Date: Team Assistant
โRequisition ID: 5156
Grade: SB2 - Local support
Country: Ghana
Duty Station: Ho
Category: Local Support Personnel
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular
Contract Duration: 6 months
Application deadline: 21-Feb-2025, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)
Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDOโs mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to โBuild resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovationโ. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organizationโs programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.
Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDOโs four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.
The Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, ensures the Organization's application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to environment, energy, Micro, Small and Medium-Enterprises (MSMEs), and digitalization. The Directorate also oversees the Organization's normative contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through industrial policy advice and capacity development. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute to effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results, scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.
Under the supervision of the Managing Director of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), and in close coordination with other organizational entities within UNIDO, the Division of Circular Economy and Green Industry (TCS/CEG) contributes to greener and more circular industries and products by minimizing both resource use along value chains and the emission of pollutants to the environment.
The Division promotes just transitions to circular economies, reduced release of pollutants into the environment and other green industrial and economic approaches to help Member States to grow economically while simultaneously addressing the three planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. It promotes circular economy policies, programmes and practices including circular business models that improve the profitability of industries while creating social and environmental benefits. It does so by supporting resource efficiency increases in the manufacturing and use of products along value chains and during the life cycle of the product; by reducing or eliminating the emission of non-fuel-related greenhouse gas emissions; and by assisting in achieving the objectives of and compliance with multilateral environmental agreements. In doing so, its activities further improve competitiveness, as well as the development of and access to markets, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. This contributes to climate-neutral, resilient, pollution-free industrial development, supporting co-existence that is in harmony with nature.
This position is located under the Circular Industrial Resource Efficiency Unit (TCS/CEG/CRE) which is responsible for supporting capacity development to promote the adoption of circular and resource-efficient consumption and production patterns across value chains. It fosters circular economy solutions including policies, programmes, practices, and business models that enhance industry profitability while generating social and environmental benefits. Furthermore, it facilitates design for circularity emphasizing reduced or alternative materials inputs, greater durability, reusability, reparability, and ultimately recyclability. The Unit promotes nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based approaches that support the coexistence of industries and nature.
PROJECT CONTEXT
Project 210154 \"Ghana Circular Economy Centre\" will create a Circular Economy Centre that will serve as the hub to enable an effective environment for the circular economy in Ghana, by bringing together actors to coordinate and mobilize support to scale up successful circular economy business and technology concepts. Working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, the Centre will assist Ghanaian organizations and small-scale entrepreneurs, to develop and deploy innovative circular economy-based solutions technology solutions in their businesses and social enterprises while generating environmentally sustainable employment in Ghana. It will also mobilize financing from various sources including the private sector for the commercialization of successful piloted technologies. Capacity building and training activities will specifically focus on the needs of women and youth to encourage their full participation in the circular economy. The Centre will ensure that workers within key industries, such as waste management, agro-processing, agriculture and plastics, and particularly the informal sector, can take advantage of new circular economy opportunities. Through policy briefs and advocacy materials, the Project will provide evidence to policymakers to enable a just transition to a circular economy in Ghana.
The Host Institution (HI) of the Centre, Ho Technical University, alongside the priority sector Value Chain (VC) Leads which were so far selected - namely University of Cape Coast, Directorate of Research Innovation and Consultancy for plastics, The Or Foundation for textiles, and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources for agri-sector will provide specific interventions within value chains. The HI and VC Leads will provide the requisite local expertise, quality testing, prototyping and laboratory facilities and a core focus on innovation, entrepreneurship and technical skills. In the future, the Center is expected to extend to additional value chains and engage more value chain leads to expand services.
The Project will develop local circular economy-based solutions (including technologies and business models) that can be scaled within the country and West African region and increase Ghana's industrial competitiveness from material productivity and resource efficiency. The project is expected to validate 200 circular technologies and/or business models, train at least 2000 small-scale entrepreneurs and help entrepreneurs in the circular economy space raise at least $10 million in private capital. Beyond its contributions to Ghana's economic growth and climate action, the initiative will reinforce Ghana's leadership in West Africa. Ghana is one of the fastest growing economies on the continent, hosting the African Continental Free Trade Agreement Secretariat, and positioning itself to become a regional leader in the circular economy. Private sector resources and expertise will be leveraged through investment and collaboration on high-impact solutions, to stimulate sustainable economic growth in support of development objectives.
FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the supervision of the Project Manager and in close cooperation with the project team in the HQ and field location, the Team Assistant will be located at Ho Technical University in the offices of the Ghana Circular Economy Centre (GCEC). The Team Assistant provides clerical/administrative support to the project implementation and is responsible for the following key functions:
- Perform general administrative tasks such as ordering office supplies, following up on budget queries, making various reservations as required, placing purchase requisitions, researching for information and reference material, organizing requests for formal editing, translation, layout, graphic design and arranging for printing services as well as the publication of documents, if and when necessary;
- Using SAP, when required, make arrangements for travel, prepare travel authorizations, ensuring that visas, security clearances, vaccination certificates, passports, etc. are valid and in order. Assist in completing back-to-office mission reports and claim forms;
- Respond to moderately complex information requests and inquiries as necessary, as well as refer queries to appropriate personnel for handling;
- Assist in organizing the logistics for meetings, prepare the necessary background documents and agendas, liaise with counterparts on attendance, assist in the preparation of presentation materials, book meeting rooms and take notes at meetings, if required;
- Keep track of pending matters, flagging deadlines and bringing urgent and important items to the attention of the supervisor;
- Maintain an up-to-date filing system (both hard copy and electronic);
- Perform any other related duties as assigned.
MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Education: Completed higher secondary education (high school diploma or equivalent), is required. Formal administrative/secretarial/clerical training or equivalent, is desirable.
Credit towards total working experience may be considered on a year-by-year basis, up to maximum of four years, for a higher degree education (including first university degree or equivalent diploma and/or masterโs degree), in a relevant field to the post.
Technical and Functional Experience:
- A minimum of three (3) years of work experience in the related fields of the post, is required.
- Experience using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel), internet search engines, is required.
- Experience with office procedures and practices, preferably within the UN system or in a multicultural environment, is desirable.
- Experience with SAP or similar ERP software is desirable.
Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of local languages including Akan (Fante/Twi), Ewe, Ga, and/or Dagbani is desirable.
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES
Core Values
WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.
WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.
WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.
Key Competencies
WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential โand this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.
WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.
WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.
WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.