• Component 1: Job creation for the youth, women and local communities and equal access to employable skills development: The first set of activities will aim at creating jobs. Local authorities and communities will be supported in the identification of needs in priority sectors and in planning investments accordingly. 
  • Component 2: Improved access to finance: The second set of activities will start with a gender-sensitive skills gap analysis in the priority sectors.

The Ghana programme will contribute to addressing the root causes of irregular migration through green and climate resilient local economic development and improving future prospects of beneficiaries, by creating employment and enterprise opportunities in selected sectors and regions (Ashanti and Western). The action aims at supporting job creation in regions of departure, transit and return of Ghana, creating local financial ecosystems that facilitate the development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and enabling the transition of local economies to green and climate resilient development. 

The Ghana programme will be implemented in conjunction with SNV, using their model for youth entrepreneurs ‘Opportunities for Youth Employment (OYE) programme’, SNV’s most advanced multi-country programme thus far, which targeted 27,000 rural out of school youth in Tanzania, Rwanda and Mozambique. The programme has been implemented in the agriculture and renewable energy sectors. Currently, OYE has become a global SNV product and new OYE projects have started in other countries, such as Mali and Niger, both funded by EUTF.

SNV will support Result 2 “Employability of youth, women and returnees are improved through orientation support and assistance, to transition to skills development, for the benefit of green and climate resilient local economies” and Results 4 “SMEs, offering decent and sustainable jobs to youth, women and returnees, are incubated and/or accelerated and contribute to green and climate resilient local economies” whilst working closely with the two other result areas.

The main results under the Ghana Specific UNCDF-EUTF agreement are following:

  • Result 1 (R1): Local economies are stimulated and short-term job opportunities for youth, women and returnees are created through green and climate resilient investments. 
  • Result 2 (R2): Employability of youth, women and returnees are improved through orientation support and assistance, to transition to skills development for the benefit of green and climate resilient local economies (cash for work beneficiaries). The activities under Result 2 will facilitate prospective cash for work beneficiaries from the targeted MMDAs to be called upon to apply, and returnees included among the list of prospective beneficiaries. 
  • Result 3 (R3): Increased access and usage of financial services, leveraging remittances and digital solutions, adapted to the needs of (i) youth, women and returnees benefiting from cash for work schemes and (ii) local communities and MSMEs. 
  • Programme management (30%)
  • Team management (20%)
  • Policy, regulatory and technical advice to government counterparts and key stakeholders (30%)
  • Knowledge management and communication (10%)
  • Networking and partnership building (10%)
  • Builds effective and efficient partnerships at the operational level with national counterparts and EU Delegation to coordinate activities in country;
  • Manage and monitor the implementation of the programme, including through the effective use of ATLAS ; 
  • Manage the risk log of the project; 
  • Lead the preparation and timely submission of comprehensive technical and financial reports in line with contractual agreements Provides inputs for semi-annual reporting;
  • Coordinate the implementation of audits, mid-term and final evaluations of the programme;
  • In Gambia, the incumbent will be overseeing the day to day grant implementation of the activities on Technical Vocational   Education and Training (TVET) and informal skills training and apprenticeship under Component 1 by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and ensure contribution to the overall project implementation, monitoring and evaluation and reporting.
  • In Ghana, the incumbent will be overseeing the day to day implementation of the activities of Results 1, 2 and 3 and ensure contribution to the overall programme implementation, monitoring and evaluation and reporting in close collaboration with SNV.
  • Coordinate and plan HR needs to ensure highest technical advice to Programme’s stakeholders in all relevant components
  • Provide effective strategic and technical direction to and empowerment of supervisees, including through coaching and mentoring.
  • Role-modelling of UN values and encouraging supervisees to act ethically both in their relationships with each other and in the business decisions and actions they take.
  • Ensure effective performance management of supervisees (incl. annual individual performance plans of supervisees completed on time; regular meetings with supervisees organized during the year to monitor progress towards agreed goals, provide feedback and support; annual reviews (mid-term and annual) held on time; facilitating learning and development );
  • Support to supervisees in implementing various arrangements in place to ensure their safety and security and in maintaining their health and well-being. 
  • Provide policy, regulatory and technical advice to government counterparts at central and local levels; 
  • Lead the technical dialogue and provision of policy and technical advisory services to national and local government counterparts in relation to green jobs, women and youth employment including cash for work activities or equivalent;
  • Lead the technical dialogue and provision of policy and technical advisory services to national and local government counterparts in relation to decentralization and climate change, climate finance and (direct) access to international climate finance and (e.g. through accreditation to the Green Climate Fund);
  • Lead the technical dialogue and provision of policy and technical advisory services to national and local government counterparts in relation access to finance, in particular in Gambia support the development of a National Financial Inclusion Task Force (NFITF) and assist the Central Bank of the Gambia in establishing a financial inclusion database and reporting mechanism consistent with the objectives of the NFIS and build capabilities within CBTG to generate financial inclusion reports to be shared with NFITF, country and regional stakeholders;
  • Identify key knowledge constraints and organize learning, knowledge exchange, training, workshops, etc. to build the awareness and capacities n relevant themes (i.e. green jobs, women and youth employment, finance, climate change, etc.);
  • Oversee the implementation of the Communication and Visibility Plan of the programme, in collaboration with project team, partners and technical consultants;
  • Identify, collect, and disseminate best practices and lesson learned from the programme;
  • Manage the process of convening national and regional stakeholders to share lessons learned;
  • In Ghana, the incumbent will oversee the implementation of the Communication and Visibility Plan of the programme, in close collaboration with SNV;
  • Participate in UN country teams, senior management teams, and coordinate the participation of UNCDF in UN communication groups, UN gender team, UN data group and UN network on migration;
  • Serve as the UNCDF focal point in working groups and steering committees on the issue of green jobs, women and youth employment and provide inputs for conducive policy and regulatory environment (e.g. National Financial Inclusion Task Force);
  • Develop strategies to mobilize additional resources based on programme requirements and new opportunities;
  • In Gambia, Maintain close working relationships with the Central Bank of The Gambia, NFITF, and key stakeholders at the micro, meso, and macro levels in order to generate interest in and execution of the national financial inclusion strategy and its key results areas to expand financial inclusion in The Gambia;
  • Organize consultative meetings, seminars and workshops to drive analytical and policy work of the project; 
  • In Ghana, maintain close working relationships with the Central Bank of Ghana and key stakeholders at the micro, meso, and macro levels in close collaboration with the Financial Inclusion Expert, in order to generate interest in and execution of the national financial inclusion strategy and its key results areas to expand financial inclusion in Ghana;
  • Sustainable and equal employment opportunities for youth and women are created 
  • TVET, Skills development and apprenticeship opportunities in line with MSME’s needs are improved and made more accessible to youth and women
  • Regulatory framework on the financial sector improved.

The Programme Management Specialist (PMS), Ghana for the achievement of Programme’s results, namely:

  • Result 1: Local economies are stimulated and short-term job opportunities for youth, women and returnees are created through green and climate resilient investments
  • Result 2: Employability of youth, women and returnees is improved through orientation support and assistance, to transition to skills development programmes, for the benefit of green and climate resilient local economies (cash for work beneficiaries)
  • Result 3: Increased access and usage of financial services, leveraging remittances, adapted to the needs of (i) youth, women and returnees benefiting from cash for work schemes and (ii) local communities and MSMEs

 

Core Competencies:

 

  • A Master’s degree in international development, economics, public/business administration, social sciences, sustainable development and/or climate/environmental studies, or a related field.
  • A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in progressively more responsible positions in project management, green jobs and women and youth employment with result-oriented objectives; out of the five, a minimum of three (3) years’ experience must be on policy, regulatory and technical advisory services with national and local counterparts, preferably in Africa.
  • Previous relevant work experience, working in Africa and/or Least Developed Countries (LDCs) is highly preferable.
  • Work experience with environmental sustainability and climate change and with addressing gender equality as project objective and/or cross-cutting issue in developing countries;
  • Proven experience in project management and supervision of country programmes; with focus on managing for results.
  • Experience in policy, regulatory and technical advice and project management related to the fields of green jobs and women and youth employment including cash for work (C4W) activities or equivalent 
  • Relevant technical experience with policy and regulatory bodies and central and local governments in developing countries
  • Work experience with environmental sustainability and climate change in developing countries; 
  • Experience with addressing gender equality as project objective and/or cross-cutting issue;
  • Understanding of key concepts related to decentralization and local economic development;
  • Knowledge of current developments in inclusive finance for the most vulnerable (women and youth) and understanding of legal and regulatory issues related to financial inclusion, such as “know your customer” and barriers to entry;
  • Solid Understanding of key concepts related to decentralization and local economic development;
  • Knowledge of current developments in inclusive finance for the most vulnerable (women and youth) and understanding of legal and regulatory issues related to financial inclusion, such as “know your customer” and barriers to entry;
  • Strong networking capabilities and ability to associate him/herself with a range of actors (inter alia central and local governments; policy makers; regulators, FSPs, TSPs and donors, local communities, women and youth) with a view to building relations and facilitating links;
  • Proven ability to manage projects and understanding of project management cycles and managing for results;
  • Proven cross-cultural communication, able to function effectively in an international, multicultural environment and manage a team consisting of multiple nationalities;
  • Demonstrated broad knowledge of development issues, especially in the areas of poverty alleviation, women’s economic empowerment and local development.
  • Excellent speaking and proficient writing skills in English are necessary;
  • Excellent analytical skills;
  • Strong general IT skills, including ability to work regularly with MS Office Suite;
  • Experience with a UN organization/agency is desirable.
  • Experience with ATLAS and UNDP Procurement Processes is desired, but not a requirement.
  • Fluency in written and spoken English a must. Knowledge of another UN language in particular French is an asset.    

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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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Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension

This vacancy is archived.

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