Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Strategic Plan (2022-2025) embraces the complexity of development and commits the organization to helping countries find faster, more durable solutions to achieve Agenda 2030. Development trends like urbanization and climate change pose significant challenges to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).The UNDP Ghana Country Programme [2023-2027] is
focusing its development interventions based on two pillars : Pillar 1:
accountable, inclusive and responsive governance and social cohesion; and
Pillar 2: sustainable, resilient and inclusive growth and structural transformation. UNDP has also incubated strategic initiatives to ensure its ‘fitness for purpose’ to deliver new development solutions. These initiatives include the
UNDP Accelerator Lab (AccLab) Network, which serves 115 countries including
Ghana. Under the sustainable, resilient and inclusive growth and structural transformation pillar, the Environment and Climate Portfolio of UNDP Ghana continuous to facilitate access to innovative tools, approaches and technologies developed and tested around the world to help communities (particularly in highly degraded rural areas) adapt to climate change, reduce vulnerability to disasters, promote environmental conservation, support the private sector to make production more environmentally sustainable, and enhance private sector involvement in inclusive markets and the delivery of green products and services. The latter includes a focus on youth-led innovative business models. In response to the youth-led innovative business modes, UNDP Ghana has recently to rolled-out the Young Africa Innovates (YAI) Programme in Ghana which aims to develop an innovative system to generate, identify and scale youth-led solutions to spur employment and unearth grassroot solutions and innovation to tackle the complex planetary challenges. This initiative is also in line Environment and Climate Portfolio work which supports community-based innovation in addressing global environmental issues and improved, more sustainable livelihoods through initiatives led by civil society and community organizations.
In the context of UNDP portfolio approach to addressing complex and interrelated development changes, the YAI and other projects with the Environment and Climate Portfolio in particular the green economy projects are now integrated to drive maximum impacts. In view of this, UNDP seeks to recruit a Project Officer whose additional responsibility is to provide project management support for the YAI and other similar projects with the Environment and Climate Portfolio. The Project Officer will be a member of the Environment and Climate Portfolio. S/he will be the focal person for the management of selected projects, as assigned by the team leader. With cross-sectoral and integrated approach, ECC focuses its interventions in the sectors including sustainable energy, forestry, agriculture, waste and chemicals management, and small-scale artisanal mining.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Programme Management: (30%)
- Supports implementation and development of UNDP’s programme on environment and climate including the YAI programme.
- Monitors project activity implementation and progress and ensure that the agreed deliverables are met.
- Provide project management and technical support to the implementation of the programme.
- Supports design and formulation of CO programme within the area of environment and climate, translating UNDP’s priorities into local interventions, in line with CPD. Coordinate programme implementation with the executing agencies.
- Supports initiation of a project, finalization of contribution agreement; determination of required revisions; coordination of the mandatory and budget re-phasing exercises, closure of projects through review.
- Provides financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of operational and financial problems, and development of solutions. Participates in audit of NEX projects.
- Follows up on audit recommendations.
Technical and policy support (20%)
- Assist in review and comment on relevant submissions of the project reports to improve the technical quality.
- Support evidenced-based planning and decision-making for UNDP’s programme on environment and climate.
- Identifies sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identifies and makes synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme country policy goals relating to environment and climate.
- Contributes to the preparation of drafts of technical policy advice and programme support documents in the area of environment and climate.
Administrative Assistance (30%)
- Supports preparation of ECC portfolio work plans and facilitate of coordination of project implementation at the portfolio level.
- Supports updated project information in QUANTUM.
- Supports project audit and facilitate access by auditors to project documentation, personnel, and institutions involved in the project.
- Supports organization of HACT assurance activities, including spot checks and programme visits.
- Regularly advises Implementing Partners or Responsible Partners on HACT related issues.
- Initiates procurement actions for ICs, goods, works and services according to procurement plans.
- Compiles supporting documents for procurement processes and ensures that supporting documents are complete.
Knowledge Building and management (15%)
- Synthesize and document lessons learnt and best practices in programme.
- Develop success stories and articles to communicate UNDP’s achievements.
- Contributes to the provision of top-quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management.
- Makes sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
Strategic partnerships and resource mobilization (15%)
- Establishes and maintains good working relationships with the relevant public and development partners of projects he/she is assigned to.
- Identifies and works with key partners/stakeholders to ensure synergies with other projects/initiatives and to avoid duplication of activities among actors.
- Identifies opportunities for mobilizing resources for UNDP’s programme on environment and climate and prepares substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation.
Institutional Arrangement
The Project Officer will be a member of the Environment and Climate Portfolio and will report to Team Lead/Programme Specialist, Environment and Climate Portfolio.
Competencies
Core Competencies
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work.
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking.
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning.
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process.
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously.
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build and/or /maintain coalitions/partnership.
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.
Functional/Technical competencies
Business Direction and Strategy
- Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions.
Business Direction and Strategy
- Business Acumen: Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks.
Business Development
- Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.
Business Management
- Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
Business Development
- Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
2030 Agenda: Planet
- Nature, Climate and Energy: Chemicals and Waste management: practical application.
2030 Agenda: Planet
- Disaster Risk Reduction and Recover: Disaster Recovery Policy, Planning and Programming.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Development Studies, Social Science, Environment, or a closely related field is required.
- A first level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in a relevant field with combination of two additional years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of master’s degree.
Experience:
- Minimum 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of demonstrable project/programme management experience is required.
Required skills:
- Progressive experience in demonstrable programme management related to environmental and climate issues.
- Highly developed computer skills.
Desired skills:
- Demonstrable experience in policy analysis, knowledge product development, stakeholder and partnership engagement, and Programme development in relation to environment and natural resources, climate change.
- Excellent analytical and organizational skills/experience.
- Strong communication skills/experience, both written and oral.
- Partnerships and resource mobilization experience.
Language:
- Fluency in English and local language is required.
Disclaimer
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
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