National Project Coordinator at UNDP

This position is open to Ghanaian nationals only. Female qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply

Background

• The effective management of conventional arms particularly Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and their ammunition is one of the major global prerequisites for peace building, sustainable development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Peace and security challenges particularly in West Africa are primarily about preventing conflicts and bringing development. A major lesson UNDP learned over the years is that where small arms and armed violence dominate, development suffers. The fight against the trafficking of small arms and light weapons and Improvised Explosives Devices (IED”S) continues to prove a major challenge to the growth and development path for many countries despite earlier initiatives undertaken by different partners, UNDP, EU ECOWAS and government to provide support to member states. Post-election violence, recurrent armed violence, resurgent of the Boko Haram, activities of bandits, kidnappers and other organized crimes are a manifestation of the easy availability of SALW in the sub region.
• Thus, UNDP has a Regional Small Arms project, which seeks to support ECOWAS in its capacity to effectively address factors of instability and reinforce a proactive approach to peacebuilding, conflict prevention and resolution in West Africa. Specifically, the Small Arms Project seeks to advance implementation of the component “Practical Disarmament” of the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework in Member-States (ECPF) in line with the ECOWAS convention on small arms. The intervention to be implemented by UNDP Ghana Country Office will support the implementation of the Peace Security and Stability Mandate (PSSM) of ECOWAS through the regional project.
• The position is under the overall supervision of the Regional Coordinator/Team Lead of the Regional Small Arms project, and the incumbent will be primarily responsible for supporting the coordination of the activities of the Germany Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) project, and other SALW/WAM Projects in Ghana. The incumbent will provide support to the Regional Lead in coordinating the activities of the project to ensure smooth implementation of project deliverables and under the matrix supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative and the Team Leader Governance in UNDP Ghana or his/her designate to deliver on project results and ensure prompt reporting in line with the Programme and partnerships agreementshe

Duties and Responsibilities

The key results of the post are:

• Coordinated partnerships between relevant stakeholders i.e. ECOWAS, European Union, GFFO, and in liaison with UNDP SALW regional office and in the project countries;
• Coordinated efforts of the respective project countries in the MRU and Sahel to deliver significant reduction in the proliferation of Small Arms and Light weapons and substituting them with concrete development interventions which affect livelihoods positively;
• Strengthened capacity of NATCOMs to perform their functions in accordance with the provisions of the ECOWAS convention on small arms.

The position requires close coordination with project staff members in other countries of project implementation (Burkina Faso, Cote d’ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone) to ensure smooth project implementation.

Responsibilities

1. Support overall coordination of implementation of work plans for the Small Arms Project in-country.

• Coordinate and manage day-to-day administration and project implementation, providing direction and validating project deliverables of the NATCOM in Ghana for the approval by the National Technical Committee.
• Support national coordinators to formulate Annual Work Plans to ensure efficient implementation of project deliverables.
• Ensure the effective implementation of the project activities through the provision of appropriate guidelines and development of project personnel in accordance with UNDP’s policies and procedures.
• Provide support to the regional team lead in the coordination of Steering committee meetings composed of high-level representation from the European Union, ECOWAS, GFFO and UNDP.
• Ensure preparation of projects progress reports as well as accurate financial reporting on all the project to steering committee
• Ensure the provision of quality assurance for the project in-country and takes responsibility for monitoring project deliverables based on the quarterly reports.

2. Provide effective support to management of the project, :

• Creation of required project entries in Atlas, preparation of required budget revisions, revision of project and output status, determination of unutilized funds, operational and financial close of a project.
• Provision of guidance to the implementing partners on routine implementation of projects.
• Presentation of information for audit, supports implementation of audit recommendations.
• Quality control of project implementation in line with the UNDP’s policy on publishing project data to the global standard on International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI), i.e. update baselines, indicators, targets and results for all outputs under the Small arms project.

3. Support coordination of project reporting in line with donor agreements and ensure accurate communication of development results;

• Provide project guidance in the coordination of Technical Committee meetings composed of representation from the ECOWAS, EU. GFFO, NATCOMs, CSOs and relevant stakeholders.
• Provide support on ensuring high quality project reports, quarterly and annually for partner in line with donor reporting guidelines.
• Support the regional team lead and serve as liaison between UNDP and partners to ensure that national partners such as the NATCOMs and the CSO’s are constantly involved in the implementation and dissemination of information.
• Ensure the development of accurate communication of development results for the project.
• Regularly update UNDP Ghana Senior Management on the progress and any issues of project implementation

4. Support Regional Team Lead to identify strategies for mobilizing resources and partnerships.

• Conduct external and internal analysis for assessing additional opportunities in resource mobilization for respective NATCOMS.
• Actively participate in the implementation of the Partnership and Resource Mobilization
• (PRM) Strategy for the project
• Support regional team lead in the drafting and revision of project concept papers for donors

5. Facilitate communications, knowledge building and knowledge sharing as required by the development partners, focusing on the following results:

• Ensure communication of development results and lessons learned of the project are shared with the partners as well as within UNDP.
• Actively participate to identify and formulate lessons learned and recommendations to be integrated into broader ECOWAS knowledge management efforts.
• Ensure lessons from project are shared as contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Impact of Results:

• The key results of the post are to contribute to deliver significant reduction in the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons and substituting them with concrete development interventions which affect livelihoods positively; and strengthening of the existing NATCOMs to perform their functions in accordance with the provisions of the ECOWAS convention on small arms. Help achieve the regional project objectives and provide sound analytical inputs and advice with respect to coordination of activities involving multinational partners/donors.

Competencies

Results Based Programme Development and Management

• Contributing to results by leading programme implementation in- country
• Coordinate efforts of national partners to ensure quality assurance in project implementation in line with UNDP programming principles
• Support the team to ensure project outputs are achieved in line with desired outcomes
• Provide key support in identifying challenges to programme implementation in Ghana and addressing them.

Identifying and building partnerships

• Support the building of effective networks with partners notably within the NATCOMs in the MRU and Sahel seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda
• Identify needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts especially NATCOMS in the area of resource mobilization and effective partnerships building
• Provide support to selected pilot offices in MRU and Sahel to ensure effective partnerships building

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• In-depth knowledge of the subject-matter
• Demonstrate good knowledge in the area of Conventional Arms particularly Small Arms and Light Weapons, Ammunition and IED’s proliferation as well as the fundamental concepts of related discipline
• Demonstrate sound knowledge of Information Communications Technology (ICT) and applies it in the context of managing programmes, especially ATLAS.
• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.
• Demonstrate good knowledge of communication for development writing and advocacy.
• Good knowledge of International and regional instruments on Conventional Arms particularly Small Arms and Light Weapons and Ammunition management.
• Involved in the implementation of International and regional instruments on Conventional Arms particularly Small Arms and Light Weapons and Ammunition management at the National Level.
• Good understanding of UNDP, ECOWAS, GFFO, EU rules and procedures, financial system and programme implementation module.
• Organization of background information for formulation of, draft project documents, work plans, budgets, proposals on implementation arrangements and effective application of RBM.

Client Orientation

• Contributing to positive outcomes for the client
• Work towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between all actors in the partnerships
• Demonstrate understanding of partner’s perspective and procedures
• Analyze of information on donors, preparation of donor’s profile.
• Solicit feedback on service provision and quality of project delivery.

Professionalism:

• Solid understanding of the work of UNDP
• Demonstrate experience in handling Donor funded Conventional Arms related Projects.
• Demonstrable ability to review contributions agreement and contracts, managing contributions in Atlas.
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated capacity to perform effectively within a multi-cultural work environment.
• Ability to participate effectively in a team based, information-sharing environment, to collaborate and cooperate with others.
• Willingness to accept additional responsibilities as required by the demands of the work.
• Promote ethics, integrity and creating organizational precedents
• Demonstrate political acumen to foster project implementation
• Demonstrate the ability to work in an environment of creativity and innovation
• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills
• Exhibit respect for diversity and divergent views
• Create and promote enabling environment for open communication
• Demonstrate the abilities of an emotionally intelligent person to achieve results
• Ability to work with minimum supervision
• Capacity to prioritize and deliver tasks against tight deadline.
• Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking

Teamwork:

• Work collaboratively with project colleagues from other countries to achieve projects objectives; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; willingness to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with teams decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• Provide programme support to the UNDP Ghana Governance programme and the Country Office.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced University degree (Master’s) in Social sciences, Sociology, International relations, Law, Political Science or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience:

• Background in Conventional Arms particularly Small Arms and Light Weapons project/programme management with five to seven years relevant experience.
• 5-7 years relevant experience at the national or international level of which a minimum 3 years relevant experience in project and budget management, multi-donor relations and Peace and Security, Development. Experience in monitoring and evaluation is an advantage.
• UN or NGO experience required
• Sound knowledge of Conventional Arms, Small Arms and light weapons, Ammunition, IED’s related issues at the United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS sub region is required.
• Good knowledge of UNDP project management procedures is an asset.
• Knowledge of ECOWAS, EU and GFFO project implementation procedures is an advantage.