Deadline for Applications
January 17, 2026
Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)
U (unclassified)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
No designation
Staff Member / Affiliate Type
UNOPS LICA6
2026-01-01
1. General Background
As of the end of August 2025, Ghana is home to a total of 31,670 refugees and asylum seekers. This diverse population spans 43 nationalities, with the top six countries of origin being Burkina Faso, Togo, Sudan, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Liberia.
The biggest and newest arrivals being the Burkinabe population, together with the government of Ghana, a climate-smart agribusiness initiative has been adopted – Ghana Refugee Agribusiness Sustainability Programme (GRASP). This initiative is aimed at fostering self-reliance and promoting sustainable livelihoods by equipping beneficiaries with essential skills in modern agricultural practices and agribusiness development.
A flagship component is being implemented in Bono East and Upper West regions, where a significant number of refugees and asylum seekers reside.
To ensure effective coordination and alignment of interventions, an Inter-Agency Coordination role is crucial. This position will enhance UNHCR Ghana’s ability to lead, integrate efforts across stakeholders, and drive sustainable solutions and ensure that the protection angle is prioritize.
2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
Under the direct supervision of the Head of Office, UNHCR, Ghana, the Inter-Agency Coordination Officer will undertake the following tasks:
Provide support to interagency processes:
- Provide appropriate support for operational planning and forward-looking coordination of the inter-agency humanitarian and development response.
- Embed refugee and host-community inclusion within national development and social protection systems
- Facilitate engagement with line ministries, agencies, and departments to ensure GRASP is embedded in existing government systems rather than parallel structures.
- Ensure coherence between humanitarian, development, and peace actors
- Support GRASP governance structures and decision-making
- Support alignment of GRASP activities with national development frameworks, including NDPC processes, sector strategies, and district development plans.
- Support the planning of adequate contingency and preparedness for new emergencies/
scenarios are in place.
- Close follow up on the strategic, operational, and day-to-day basic assistance sector/ cluster issues.
- Support policy dialogue on refugee inclusion in national planning, budgeting, and social protection systems
- Provide close guidance and support to basic assistance working groups at field level.
- Provide analysis on key humanitarian / development issues and trends in close collaboration with the information management team.
- Conduct regular programmatic and funding gaps analysis.
- Support the development of harmonized assessment, monitoring and evaluation activities in line with the agreed inter-agency response
- Draft correspondence, documents, reports, guidance notes, background information for meetings and workshops.
- Conduct regular field visits to support and build the capacity of field working groups as well as ensuring field perspectives underpin the sector strategy.
- Perform other related duties as required.
3. Monitoring and Progress Controls
• The incumbent provides strong and timely technical guidance to UNHCR senior management and partners.
• Mid-year and Year-end report
• Monitoring mission reports
• Any other ad hoc report as needed.
4. Qualifications and Experience
a. Education
- Bachelor’s degree in law,
- Political Science,
- Economics,
- International Relations,
- Business Administration,
- Social Science
- or other relevant field.
b. Work Experience
For P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree
c. Key Competencies
Skills and experience description
• ER-Inter-Agency Coordination Mechanisms
• MS-Drafting, Documentation, Data Presentation; Preparation of workshops and conference documents.
• MG-Negotiation;
• CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community
• MS-Networking;
Essential:
- Experience of working in an inter-agency environment at field or Headquarters level.
- Experience of liaising with governments and/or the donor community.
- Thorough understanding of UNHCR's protection mandate and core mission.
- Thorough understanding of humanitarian coordination processes and recent inter-agency developments related to the IASC and the broader UN.
- Experience with communication and advocacy.
Desirable:
- Inter-agency coordination role.
- Proven experience leading/co-leading coordination mechanisms at the field level.
- Strong/proven understanding of UNHCR´s mandate, as the ability to influence UNHCR's refugee-protection agenda within the UN and other coordination mechanisms is a must.
- Thorough understanding of the Ghana context, the JRP and the Sahel+ strategies.
- Drafting joint appeal/ refugee response plan/HRP.
- Experience in developing contingency plan
- Strong drafting skills in English needed to write, review, clear numerous documents related to the requirements of the coordination mechanisms in Ghana.
- Strong communication, problem solving, coordination skills.
- Proven cultural flexibility, professionalism, integrity and respect of diversity.
- Analytical thinking, excellent planning and organizational skills.\
- Excellent experience working with Governments, UN Agencies, ONG partners and traditional leaders in the refugee’s context.
- Strong organizational and project management skills, which will be needed to conduct and lead numerous meetings with large numbers of diverse participants.
- Knowledge of the Burkinabe refugee context.
Language skills
English mandatory ☒ optional ☐
basic ☐ fair ☐ working knowledge ☒ fluent ☐ mother tongue ☐
d. Key Competencies
Core Competencies:
Accountability
Communication
Planning and Organizing
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation
Cross-Functional Competencies:
Stakeholder Management
Political Awareness
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Managerial Competencies
Judgement and Decision Making
Empowering and Building Trust
Leadership
Managing Performance
Strategic Planning and Vision
Standard Job Description
Required Languages
,
,
Desired Languages
,
,
Additional Qualifications
Skills
Education
Certifications
Other information
This position doesn't require a functional clearance
Remote
No