Background
The Government of the Republic of Ghana has applied for funds from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to implement the Ghana Agricultural Sector investment Programme (GASIP). The Programme provides a framework for a long-term financing engagement for private sector-led, pro-poor agricultural value chain development in Ghana. The objective of the programme is to contribute to sustainable poverty reduction in rural Ghana, ensuring that agribusinesses including smallholders increase their profitability and resilience to climate change. The programme is national in scope and governed by a demand  and market-driven approach that will provide a basis for scaling up investments in pro-poor agricultural value chain development led by the private sector. The strategic focus of GASIP will be on smallholder farmers, to make them more competitive by increasing their capacity to respond to market demand in terms of quality, price, time and volume thus contributing to METASIP objectives. At least 62,860 clients or direct beneficiaries will be targeted towards the end of project year 3 (PY3) and 86,400 clients by PY6, of which at least 50% will be women, 20% youth (15-24 years) and 30% young adults (25-34 years).

Job Description

Components of Programme
The Programme has three components;

Component 1: Value Chain Development - is central to ensuring strong business linkages among actors in the entire value chains of commodities to ensure they meet market or consumer and industry demands. It has three sub-components: Agribusiness linkage development; rural financial services and climate change resilience which needs to be mainstreamed in promoting value chains to reduce risks and enhance profitability and sustainable production systems.

Component 2: Rural Value Chain Infrastructure - aimed at providing the enabling infrastructure to catalyze value chain development. It has two sub-components: Productive Infrastructure and Facilities-aimed at encouraging investments in commercial infrastructure and facilities for the selected value chains and Enabling Public Infrastructure - aimed to finance enabling public infrastructure for the growth and viability of selected value chains.

Component 3: Knowledge Management, Policy Support and Coordination aimed at harnessing successful lessons for replication and providing an enabling environment for optimization of programme opportunities and benefits. The two sub-components are Knowledge Management, Harmonization and Policy Support- aims at creating an enabling environment for smallholders to participate in profitable and climate change resilient agricultural value chains and Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation of the Programme.

The Programme which is planned for six years is expected to commence in January 2015 under the responsibility of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA). It builds on the achievements of some on-going and soon-to-complete projects such as Northern Rural Growth Programme (NRGP) and Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programme (RTIMP). GASIP will have a National Programme Coordination Unit in Accra and three Zonal Programme Offices (ZPO) in Kumasi, Tamale and Dodowa. The ZPCO shall be composed of (i) Zonal Programme Coordinator, (ii) a M&E Officer, (lii) a Zonal Financial Controller and (iv) a Zonal Infrastructure Engineer.

To enhance implementation readiness and smooth startup of the GASIP, MOFA intends to recruit qualified persons to fill the following Positions at the Zonal level.

The Zonal Financial Controller (ZFC) will be responsible for the day-to-day financial management of the programme.

Duties and Responsibilities shall include:

•   Responsible for managing the accounting and the financial reporting systems of the Programme at the zonal level
•   Ensure that the Zonal  Programme Office is informed  of on-going financial transactions/activities and that Zonal officers and Implementation Partners, know their financial responsibilities in line with prevailing Government of Ghana practices, IFAD and other Cooperating Institutions (Cis);
•   Ensure that finance and other relevant Programme staff are fully appraised of the contents of the Programme Finance and Administration Manual (FAM);
•   A counter-signatory to programme fund releases as required for Programme financial transactions and also sign as witness to all contracts as much as possible;
•   Oversee the establishment and  maintenance of an acceptable computerized accounting system.
•   Oversee the preparation of financial statements using acceptable accounting principles, concepts and conventions with due consideration to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), IFAD Financial Administration requirements, and the
•   Government of Ghana Financial Administration Act, 2003 (ACT 664 ) for timely submission to IFAD in accordance with provisions of the Letter to the Borrower (LTB).
•   Ensure preparation and submission of SOE to the National Financial Manager (NFM) and follow up to ensure that the Programme does not encounter liquidity challenges at the zonal level,
•   Oversee preparation of quarterly, half-yearly and annual consolidated statements of Programme accounts as an integral part of the Management Information system for submission to the NFM
•   Ensure that the Zonal Bank Accounts have been maintained in accordance with the provisions of the loan agreement LTB and Finance and Administration Manual (FAM).
•   Ensure the fiduciary capacity assessment of participating district assemblies;
•   Facilitate the conduct of internal audit missions by the MoFA Internal Audit unit on the basis of agreed AWPB.
•   Ensure the smooth implementation of the annual external audit of programme funds, under TOR agreed by IFAD and in accordance with IFAD's audit guidelines,for timely submission to IFAD in accordance with provisions of the LTB.
•   Ensure that goods and services have been procured in accordance with the loan agreement, LTB, FAM and in accordance with the GoG and IFAD rules and procedures,
•   Undertake any other responsibility that will ensure  smooth and effective implementation of the Programme.

Line Management:  Reports to the Zonal Programme Coordinator (ZPC)

Remuneration: Competitive salary
Terms of Payment: Payments will be made in equal end-of-month payments of agreed amount subject to completion of core reporting responsibilities as laid out in the Assignment Work plan.

Qualification Required & Experience

•   Qualified Accountant with ACCA, CIMA, CA (Ghana), CA (England and Wales), CPA or related financial management qualification (essential).
•   Advance degree in finance, accounting, or related subject (essential).
•   Experience in setting up and maintaining a computerized accounting system (essential),
•   At least 7 years of relevant work experience with significant post qualification experience in financial management at senior level (essential).
•   Practical working experience with Government of Ghana, donor-funded projects, and auditing experience (essential).

Skills

•   Presentation of highly complex financial and non-financial information
•   Inspiring confidence and developing highly working relationships with finance and non-finance colleagues within Programme, Cooperating Institutions and implementing partners.

Location: Kumasi and Dodowa

How To Apply For The Job

Qualified and interested applicants should send application letters with copies of curriculum vitae, certificates and other relevant documentation to:

The Chief Director
Ministry of Food and Agriculture
PO Box M 37, Accra, Ghana

For further information please contact:

THE NATIONAL PROGRAMME COORDINATOR
GHANA AGRICULTURAL SECTOR INVESTMENT PROGRAMME (GASIP)
MINISTRY OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (MOFA)
PO BOX MB.37, ACCRA

Email: rayariga@yahoo.co.uk

Closing Date: 05 March, 2015

Applicants are to include direct contacts (reliable telephone, fax numbers and email address) in their applications in order to facilitate early and easy contact

Only short listed applicants will be contacted.