Programme Analyst (nationals only)

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.

Background and Organizational Context

Under The Sustainable, Resilient And Inclusive Growth And Structural Transformation Pillar Of Its Current Country Programme Document For Ghana, UNDP Is Working To

Addressing climate change is one of the key global challenges and priorities for UNDP. Working in over 170 countries and territories, UNDP is uniquely placed to work with all sectors of society to help mobilize the institutions and resources required to support countries implement their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the context of the Paris Agreement. For example, through the Climate Promise initiative, UNDP provides technical support to help 114 countries (including Ghana) take bold action to reduce their emissions, increase their resilience to climate impacts and support sustainable development priorities. Another key initiative is the NDC Support Programme, which is supporting 36 countries (including Ghana) to implement their NDCs and design more ambitious climate targets that are aligned with national development priorities.

Climate change is a key component of UNDP’s programme in Ghana, with a growing project portfolio. Under its Country Programme Document, UNDP aims to strengthen public institutional capacities to reduce environmental degradation and implement climate action, as well as facilitate access to information, knowledge and tools that promote green jobs, citizen participation in environmental conservation, and community resilience. In this regard, UNDP is collaborating with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and other institutions to turn Ghana’s commitments under the Paris Agreement into concrete action, ensuring that climate change is addressed in a wholesome and strategic manner, that plans are gender responsive, and that different strategies are employed to mobilize the financial resources that are needed to implement Ghana’s climate agenda. This area of work includes support to have attractive and realistic financing strategies in place, access vertical funds, take advantage of international cooperation mechanisms outlined in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, as well as build local capacities (including of the private sector) to mobilize climate finance. At the local level, UNDP is helping communities to adapt to climate change and reduce their vulnerabilities to disasters.

Position Purpose

The purpose of the position is to facilitate access to tested innovative tools, approaches, and technologies to help communities embark on climate mitigation approaches, climate adaptation, increase resilience, and promote environmental conservation.

UNDP is collaborating with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, and other Ministries and institutions to strengthen the planning and delivery process for gender-responsive climate action at national and local levels. UNDP works with government to achieve the Nationally Determined Contribution commitments through its localizing and implementation, including promoting policy coherence, and coordinating climate change, disaster risk reduction (DRR), green and circular economy interventions across sectors. UNDP is supporting Government’s drive on the practical implementation of Article 6 Co-operative bilateral approaches across key sectors such as agriculture and waste. In addition, UNDP is building new partnerships and also strengthening already existing ones with civil society organizations (CSOs) to better advocate and support action on inclusive participation for all segments of society, including women and youth in decision-making processes, the management of natural resources, improved waste management, and in energy transition to cleaner fuels and adoption of energy efficient equipment.

Build partnerships with private sector that enhance the capacities of institutions to deliver improved services including MSMEs in support of leveraging additional financing for increased productivity and opportunities for green, inclusive, and equitable decent jobs, particularly for the youth.

UNDP is undertaking targeted and catalytic interventions that have a clear potential to generate best practices to be upscaled and replicated. Drawing on its global expertise and network, UNDP is supporting the private sector to make production/manufacturing more environmentally sustainable and enhance their involvement in inclusive markets and the delivery of green products and services especially to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The Programme Analyst 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 Team Lead on Environment and Climate. 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.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of interconnected nature of development risks & crises that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Key Duties And Accountabilities

Summary of Key Functions:

• Substantively contribute to the implementation of programme strategies
• Ensures effective management of the Country Office (CO) programme.
• Ensure creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy
• Contributes to the provision of top-quality policy advice services to the Government.
• Facilitates knowledge building and management.

Substantively contribute to the implementation of programme strategies

• Identifies areas for support and interventions within the area of environment and climate. Provides technical assistance under these areas.
• Supports the Team Leader in engaging in the United Nations Sustainable Development Partnership (UNSDCF) Result Area 1 on “Inclusive, resilient, sustainable economic growth and transformation”.
• Contributes to the preparation of briefings and speeches for UNDP senior management’s participation in sustainable development related meetings, workshops and conferences.

Ensures effective management of the CO programme within the area of sustainable development assigned, focusing on quality control from formulation to implementation of the country programme

• Contribute to the implementation of UNDP project portfolio on environment and climate.
• Monitor project activities and progress and ensure that the agreed deliverables are produced satisfactorily according to plans. In doing so, effectively apply RBM tools.
• Contribute to the design and formulation of CO programme within the area of environment and climate, translating UNDP’s priorities into local interventions, in line with UNSDCF and CPD. Coordinate programme implementation with the executing agencies.
• Contribute to initiation of a project, finalization of contribution agreement; determination of required revisions; coordination of the mandatory and budget re-phasing exercises, closure of projects through review.
• Provides financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of operational and financial problems, and development of solutions. Participates in audit of NEX projects.
• Follows up on audit recommendations. All exceptions are timely reported.

Ensure building of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy

• Development of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society in the specific thematic areas based on UNDP’s key targets, country needs and donors’ priorities.
• Conducts analysis and research of information on donors, prepares substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identifies opportunities for initiation of new projects, and provides active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization in the area of environment and climate.
• Provides of technical support to UNDP’s participation in relevant donors’ sector working groups as needed.

Contributes to the provision of top-quality advisory services

• Identifies sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identifies and makes synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme country policy goals relating to environment and climate.
• Contributes to the preparation of drafts of technical policy advice and programme support documents in the area of environment and climate including energy.
• Supports development of policies and institutions that will address the national sustainable development problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners.
• Contributes to UNDP’s policy advice to Government for the implementation of Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to UNFCCC.

Facilitation of knowledge building and management

• Makes sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Produces and publishes opinion pieces, blogs and articles to contribute to UNDP’s thought leadership.
• Supports CO management and distribution of knowledge products through digital technology.
• Contributes actively to UNDP internal-facing learning sessions and events.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization

Competencies

Core

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.
• Act with Determination: EVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Direction and Strategy

• System Thinking:Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Management

• Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize and control the organizations programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.
• Project Management:Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Communication:
• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

2030 Agenda: Planet

• Nature, Climate and Energy:
• Climate Change Policies: Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
• Climate Change Policies: including international climate change regime and application

2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness

• SDG Integration: Institutional and Context analysis.

Education

Required Skills and Experience

• Advanced University degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental Science, Environmental Economics, Development Studies, Environmental Management/Sciences, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or related field is required. Or
• A first level university degree (bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the above-mentioned fields with additional 2 years of relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of master’s degree.

Experience

• Minimum 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant working experience at the national or international level in providing policy and/or management advisory services on Nature, Climate or Energy or in a related thematic area is required.
• At least two (2) years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing programme management support in the area of environment and climate is required.
• Experience and knowledge of global and national issues around climate and environment is desired.
• Previous experience with UN or other development agencies is an asset.
• Experience preparing knowledge products and communications material is an asset.
• Experience in providing oversight and advisory services to multiple complex development projects in the area of nature, climate change, energy, development/climate financing or disaster risk reduction is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of global and national issues around climate and environment e.g. Paris Agreement, Nationally Determined Contribution, etc is desired

Language Requirement

• Fluency in English is required.
• Working knowledge of a local dialect in Ghana is Required.

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Disclaimer

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.

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