Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience |  University of Cape Coast

Positions Available for the Implementation of Phase II of the Women Shellfishers and Food Security (WSFS) Project (West Africa)

Centre for Coastal Management (Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience)

The Centre for Coastal Management (CCM) at the University of Cape Coast conducts research and extension on coastal and marine resources in Ghana, West Africa, and Africa. The Centre hosts the Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR) programme funded by the Government of Ghana through a World Bank credit facility. The ACECoR programme was established in 2019 to provide financial and technical support for the training of young professionals in coastal and marine research degrees towards the resilience of Africa’s coasts. The CCM, in collaboration with global partners, is implementing several scientific research and development projects.

About the Women Shellfishers and Food Security Project – Phase II

The Women Shellfishers and Food Security project is a West Africa Regional Project that aims to strengthen the evidence base, increase awareness, and equip stakeholders to adapt and apply successful approaches to rights-based, ecosystem-based, participatory co-management of shellfisheries by women in mangrove ecosystems in West Africa. Over two years (2020-2022) in Phase I, the project:

• Conducted the first-ever participatory regional assessment of women-led shellfisheries in the 11 coastal West African countries from Nigeria to Senegal; 11 standalone country reports and 1 regional report were published. A peer-reviewed article has also been published by Frontiers in Marine Science.
• Published six technical studies of site-based research in Ghana and The Gambia that tested Theory of Change linkages between women’s shellfish co-management and livelihoods, mangrove conservation, and nutrition.
• Fostered a community of practice around the development and dissemination of a toolkit on women’s shellfisheries co-management in West Africa.

Over a three-year Phase II (2022-2025), the project will build on these results to demonstrate the biodiversity and socio-economic value of more fully integrated rights-based co-management of linked shellfish - mangrove - proximate landscape food ecosystems in site-based research in Ghana and The Gambia through activities in:

• Women shellfishers empowerment
• Gender-sensitive shellfishery co-management
• Mangrove co-management
• Integration of Adjacent landscape food production systems
• Establish a functional West Africa Shellfish Knowledge and Outreach Hub engaging and serving stakeholders in the sub-region.

Positions Available

1. Regional Shellfisheries Hub (RS-Hub) Activity Support Officer

We are looking for an activity support officer who will be based in Cape Coast, Ghana, to join our project team. A motivated individual with technical and practical experience, integrity, attention to detail, a willingness to learn and a growth mindset. Preferably someone available to commit to the three-year lifespan of the project.

Your Role

• You will work closely with the assigned coordinator and in collaboration with the core project team to achieve specified milestones under the project implementation.
• Provide administrative and technical support for the establishment and operationalisation of a West Africa regional shellfisheries network.
• Be responsible for the development and distribution of newsletters periodically to all stakeholders of the RS-Hub through bulk mailing and other relevant services.
• Coordinate outreach and digital media communications of products and data resulting from the research and community activities of the Women Shellfishers and Food Security Project.
• Support, by way of documentation and data gathering, the development of a web platform for engaging stakeholders in the shellfisheries sector of West Africa.
• Coordinate meetings and workshops to raise awareness of shellfisheries among regional institutions.
• Write reports on various assignments and activities of the RS-Hub.
• Undertake other project-related tasks as may be assigned.

Qualification

The preferred candidate for the Regional Shellfisheries Hub Activity will:

• Be ICT savvy, have good administrative skills, and with a good knowledge of coastal and marine issues in Ghana and West Africa.
• Have tertiary education in Information Communication Technologies, Project Management, or Natural/Biological Sciences

2. Field Research and Activity Support Officer

We are looking for an activity support officer who will be based in Cape Coast, Ghana, and be able to travel within and potentially outside Ghana. A motivated individual with technical and practical experience, integrity, attention to detail, a willingness to learn and a growth mindset. Preferably someone available to commit to the three-year lifespan of the project.

Your Role

• You will work closely with the assigned coordinator and in collaboration with the core project team to achieve specified milestones under the project implementation.
• Assist in planning and logistical arrangements for fieldwork.
• Support communication with and mobilisation of shellfish resource users in various project communities.
• Undertake assigned project field activities.
• Analyse data and write technical reports from field activities.
• Undertake other project-related tasks as may be assigned.

Qualification

The preferred candidate for the Field Research Activity will:

• Have a good knowledge of coastal and marine issues in Ghana and West Africa, be accustomed to field data collection approaches in coastal areas, and have community engagement skills.
• Have tertiary education in Natural/Biological Sciences, preferably Fisheries, Coastal and Marine Sciences and/or Management.

Remuneration

Very attractive remuneration to be determined based on the level of experience and qualification of the successful applicant.

Preferred qualities of the successful candidate

• Demonstrated ability to accurately collect and process scientific and social data
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and work with a variety of stakeholders (e.g., fishers, researchers, government)
• Ability to plan and undertake field travels
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively on emails
• Strong organisation and people-oriented skills
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team
• Ability to work under pressure, short deadlines and multi-tasking
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

How to Apply

To apply, send your application letter and CV to ccm@ucc.edu.gh with the subject “Project Support Officer – WSFS II” by 31 December 2022.