[Consultancy] Ghana Project Coordinator -  Nature-based solutions in the Guinean Forests of West Africa

Terms of Reference - Recruitment of a National Consultant to serve as the NbS Project Coordinator for Ghana.

Position title:
Consultant: Ghana Project Coordinator -  Nature-based solutions in the Guinean Forests of West Africa

Position location:
Accra, Ghana

Consultancy Type:
Full-time

Start date:
Immediately until 31st March, 2027.
 

Application deadline:
17 July 2026, (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis)

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a leading Canadian international development organisation focusing on three programmatic areas: Economic Opportunities, Education, and Empowerment. Our vision is a better world for all young people. It is a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable world in which all young people, especially women and refugees, are empowered to secure a good quality of life for themselves, their families, and their communities.

WUSC currently works in over 25 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, with an annual budget of approximately CAD $45 million. Globally, we partner with a network of higher education institutions, civil society organisations, private-sector partners, professionals, students, volunteers, faculty, and community leaders who work with us to achieve our mission.

The overall focus of the Nature-based Solutions (NBS) in the Guinean Forests of West Africa (NBS West Africa) project will be on engaging with a wide range of stakeholders to develop local and regional capacity to use evidence and engage with women and marginalised groups to prioritise locally relevant NBS for climate change adaptation. It will take a systems approach to supporting climate adaptation through interventions that plan for, pilot, and scale nature-based solutions (NBS) to enhance biodiversity and gender equality. An overarching assumption is that restoration and reforestation of degraded forests, both on- and off-farm, will be critical to supporting women and their communities in adapting to climate change and central to protecting and restoring biodiversity in this critical global hotspot. 

The project will work in close collaboration with consortium member CECI, the IUCN, the Landscape Alliance, former CIFOR-ICRAF, and the University of Guelph. Key local stakeholders include local and national government bodies, regional institutions, the private sector, women’s groups, and environmental organisations.

This initiative builds on WUSC’s and CECI’s decades of experience supporting vulnerable populations and leverages the experience of a variety of local and international partners who bring a strong climate NbS lens, are fully immersed in their respective ecosystems, and whose work can be accelerated by this project. This project is a timely intervention to ensure that Ghana continues to effectively address climate adaptation while incorporating nature-based solutions and a strong gender lens. 

WUSC is therefore seeking a national consultant to serve as the Project Coordinator,  providing overall coordination of project activities and leading the technical implementation of climate-adaptation-relevant activities in Ghana. 

Scope of work

The Consultant will collaborate closely with the NbS project GESI officer and relevant finance team members to coordinate project execution in Ghana, with support from the NbS regional team. Additionally, the Consultant will serve as the technical expert for climate adaptation planning and biodiversity initiatives, providing specialised implementation and advisory support to project teams and partners in Ghana. 

Key Responsibilities: 

General Project Coordination: (50%)

• Provide technical and managerial direction in Ghana to achieve the expected project outcomes
• Maintain clear, open communication channels across a multi-country consortium, including Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, and Ghana;
• Support  local staff and partners to execute planned project activities;
• Adapt the project's monitoring and evaluation framework to the Ghanaian context, including tracking progress for iterative management and timely reporting;
• Prepare relevant project narrative reports, analysis and reviews
• Oversee a strong working relationship with project partners, including planning, capacity building and information sharing; 
• Implement the project governance structure for the project in Ghana and coordinate the meetings;   
• Coordinate regularly with other development actors in the Region to ensure harmonisation and synergy with similar initiatives; 
• Represent the Project in official communication and fora in Ghana
• Contribute to other relevant project activities related to the project coordinator position. 

Human Resources and Finance (15%)

• Manage the project team, including staff, volunteers and consultants in Ghana;
• Supervise, guide and evaluate the work of project staff and consultants;
• In conjunction with the NBS finance team, contribute to the development of the budget,  monitor the project budget and ensure regular reporting; 
• Support the country leadership team as required on decisions regarding project administration, infrastructure, and equipment management/disposal.  
• Collaborate with the finance team to procure project equipment.
• Actively assess the risk profile of the project, and identify specific risks and appropriate mitigation strategies

Climate Adaptation Technical Implementation (25%)

• Ensure collaboration with project partners in Ghana, on aspects of their workplans relative to biodiversity and climate change activities 
• Provide technical leadership and implementation for aspects of project activities related to NbS, biodiversity, and climate adaptation. 
• Preparing training materials/manuals, providing capacity building, including other forms of technical assistance to address key technical and programmatic priorities related to NbS, biodiversity, and climate adaptation for the project. 
• Undertake follow-up field visits at the national and regional levels to support the implementation of climate adaptation and biodiversity activities for the project.
• Perform other duties inherent to the position, such as drafting parts of annual work plans, narrative reports, analysis and any other relevant duties

Monitoring, evaluation and reporting. (10%)

• In collaboration with the project Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) team and using project data, contribute to the preparation of knowledge products, including policy briefs, frameworks, and methodologies related to the project's climate adaptation and biodiversity aspects.
• In collaboration with the project Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning team, contribute to the data collection, analysis, and reporting aspects of the project. 
• Periodically organise and take part in online and in-person events to share project lessons learnt, leveraging their expertise to advance the project and WUSC-CECIs' position as a knowledge leader in climate adaptation and biodiversity.
• Actively collaborate with other project technical team members, particularly the project’s Gender Equality Advisors, to ensure that activities are planned and implemented through the lens of gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, and the social inclusion of vulnerable groups in the project's target areas. 
• Conduct periodic field missions to implement activities and monitor the field. 

Work Location

The Consultant shall work out of the WUSC Ghana office. 

The role involves frequent travels to the Wassa Amenfi and Lake Bosomtwi landscapes, where project activities are implemented. The Consultant will also be expected to travel occasionally within the sub-region and other project countries to provide support to project staff operating in these countries and project landscapes. 

Qualifications:

Education

• Master's preferred in climatic sciences, environment, sciences related to the agroforestry or agri-food sector, or in a development-related field;

Experience and Competencies

• Experience of at least seven (7) years (or equivalent) in program design, project development, advisory support in the field of climate change and sustainable development, with an emphasis on participatory approaches.
• Experience managing complex partnerships and commitment to a participatory partnership approach to development;
• Experience in climate adaptation projects or programs in Africa, and preferably in West Africa
• Advanced knowledge in one or more of the following themes, with strong familiarity in the others: ecosystem-based adaptation and biodiversity conservation; nature-based solutions; adaptation of agri-food systems; food security and climate change; agroforestry; and gender equality in adaptation to climate change.
• Experience in designing, implementing and/or monitoring projects that involve climate finance - particularly carbon or other forms of nature credits. 
• Experience in designing, implementing and/or monitoring projects that include promoting gender equality in climate change adaptation.
• Proven technical and financial managerial, administrative, and organisational skills;
• Proven  experience in climate change adaptation, gender equality, natural resources management, economic development and local governance;  
• Diplomatic skills and the knowledge of cross-cultural, inter-personal communication;
• Capacity to travel and live in remote areas; 

Language

• Superior oral and written skills required in English;
• French language skills will be an asset.

Applications: 

To apply, please send your Curriculum Vitae and cover letter as soon as possible, before the 17th of June, by uploading them through the online application process. Please be aware that applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis, and WUSC may close the application process early if a suitable candidate is found before the deadline. We recommend that applicants submit their applications as early as possible. 

Background:

WUSC is a leading Canadian international development organisation that works with and through its southern partners to promote sustainable development. Founded in 1957 and currently working in 22 countries worldwide with an annual budget of approximately $45 million dollars, WUSC’s mission is to foster human development and global understanding through education and training. Our internationally recognised programs support youth, women and other marginalised populations, focusing on three thematic areas of education, employment and empowerment. Globally, WUSC works with a network of higher education institutions, civil society organisations, private-sector partners, professionals, students, volunteers, faculty, and community leaders that can be leveraged to support our work. 

WUSC offers a dynamic international work environment with a diverse intercultural workforce.  We offer employees exciting opportunities to apply their skills and gain experience all while making a difference for youth around the world. We believe youth have the potential to provide for their families, build strong communities, and create positive social change for future generations.  Employees at WUSC work hard to create lasting change in education, employment and empowerment. 

WUSC is an equal opportunity employer.  We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.