Social Science Officer – SADA Zone, Tamale

About the role

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture, through the Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project (GCAP), is recruiting a Social Science Officer for the SADA Zone in Tamale. The officer works with the SADA Zonal Coordinator and the Social Scientist of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) to develop and implement social inclusion, equity of benefits, community participation and feedback mechanisms as set out in the Project Implementation Manual (PIM).

Key responsibilities

• Identify the social studies needed, prepare social mitigation instruments and implement design measures such as gender inclusion, benefit sharing and other social development issues in the SADA zone.
• Advise the Zonal Coordinator on institutional strengthening, including the land facilitation mechanism, model lease agreement and negotiation and benefit-sharing frameworks.
• Ensure community engagement processes are followed and support adaptive management based on community consultations.
• Set up stakeholder consultation mechanisms with communities, traditional authorities and civil society, and run outreach activities to civil society groups.
• Collect information on non-state entities with project-relevant technical skills.
• Operationalise the grievance redress mechanism, monitor its performance and identify trends in grievances.
• Identify capacity development needs for project staff and undertake field visits to project sites to supervise implementation and flag risks and opportunities.
• Report on project issues, including the ESMF, RPF and PIM, and liaise with partner ministries in the SADA zone.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in sociology, anthropology, political science or a related field; postgraduate qualification an advantage.
• At least 5 years of experience, with a track record of social monitoring in development projects.
• Significant experience working in Ghana.
• Fluency in spoken and written English and ability to write clear, structured reports and give presentations to diverse audiences.

Required skills

• Knowledge of World Bank safeguard policies and Ghana's environmental regulations and procedures.
• Experience with participatory planning, land use mapping and consultation.
• Knowledge of Ghana's social institutions, land tenure, natural resource management, social inclusion and gender.
• Preferred: familiarity with the agriculture sector.

What we offer

• Competitive salary paid in equal end-of-month installments, subject to completing the core reporting responsibilities of the Assignment Work Plan.
• Duration of two years, renewable yearly based on satisfactory performance.

Applications with a letter, CV and supporting documents are sent to the Chief Director, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Accra, by 9 August 2013. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.