Job Description

• Position title: Country Coordinator, Uniterra Program            
• Position location:  Accra, Ghana (occasional travel in Ghana and internationally)
• Reports to:  Africa Regional Coordinator, WUSC Ottawa
• Contract term:  2 year contract (with possibility to renew)
• Start date:  August 2017
• Application deadline:   June 30, 2017

Nature and Scope:

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a Canadian non-profit organization that works to create opportunities for education, employment and empowerment for under-privileged youth and women worldwide. WUSC’s approach is based on over six decades of experience of working in multi-sectoral partnerships to improve the lives and means of subsistence of marginalized persons in developing countries. WUSC works with and through its partners from the South – in government, civil society and the private sector – to foster, notably, an environment favourable to the aspirations and full participation of youth.

Uniterra is a volunteer cooperation and international development program that strengthens organizations and networks by pooling expertise and knowledge. Jointly implemented by WUSC and CECI, the Uniterra Program contributes to improving the socio-economic conditions of local communities in 14 countries in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia. Uniterra supports the development of inclusive market systems in order to address the root causes of market failure and to facilitate systemic changes. To do so, Uniterra works in specific product and service sub-sectors to in order to enable 5.6 million women and youth from poor and marginalized communities in 14 countries to improve their economic and social well-being. Uniterra prioritizes local ownership of results through working in partnership with strategically placed local partners to improve the quality and relevance of services, and facilitate access to economic opportunities for women and youth. In Ghana, the Uniterra program focuses its efforts in the agricultural and residential construction sub-sectors.

Nature and Scope:

Under the direction of the Africa Regional Coordinator, the Ghana Country Coordinator, is responsible for the overall implementation of the Uniterra Program in-country. He/she shall ensure the coordination of all Uniterra activities and is responsible for managing its human (employees and volunteers ) and its material and financial resources. He/she shall represent the Uniterra Program in dealings with different agencies and organizations ensuring linkages and synergies between the Uniterra Program and other WUSC projects and activities in the country. The Ghana Country Coordinator for Uniterra is the main point of contact for the Program’s partners and volunteers. He/she is responsible for maintaining a solid network of partners – from public and private sectors, and civil society – to achieve the Program’s objectives. In carrying out this mandate, the Ghana Country Coordinator for Uniterra will be supported by local country employees, as well as one or more Program support volunteers. The Ghana Country Coordinator for the Uniterra Program, may count on the support of colleagues from the region and teams in Canada for volunteer mobilization, financial management, training, sectoral analyses, and monitoring and evaluation.

Key areas of Responsbility:

The Country Coordinator for the Uniterra Program in Ghana, is responsible for:

Program coordination

• In collaboration with the Africa Regional Coordinator, ensure a coherent and effective implementation of the Uniterra Program in-country and alignement with the country’s priorities development priorities.
• Represent the Uniterra Program in Ghana when dealings with in-country governmental agencies, the Canadian government, other donors and strategic partners for the Program in the country.
• Coordinate the development of  annual work plans and reports of the Uniterra Program.
• Manage all activities of partners and volunteers in relation to the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Uniterra programming in the country;
• Ensure the delivery of the Program’s expected results in-country by establishing agreements with partners and through planning, activities monitoring and results reporting.
• Manage the Uniterra Program in accordance with the policies,  procedures and strategies established by the Program and by WUSC.
• Meet annual targets with regards to the number of volunteers and expected person-days.
• Ensure the documenting of results and good practices of the Uniterra Program in Ghana and  the generation of content and knowledge, with the goal of the communication and dissemination thereof, both internally and externally.
• Ensure the integration of Gender Equality concerns in all Program activities in country; organize training sessions, if necessary.
• With the support of the Monitoring & Evaluation specialist (possibly a volunteer), integrate or ensure the integration of result-based management in activity planning and reporting of results; organize training, if necessary.

Human Ressource management

• Ensure program personnel management in the country, by supervising recruitment, training and performance reviews, in accordance with current policies and practices.
• Ensure that procedures are implemented to support volunteers upon their arrival and over the entire duration of their mandates, addressing aspects such as welcoming volunteers to the country, housing, security, living and working conditions, end of contract issues and emergency medical evacuations, with due consideration for how conditions may affect women and men differently.
• In close collaboration with the Operations Unit in Canada, participate in the recruitment and mobilization of Canadian volunteers.
• Coordinate the recruitment process for Global South and in-country volunteers (process to include the signing of contracts and volunteer mobilization).
• Organize appropriate in-country training/orientation sessions for Program volunteers, taking into account the specifics of each mandate, and in preparation for the arrival.
• Support program personnel, partners and volunteers in the development of their intercultural skills and, if necessary, organize training.

Finance and administration

• In collaboration with the Africa Regional Coordinator, and with the support of the Finance Manager, plan and manage financial and material resources in accordance with Program guidelines and the policies and procedures of WUSC.  
• Develop Uniterra Program annual budgets and ensure ongoing budget monitoring.
• Authorize Program expenditures, sign or co-sign cheques and approve the required financial reports.
• Ensure that the emergency and security procedures established by WUSC with respect to volunteers and Program personnel are implemented, updated and enforced.

Other Responsibilities

• Coordinate the identification and securing of additional funding resources to support and leverage Uniterra Program partners’ programming.
• In collaboration with the WUSC Ghana Country Director and the Program Development Unit, identify potential funding sources to develop programming in the country and coordinate the preparation of program proposals.

Required Skills or Experience

Education

MA in a relevant discipline or relevant work experience deemed as equivalent.

Experience and Competencies

• Seven to ten years of experience in managing development cooperation programs
• Two years of experience in coordinating intercultural teams and experience in volunteer management
• Relevant experience in developing partnerships and networks.
• Experience in needs analysis, capacity building and training.
• Experience in personnel management.
• Experience in project development and project management including budget development and management.
• Excellent communications and representation skills.
• Knowledge of national development strategies, particularly in relation to the economic sector, businesses, entrepreneurship, employability, and vocational and technical training.
• An innovative, entrepreneurial spirit.
• Proficiency with information technologies and computer skills (Word, Excel, the Internet, etc.) and familiarity with Google Drive and Gmail an asset.
• Knowledge of the Agriculture and Residencial Construction sub-sectors considered an asset.
• Adherence to the Gender Equality and social inclusion principles.

Language

Proficiency in English; both written and oral.