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Economic Development Specialist

JOB SUMMARY

Company World Univers...
Industry International...
Category International...
Location Daboase
Job Status Full-time
Salary GHS
Education Bachelor̵...
Experience 5 years
Job Expires Jul 31, 2020
Contact ...
 
Company Profile

WUSC (World University Service of Canada) is a Canadian non-profit organization working to create a better world for all young people. We bring together a diverse network of students, volunteers, schools, governments, and businesses who share this vision. Together, we develop solutions in education, economic opportunities, and empowerment to overcome inequality and exclusion for youth around the world, particularly young women and young refugees. WUSC currently works in 25 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, with an annual budget of approximately CAD $40 million. We have over 90 staff in our Ottawa office, and over 200 people overseas implementing 16 development projects in collaboration with donors such as Global Affairs Canada, the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Mastercard Foundation and the African Development Bank.

Job Description

  • Position location: Daboase, Western Region, Ghana
  • Reports to: WAGES Field Coordinator, Ghana
  • Contract term: 18 months 
 
Background
Centre for International Studies and 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, 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 (2016-2022). WAGES aims to support sustainable, broad-based 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 decision-making processes, increasing women’s access to market-relevant and business development skills training, and ensuring that women benefit from new employment opportunities generated by the project.
 
Nature and Scope
The Economic Development Specialist is responsible for the implementation of the activities related to sustainable economic development component of the WAGES Project in the extractive sector in the two Districts (Prestea-Huni Valley and Wassa East) in the Western region.  
 
Responsibilities include: 

Strengthening sustainable economic development planning capacity 

  • Organize technical training and coaching to local businesses, associations and cooperatives to leverage market opportunities related to the delivery of products and services in target Districts;
  • In collaboration with the two other project teams (in Burkina Faso and Guinea), organize stakeholders’ participation in regional workshops, conferences and multi-country field trips to share experience and lessons learned on economic diversification;
  • Develop and consolidate key information and best practices on  economic diversification in the target Districts;

Market Linkages

  • Establish or strengthen linkages between private sector buyers, including mining companies and local/national businesses, associations and cooperatives.
  • Support cooperatives, associations and entrepreneurs to take advantage of government supported interventions for small and medium enterprises.
  • Facilitate access to markets for women and youth businesses at the regional and national levels. 
  • Identify relevant markets and facilitate linkages with project enterprises locally and globally.
  • Establish linkages between businesses and potential impact investors. 

Strengthening youth and women’s capacities

  • Support youth and women entrepreneurs in the two districts to set up agribusinesses in relevant sub sectors they have acquired skills in. 
  • Support youth and women entrepreneurs to implement production strategies; start-up kits, opportunities for enterprise demonstration setup and peer mentorship groups. 
  • Organize market relevant skills upgrading for master craft people through local providers and proving linkages for them. 

Business formalisation, financing and marketing

  • Provide ongoing support to beneficiary entrepreneurs to formalize their enterprises/businesses with the FDA, GSA, GEPA, GNCCI etc. 
  • Provide support to project entrepreneurs and link them to access finance from schemes/initiatives to help them expand and grow their enterprises. 
  • Provide ongoing technical support to project grant beneficiaries with start-ups and existing businesses to ensure effective application of funds leading to business growth and expansion. 
  • Prepare and facilitate appropriate packaging and branding of products of women and youth entrepreneurs to enable them participate in trade shows and exhibitions at different levels. 
  • Provide ongoing support to beneficiary entrepreneurs to increase sales and revenue through operationalisation of functional social media accounts and other online platforms. 

Project management

  • Contribute  to the development of annual work plans (AWPs)) and budget using results based management (RBM) approaches and tools;  
  • Manage the sustainable economic development component of the budget; ensuring value for money in carrying out all activities.  
  • Develop specific strategies for cross-cutting themes (capacity building, gender equality, private sector engagement, green economy and environmental sustainability) for the WAGES project;
  • Work effectively with volunteers, interns, consultants and partners implementing activities under sustainable economic development component of the project. 

Reporting, communication and partner coordination 

  • In collaboration with the other project team members, contribute to the production of quality reports ( monthly, half-year and annual) in a timely manner and according to the project PIP and AWPs schedules;
  • Ensure appropriate communication with project team, consultants, partners and beneficiaries to build effective synergies among all project stakeholders. 
  • 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; 
  • Identify and establish partnerships and business opportunities for women and youth businesses.

Required Skills or Experience

Education
A Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Social Sciences, Business Administration or related field.

Experience and Competencies

  • A minimum of 5 years of experience in training in sustainable economic development;
  • Proven knowledge and experience in business linkages and small and medium enterprises (SME) growth strategies. 
  • Proven knowledge and experience in business regulation and small business financing in Ghana. 
  • Proven knowledge of issues related to natural resources management in Ghana and in mining districts in particular. 
  • Excellent skills in cross-cultural and inter-personal 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);
  • Working experience with international volunteers and experts considered an asset;
  • Working experience in the target area (mining environment) will be an asset; 
  • 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 Wassa East or Prestea-Huni Valley areas.  
  • French language will be an asset.

How To Apply

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