UNDP Jobs - 63601- Programme Officer

Programme Officer

Location :

Accra, GHANA

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

01-Apr-2016

Application Deadline :

13-Feb-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. 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.

Background

Equitable energy access and sound environmental management are critical to achieve sustainable development. The United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) (2012-2017) provides support to strengthen the capacity of Ghana to address energy and environmental challenges at national, regional, and local levels, by focusing on key priority areas, such as climate change, disaster risk reduction, energy and biodiversity.

In the area of climate change mitigation and adaptation, the overarching aim of UNDP support is to promote Ghana transition towards a green economy and a low-carbon and climate resilient society. UNDP is also contributing to achieving the Government of Ghana’s twin objectives of securing diverse energy sources, primarily by increasing the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix, and improving energy efficiency. This will be instrumental for Ghana to achieve its goal in becoming a middle income inclusive economy in a sustainable way, in the context of the Secretary General’s Sustainable Energy for All Initiative. UNDP has been the Government of Ghana’s key partner towards shifting the national paradigm from emergency response to disaster risk reduction. Another area of UNDP focus is on biodiversity with the current UNDAF emphasis on preservation of water bodies and afforestation. UNDP will provide support in strengthening policy and regulatory framework for mainstreaming biodiversity into national strategies.

The Programme Officer (Sustainable Development) will be the focal person for the management of selected projects, and will provide programme management and technical/administrative assistance. She/he will directly report to the Cluster Manager of the Sustainable Development Cluster. In order to successfully deliver his/her work, she/he will need to work in close collaboration with the operations team, programme staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP HQs staff and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful UNDP programme implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Programme Management: (50%):

Support implementation and development of UNDP programme on sustainable development (climate change, disaster risk reduction, sustainable energy, biodiversity, etc.);
Monitor project activities and progress and ensure that the agreed deliverables are produced satisfactorily according to plans
Participate in various meetings in the sector, and seek the synergy of other ongoing projects by other development partners.
Implement M&E tools and plans for the Sustainable Development Cluster;
Perform other tasks as required by the Head of Programme and the Head of the Sustainable Development Cluster.

Technical and Administrative Assistance: (35%):

Assist in review and comment on relevant submissions of the project reports to improve the technical quality;
Support preparation of cluster work plans and facilitate of coordination of project implementation at the cluster level;
Support procurement of goods and services (e.g. consultants), as well as administrative work for the cluster.

Resource Mobilization and Strategic Partnerships: (10%):

Support resource mobilization efforts of the government;
Explore possible areas of cooperation and identify opportunities for initiation of new projects.

Knowledge Building and Management: (5%):

Synthesize and document lessons learnt and best practices in programme;
Develop success stories and articles to communicate UNDP’s achievements.

Competencies

Communicating information and ideas:

Communicating clearly and effectively;
Seeking to understand the ideas of others;
Facilitating and encouraging open communication;
Creating an environment for open communication;
Inspiring and persuading others.

Ethics and values:

Taking actions that are congruent with what he/she says;
Reliably delivering on promises and honoring commitments made;
Demonstrating consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN/UNDP in actions and decisions; Demonstrating an appreciation of differences in values and learning from cultural diversity;
Moves from demonstrating sensitivity to encouraging full participation, to leveraging diversity.

Knowledge sharing/continuous learning:

Taking responsibility for self-learning and development;
Actively seeking learning and career development opportunities;
Promoting organizational learning and knowledge management;
Building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.

Organizational awareness:

Understanding, building and using formal/ informal systems and contacts in a complex organizational and global environment to obtain results;
Moves from an ability to use organizational services to assist others, to applying corporate thinking and applying judgment, to building support and finally, demonstrating political acumen.

Self-management and emotional intelligence:

Managing moods, responding effectively to stress, situations of ambiguity or crisis;
Managing relationships with others to achieve mutual benefits. Building an emotionally intelligent organization.

Working in teams:

Working effectively with colleagues in ways that allow the achievement of shared objectives;
Building teams both within existing organizational structures and outside of them. Creating team spirit and unity of purpose across the business unit.

Functional Competencies:

Building strategic partnerships:

Establishing, maintaining, and utilizing a broad network of contacts. Building partnerships and strategic alliances;
Leveraging the resources of national governments and other development partners.

Client orientation:

Understanding and meeting or exceeding client needs;
Anticipating and addressing client needs and concerns;
Developing innovative approaches to meeting client needs. Ensuring overall provision of quality services to clients.

Job knowledge and technical expertise:

Demonstrating and applying professional and/or technical expertise/knowledge of the post or discipline;
Focusing on the knowledge and skill areas necessary to effectively perform the functions of the post; Identifying and seeking to expand knowledge and improve work processes.

Conceptual innovation in the provision of technical expertise:

Supporting UNDP’s advocacy by developing innovative and creative approaches to the provision of technical expertise;
Moves from research to analysis to developing innovative and creative approach to conceptual leadership and championing conceptual innovation.

Creating visibility for UNDP/supporting UNDP’s capacity to advocate:

Ensuring that UNDP has the visibility and corporate image it requires as the key development actor.

Design and implementation of management systems:

Ensuring that UNDP has the internal management systems it requires as the key development actor.

Innovation and marketing new approaches:

Enhance existing processes or products;
Developing original and innovative ideas and approaches;
Integration in a multi-disciplinary environment.

Promoting accountability and results-based management:

Monitoring and promoting practices, procedures and systems that support accountability and results-based management, while also influencing change in the organizational culture;
Results-based programme development and management;
Effectively managing core and non-core resources to achieve UN development results.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in Development, Social Science, Environment, or closely relevant fields.

Experience:

At least two years of experience in programme management in at least one of the areas of work of the Sustainable Development Cluster;
Demonstrated skills in drafting reports, knowledge and competencies/experience in policy analysis and capacity development; Experience in working and collaboration with government donors, NGOs and/or research institutions.

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken English.

Technical Requirements:

Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Outlook, etc.);
Proficiency in Internet Research and Data Gathering.