Company Profile

CARE International is a global network of independent national organizations, which include CARE members, candidates and affiliates, social enterprises, and thousands of community-based partner organizations working together across more than 100 countries to save lives, end poverty and fight social injustice. To learn more, visit www.care-international.org.

CARE International in Ghana: CARE began operations in Ghana in 1994. Since then the Accra office expanded to support programs in Togo and Benin under the umbrella of the CARE Gulf of Guinea country mission. In July 2010, CARE replaced the three-country mission with country offices in Ghana and Benin, the latter of which is also responsible for a small number of activities in Togo.

CARE Ghana’s projects are primarily implemented through partnerships with local and civil society organizations. This enables CARE to further engage with government and the private sector, work effectively in coalition, and to have the greatest possible impact. CARE Ghana prioritizes the rural and vulnerable poor- women and organizes its work around health, governance, sustainable livelihoods and education.

Job Description

CARE International in Ghana is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the position of Regional Project Officer - Northern Ghana Governance Activity Project (NGGA). The NGGA initiative in Ghana is part of CARE Ghana program that seeks to promote and strengthen responsive governance for improved agricultural development in Ghana. CARE is the lead implementer in a consortium for the capacity building intervention located in 26 target MMDAs of the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions of Ghana. The NGGA consortium brings together first-hand knowledge and expertise in evidence-based, gender responsive development programming in Northern Ghana to empower poor women and smallholder farmers to promote more productive and equitable engagement in Agriculture through training, networking, advocacy and joint action. This Northern Ghana Governance Activity is being implemented with the generous support of the American People, through USAID.

JOB SUMMARY
The Project Officer reports to the Governance and Advocacy Specialist. The position is based in Bolgatanga, Upper East Region. S/He will be responsible to oversee MMDA level activities, provide technical capacity building to partner MMDAs and CSOs, provide monitoring support to field implementers, collaborate with project technical team at the Project Coordinating Unit (PCU) for activity planning and delivery, support M&E data gathering, ensure that regional, district and community level implementation is aligned to NGGA program strategies and write reports to the PCU in Tamale. S/he is also responsible for facilitating adequate communication, team building, accountability, monitoring, and effective collaboration between partners and stakeholders during project implementation. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Facilitate enhanced understanding of agricultural sector policies that supports the livelihood enhancement and empowerment of farmers particularly women.
• Provide technical support to partners and communities to effectively engage with key actors within the agric sector.
• Identify skill and knowledge gaps of farmers, technical staff and other stakeholders that need to be addressed in order for them to effectively engage for value-added service delivery.
• Support and facilitate partners to review legislation, customs, methods and community plans for improved productivity environment and agricultural value chain promotion.
• Strengthen community structures to address needs of smallholder /women farmers. 
• Create platforms at community and MMDA levels to establish horizontal and vertical dialogue between and among  interest groups to provide access to information, and promote social accountability for improved quality of services
• Work with local implementing partner and field based staff to provide information to farmers to facilitate adoption of appropriate policy, agronomic and management practices to meet environmental and quality standards of production.
• Provide technical capacity building to women groups and other target partners
• Support advocacy activities to ensure women’s engagement and voice in agricultural policies and services
• Facilitate the establishing and/or strengthening of district and regional based “women in agriculture” platforms
• Facilitate the establishing and/or strengthening of district and regional based “women in agriculture” platforms.
• Monitor the gender responsiveness of MMDA agricultural plans, budgets and service delivery through gender audits.
• Organise feedback interface sessions between MMDAs and women activists to report on the audit results
• Contributes to ensuring monitoring and evaluation, impact measurement, documentation, learning and sharing. 

Required Skills or Experience

Qualifications & Skills

• A minimum qualification of a first degree in Agriculture or Natural Resource Management or social Sciences
• Masters degree in Social Sciences, Agriculture or Natural Resource Management will be an added advantage

Skills and Experience

• At least 5 years progressive experience in the area of project management and promoting gender equality, 
• Experience in working with local communities, partnership with local NGOs/ and District Assemblies structures 
• Knowledgeable in food security, gender and nutrition issues
• Demonstrated capacity in at least two of the following areas: equity and diversity; vulnerability, governance and institution capacity building; poverty alleviation; and conflict resolution.
• Excellent facilitation, negotiation, networking, interpersonal and communication skills
• Excellent administrative and project planning skills, management and communication and report writing, monitoring, supervisory and coaching skills 
• Proven competencies in designing and conducting training and workshops
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Internet)
• Excellent Analytical skill, good written and oral communication skills
• Excellent professionalism and relationship building skills, Critical thinking, creative and analytical skill
• Excellent interpersonal skills Excellent spoken and written English