Project Coordinator - Democracy International : Job Details

Project Coordinator – Tamale Urban Fabric Initiative (UFI)

Location: Tamale, Ghana | Duration: 18 months | Application Deadline: August 22

Democracy International (DI) is seeking to hire a Project Coordinator to lead the implementation of the Tamale Urban Fabric Initiative (UFI), a participatory urban resilience project funded by Agence Française de Développement (AFD). The initiative aims to strengthen neighborhood-level governance and resilience in selected areas of Tamale through co-designed, community-based infrastructure and urban improvement projects.The Project Coordinator will oversee all aspects of implementation, ensuring alignment with AFD and UFI guidelines, fostering strong community and institutional partnerships, and delivering high-quality, inclusive outcomes. This is a leadership position requiring deep experience in urban development, stakeholder engagement, and cross-sector coordination in Ghana, ideally in the northern regions.

The position's responsibilities will include:

Provide strategic and operational leadership to the project consortium and ensure effective coordination of all partners, teams, and activities.

Serve as the primary point of contact with AFD, the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly ( TaMA ), Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development (MLGCRA), and other institutional stakeholders.

Oversee project planning, budgeting, and implementation to ensure timely and quality delivery of outputs in accordance with the Terms of Reference.

Manage subgrants and subcontracts, including compliance with financial and administrative requirements.

Lead high-level reporting and communication with the donor and national stakeholders.

Supervise and support project staff, including technical, operational, and community engagement teams.

Ensure project integration with AFD's broader UFI network and lessons learned from other country contexts.

Contribute to strategic thinking, risk mitigation, and adaptive management throughout the project lifecycle.

Qualifications:

Minimum of 10 years of experience in project management, urban development, or infrastructure programming, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.

Proven track record working on AFD-funded, donor-funded, or similar urban resilience, community infrastructure, or participatory design programs.

Demonstrated experience managing multi-partner or consortium-based projects in Ghana or West Africa; experience in Tamale or Northern Ghana strongly preferred.

Strong skills in stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, and cross-sector collaboration.

Experience overseeing subgrants, contracts, and donor compliance procedures.

Master's degree in urban planning, public administration, civil engineering, development studies, or a related field.

Fluency in English required ; proficiency in local Ghanaian languages is a strong asset.

Familiarity with UFI principles, nature-based urban planning solutions, and participatory urban design approaches is highly desirable.

Reporting :

The Project Coordinator will report to Democracy International's Director of Programs and will coordinate closely with the UFI team in Ghana and DI's home office.

Application Process:

Interested applicants must submit a CV b y August 22. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the position will be filled as soon as a qualified candidate is identified. DI will only contact candidates of interest.

Democracy International maintains the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.

About the Organization:DI provides technical assistance , analytical services and project implementation for democracy, human rights, governance and conflict mitigation programs worldwide for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. State Department and other development partners. Since its founding in 2003, Democracy International has worked with civil society organizations, political parties, election-management bodies, government agencies, legislatures, justice-sector institutions, and others in 80+ countries.

DI welcomes and supports a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are committed to equal employment opportunities (EEO) for all applicants seeking employment and for DI employees. DI makes employment decisions based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, personal appearance, military status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, political affiliation, educational status, unemployment status, place of residence or business, source of income, or reproductive health decision making. Additionally, harassment or discrimination based on these characteristics will not be tolerated at DI. To perform the essential functions of this position, reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities.