Governance and Advocacy Specialist, Northern Ghana Governance Activity

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

****Governance and Advocacy Specialist, Northern Ghana Governance Activity****

Effective with the release of this position announcement, Winrock International is recruiting applicants for the position of Governance and Advocacy Specialist for the Northern Ghana Governance activity. The proposed objective of the project is to improve governance and mitigate conflict in the agricultural sector. The project will focus on local government and Civil Society Organization institutional strengthening in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions of Ghana.

The responsibilities, duties, and qualifications are described in the attached position description. Position is contingent upon receipt of donor funding.

****GENERAL:****

Winrock International is a nonprofit organization that works with people in the United States and around the world to empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity, and sustain natural resources. By linking local individuals and communities with new ideas and technology, Winrock is increasing long-term productivity, equity, and responsible resource management to benefit the poor and disadvantaged of the world.

****SALARY:****

The annual salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Excellent benefits.

****APPLICATIONS:****

Applicants should go to the ‘Jobs’ link atwww.winrock.organd submit a current resume and cover letter referencing NorthernGhana Governance G&A Specialistby September 30, 2015.Qualified Ghana nationals, and other nationalities, especially those residing in West Africa are strongly encouraged to apply.

Winrock would like to thank all applicants for their interest but only candidates who meet all requisite criteria and are short listed will be contacted.

EEOE/AA.

****POSITION TITLE:**** Governance and Advocacy Specialist, Northern Ghana Governance Activity

****LOCATION:**** Ghana

****DEPARTMENT:**** Civil Society & Education

****REPORTS TO:**** Chief of Party

****Position Summary:****

The Governance and Advocacy Specialist will be responsible for providing technical leadership to a high-quality, results-oriented program focused on local government and Civil Society Organization (CSO) institutional strengthening in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions of Ghana, with the aim of improving governance and mitigating conflict in the agricultural sector. Position is contingent upon receipt of donor funding.

****ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:****

The Governance and Advocacy Specialist is responsible for the quality of the design and delivery of the project’s capacity development and advocacy activities. S/he will work closely with local agriculture partners to strengthen community engagement with local government and improve participation of communities in decision making, management and monitoring of local service delivery providers.

• Develop and maintain relations with local CSOs to support implementation of program activities
• Manage design and implementation of technical and organizational capacity building activities targeted at increasing the capacity of locals CSO’s to demand better service delivery in agriculture.
• Lead coordination with private sector, government, media and CSOs to encourage public participation and citizen engagement in decision making, planning, implementation and monitoring of policies and programs for service delivery in agriculture
• Propose and oversee administrative and logistical aspects related to capacity development and advocacy activities.
• Represent the project and Winrock to donors, local and national government entities, the media, local NGOs, and the local business community.
• Lead the process to provide capacity development and technical assistance to key local implementing partners in line with USAID forward
• Contribute to program monitoring, evaluating, and periodic reporting.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Successful candidates will have experience implementing democracy and governance programs, preferably in Ghana/Western Africa. Specific experience and specialization in the areas of decentralization and local governance, experience in agricultural policy development and implementation, knowledge in the structure of the decentralized department of agriculture, civil society advocacy and capacity building, women’s empowerment, and conflict resolution is strongly desired.

Education: Graduate degree in political science, sociology, education or other relevant social science discipline

TechnicalApplicants must have a minimum of 7 years’ experience providing support to local government and to civil society advocacy capacity building, including a minimum of 3 years’ of demonstrated managerial experience.

Experience in the West Africa Region is required and Ghana strongly preferred.

Work

Experience:

• Substantial demonstrated experience in building the capacity of CSOs through measurable competency based approaches.
• Proven experience with programs working to transition local CSOs to direct USAID funding
• Proficiency with activities, theories, methods and technology in CSO capacity building
• Demonstrated flexibility, adaptability and the ability to perform and collaborate under challenging conditions.
• Ability to train and develop capacity in with staff.
• Strong planning, community mobilization and inter-cultural communication skills required.
• Experience working on a USAID-funded or other donor project pertaining to technical and organization capacity development.
• Previous experience liaising with local and regional governments, preferable in areas of agriculture

Skills/

Knowledge:

• Knowledge or understanding of social, economic, and political context governing democracy, governance, and agricultural policy issues in developing countries.
• Substantial experience providing support to local government and to civil society advocacy capacity building.
• Knowledge of US Government regulations, policies, and procedures or those of an equivalently complex international government funding organization.
• Knowledge of USAID and specific understanding of the USAID Democracy, Rights and Governance Strategy and DRG goals under the Ghana Country Development Cooperation Strategy is desirable.
• Demonstrated effective interpersonal skills, creative problem solving, conflict, and ethical management skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Proficiency in English is required.
• Computer literate in word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software (Microsoft).

HOW TO APPLY:

Applicants should go to the ‘Jobs’ link at www.winrock.org and submit a current resume and cover letter referencing NorthernGhana Governance G&A Specialist by September 30, 2015.