PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT OFFICER

Organizational Context

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the global environmental authority, setting the agenda and promoting sustainable development. Its Climate Change Division delivers strategic guidance and high-impact action for climate stability, guided by science and global goals. This role is within UNEP's Climate Change Division, Adaption & Resilience Branch, Climate Change Adaptation Unit (CCAU), in Accra, Ghana, reporting to the Head of CCAU.

Job Purpose

The Programme Management Officer plays a pivotal role in advancing the United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) mandate to deliver effective strategic guidance and high-impact action towards climate stability. This position contributes significantly to UNEP's Climate Change Division's efforts to accelerate a just transition by addressing critical mitigation and adaptation gaps in Ghana. The incumbent will enhance implementation capacity, facilitate the provision of essential data, information, and knowledge, and improve access to finance and technology, thereby building resilience within the country. The role's purpose is to support Ghana in progressing on decarbonization, dematerialization, and resilience pathways, ensuring alignment with national climate commitments and aspirations. Furthermore, it aims to foster transparency in reporting and promote sustainable development through effective climate policies, ultimately contributing to global climate goals and the specific needs of Member States in the region.

Responsibilities

The incumbent provides comprehensive project management and technical support, including offering technical guidance, identifying appropriate interventions, and reviewing country-specific development plans. This involves assembling data for planning, reporting, and project negotiation, ensuring adherence to UNEP financial and administrative regulations, and timely delivery of project results. The role includes assisting with resource programming, budget estimates, expenditure forecasts, and undertaking missions to provide technical guidance and monitor project progress. The officer will analyze work-plans and reports, identify good practices, and provide quality review of project outputs. Additionally, the role involves adaptation policy process coordination, contributing to terms of reference, policy briefs, research, and guidelines. The officer will organize and participate in consultative meetings, seminars, and training workshops, acting as a resource person and focal point for technical subjects. Establishing and maintaining strong links with national, regional, and local stakeholders, including government, NGOs, and the private sector, is key. The role also entails maintaining communication with UN specialists, ensuring project visibility, managing donor relations at the national level, and drafting communication materials. Data collection and analysis for data-driven planning and decision-making are also essential duties.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, including design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, is required. Technical advisory support experience in climate change adaptation, environment, or sustainable development, particularly in Ghana, is also required. Desirable experience includes working in multi-cultural settings or the UN system, understanding Ghana's ecosystems, national/sector policy development, integration of environment into planning, institutional assessment, capacity building, and at least two years in data analytics.

Skills

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of climate change adaptation, ecosystem resilience, and sustainable development in Ghana. Ability to analyze and interpret data for decision-making, demonstrating competence, efficiency, persistence, and responsibility for gender perspectives. PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Ability to develop clear goals, prioritize activities, allocate resources, foresee risks, monitor plans, and use time efficiently. TEAMWORK: Collaborative work ethic, valuing others' input, placing team goals first, supporting group decisions, and sharing responsibility.

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