Job Description
Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
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.
Office/Unit/Project Description
The UNV Field Units (FU) are mainly accountable for the mobilization and placement of UN Volunteers in UN Agencies, Funds, and Programmes focused on peace, development and humanitarian needs. The UNV Field Units represent and position UNV in the respective countries and bring UNV’s services and solutions closer to its partners from governments, UN entities, civil society and private sector.
Reporting to the Portfolio Manager/Specialist, Regional Office, the Country Coordinator leads and manages the UNV Field Unit. She/he is responsible for effective strategic planning, leading to mobilization and placement of UN Volunteers, select administrative/operational support to volunteers, and advocacy and positioning of UNV interests in the country, in line with UNV’s Strategic Framework. The Country Coordinator builds and maintains relationships with main partners, and effectively coordinates with the Regional Office and HQ organizational units, on volunteer mobilization, programme implementation, and provision of substantive inputs and facilitation of corporate initiatives. The main responsibility of the Country Coordinator is to increase volunteer volume in-country through these programmatic and partnership functions.
Scope of work
- UN Volunteer mobilization and management
- Liaise with UN agencies in the country to ensure an understanding of UNV’s mandate, key offers and the added value that UN Volunteer assignments bring in support to the achievement of their respective mandates;
- Maintain business intelligence on UN agencies, identifying specific entry points to diversify partnerships with the key result of increased volunteer assignments, including the assessment and reporting on the forecast demand for onsite and online UN Volunteers in the country;
- Identify volunteer placement opportunities and present UNV value proposition and volunteer modalities with the objective of maximizing international and national volunteer presence, including collaboration in the preparation of descriptions of assignment, with partner agencies and other partners;
- Ensure that incoming and outgoing UN Volunteers are adequately briefed and debriefed and extend personal support and guidance to UN Volunteers serving in the country;
- Work closely with the Field Security Officer and provide support to the UN Designated Official to ensure a detailed understanding among UN Volunteers on all security-related issues;
- Monitor the well-being and performance of serving UN Volunteers through routine field visits to their duty stations and discussions with their supervisors and counterparts;
- Oversee and approve UN Volunteers’ entitlements as delegated, authorized, or needed;
- Attract relevant national talents and manage local talent sources as per the country demand forecast and agreed talent acquisition priorities, in coordination with the regional Talent Acquisition Analyst;
- Provide overall management and administrative support to UN Volunteers.
2. Advocacy, partnership building, and UNV programme integration
- Lead UNVs’ field efforts as the representative of the organization in the country, ensuring key results and delivery of the Strategic Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals;
- Establish, foster and maintain effective outreach and relationships, including the formalization of partnerships and other exchanges of confidence such as inclusion in the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), as well as with government, UN agencies, NGOs, the private sector and other relevant development partners;
- Participate in UN thematic forces, UN-led assessments, Programme Management Team (PMT) meetings, post-conflict needs assessments, UNSDCF planning processes, technical missions, and funding appeals to identify opportunities for volunteerism and volunteer placement;
- In coordination with HQ, identify resource mobilization entry points with key partners and donors in the country if and when applicable.
- Establish, foster and maintain effective outreach and relationships with local civil society organizations, prioritizing those focused on volunteerism, to contribute to community-led sustainable development in the country;
- Encourage national and local actors to establish a framework on volunteer infrastructure that supports volunteerism for peace and development, including the adoption of relevant policies and legislation;
- Strengthen and determine business intelligence related to partnerships, promotion of volunteerism and shaping and delivering volunteer infrastructure advisory services and conduct country scans as input for corporate planning processes;
- In close coordination with the Regional Office and the Communications Section at headquarters, prepare, disseminate and present country-specific promotional information on the mandate and work of UNV with relevant development partners and the media;
- Coordinate activities and plan events, in collaboration with other agencies, for annual, national, and UN-recognized international celebrations, including the International Volunteer Day (IVD);
- Encourage and monitor serving UN Volunteers to embrace the ideals of volunteerism, act as advocates for volunteer action, and document their experiences in promoting volunteerism;
- Support, in the case of UNV-funded projects UNV programmatic engagement.
3. Management
- Develop and manage the implementation of the Field Unit’s annual work plan, including management and reporting on UNV support funds and budget;
- Lead the UNV country-presence to ensure coordinated and effective delivery of services as well as enable a supportive and collaborative work environment;
- Establish and monitor implementation of the FU’s annual work plan and set performance indicators.
Core Competencies
Achieve Results
- Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively
- Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
Learn Continuously
- Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility
- Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
Act with Determination
- Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner
- Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion
- Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
System Thinking
- Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgment to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact other parts of the system
Negotiation and Influence
- Reach a common understanding/agreement, persuade other, resolve points of difference through a dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions and create ‘win-win’ situations.
Knowledge Generation
- Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.
Results-based Management
- Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools
Partnerships Management
- Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
Digital Awareness and Literacy
- Ability to monitor new and emerging technologies, as well as understand their usage, potential, limitations, impact, and added value. Ability to rapidly and readily adopt and use new technologies in professional activities, and to empower others to use them as needed. Knowledge of the usage of digital technologies and emerging trends.
Event planning and execution
- Ability to plan, manage and execute of public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNV’s overall brand and mandate.
Required Skills and Experience
Minimum Academic Education:
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in social sciences, international development, project management, public/business administration or related fields is required, or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Minimum years of relevant experience:
- Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience preferably in a humanitarian, development and/or peace related field,
Required skills and competencies:
- Experience in partnerships and/or inter-agency cooperation is essential.
- Experience in Microsoft office and internet.
- Openness to embrace Digital Transformation and use of new technologies.
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the competencies section:
- Work experience with the United Nations is an asset.
- Previous experience in a civil society setting and/or as a volunteer with volunteer management and/or promotion of volunteerism is a distinct advantage.
Language Requirements:
- Fluency in English and local language of the duty station is required.
Disclaimer
Note:
- Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.
- The successful candidate will hold a UNDP National Personnel Service Agreement contract.
- This post is for local recruitment only. It is open to citizens of Ghana.
- All travel, interview and relocation costs, if any, incurred to take up an appointment at the duty station in Accra are at the expense of the applicant.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Deadline: 20 Sep 2025
