National Programme Specialist

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

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.

Job Purpose and Organizational Context

Piracy, armed robbery, drug trafficking and other illegal acts committed at sea plague the Gulf of Guinea with dire economic consequences for its riparian countries, including Ghana. Due to the reduced oil-prices and the weakened oil marked, attacks are no longer only targeting oil theft as previously seen, but also involving kidnappings for ransom, similar to what was experienced in East Africa.

The lack of prosecution related to piracy and armed robbery at sea continues to undermine efforts to combat such crime. It is important for the region to change this trend and ensure that there is no impunity to attacks at sea. The reason why most countries in West Africa are still not at prosecution stage is due to various factors such as limited national maritime capacities, absence of robust legal frameworks, insufficient domestic justice systems, and other factors inhibiting the legal finish of prosecution related to criminal activities at sea.

Further, during a mapping exercise conducted for maritime law enforcement and judiciary in the Gulf of Guinea in 2013, updated in 2020, GMCP identified some of the challenges in responding to maritime crime in the region as lack in maritime law enforcement capacity and national coordination among key entities involved in fighting maritime crime.

The UNODC Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP) is currently implementing various projects including legal reform and capacity building of criminal justice practitioners in Ghana, assisting the authorities in increasing the number of maritime crime investigation and prosecution on piracy, armed robbery and other maritime crime

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the GMCP Regional Programme Coordinator Atlantic Ocean Team the National Programme Specialist will provide substantive and administrative support to the GMCP project. National Programme Specialis will be responsible for innovate development project/programme in a major sector of activity; design project portfolios and promote organization’s capacity as a reliable partner with national counterparts. Ensure coordination of sectoral activities with broader country programme. Advocate on behalf of organization’s goals in Ghana.

Duties And Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

• Participates in the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects, etc.; monitors and analyzes programme/project development and implementation.
• Reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and tracks follow-up actions.
• Performs consulting assignments, in collaboration with the national, regional and international counterparts, by planning facilitating workshops, through other interactive sessions and assisting in developing the action plan the counterpart will use to manage the change.
• Researches, analyzes and presents information gathered from diverse sources.
• Assists in policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies.
• Undertakes survey initiatives; designs data collection tools; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions.
• Prepares various written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.
• Provides substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.
• Undertakes outreach activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Participates in or lead field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc.
• Coordinates activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.).
• Performs other duties as required.

Analysis, Advice and Support

• Identify, analyze potential domestic public and private finance opportunities across different time horizons and advice on how to attract and secure resources from the collective commitment made by developed countries to provide resources to help meet the adaptation and mitigation needs of developing countries.
• Provide strategic and substantive support and advice to implementing and executing entities in order to promote enhanced investment on building a climate resilient green economy
• Initiate and organize periodic Management Committee meetings related with fund allocations and follow up implementation of decisions passed by the committee.
• Identify challenges, opportunities, priorities and needs for the development and implementation of the medium-term strategy, program of work and proposals at sectoral, regional level.
• Make sure that the concerned proponents are provided with a clear explanation on the decision of the management committee and is posted on the web-based platform and/or Registry.
• Participate in negotiations to mobilize external resources from Development partners.

Coordination and Provision of technical and oversight support to the management of the Facility Fund Portfolio

• Coordinate the development of short-, medium- and long-term strategic plans of the Facility, including timely annual and quarterly work plans, whilst taking into account emerging issues.
• Coordinate the review and appraisal of proposals and investment plans submitted by the implementing entities and ensure provision of quality feedback and effective comments.
• Coordinate strategic consultations and discussions with development partners who have already channeled fund to the Facility and those who potentially consider channeling funding through the Facility in the future.
• Review and provide quality feedback and effective comments to periodic sector reports, specifically on reporting against results and including lessons learned.
• Coordinate activities regarding the drafting of contracts, memoranda of understanding and/or other necessary agreements required for the disbursement of funds for approved actions in tranches as well as require progress report prior to each tranche disbursement.
• Coordinate the periodic and ad-hoc result-based monitoring and supervision missions to projects and programs financed by the Facility, based on approved indicators.
• Coordinate the terminal evaluation of projects and programs financed by the Facility by an independent evaluator.
• Ensure that the terms and conditions for financing and the associated modes of operations of the facility are adhered to.
• Lead the preparation of quarterly, annual and financial Facility portfolio reports and submission to contributors and other relevant stakeholders, with a special view to capturing lessons learned and best practices for improving the performance of the facility portfolio.
• Coordinate drafting of TORs for consultancies / services.
• Supervise consultancy works and review and assess products/services provided by consultants and experts counterparts and notify/advise the head of the secretariat on quality and recommend appropriate actions to undertake for improvement of results.

Coordinate the development and implementation of Facility systems, procedures and guidelines

• Coordinate and lead the review and alignment of the Facility program/project proposal templates.
• Coordinate and lead the review and alignment of Facility technical and financial appraisal templates.
• Coordinate the preparation of comprehensive, multi-year and multi-sectoral national Capacity development program.

Provide substantive technical advisory support on the Strategy and Facility related issues

• Provide support and technical assistance to relevant sectors on formulation of gender responsive smart proposals, investment plans and sectoral reduction action plans.
• Provide technical support to sectors and result based monitoring and evaluation.
• Support activities and strengthen capacity for action and delivery of results at the sectoral and regional levels, including through inter-regional, inter-sectoral and public-private-community cooperation for the reduction of the cost of vulnerability.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates commitment to UNODC’s mission, vision and values.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional Competencies

Management and Leadership

• Good managerial and leading skills.
• Demonstrate strong coordination and organizational skills.
• Ability to work as a part of a team, sharing information and coordinating efforts within the team.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills.
• Consistently approaches to work with energy and a positive and constructive attitude.

Communication

• Good communication skill both in writing and oral including networking and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to persuade and influence others to cooperate.

Client Orientation

• Research potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion.
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines.
• Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients.
• Proven ability to build strong relations with partners, clients for positive feedback.
• Ability to undertake and apply gender analysis to ensure gender equitable solutions.

Partnership

• Build, coordinate and advise on strategic and programmatic partnership.
• Facilitate the engagement of major stakeholders or groups in environment and sustainable development decision making, their access to and sharing of information for effective compliance.

Communication and Outreach

Advise on the development and management of the Facility’s communication strategy, outreach campaigns and activities to raise the Facility’s profile at the national and international levels.

Professionalism

• Demonstrate professional competence and mastery of subject matter.
• Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.
• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively and demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Willing to undertake other assignments as provided by the Head of the Facility

Leadership

• Proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives,
• Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support,
• Drives for change and improvements,
• Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Judgment/Decision-making

• Identifies the key issues in a complex situation.
• Gathers relevant information before making a decision.
• Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them.
• Proposes a course of action based on all available information.
• Checks assumptions against facts.

Education

Required Skills and Experience

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in the fields of criminology, law, public administration, social sciences, political science, international relations or related fields of criminal justice, crime prevention and/or law enforcement is required.

Experience

• Master’s degree with ten (10) years of relevant professional experience.
• At least 2 years in the operational fight against maritime crime, with increasingly high levels of responsibility in the field of law enforcement at national and international level, is required.
• Ability to provide advice to governments on preventing and combating piracy and other maritime crime and the development of adequate policies.
• Working experience in Gulf of Guinea in the field of law enforcement and support to national agencies in charge of countering piracy and other maritime crime, preferably in Ghana and Nigeria.
• Work experience in a United Nations field mission is desirable.
• Experience in facilitating training and mentoring activities in fighting piracy and maritime crime is an asset.
• Working experience in a United Nations field office in a developing country is an asset.
• Management experience in relevant field at the national or international level.
• Experience in the implementation of projects in partnership with national institutions is desirable.
• Strong presentation skills.
• Excellent drafting skills.
• Acute sense of organization as well as entrepreneurial and team spirit.
• Readiness to travel extensively across Gulf of Guinea region.

Language Requirements

• A good command of English, i.e. oral and written skills, as well as excellent drafting skills, are required.

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant Information About UNDP Rosters

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.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Scam warning

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.