Job Description

Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA) has a subcontract with Abt Associates to implement the Feed the Future Resilience in Northern Ghana Systems Strengthening Activity.  The Activity is being funded by USAID. GDCA is seeking for immediate employment, suitably qualified Ghanaians as District Social Accountability Facilitators (DSAF) for the Activity. Under the supervision of the Citizen Engagement and GESI (CEG) Specialist, the DSAF will provide technical support for activities that seek to strengthen citizens’ ability to assess and demand MMDAs to deliver equitable and robust quality services using social accountability tools. The DSAF will also support districts to better manage policy implementation, to effectively use data for planning and decision-making, and to develop budgets and annual plans that reflect citizens’ priorities.

The responsibilities of the DSAF will be carried out in consultation and/or collaboration with other team members of the Activity and stakeholders as needed. The key responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

1. Support to develop annual workplans to ensure that it is in line with the Activity objectives
2. Implement social accountability guidelines, tool kits and checklists designed for the Activity and work to incorporate responsibilities in workplans.
3. Train and support groups to monitor and assess the quality-of-service delivery in nutrition and resilience using social accountability tools and using the results to engage service providers to improve service delivery.
4. Work with Activity staff, MMDAs, partners and community groups to sensitize and engage women and children regarding nutrition and resilience.
5. Support in organizing meetings including interface meetings, events, roundtable discussions, and training sessions at locations where women and vulnerable groups will be able to attend to present problems and potential solutions to accessing services needed.
6. Identify capacity building needs for trainings, outreach, wider dissemination of findings, and soliciting feedback with due consideration to women and vulnerable social groups.
7. Promote knowledge sharing and learning culture within the team.
8. Support the tracking and maintenance of social accountability related performance indicators.
9. Write activity reports, articles and success stories related to the social accountability work being done.
10. Any other tasks assigned by supervisor.

Required Skills or Experience

1. A minimum of a bachelors’ degree in a social science, development studies, or other relevant qualifications from a recognized university
2. Have at least three years post qualification experience in governance, and experience in working with decentralization, community development, and/or facilitating social mobilisation and citizen engagement, preferably in an NGO environment.
3. Understand and speak a dominant local language within the District of choice.
4. Own a motorcycle and be able to ride in a rough terrain or able to arrange their own means of transport for such travels.
5. A Masters’ degree will be an added advantage.
6. In addition to above, applicants must have the following experiences and competences:

• Ability to conceptualize, plan, guide, and implement work with demonstrated experience in social accountability.
• Prior experience working in the integration of social accountability considerations in projects preferred.
• Ability to develop effective working relationship with local government officers at all levels, donors, local organizations, community groups, and other program partners and stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, data gathering and community interaction skills
• Knowledge and skills in planning, monitoring, training, organizing and leading workshops,
• Adequate IT skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office to be able to complete project monitoring and reporting requirements
• Excellent facilitation and communication skills in multi- stakeholder environment
• Experience of working with local partners, including government agencies, development partners and civil society organizations
• Aspiring for good service delivery with strong people-centered skills, interpersonal skills, committed, proactive and dynamic.
• A good level of proficiency in English, verbal and written