Field Coordinator (Young Africa Innovates Programme) - Kumasi

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization in fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet (learn more at undp.org, follow @UNDP). UNDP in Ghana is currently focusing its development interventions on : accountable, inclusive and responsive governance and social cohesion; and sustainable, resilient and inclusive growth and structural transformation. UNDP has incubated strategic initiatives to ensure its 'fitness for purpose' to deliver new development solutions. These initiatives include the UNDP Accelerator Lab (AccLab) Network, which covers 115 countries including Ghana. AccLabs help in tackling complex development challenges, such as youth unemployment. Young people comprise 38% of Ghana’s population, but despite investments to create employment opportunities for them, significant problems remain. Many young Ghanaians have innovative solutions to social and economic challenges, but struggle to unlock economic opportunities and create employment. About 25% of young people are not in employment, education or training (NEET) . The situation is particularly challenging for marginalized groups including women, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and rural communities. Youth-based entrepreneurship provides a route out of unemployment, but it is estimated that 74% of Ghanaian start-ups fail due to limited systems and pathways to develop and scale . There is a critical need to support young innovators and entrepreneurs to develop and scale innovative solutions and create employment opportunities. UNDP (with funding from Mastercard Foundation) is deploying a Young Africa Innovates (YAI) Programme which will develop an innovative system to generate, identify and scale youth-led solutions to spur employment, with a focus on marginalised groups. Rapid experimentation, based on Lean Innovation principles, is a key element of YAI’s approach to identify practical models which support youth-led solutions and unlock economic opportunities for young people. UNDP is now seeking qualified, self-motivated candidates with good organizational skills to support field work initially in the Ashanti, Ahafo, Bono and Bono East regions of Ghana.

The YAI Field Coordinator will support delivery of the YAI Programme at regional, district and community levels, working closely with UNDP and Programme sub-partners to support Programme implementation. Sub-partners include the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations, and grassroots Community Based Organisations. The Field Coordinator will take part in specific work to support the following activities (among other activities): Recruitment - Development, testing and roll-out of an online YAI IT portal and regional YAI call centers. - Design and roll-out of calls for applications to attract young innovators (aged 18-35), particularly women, Persons with Disabilities and those from rural communities. - Building and leveraging social, professional and other networks to encourage innovators to apply to the Programme, using different channels including the YAI Portal, YAI call centers and scouting in communities. Selection - Longlisting of applications with automated support. - Organisation of bootcamps and learning circles for innovators. - Shortlisting of applications. Pipeline - Progress applications through key stages of Solutions Redefinition, Experimentation and Scaling. Partnership development - Developing good working relationships with the regional/local public and private sectors and civil society (including youth groups), and leveraging relationships during consultative processes to obtain feedback and refine the YAI model where necessary. Monitoring - Collection of data to inform monitoring of the YAI Programme at regional and local levels. - Organisation of field visits, regional workshops and meetings as required. Learning - Synthesis of good practice and lessons learnt during regional implementation into at least 2 reports, and contribution to blogs, videos and other communication about the YAI Programme.

The UNV is expected to dwell in the Ashanti Region and will be required to perform regular field missions throughout Ashanti, Ahafo, Bono and Bono East and elsewhere in Ghana.

Accountability, Adaptability and flexibility, Creativity, Judgement and decision-making, Planning and organising, Professionalism, Self-management

Field-work or community organizing, including in peri-urban or rural settings; Project/Programme management. • Good understanding of Ghana’s development landscape, particularly inclusive approaches to creating employment opportunities for youth, women, persons living with disabilities, rural communities and others. • Good understanding of the Ghanaian innovation ecosystem, including the role of Innovation Support Organisations and Enterprise Support Organisations at a regional and local level. • Strong analytical skills, including the ability to organize and interpret both quantitative and qualitative data. • A self-starter, with ability to work with minimal supervision and to prioritize among conflicting deadlines. • Excellent partnership development and communication skills (written and verbal). • Respect for diversity and ethics, with ability to thrive in multi-cultural settings and interact with people from diverse backgrounds.

• Proficiency in IT software including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Zoom. Ability and willingness to learn new tools, techniques, and systems.

• Understanding of UNDP's activities will be an asset.

Other desired technical knowledge: • Interest in grassroots innovation is an asset. • Knowledge of other Ghanaian languages is an asset.

The country Ghana is peaceful with a lower middle-income status. The security situation in Ghana is calm and is classified by the UN as a family duty station. The UNV is expected to dwell in the Ashanti Region and will be required to perform regular field missions throughout Ashanti, Ahafo, Bono and Bono East and elsewhere in Ghana. Amenities and facilities such as hospitals, running water, electricity are adequately available in the target Regional Capitals where the NUNV is expected to reside.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials
You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.”