Duties and Responsibilities
This position is located in the National Strategies and Capacity Building Branch (NSCBB) of the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The DSDG acts as the Secretariat for the SDGs, providing substantive support and capacity-building for the goals and their related thematic issues, including water, energy, climate, oceans, urbanization, transport, science and technology, the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR), partnerships and Small Island Developing States. DSDG plays a key role in the evaluation of UN systemwide implementation of the 2030 Agenda and on advocacy and outreach activities relating to the SDGs. The incumbent reports to the Senior Programme Management Officer in NSCBB/DSDG and Senior Economic Affairs Officer, International Tax and Development Cooperation Branch (ITDCB)/FSDO. More information can be found at: https://sdgs.un.org/ . Background and Objectives This Terms of Reference supports the implementation of the project “Strengthening local and national government capacities for SDG localization in Africa” in Ghana, implemented by the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG), in close cooperation with the Financing for Sustainable Development Office (FSDO), UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The project aims at strengthening the capacity of national and local government officials and future public asset managers to design and implement a risk-informed and whole-of-government approach to sustainable Infrastructure Asset Management (IAM). The project provides comprehensive training for selected public officials in Ghana, equipping them with the skills to design, implement, monitor, and refine forward-looking, data-driven IAM strategies, policies, and action plans. In this context, DSDG will engage the services of a national consultant to support project activities in close coordination with relevant government officials and other stakeholders, particularly the Ghana National Development Planning Commission. The national consultant’s role is to provide local contextualization, facilitate stakeholder engagement, and contribute to the design, adaptation, implementation and follow-up to all IAM project activities in up to five municipalities in Ghana. Work Assignments Under the supervision of the Senior Programme Management Officer, NSCBB/DSDG and Senior Economic Affairs Officer, ITDCB/FSDO, the national consultant will carry out the following work assignments: 1. Diagnostic Missions and AMAP Design and Implementation Support: a. Conduct five three-day missions to participating local governments applying the UN IAM Diagnostic Tool and Asset Management Action Plan AMAP template and guide the UN Handbook on Infrastructure Asset Management (IAM). i. Guide self-assessments, interviews, and document reviews with finance, technical, and leadership staff. ii. Support each local government in understanding of the UN Handbook on IAM and selecting one or two priority assets to develop into an AMAP. iii. Facilitate practical in-person workshops during each mission to help local teams begin drafting their AMAPs. iv. Support the creation, updating, and standardisation of infrastructure asset registers v. Develop tools, templates, and methodologies for lifecycle costing, maintenance planning, and asset risk management. vi. Promote integration of climate resilience and sustainability considerations into asset management practices b. Provide virtual follow-up support after missions to refine AMAP drafts, validate feasibility, and ensure alignment with budgets, institutional roles, and climate resilience. c. Produce concise 3–5 page Asset Management Profiles for each entity, summarizing findings, strengths, gaps, and priority reforms. 2. Validation Workshop and Peer Learning Support: a. Plan and facilitate a national validation workshop where all participating local governments present their draft AMAPs. b. Encourage peer-to-peer exchange and structured feedback to strengthen ownership and improve the quality of AMAPs. c. Document key lessons and enabling environment gaps identified across local governments.
Qualifications/special skills
Advanced degree in engineering, business, project management, public administration, urban planning, economics, or related field is required. Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in infrastructure, infrastructure asset management (IAM), or urban development, with demonstrated expertise in areas such as asset inventories, lifecycle planning, service delivery, public sector investment planning, or institutional capacity development is required. Knowledge of Ghanian public sector and infrastructure systems is required. Familiarity with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and UN IAM tools is desirable. Familiarity with global asset management standards and geographic information systems (GIS) is desirable.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.
