RECRUITMENT NOTICE – 099 GHANA
The Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC), the Canadian Executing Agency for the Deployment for Democratic Development (DDD) program, funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD), is currently undertaking an assignment to support the ongoing strengthening of the Ghanaian Public Service by improving human resource management (HRM) based on good governance principles of transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, merit, due process, and fairness. Specifically, a training curriculum focused on HRM capacity will be developed to support a whole-of- government approach to human resource management.
Context and Background:
Public sector reform is an important element of Ghana's national development plan. A series of initiatives have been undertaken over the years with mixed results. DFATD has been supporting Government of Ghana to build capacity in this area through several interventions, including an innovative pilot project, the Capacity Development Mechanism (COM). The COM responds to change management priorities with small grants to line ministries to assist in organizational development and institutional reforms. Human resource management, however, remains ad hoc even through COM, and requires further guidance and standardization.
The PSC has been strengthened in recent years to oversee the development of human resource management standards across the public service of Ghana, including Canadian TA related to developing a Human Resource Management Manual and Policy Framework.
With Cabinet approval pending and a constitutional instrument to support its implementation about to be introduced, the PSC is now preparing a national dissemination strategy. Senior officials of the Commission have expressed a need for technical assistance in strengthening their organizational capacity to effectively play this role and ensure there is public service-wide implementation.
REQUIREMENTS
At this initial stage of the project, we are seeking to recruit a Canadian consultant to undertake an initial work planning mission of approximately two (2) weeks, to take place in early February 2014. This planning activity will be delivered in consultation with DFATD representatives in Ghana. At the end of the planning mission, the consultant will prepare a project work plan and budget; technical missions identified in the work plan will follow once the work plan has been approved by DFATD. DDD will manage the implementation, which – depending on specifics identified during the scoping mission – will require a repeated engagement of the initial consultant, or recruiting other(s).
Description of Tasks:
The consultant hired for this project will:
- Conduct an initial scoping and work planning mission (two weeks) – target date February 2014, preferably first week in February that will:·
- Review of relevant background documentation
- Conduct an analysis of key issues, challenges, needs
- Briefings and presentations: informal and formal engagement with key Government of Ghana counterparts
- Development with counterparts of training curriculum framework and curriculum implementation work plan
Specific follow-up activities might include (after the work plan is approved):
- Develop a roadmap with clearly identified and appropriately sequenced steps for the short and medium term to advance HRM capacity;
- Work closely with the PSC to define the best-fit organizational context required to support the training curriculum. This will require strategic analysis of current training centres, existing capacity development programs, other donor activities (especially on public sector reform and performance management), and ways to link up HRM training with these other existing mechanisms and policy priorities;
- Under this framework and analysis, support the PSC in defining a training curriculum for the HRM Manual and Policy Framework in an operational context for all government departments;
- Work with specific departments in further implementing the HRM and training curriculum (e.g. Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and Local Government Service as it relates to decentralisation).
EXPERTISE REQUIRED
Experience in the following areas is required:
- Experience in human resource management in public service delivery and change management, preferably at the level of Canadian Deputy Minister/Assistant Deputy Minister.
- Experience in managing human resources in the context of management of change;
- Experience in managing human resources as it relates to multi-stakeholder consultations and multidisciplinary teams (e.g. in the context of trade and investment);
- Experience in agriculture development and delivery of agriculture services (e.g. in the context of decentralisation of services and supporting private sector development).
- Depending on the needs and responses that are identified in the initial seeping and work planning mission, specialized expertise may be further mobilized for subsequent missions, for example, in public service performance management, recruitment standards and monitoring and evaluation
To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter to Vicki Campbell, DDD Co-Manager, at vcampbell@ipac.ca by January 10, 2014. Please note that while we thank all applicants, we are only able to contact short-listed candidates.