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Position: Programme Officer - Strategic Sector Cooperation Project and Defence

 

Type of employment:       Full time contract until 31 December 2026    –

possibility for renewal subject to performance and approval by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.

Starting date: 15th of January 2026

Location:                           Embassy of Denmark, Accra

 

Deadline for application:     21 October 2025 (midnight)


The Danish Embassy in Accra is seeking a Programme Officer to undertake two main functions:

  1. Strategic Sector Cooperation (SSC) on Water, Cities and Resilience between Denmark and Ghana.

    The Programme Officer will support the Embassy’s Strategic Sector Advisor in the overall program administration, coordination and reporting on the strategic sector cooperation (SSC) established between Denmark and Ghana in 2019 with the view of improve water supply and wastewater management in Tema, Ghana. The overall objective of the SSC is to achieve a well-functioning and sustainable system for provision of sufficient high-quality water for Tema’s citizens and businesses, as well as reduced environmental pollution, due to improved collection and treatment of waste water. The SSC is implemented in close cooperation between the City of Tema and the Ghana Water Limited Company (GWCL) and, in Denmark, the Municipality of Aarhus and Aarhus Vand. The initiative further aims to formalize collaborations with other development partners, while creating opportunities for Danish companies to access Ghana’s growing water market.

  2. Defence

The Programme Officer will support the Danish Defence Attaché (DA) with information management and reporting with focus on security and defence issues in Ghana and in West Africa. Furthermore, the programme officer will assist in the implementation, monitoring and reporting in relation to non-ODA funded projects that are part of Denmark’s “Peace and Stabilisation Programme for West Africa (PSP WA), 2025-2028” and as such the position requires ongoing coordination also with the Embassy’s PSP Programme Coordinator. The overall program objective is to mitigate instability in key border areas in West Africa through local and regional capacity development. The programme supports peace, security, and stability across the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea regions and seeks to address conflict drivers and strengthen governance, security, and justice through a whole-of-government approach, involving Danish civil, military, and development cooperation instruments.

The successful candidate will be based at the Embassy of Denmark in Accra.

 

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

 

In relation to the SSC:

  • Contribute to the overall program administration, including reporting, maintenance, and updating of programme databases, incorporating data on relevant on-going projects and projects under implementation.
  • Contribute to communication of results achieved on MFA platforms, external media and SoMe.
  • Assist in the preparation and execution of delegation visits to and from Denmark, steering committee meetings, workshops, site visits, etc.
  • Contribute to planning and undertaking of studies and analyses, sector activities and general information gathering.
  • Assist in the administration of training courses and research activities offered by Danida Fellowship Centre.
  • Liaise with relevant colleagues and external stakeholders, incl. private sector organisations.

     

    In relation to the DA:

  • Compile and organise relevant information from news, publications and meetings on matters related to security and defence.
  • Support the implementation, monitoring and financial management of projects in accordance with Danish Aid Management Guidelines.
  • Create and maintain flow of external communication on social medias on results and achievements.
  • Coordinate and arrange for meetings and travels for the DA.
  • Ensure timely input to reporting on thematic and programmatic topics with focus on defence and security in West Africa.
  • Perform other related duties as required by the Danish Embassy in Accra.

 

Requirements

 

  • Master’s degree in international relations, development studies, political science, business administration, project management, conflict management or related area. A Bachelor's degree combined with relevant work experience can be accepted in lieu.
  • Good understanding of the national and regional state and political architecture as well as conflict prevention and peacebuilding landscape.
  • Experience with budget preparation and monitoring, fund disbursement and financial reporting.
  • Experience with systematic information collection and analysis from academic studies or work.
  • Excellent communication skills on both social medias and person to person.
  • Professional proficiency in English (written and spoken). Knowledge of French (written and spoken) is desirable.
  • Willingness to undertake official travel to programme countries and/or (2 – 4 weeks of travel foreseen per year).
  • An open, flexible, and proactive mind-set, strong interpersonal competences and being a team player.
  • Good working knowledge of standard MS Office applications, including proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

 

Terms of employment

  • Full time contract (40 hours pr. week) until 31 December 2026 under local terms and conditions. Possibility for renewal subject to satisfactory performance and approval by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.
  • Mutual trial period of three months.
  • Based at the Danish Embassy in Accra, Ghana, with periodic travels to other countries in West Africa as well as Denmark.
  • Salary will reflect qualifications, relevant experience, and proven work-related results.
  • You and your dependant family members will be offered reasonable coverage of sickness expenses.
  • Employment requires security clearance by Danish Authorities (requires presentation of “No Criminal Record”).

 

Application and recruitment process

To apply for the position, please send your application (cover letter, CV, proof of relevant education, recommendations and 2-3 references) in English to the Embassy of Denmark, email: [email protected] marked in subject line “Application – Programme Officer DA/SSC – Embassy of Denmark” no later than 21 October 2025 (midnight).

 

Questions related to the position can be addressed to the Defence Attaché Lt Col Casper Emil Holland via [email protected]  or Sector Advisor Mathias Thuborg Madsen [email protected]

 

Interviews will be within one week after the application deadline. As part of the recruitment process, candidates will be asked to complete a written test.

 

The Embassy attaches great importance to equal opportunities for all and therefore welcomes applications from all qualified persons regardless of race, sex, religion, age, or disability.

 

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted by the Embassy of Denmark.

 

 

About us

The Danish Embassy is part of the Danish Foreign Service. The Embassy covers Ghana and side-accredited countries Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Togo. The Embassy is an ambitious, high-paced and dynamic workplace with a mixture of staff posted from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and locally-recruited staff.

 

For more information about the Embassy, see www.ghana.um.dk