Disaster risk reduction (DRR) is an urgent and significant development issue in Ghana. Recognizing the importance of strengthening DRR capacities in achieving sustainable development and poverty reduction in Ghana, the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and UNDP will implement the Community Resilience through Early Warning (CREW) Project to build capacities within the country to reduce disaster risk by putting in place an integrated early warning system that is both scientific and people-centered. Supported by the Government of Norway, the project is designed in a way that it aligns with the Hyogo Framework of Action and the Ghana Plan of Action for DRR and climate change adaptation (CCA), and leads to tangible results in both the national and community levels.
Through the implementation of hazard mapping, early warning, and vulnerability assessment and reduction, the project aims to achieve 1) a reduction of economic and human losses and damages from priority disasters, and 2) establishment of effective early warning and communication for priority hazards to reduce disaster risks in the 10 pilot sites by 2015.

The project management team will be based in NADMO while the quality assurance team will be based in UNDP Ghana Country Office. The Technical Specialist (National) will be part of the quality assurance team at UNDP. She/he will directly report to the Cluster Manager of the Sustainable Development Cluster. In order to successfully deliver his/her work, she/he needs to work closely with and mobilize inputs from the project management unit staff, project officer, international technical specialists, and M&E expert.

Duties and Responsibilities
Summary of key functions:

•   Technical services in areas related to early warning system, disaster risk reduction, GIS and mapping, community-based capacity building, climate change adaptation;
•   Building strategic partnerships;
•   Networking;
•   Substantive technical innovation;
•   Support to knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

Ensures provision of top quality advisory and technical services:  

•   Works with Technical Advisor and International Technical Specialist to mobilize technical inputs to the project;
•   Conceptualize and drafts Terms of Reference for technical consultancies;
•   Writing and/or reviewing reports;
•   Undertake in-house research, if necessary;
•   Reviews reports from consultants;
•   Ensures that the project is managed and implemented in accordance with UNDP rules and regulation.

Establishes and maintains strategic partnerships:

•   Develop partnership with and promote networking with institutions implementing similar projects;
•   Network with universities and research institutions to gather their inputs to the project.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and management:

•   Document and write workshop, activity, and progress reports;
•   Development of knowledge products (e.g. case studies, lessons learned) from the project;
•   Work closely with NADMO to document project impacts;
•   Works with NADMO and UNDP Communications Unit to promote visibility of the project and its impacts.

Undertake other duties per the requirements of the project.

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 UNDPhas 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.

Qualification Required & Experience

Education:

•   Masters’ degree in a relevant field.

Experience:

•   At least five-years of experience in development sector;
•   Research experience is an asset;
•   Excellent writing skills in English.

Language Requirements:

•   Fluency in written and spoken English and one more of the Ghanaian working languages.

Technical Requirements:

•   Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Outlook, etc);
•   Proficiency in GIS mapping software (ArcGIS) is an asset;
•   Proficiency in Internet Research and Data Gathering;
•   Proficiency in web authoring is a plus;
•   Proficiency in visualization tools such as Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator is an asset;
•   Proficiency in social media, mobile technology, and other digital/analogue tools for community-engagement and social mobilization is a plus;
•   Ability to demonstrate capacity to learn computer software is a must.

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

Click Here To Apply Online

Closing Date: 15 July, 2013

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.