Project Coordinator

Ghana’s trend of forest loss poses a significant threat to the livelihoods of forest fringe communities, particularly women and the youth, as well as ecosystem services and functionality that support Ghana’s predominantly agrarian economy. These make it challenging for forest communities to adapt to prevalent climate vulnerabilities; as the loss of forest ecosystems hampers the sustainable supply support services for these communities, while at the same time resulting in CO₂ emissions due to loss of forest cover.

Women and the youth, under these circumstances, tend to be marginalized in the use of dwindling forest and other natural resources, particularly due the lack of opportunities for them to participate in decision making in the management and use of these resources. This is particularly prevalent in the cocoa growing areas where, agricultural expansion, due to the desire for higher tonnage of cocoa over the years has seen greater losses in forest cover. 

Agriculture expansion, particularly, that of cocoa, has been categorized as an important driver of deforestation in Ghana’s High Forest Zone. Not only has expansion of cocoa production caused massive loss of tropical forest throughout the region, but remaining forests – which are mostly under different kinds of protected area status – have also been severely degraded as local populations, illegal loggers and hunters have encroached in their search for timber, firewood or game. The degradation has interrupted the connectivity of the remaining forested areas with significant implications for biodiversity in the area, and the forest loss and degradation have increased the vulnerability of adjacent cocoa farming communities who depend on natural resources for their well-being and livelihood.

Ghana, through the Forestry Commission, has identified five main strategic jurisdictional programmes under Ghana’s REDD+ Strategy in response to climate change. Out of the five programmes, the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme (GCFRP) has been developed as the premier emission reductions programme from the REDD+ Strategy (GRS) by the Government of Ghana through the Forestry Commission and Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) with funding support from the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) of the World Bank. The programme seeks to significantly reduce carbon emissions resulting from cocoa expansion into forests while improving farmers’ livelihoods through the promotion of appropriate climate-smart cocoa production approaches, including intensification and yield enhancement. A landmark achievement was the first results-based payment for emission reductions and removals from GCFRP for the period June-December, 2019 paid out through the FCPF of the World Bank, as per the Emission Reductions Purchase Agreement (ERPA). 

On the ground, implementation of GCFRP is routed through Hotspot Intervention Areas (HIA) situated within the GCFRP operational area which consists of Asunafo – Asutifi, Kakum, Ahafo Ano South, Atwima Mponua Atwima Nwabiagya, Sefwi Wiawso – Bibiani, Juaboso – Bia and Atewa.  In order to ensure manageable intervention landscape sizes, the HIAs are selected to cover about 200,000 ha each and altogether account for approximately 30%-40% or 2 million – 2.5 million ha (maximum) of the total GCFRP area. The HIAs are selected on the basis of the intensity of the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, existing projects and interventions, adequate capacity and implementation structures, population, etc.

To help address these climate related challenges, Ghana’s REDD+ strategy has prioritized key thematic approaches or programmes that when implemented would significantly reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation by 2035 whilst at the same time addressing threats that undermine ecosystem services and environmental integrity so as to maximize the co-benefits of the forests and enhance opportunities for the most vulnerable such as women and the youth. 

The intervention proposed, which would be part of one of the key priority programmes under the REDD+ strategy, the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme, would seek to apply key activities and methods that would help curtail the rate of deforestation and forest degradation whiles enhancing the resilience of women and communities to address climate vulnerabilities within the Atwima Mponua-Atwima Nwabiagya HIA. Through enhanced forest protection and restoration actions communities will be supported to restore degraded forest areas, while empowering them to lead the management of forest resources through the use of enhanced vibrant governance arrangements that gives opportunities for women and the youth to participate in decision making. It will also provide women and the youth with viable business options within the cocoa value chain to help enhance their livelihoods while paving the way to address climate vulnerabilities.

About the Partners

UNDP and Forestry Commission are committed to working with key stakeholders and relevant communities in maintaining a sustainable commodity supply chain through the establishment of effective, leveraging on the HIA governance structure developed under the GCFRP.

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries globally, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP

Forestry Commission (FC) is a government organization under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources of the Republic of Ghana and established by the Forestry Commission Act, 1999 (ACT 571) whose mission is to sustainably develop and manage Ghana’s forestry and wildlife resources. FC is responsible for the regulation of utilization of forest and wildlife resources, the conservation and management of those resources and the coordination of policies related to them. The Commission embodies the various public bodies and agencies that were individually implementing the functions of protection, management, the regulation of forest and wildlife resources. These agencies currently form the divisions of the Commission: Forest Services Division; Wildlife Division; Timber Industry Development Division; FC also operates the Training Centre; and the Resources Management Support Centre. 

FC has made significant progress in responding to the provisions under Article 5 of the Paris Agreement on REDD+. A landmark achievement was the first results-based payment for emission reductions and removals from GCFRP for the period June-December, 2019 paid out through the Carbon Fund of the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) of the World Bank, as per the Emissions Reductions Purchase Agreement. The distribution of the proceeds is guided through a consultative benefit sharing plan for GCFRP, developed as part of the requirements of the Carbon Fund.

• Facilitate the day-to-day project implementation and ensure achievement of targets as outlined in the project work plan; 
• Perform oversight roles for project compliance against the relevant government and UNDP regulations for project management;
• Organize and oversee community engagement events under the project;
• Ensure ongoing knowledge-sharing and publicity for the project and its related activities;
• Ensure effective monitoring of project performance and the preparation of high-quality and results-oriented reports; 
• Undertake any other assignment(s) as determined by the Director, Climate Change.

B. Ensure effective planning, budgeting, and execution of the project through the following tasks:

• Prepare project annual work plans and budgets based on the budget allocation and guidance from the Project Steering Committee (PSC);
• Organize the meetings of the Oversight Group and liaise with the members of the Oversight Group;
• Develop monthly work plan with the FC’s Climate Change Directorate (CCD) to guide the activities for each respective month;
• Conduct regular monitoring using the Signals of Change methodology as a way to regularly assess progress in line with the annual work plan;
• Facilitate budget utilization and prepare and submit financial reports to UNDP, FC and the donor as required;
• Organize, report, and follow up on quarterly and annual reports as needed.

C. Create and nurture strategic partnerships and support the implementation of resource mobilization:

• Establish and maintain good working relationships with the relevant public and development partners such donors, other government agencies, relevant private sector actors etc. who are the principal counterparts for the project; 
• Identify opportunities for mobilizing resources for the project and the multi-stakeholder process and prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation;
• In coordination with UNDP’s Communication unit, the Climate Change Directorate of the Forestry Commission’s and other relevant counterpart communications departments, ensure the visibility of the project and the collaboration between UNDP, FC and the Canadian Government.

D. Facilitate knowledge building and management for and from the project implementation:

• Identify best practices and lessons learnt from the project and other initiatives;
• Contribute to knowledge networks, communities of practice (such as the FACS Community,) and participate in knowledge sharing with other projects within the UNDP Ghana Green Economy portfolio;
• Facilitate generating of knowledge products such as best practices and lessons learnt for knowledge sharing; which will inform operationalization of the platform beyond the project’s life span.

E. Reporting:

• Under this assignment the Project Coordinator will work closely with the Forestry Commission and provide direct reports to the Director Climate Change within the entire duration of tenure;
• As per the nature of the NPSA contract, the Project Coordinator will also perform requisite reporting duties to the Cluster Team Lead at the Environment and Climate Unit at the UNDP Ghana country office.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
 

Institutional Arrangement

The project will be implemented by UNDP’s Green Commodities Program (GCP), supported by the UNDP Country Office in Ghana with the Forestry Commission and Ghana Cocoa Board serving as partners and responsible parties by virtue of their designation as co-proponents of the GCFRP. The HIA system multi-stakeholder plan will operate under the leadership of the Forestry Commission’s Climate Change Directorate (CCD), which will build internal capacity to absorb platform management functions before the end of the project, as defined in the agreement described above. Detailed project implementation arrangements are still under discussion, including a potential secondement of Forestry Commission personnel which could materialize during the project’s lifetime. The Project Coordinator shall work under the direct supervision of the Director, CCD or any member of the CCD as assigned by the Director. S/he shall also work closely with other key stakeholders as communicated. The Project Coordinator will facilitate the activities of the project and will be based at Forestry Commission for the entire duration of the project.

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

• Strategy Thinking
  • Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions;
  • Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.
• System Thinking
  • Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
• Negotiation and Influence
  • Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates win-win situations.

Business Management:    

• Partnership Management
  • Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, donors, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with policies.
• Strategic Engagement
  • Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives.
• Customer Satisfaction/Client Management
  • Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs;
  • Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy;
  • Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.

2030 Agenda:          

• Gender
  • Gender mainstreaming.

• Fluency in English and Twi (reading, writing, speaking) is required.

• Any relevant professional certificate(s) in the area of required competencies would be an asset but it is not mandatory.

Female applicants are encouraged to apply.