Zonal Project Coordinators x2 - CARE International

CARE began operations in Ghana in 1994 by working to educate mining areas about sexual health and the prevention of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. CARE Ghana now works with more than 40 partner organizations to implement a portfolio of projects worth about US$9 million annually in 150 districts across the country, from our main office in Accra and sub-offices in Kumasi, Sunyani and Tamale.

For 30 years, CARE has been working in Ghana to improve livelihoods and achieve social justice through interventions that address the underlying causes of poverty. Our programming focuses on food and nutrition security and social and economic empowerment, with women and youth as our impact group.

Job Description

CARE Ghana is excited to invite your applications for new job openings in our programs and operations. Not only do we offer exceptional opportunities for career growth for Ghanaians especially women and young people, but we are also proud to welcome talented people such as yourself into the global CARE community where our core values of Transformation, Integrity, Diversity, Equality and Excellence are the benchmarks against which we measure ourselves as leaders and employees

If you share these values and our passion for saving lives, defeating poverty, and achieving social justice, then CARE Ghana is the place for you. We hire and nurture great people from diverse backgrounds, abilities, and identities, striving every day and at all levels to build and sustain an inclusive workplace and a sense of belonging for our teams. Your wellbeing and satisfaction with your job in CARE Ghana matter as much to us as your performance.  Our compensation and benefits package are generous, and we offer flexible working conditions to enable you to enjoy life outside of work, and as part of our commitment to equity.

At CARE, we recognize that skills and expertise can come from a range of experiences from work and life, in addition to education or past job titles. As such, we welcome applications from dynamic, curious, and creative Ghanaians with a passion for learning and problem-solving.

Interested? If yes, please see details of the job opening below:

Job Title: Zonal Project Coordinators (2)

Duty station: Savannah and Bono Regions 

The Fill the Nutrient Gap (FNGA) initiative aims to enhance nutrition outcomes and reduce anaemia among women, children, and adolescent girls in 13 districts across Northern and Southern Ghana. With a focus on increasing access to diverse, nutritious foods and essential Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplements, the project targets vulnerable households. Specifically, it aims to reach 35,000 adolescent girls with IFA supplements and promote healthy diets and lifestyles. Additionally, the FNGAP Project leverages the FFBS approach to build the skills of 19,800 farmers, enhancing production, profitability, and resilience in crop and small livestock farming. 

The two (2) Zonal Project Coordinators for FNGAP will lead strategic planning, partnership management, community engagement, and resource oversight and coordinate project activities within designated districts. Working in collaboration with project partners including the Ghana Health Service and Department of Agriculture, the Zonal Project Coordinators will lead efforts to improve nutrition outcomes and enhance agricultural productivity within designated districts.

The Zonal Project Coordinators  will report directly to the Project Manager and will be based in Savannah and Bono Regions and cover project implementation in their designated districts. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ROLE

Strategic Planning, Implementation and Coordination 

• Lead the planning, coordination, and implementation of FNGAP project activities within the designated operational districts, ensuring alignment with project objectives, timelines, and budgets.
• Work with the project team to conduct regular assessments to identify emerging nutrition and agriculture needs and trends.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to prioritize interventions and allocate resources effectively.
• Ensure systematic and effective implementation of project activities through including but not limited to extensive and regular field visits and implementing corrective measures to keep the project on the right track for achieving the planned results.
• Organize regular meetings for the project team members to assess work progress, discuss challenges and constraints, and provide guidance and support.

Reporting, documentation, and Learning

• Liaise with MEAL Specialist to document lessons learned, best practices, and innovations from project implementation. Develop case studies, success stories, and learning briefs to share experiences and insights with internal and external audiences.
• Facilitate and organize quarterly district stakeholder project review meetings.
• Support the Project Manager in dissemination of information and knowledge generated through the project widely and effectively.
• Prepare accurate and timely progress reports for submission to the Project Manager.

Project partner team management 

• Coordinate with project partners to leverage resources and expertise for program implementation ensuring their adherence to project objectives, work plans, and performance targets.
• Coordinate with project partners to establish clear roles, responsibilities, and expectations for each team member.
• Provide ongoing support and guidance, to project partner team members including regular check-ins and access to resources to ensure their success in achieving project objectives.
• Conduct regular feedback sessions with project partner team members to assess progress towards project plan, identify areas for improvement, and celebrate achievements.
• Foster inclusive team culture among project partner team members by promoting open communication, mutual respect, and shared accountability for project outcomes.

Community and Project Group Engagement and Capacity building

• Organize community meetings and workshops to raise awareness about nutrition and food security issues and facilitate discussions on local challenges and solutions.
• Conduct training sessions for project group members on nutrition-sensitive agriculture, food preparation techniques, and dietary diversity to improve household food security and nutrition.
• Collaborate with community leaders and local organizations to identify and address barriers to accessing nutritious foods, including promoting home gardening and kitchen gardens.
• Facilitate the establishment of community-based support groups or networks to promote peer learning, knowledge sharing, and collective action towards improved nutrition and food security.
• Provide technical assistance and mentorship to project group members in implementing sustainable agriculture practices, diversifying crops, to enhance food production and resilience.

Required Skills or Experience

Knowledge

• Understanding of food security concepts, food access, food availability, food distribution, and the factors that influence food systems, such as agriculture, trade, and food policy.
• Demonstrated ability to identify challenges, develop innovative solutions, and implement effective strategies.
• Knowledge of the Village Savings and Loans Association concept.
• Knowledge in the structure and operations of MMDCEs (local governance structure).
• Knowledge on the tenets of effective community mobilisation.

Experience

• Minimum of 3-5 years of relevant experience in project management, preferably in nutrition, agriculture, or community development 
• Experience in facilitating linkages, relationship building and networking.
• Experienced in smallholder agri-business and capacity building.
• Good speaking and writing skills in English and ability to communicate in any of the local languages spoken in Bono and Savannah Regions.

Skills

• Excellent facilitation, negotiation, networking, interpersonal and communication skills
• Excellent administrative and project planning skills, management and communication and report writing, monitoring, supervisory and coaching skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Education

• Degree in Development Studies, Statistics, Project Management, Social Science, or related field.