Second Secretary, Security and Stability - British High Commission

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.

Job Category: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Policy & Political roles)

Job Subcategory: Political

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main Purpose of Job

The UK Government is taking a new strategic approach to Sub-Saharan Africa. This is delivering an integrated, whole of Government approach with an increased focus on five key areas where the UK can make strong contributions that match African priorities. One of those five areas is security and stability. Its focus includes preventing and resolving conflict by working with African institutions to find peaceful solutions; tackling serious and organised crime to enable stronger economic growth, and managing migration.

The purpose of this job is to provide policy support to the British High Commission’s team responsible for the development and delivery of its activities to enhance security and stability in Ghana. In this context, security and stability refers to regional security, including countering terrorism and violent extremism, tackling organised crime and managing safe and orderly migration.

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Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Monitor and report on trends in Ghana relating to security and stability
• Support the delivery of inward and outward visits of senior officials and Ministers relating to security and stability, including through preparing policy briefings, and planning logistics
• Support the development of new policy and programming proposals to address security and stability challenges
• Write specific, targeted and achievable project proposals to access funding streams, and project manage the delivery of small projects or the early stages of significant programmes
• Act as secretariat to the British High Commission’s security and stability team, including the management of its risk register and ensuring delivery of action points.
• Support monitoring and evaluation of the British High Commission’s general objectives on security and stability, and report to UK Government stakeholders on impact
• Build and sustain a network of strategic contacts within the Government of Ghana and its security agencies, principally those under the Ministries of Interior and Justice, as well as relevant UN agencies
• Work with the First Secretary Justice and Home Affairs to maintain strong working relationships across the British High Commission’s security and stability team, strengthen understanding of each other’s objectives and promote fusion working

Resources Managed (Staff and Expenditure)

• No direct line management

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject, or minimum of seven years work experience in a relevant field
• Minimum of three years work experience – preferably including policy-making
• Strong understanding of Ghana’s main security and stability objectives and challenges
• Excellent understanding of the current political, social and economic context in Ghana
• Strong written and oral communication skills, specifically experience of developing and writing policy and project proposals
• Experience of engaging and influencing Government of Ghana Ministers and officials

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Existing relationships within the field of security and stability in Ghana
• Project management experience
• Postgraduate degree in a relevant subject