National Consultant for Supporting Safeguards Activities in Ghana at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Duties and responsibilities

The objective of this consultancy is to provide technical backstopping to strengthen safeguards processes in Ghana, particularly focused on safeguards activities needed for implementing TREES and advancing with LEAF process. Under the supervision of the UN-REDD Programme Officer, the consultant based in Accra Ghana will work directly with the designated REDD+ safeguards focal points and the National REDD+ Secretariat based in the Forestry Commission of Ghana (FC) with frequent physical presence at the FC offices.

More Specifically, He/she Will Perform The Following Tasks

• Develop inputs and follow up on the requirements to comply with ART/TREES and LEAF safeguards requirements, including inputs for the safeguards section of the TREES Registration Document, the TREES Monitoring Report and the Plan for Conformance with TREES safeguards outcome indicators,
• Elaborate Ghana’s second summary of safeguards information, in collaboration with key country stakeholders and information providers, including data gathering, editing and continued follow up with information providers,
• Provide legal advice to strengthen the implementation of policies and actions defined for addressing and respecting REDD+ safeguards in Ghana, based on the national approach to safeguards,
• Provide guidelines, follow up and support the implementation of the Feedback Grievance and Redress Mechanism, including legal advice to address complaints or grievances received associated to REDD+ implementation in the country.
• Define benefit sharing arrangements or inform updates for these arrangements for future ER payments associated to an agreement with LEAF, building on the advances and experiences to date related to the benefit sharing plan for ER payments under the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme,
• Plan the development of capacity building efforts in Ghana related to the Feedback Grievance and Redress Mechanism, Benefit Sharing arrangements and other safeguards/related topics, in close coordination with the country focal points,
• Monitor and evaluate activities, including provision of safeguards inputs for population of ER monitoring report, based on processes defined by the Forestry Commission of Ghana.
• Identify actions and recommendations for strengthening the application of safeguards at the national, subnational and local level.
• Identify opportunities for strengthening of safeguards reporting through the country’s SIS

Qualifications/special Skills
Academic Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences, law with focus on environment, natural resources management, environmental engineering or related field, is required.

Experience

• A minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible working experience with first level degree in forestry forest policy, forest or natural resources management, climate change, ecosystem management, REDD+ or related fields is required.
• Prior working experience with an international organization is an advantage,
• Understanding of laws and national policies associated to forestry sector and human rights is desirable,
• Experience in understanding social issues associated to forest and natural resources management is desirable,
• Experience working across diverse institutions and fostering productive stakeholder partnerships and REDD+ stakeholders in Ghana is desirable.

Skills

• Knowledge of dispute resolution and grievance redress mechanisms,
• Knowledge of report writing and editing,
• Basic computer skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office programs,
• Good communication, adaptability and time management skills are an asset.

Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of any other official UN languages would be an asset. Knowledge of Twi is desirable.