Position title: WAGES Project Coordinator, Ghana
Reports to: WAGES Project Director based in (TBD)
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 Project Coordinator is responsible for the strategic and operational implementation of WAGES project in Ghana. The incumbent manages relationships with key stakeholders, including with national and local government representatives, the private sector (mining companies, training institutions etc.) and the civil society groups (women associations, youth associations, etc.).

Reporting to WAGES Project Director and in close collaboration with the WUSC Country
Director, the Project Coordinator will:

Technical Direction & Project Management

•   Provide technical and managerial coordination and guidance to WAGES project in Ghana, in line with the project’s expected outcomes?
•   Lead the 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 initiative?
•   Maintain open and effective communication amongst the consortium and project team members in Canada and West Africa (Burkina Faso and Guinea)?
•   Coordinate staff, volunteers and partners in project activity implementation as per WAGES PIP and PTAs?

Monitoring & Evaluation

•   In collaboration with the monitoring and evaluation specialist, adapt to Ghanaian context the results monitoring system developed for the project?
•   Regularly monitor progress towards results, ensuring appropriate course correction and iterative management?
•   Ensure the production of quality reports in a timely manner and according to the PIP and PTA schedules?
•   Maintain regular communication with the Project Director and project team in Canada to ensure appropriate support?

Human Resources

•   Manage the project team including staff, volunteers and consultants in Ghana?
•   Supervise, guide and evaluate the work of project staff and consultants?
•   Oversee human resources management issues such as employment policies and practices, in line with local law?
•   Work with colleagues and partners to ensure the effective mobilization, orientation and coaching of volunteers?

Financial & Office Management

•   Establish and oversee a financial management system for the project?
•   Ensure that the project complies with relevant local taxation, banking controls, and labour laws?
•   In conjunction with the WAGES finance team, contribute to development of budget, monitor the project budget and ensure regular reporting?
•   Recruit, maintain and direct the required administrative and project infrastructure of staff, field offices and equipment as well as making decisions on administrative policy, planning and procedural matters?

Risk Management & Security Preparedness

•   Actively assess the risk profile of the initiative? identify specific risks and appropriate mitigation strategies?
•   Ensure the application and relevance of WUSC security policies, procedures and preparedness to the operational context of the project in Ghana?

Partner Liaison & Coordination

•   Establish a strong working relationship with the partners, including planning, capacity building and information sharing?
•   Implement an Advisory Committee for the project in Ghana and coordinate the meetings?
•   Coordinate regularly with other development actors in Western Region to ensure harmonization and synergy with similar initiatives?
•   Participate in WAGES regional meetings as planned in the PTAs?
•   Represent the Project in official communication and fora in Ghana.

Qualification Required & Experience

Education

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

Experience and Competencies

•   A minimum of ten years of progressively more responsible assignments related to management of development initiatives?
•   A minimum of five years working experience in Ghana? experience in Western Region will be an asset?
•   Proven knowledge and experience in natural resources management, economic development and local governance?
•   Demonstrated capacity to work in crosssectoral collaboration?
•   Experience working with donor agencies, including a solid understanding of Results
Based Management (RBM) and environmental and gender policies and reporting
requirements?
•   Proven technical and financial managerial and administrative and organizational skills?
•   Proven experience multidisciplinary staff and international consultants and volunteers?
•   Diplomatic skills and the knowledge of crosscultural, interpersonal communication?
•   Proven knowledge of and commitment to the concepts of Gender Equality?
•   Experience in capacity building with local partner organizations and a commitment to a
participatory partnership approach to development?
•   Proven experience working with information technology (Word, Excel, Powerpoint,
internet)?
•   Capacity 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 the western region of Ghana?
•   French language will be an asset.

Location: Accra

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 16/12 to:

jobs@wusc.ca

Closing Date: 30 May, 2016