger programme quality and compliance, supported by accurate documentation, monitoring tools and audit-ready records.
• Improved team performance, reflected in clear task allocation, regular follow-up and stronger accountability for results.
• Enhanced donor and partner confidence through timely updates, responsive communication and reliable delivery.
• Greater visibility for CDD-West Africa’s governance work through policy briefs, events, media engagement and knowledge products.
• Better evidence use in decision-making, including lessons learned applied to improve implementation and demonstrate impact.

Salary and Emoluments

Competitive and commensurate with qualifications, experience and CDD-West Africa’s approved remuneration structure.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should submit a Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae and contact details for three professional referees, to: recruitment@cddwestafrica.org using “Senior Programme Officer” as the subject of the email.

Note: Only complete applications received on or before the deadline will be considered.