Team Leader Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies Accra, Ghana

The Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies

The Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) is the international institute for Urban Management of Erasmus University working in developing and transitional countries. It offers specialized post graduate and accredited education and training, advisory services and applied research in the fields of urban management, housing and urban environment. The institute works closely with local governments, international and local non-governmental organizations and the private sector worldwide, mainly in Asia, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, and Africa. Its mission is to develop human and institutional capacities and provide support to policy makers to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life in cities worldwide.

IHS has an immediate opening for:

A Team Leader

For the GHANA URBAN MANAGEMENT PILOT PROGRAMME (GUMPP), funded by the AFD. This is a four year position in Accra, Ghana.

Description of the project

The Ghana Urban Management Pilot Programme, in broad terms, focuses on:

· Implementing urban development programmes that give widespread access to essential services at the desired level and quality;

· Building the financial, management and ownership capacities of Metropolitan and Municipal District Assemblies (MMDAs);

· Supporting economic activities and local employment and enhance revenue collection capacity of MMDAs and increase self-investment (via internally generated funds); and

· Limiting the negative impact of urban sprawl on peripheral eco-systems.

The project supports four urban Metropolitan (Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi and Tamale) and Municipal (Ho) District Assemblies (MMDAs) and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) in the management and implementation of urban development projects and institutional, financial and technical support measures. Support includes capacity building for Ghanaian stakeholders that create adequate local expertise in the field of design and implementation of sustainable urban development programmes. The current assignment focuses on ensuring that the GUMPP Secretariat in MLGRD/UDU is able to establish, manage, monitor and implement the GUMPP project.

The GUMPP is a pilot initiative and so this assignment will identify and test approaches and systems that can be successfully replicated and scaled up to Ghana’s other 42 urban local governments.

In the previous phase, technical assistance aided in the creation of a baseline assessment and a set of priorities; and 5-year indicative programmes for each city. Each city identified:

· Priority investments in infrastructure and facilities to be financed during GUMPP implementation based on needs, absorption capacity, available budget provisions and relevance and quality of project proposals;

· Priority operation and maintenance plan is to be prepared and established by each city during the programme; and

· A support programme at local government level to enhance operational performance in service delivery and the implementation of institutional and financial reforms.

This phase focuses on:

· TA to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in the set up, monitoring and supervision of the implementation phase;

· TA to the four cities participating: support in preparation of infrastructure projects and support measures; as well as support in the supervision and monitoring of infrastructure projects and support measures.

The following are the qualifications IHS is seeking:

Knowledge / Experience /Skills and attitude

· At least 15 years relevant work experience in similar context, experience as a Team Leader in large and complex projects, and a proven track record;

· At least 15 years of relevant management experience in an international setting;

· Strong leadership qualities and proven managerial ability;

· Fluency in English, both written and spoken; good verbal and written communication skills

· Flexible attitude, and able to achieve results;

· Strong interpersonal skills and cross cultural sensitivity;

· Able to work under pressures, to cope with stress and meet deadlines

Candidates should send a letter of motivation, Curriculum Vitae, and at least 3 references to:

Carley Pennink, Head of International Projects and Advisory Services

INSTITUTE FOR HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

E-mail: secr@ihs.nl

Tel: +31 (10) 408 9825

The deadline for submission of CVs is 15 September, 2012.

Should there be any questions, please do not hesitate to enquire at the email above.

For more information on IHS, please refer to our webpage www.ihs.nl