Job Summary:

The Local Sustainability Advisor will work collaboratively with the Chief of Party and the project’s technical staff to design and implement strategies for fostering local ownership and building capacity within local organizations and the Government of Ghana. This position is integral to ensuring that sustainability is embedded from the outset, promoting long-term impact and local self-reliance beyond the life of the project.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive sustainability strategy that prioritizes local ownership, institutional capacity building, and sustainable impact from project initiation.
• Conduct thorough organizational capacity assessments with local partners and government agencies. Identify gaps and strengths to inform tailored capacity development plans.
• Collaborate with project technical teams to design and implement training, mentorship, and organizational development initiatives. Ensure activities are relevant, culturally appropriate, and focused on building long-term capacity.
• Develop and implement robust metrics to monitor progress in local capacity development, using qualitative and quantitative data to evaluate the effectiveness of initiatives.
• Lead the development of a transition strategy that ensures a seamless handover of responsibilities and ownership to local organizations and government partners. Define clear steps and timelines for achieving full local ownership by project end.
• Contribute to, and in some cases lead, the development of the technical design for proposals. Support the process of preparation, design, submission and approval of project concepts and full-fledged proposals. As needed, act as a technical writer on proposal development teams. Advise project teams on integrating donor strategies, priorities and technical requirements into CRS’ approach.
• Support capacity strengthening initiatives in child protection programming for staff and partner through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculum, conducting trainings and workshops, and coaching.
• Collect and analyze program data, capture and share lessons learned and best practices for specific projects to facilitate improvements in decision-making and contribute to the child learning agenda.
• Contribute to maintaining relationships with donors, peer organizations, research and other institutions, participate in forums in the area of child protection to collect and share best practices and promote CRS’ work.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated experience working with government entities, NGOs, or community-based organizations in Ghana or other West African countries.
• Proven track record in designing and implementing sustainability strategies and transition plans for donor-funded projects.
• Strong understanding of organizational capacity assessment tools and methodologies.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, community leaders, and project teams.
• Strong analytical and strategic planning skills, with attention to cultural sensitivity and local context.
• Fluent in English; proficiency in at least one of Ghana’s local languages.
• Demonstrated commitment to USAID’s principles of local ownership, sustainability, and capacity strengthening.
• Knowledge of metrics development and monitoring for capacity development initiatives.
• Strong relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings
• Good strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment
• Good technical writing skills
• Presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.

Supervisory Responsibilities: none

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Country Representative, Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, Head of Programming, Program Managers, Finance Manager, Deputy Regional Director, Regional Technical Advisor, and HQ Specialist

External: All project partners, private and public sector stakeholders, donors, industry experts, local and international NGOs, and local and international Catholic agencies.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in in international development, public administration, organizational development, public administration.
• Minimum of five years relevant work experience with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with minimum of three years relevant field-based experience in in capacity building, organizational development, or sustainability planning, preferably in the context of international development or USAID-funded programs.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

What we offer

CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, generous retirement savings plan and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate or global telecommuter, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people – especially children and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse and harm.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements