Sub-Saharan Africa Program Coordinator – Temporary

Company Description

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation comprised of 38 member countries, that works to build better policies for better lives. Our mission is to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. Together with governments, policy makers and citizens, we work on establishing evidence-based international standards, and finding solutions to a range of social, economic and environmental challenges. From improving economic performance and creating jobs to fostering strong education and fighting international tax evasion, we provide a unique forum and knowledge hub for data and analysis, exchange of experiences, best-practice sharing, and advice on public policies and international standard-setting.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is an intergovernmental organisation committed to advancing security of energy supply, economic growth and environmental sustainability through energy policy co-operation. The IEA operates as an autonomous body within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Both the OECD and the IEA seek opportunities to work with an increasing number of non-members of growing importance to the world economy. The Agency aims to foster the contribution of the energy sector to economic development and environmental sustainability across the globe.

The IEA sub-Saharan Africa Programme has been expanding over the past few years, with a rising number of IEA analyses and reports, with deeper relations and collaboration with governments and energy stakeholders from the continent, including through both high- and technical-level events involving participants from sub-Saharan African or held in sub-Saharan African. Four countries in sub-Saharan African are part of the IEA family as Association countries: Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa.

The core missions of the IEA sub-Saharan African Programme include leading the IEA’s institutional engagement with sub-Saharan African counterparts—with a strong focus on Association countries—coordinating cross-agency work on sub-Saharan Africa, and delivering specific publications and projects. These include reports such as In-Depth Reviews of Energy Policies, commentaries, and major events, covering topics such as Clean Cooking, Energy Efficiency, Efficiency Policy Training Week, and People-Centred Transitions.

The IEA seeks a Sub-Saharan Program Coordinator to join a team of enthusiastic professionals in the Division for Europe, Middle-East, Africa and Latin America (EMAL), which sits within the Office of Global Energy Relations (GER). The Sub-Saharan Africa Program Coordinator will report to the Sub-Saharan Program Manager, and will assist the Sub-Saharan Africa Programme desk on the below activities:

Job Description

Main Responsibilities

• Carry out research and analysis to support IEA’s work on and with the region, including on the energy sector and energy-related updates, the broader context and political and geopolitical developments, as well as other trends relevant for IEA analyses and for the engagement with key stakeholders.
• Support ongoing and expanding engagement and relationship building with stakeholders from sub-Saharan Africa, including through the facilitation of meetings, accompanying relevant delegations in IEA activities and displaying diplomatic and cultural sensitivities.
• Contribute to the organisation of activities under relevant work programmes, including physical events in Paris as well as in SSA and remote engagement, both IEA high-level events and technical workshops.
• Draft briefs, memoranda and other supporting documents in relation to IEA activities in sub-Saharan Africa, notably for the Global Energy Relations Division and the Executive Office of the IEA.
• Support the SSA Desk with reporting and other administrative requirements, such as tracking and reporting requirements under the Clean Energy Transitions Programme (CETP).
• Contribute with the preparation of documents, presentations and other inputs required for the activities of IEA’s committees such as the Standing Group on Energy Dialogue, among others.
• Support with analytical work, both qualitative and quantitative, peer review of IEA reports with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa and collaborate with other IEA teams to incorporate sub-Saharan African perspectives and sensitivities into IEA analytical outputs.
• Contribute to the communication efforts of the IEA and the sub-Saharan Africa Programme, including
  • drafting letters on behalf of the Executive Director and the Deputy Executive Director to sub-Saharan African counterparts,
  • producing a quarterly external newsletter, and social media coverage of IEA Africa activities.

Qualifications

Ideal Candidate Profile

Academic Background

• A university degree(s) in a relevant discipline (e.g. economics, energy policy, environment, international relations, African studies or related field would be ideal).

Professional Background

• At least 5 years’ experience, including internships, on energy policy topics focusing on Sub-Saharan African countries;
• Experience in research and analysis; drafting policy or briefs; and analysing complex geopolitical developments , particularly on the energy sector.
• Experience working with Sub-Saharan African governments and interacting with key stakeholders across the region. Prior experience with diplomatic tasks would be an advantage.

Core Competencies

• OECD staff are expected to demonstrate behaviours aligned to six core competencies which will be assessed as part of this hiring processes: Vision and Strategy (Level 1); Enable People (Level 1); Ethics and Integrity (Level 1); Collaboration and Horizontality (Level 1); Achieve Results (Level 1); Innovate and Embrace Change (Level 1).
• To learn more about the definitions for each competency for levels 1-3, please refer to OECD Core Competencies.

Languages

• Fluency in one of the two OECD official languages (English and French) and knowledge of, or a willingness to learn the other.
• Working knowledge of another language (such as Portuguese or Swahili) would be an advantage.

Additional Information

Additional information

Closing Date

• This vacancy aims for a start date as of October 2026, and applications should reach us no later than 23 August 2026 23:59 CET (Paris time).

Contract Duration

• 12 months – temporary contract
• Ideal start date: October 2026

Salary Information

• Monthly gross salary starts from 3150 EUR

Selection Process

For retained candidates, the selection process may include a job-based assessment and interviews.

The OECD is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes the applications of all qualified candidates who are nationals of OECD member countries, irrespective of their racial or ethnic origin, opinions or beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, health or disabilities.

The OECD promotes an optimal use of resources in order to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. Staff members are encouraged to actively contribute to this goal.