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:

• Provision of project support services;
• Provision of support to financial monitoring and reporting;
• Support to knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

Under the supervision of the Project Coordination/Technical Officer, The Project Procurement and Finance Officer has overall responsibility for planning, organizing, executing and reporting on all financial and procurement transactions of the project. Specifically, she/he will:

• Manage project cash controls as well as maintain book keeping up-to-date;
• Ensure maintenance of the general and subsidiary ledgers;
• Track expenditure and maintain relevant cash reserves;
• Ensure all expenses of the project are within assigned project budget;
• Oversee the preparation of all financial statements, invoices, proposals, etc., of the project as required;
• Ensure account receivables and payables activities are performed accurately and timely;
• Ensure that financial transactions of the project are properly updated and recorded;
• Manage the preparation of balance sheets, income statements, expense reports, etc.;
• Ensure data integrity in all financial reporting;
• Update financial records of the project with recent transactions and changes;
• Perform finance analysis, reporting and management tasks of the project;
• Identify and resolve invoicing issues, accounting discrepancies and other financial related issues;
• Review financial paperwork and procedures and make appropriate changes;
• Ensures the timely delivery of quality project products at the lowest possible cost;
• Ensure full compliance of procurement activities with GOG and UNDP rules, procedures and regulations;
• Elaborate proposals and implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies in consultation with Project Coordination Unit;
• Conduct a comparative analysis on supplier prices;
• Review and evaluates the performance of the suppliers;
• Carry out all necessary procurement activities and ensure proper processing of assigned customer orders;
• Verifies that the required quantity of order is within the agreed budget;
• Collaborate with Project Coordination Unit when processing the orders;
• Submits final invoices to the Project Coordination Unit;
• Perform other duties as required.

Impact of results:

• The key results have an impact on the execution of the CO project support services management in terms of quality and accuracy of work completed.  Accurate data entry, presentation of information and client-oriented approach enhances UNDP capability in provision of project support services.

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:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business/financial management or a related discipline with a recognized accounting certification or is working towards an accounting certification.

Experience:

• Minimum five (5) years of relevant work experience that demonstrates increasing levels of responsibility and includes at least two (2) years of experience in a similar setup;
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Excel and Word software is required, and computerized accounting systems (e.g. the TOMPRO, FINEXPP) is desirable;
• Familiarity with contract and financial procedures of the UNDP/Government of Ghana is preferred, and knowledge of Government of Ghana administrative procedures is desirable;
• Possess good organizational skills and able to work independently;
• Good writing and speaking skills in English are required; and the ability to communicate in a local language would be beneficial;
• Good interpersonal skills, proficient in interacting with Government officials, with international organizations and grassroots level community members;
• Experience in working and collaborating within governments 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.

Technology Profieciency:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Outlook, etc).