Background

There is high agreement by all national and regional scale analyses of vulnerability by various sources including government commissioned reports and independent scholastic research10 that vulnerability especially to drought effects has geographical patterns and socioeconomic associations, with the three northern regions (Northern, Upper West and Upper East regions) the most vulnerable. Similarly, the adaptive capacity of these three northern regions is the lowest nationwide due to low socioeconomic development and heavy dependence of local economies and livelihoods on rain-fed systems such as agriculture and forestry.  Decreasing annual rainfall and increasingly erratic rainfall patterns, due to climate change, are adversely affecting rural livelihoods in northern Ghana especially agricultural and pastoral practices. Such decreases in annual rainfall with erratic patterns are also expressed as drought and flooding posing enormous challenges to local communities to deal with such extreme events. The Government of Ghana (GoG), through the Adaptation Fund financed Program titled “Increased resilience to climate change in northern Ghana through the management of water resources and diversification of livelihoods” aims therefore at addressing climate change-induced decreases in the availability and increasing unpredictability of water resources, and the associated negative impacts of these trends on the livelihoods of rural communities.

The main objective of the programme is to enhance the resilience and adaptive capacity of rural livelihoods to climate impacts and risks on water resources in the northern region of Ghana. The objective will be achieved through key results centered on the improvement of water access and also increase institutional capacity and coordination for integrated water management to support other uses of water resources especially for the diversification of livelihoods by rural communities. This will be done so by delivering the following four complementary outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Improved planning and management of water resources taking into account climate change impacts on surface and groundwater sources;
• Outcome 2: Climate resilient management of water resources by communities in Northern Ghana;
• Outcome 3:Enhanced diversification of livelihoods of communities in northern Ghana.

 The project will be executed by the Ministry of Environment, Science, technology and Innovation of Ghana and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in close cooperation with sectoral ministries, NGOs and the private sector.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

• Technical services in areas related to community-based capacity building, livelihood assessment, and climate change adaptation and water resource management;
• Building strategic partnerships;
• Networking;
• Substantive technical innovation;
• Support to knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

Under direct supervision of the Project Coordination/Technical Officer, the Project Technical Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

• Ensure effective logistical arrangements and coordination between all the actors in the Project for the prompt and effective implementation of the program activities;
• Assist in the overall administrative matters of the project, such as registry and maintenance of project files and records;
• Ensure collection and disseminating of information pertaining project’s dynamics along the operational management PCU;
• Prepare routine correspondence and maintain project correspondence and communication, as well as receive, screen and distribute correspondence;
• Assist in logistical organization of meetings, site visit, and working groups and workshops, by preparing agendas, appointments and meetings both internal and external relations and write minutes from the meetings;
• Support knowledge management and information sharing among project staffs and stakeholders;
• Assist in gathering knowledge and data from surveys in relation to scientific research based on the project objectives;
• Assist in dissemination of project  information reports to and responding to queries from concerned stakeholders;
• Participate in site visits to understand the ground situation and prepare field reports; 
• Assist the project team to conduct post-completion evaluation of the project;
• Provide administrative  support to the members of the PCU, Technical Working Groups and other consultants in the implementation of their tasks for the achievement of project results;
• Maintain records on all project personnel and local consultants and their respective status in accordance with accepted policies and procedures;
• Determine need for procurement and supply of office supplies, equipment and establish and maintain office files, logs, index, control index or other information concerning the work under the supervisor’s control, and maintain inventory for repair and maintenance services;
• Assist the Project Technical Officer in the preparation of TORs,  and in the recruitment processes and agreements/ MoUs with partner organisations;
• Assist in prepare requests for advance of funds and/or direct payments and follow-up on timely disbursements, and submit expenditure and program budget status reports;
• Assist in responding to queries from the GoG, stakeholders and UNDP with respect to implementation of the project programmes;
• Assist in the preparation and timely submission of quarterly, progress and annual project implementation review reports and other monitoring reports as may be required;
• Perform as secretary to meetings with partners and stakeholders and to monitor follow up actions on decisions taken;
• Prepare routine correspondence and memoranda for Project Director signature. 

Impact of results:

• Technically robust quality of project interventions and knowledge products.

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 (at least at Master’s level) in any area relevant to climate change adaptation projects and programmes: i.e. Natural Resource Management (e.g. CZM, water), Environmental Sciences, Economics, Social Sciences, etc. or closely related field;

Experience:

• At least five-years of experience in development and environment (climate change);
• Demonstrated successful experience in project/programme management experience;
• Working experience with ministries and national institutions is an asset;
• Previous experience/familiarity with UNDP, international donors or with GEF/UN/AF projects is an asset.

Language requirements:

• Excellent knowledge of English including writing and communication skills and;
• knowledge of one local language of the project implementation areas would be an asset.