The Programme Assistant supports the design, planning and management of UNFPA’s programme on gender and human rights as stipulated in the Ghana Country Programme by managing data inputs, providing logistical support, monitoring project implementation and following up on recommendations.

You will report to the Programme Specialist, Gender and Human Rights.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In Ghana, UNFPA has started implementing its new five-year 8th Country Programme 2023-2027. The 8th CP aligns well with national, regional and global priorities including aligning with the UNFPA strategic plan, 2022 – 2025, that seeks to accelerate the reduction of preventable maternal death, unmet need for family planning, and gender-based violence and harmful practices. It fits within two of the three pillars of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), 2022 – 2025, namely: equitable access to social services and promoting a peaceful Ghana. In addition, the country programme aligns to the ICPD Programme of Action, the national voluntary commitment made by the Government at the Nairobi Summit on the 25th anniversary of ICPD (ICPD+25), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Overall, the country programme contributes to national priorities, including creating a wealthy, inclusive, sustainable, equitable, resilient, healthy and disciplined society, encapsulated in the President’s vision of “Ghana Beyond Aid”.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

Working within a large and complex Ghana Country Office environment, you will support the UNFPA Programme in line with the Country Programme Document (CPD) 2020 – 2024. The Programme Assistant delivers quality services to internal and external clients mastering all relevant rules, guidelines, processes and procedures.

You will play an instrumental role in facilitating UNFPA’s country programme and project implementation, supporting design, planning and management, in the areas of population and development, reproductive health and gender.

You will apply established systems and procedures and assist in the creation of knowledge by compiling, synthesizing and analyzing relevant information, developing appropriate mechanisms and systems and ensuring compliance with procedures.

You would be responsible for:

• Support to Evidence-based Programme Planning and Implementation:
• Assists the Gender and Human Rights team in evidence-based design, planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring and reporting of interventions supported by the team towards achieving measurable results.
• Assists in the formulation of the country programme and projects, by compiling information relevant to the UNFPA’s role in the country.
• Support to Programme Management:
• Supports the selection and contracting of consultants, academia, researchers and implementing partners.
• Supports the monitoring of project activities, review meetings and evaluation missions.
• Assists in internal control and assurance activities, including assessments and spot checks of implementing partners.
• Supports annual and quarterly work-planning, programme and financial monitoring processes.
• Assists in entering the Work Plan (WP) in GPS, generating the draft WP, and documenting revisions of UNFPA programmes.
• Support to Knowledge Management:
• Supports updating the knowledge platforms with relevant products, including country programme profiles, country programme and project documents, mission documentation and reports, among others.
• Reviews incoming correspondence, collecting and/or preparing the necessary information for reply/action, and preparing the first drafts of responses to inquiries for action by concerned staff.
• Supports in managing and maintaining an accurate e-filing system of projects and for all counterparts.
• Prepares and distributes minutes in a timely manner and assists the team leader by following up on agreed actions and implementation of tasks.
• Financial, Administrative and other Operational Support:
• Provides support to program staff in coordinating with implementing partners to submit accurate Annual Work Plan progress reports and FACE forms in a timely manner.
• Supports program staff in reviewing FACE form submissions to ensure that expenditures are in line with approved work plans.
• Reviews and analyzes past and current expenditures of different programmes in accordance with UNFPA’s global resource allocation system and annual guidelines, including trends in patterns of resource allocation and utilization to guide recommendations and proposals for distribution of resources provided to different programmes/partners.
• Coordinates the review and finalization of inputs for financial reports for donors.
• Provides administrative and logistical support in coordinating review meetings and other project-related workshops and events.
• Collaborates with team members in the Operations Unit, on administrative and financial management tasks, including preparation of meetings, strategic events, travel, procurement and other related functions.

Others:

• Act as a back-up on selected functions to other Programme Assistants during their absence.
• Carry out any other duties as may be required by the supervisor and UNFPA leadership.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

Completed Secondary Level Education required. First level university degree is desirable.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Five years of relevant experience in programme/ project management.
• Proficiency in current office software applications and corporate IT systems.

Languages:

Fluency in English; knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably French is desirable.

Required Competencies:

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Delivering results-based programmes
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilisation

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA’s workforce – click here to learn more.