Position title: Local Governance Specialist, Ghana
Position location: Western Region, Ghana (specific location TBD)
Reports to: WAGES Project Coordinator based in Accra, Ghana
Contract term: 2 year contract renewable, Starting June 1st, 2016

Background:

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a Canadian nonprofit organization with a mission to foster human development and global understanding through education and training. We are a network of professionals, students, volunteers, faculty, and community leaders who, together, provide opportunities to some of the world’s most disadvantaged youth. Our programs and services improve access to and quality of education, expand employment opportunities and foster empowerment for youth. We work with and through our southern partners – government, civil society and the private sector.

Centre for International Studies in Cooperation (CECI) is a leader within an international network of partners combating poverty and exclusion. Our main area of expertise is in the building of development capacity of local partners in four main areas: sustainable economic development, food security, human security and emergency response, and gender equality.
Present in several countries, the CECI contributes to improving the conditions of thousands of people and changing lives, every day.

WUSC and CECI have formed a consortium led by WUSC for the design and implementation of a West Africa Governance and Economic Sustainability in Extractive Areas (WAGES) project (20162021). WAGES aims to support sustainable, broadbased
and inclusive economic development in three countries in West Africa, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Guinea. WAGES will contribute to inclusive local economic development by contributing to the creation of jobs, especially for women and youth, reducing poverty and generating revenues for local businesses. WAGES will support gender equality by strengthening women’s ability to participate in community decisionmaking processes, increasing women’s access to marketrelevant and business development skills training, and ensuring that women benefit from new employment opportunities generated by the project.

Nature and Scope:

The Local Governance Specialist is responsible for the implementation of the WAGES activities related to local governance in the extractive sector in Western Regions of Ghana. Under the WAGES Project Coordinator’s direction, the Local Governance Specialist will:

Strengthening Governance Capacity

•   Conduct perception study with local communities and other stakeholders to identify issues related to natural resource management and operations?
•   Based on the perception study, organize training for community leaders and organizations (e.g. international standards and best practices related to transparency (EITI), mining revenue accountability, environmental protection monitoring, etc.)?
•   Support youth and womenled community radio initiatives in inclusive participation in governance of extractive resources?
•   Conduct participatory capacity assessment of local government on planning, budgeting and financial management?
•   Based on capacity assessment, coordinate and organize training to local government staff on planning, budget and financial management?
•   Work in collaboration with the experts and volunteers who will be involved in capacity strengthening in relation to governance?
•   In collaboration with the Canadian project team, organize SouthNorth missions for national officials to learn about governance in Canada?
•   In collaboration with the two other local project teams (in Burkina Faso and in Guinea), organize regional information sharing missions for Ghanaian officials?
•   Develop and consolidate key information and best practices on local governance in Ghana?

Project Management

•   Contribute to development of key project planning deliverables in Ghana (i.e. Project Implementation Plan (PIP), Annual Work Plans (PTAs)) using results based management (RBM) approaches and tools?
•   Develop specific strategies for crosscutting themes (capacity building, gender equality, private sector engagement, environmental sustainability) for the WAGES project?
•   On a daily basis, coordinate staff, volunteers consultants and partners implementing activities under the responsibility of the Local Governance Specialist?

Reporting

•   In collaboration with the other project team members, contribute to the production of quality reports in a timely manner and according to the PIP and PTA schedules?
•   Maintain regular communication with the Project Coordinator and project team in Ghana to ensure appropriate support?

Partner Liaison and Coordination

•   Establish a strong working relationship with the partners, including planning, capacity building and information sharing?
•   Coordinate with other development actors in target Districts and elsewhere to ensure harmonization and synergy with similar initiatives?
•   As request, participate in Project regional meetings as per PTAs.

Qualification Required & Experience

Education

•   A postgraduate university degree in international development, project management or a relevant field.

Experience and Competencies

•   A minimum of five years of experience in training in local governance?
•   Working experience in the target area will be an asset?
•   Proven knowledge and experience in local governance?
•   Proven knowledge of issues related to natural resources management in Ghana in general and in mining Districts in particular?
•   Demonstrated capacity to work in crosssectoral collaboration?
•   Working experience with international volunteers and experts considered an asset?
•   Excellent skill in crosscultural and interpersonal communication?
•   Proven knowledge of and commitment to the concepts of Gender Equality?
•   Proven experience in capacity building with local partner organizations and a commitment to a participatory partnership approach to development?
•   Proficiency with technology of information and communication (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Internet)?
•   Capacity to facilitate and communicate efficiently in simple language?
•   Willingness to travel and live in remote areas.

Language

•   Superior oral and written skills required in English?
•   Oral skills in one of the local languages spoken in Western Region?
•   French language will be an asset.

Location: Western Region

How To Apply For The Job

WUSC is an equal opportunity employer. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. If you wish to apply for this position, please send your resumé (or Curriculum Vitae) with a covering letter quoting reference number 16/13 to:

jobs@wusc.ca

Closing Date: 30 May, 2016