UNOPS

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.

As part of the Global Portfolios Office, UNOPS Geneva provides comprehensive solutions in secretariat hosting, operational support, and fund management. We manage global programmes, including the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) Portfolio, offering project management, procurement, HR, and financial services. Geneva hosts the secretariats of eight global partnerships focused on health (RBM, Stop TB, ATscale), nutrition (SUN), water/sanitation (SHF), humanitarian leadership (GELI), urban development (Cities Alliance), and disaster displacement (PDD). We also provide fund management for EIF and UN Water, and operational support to Geneva-based partners like the Global Fund and UNHCR. The EU-UNOPS Lives in Dignity (LiD) Grant Facility is also based here.

Sustainable Energy for All has a global mandate to accelerate progress on the energy transition in emerging and developing countries. Hosted by UNOPS, we work at the intersection of energy, climate and development, partnering with governments and organizations worldwide to end energy poverty, double energy efficiency, significantly expand renewable energy and combat climate change.

Our vision is a world where everyone, everywhere, can lead a dignified life on a healthy planet, powered by sustainable energy. We promote this vision by pushing for higher ambitions, stronger policies, greater finance flows, increased localization and green jobs, and faster results toward an energy transition that leaves no one behind. 

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the Sustainable Energy for All initiative in 2011. Since then, our CEO has served as the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy.

As part of the Global Portfolios Office, UNOPS Geneva provides comprehensive solutions in secretariat hosting, operational support, and fund management. We manage global programmes, including the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) Portfolio, offering project management, procurement, HR, and financial services. Geneva hosts the secretariats of nine global partnerships focused on health (RBM, Stop TB, ATscale), nutrition (SUN), water/sanitation (SHF), sustainable energy (SEforALL) humanitarian leadership (GELI), urban development (Cities Alliance), and disaster displacement (PDD). We also provide fund management for EIF and UN Water, and operational support to Geneva-based partners like the Global Fund and UNHCR.

This position is located within the Energy Solutions Unit of SEforALL in the Energy Planning Team. The objective of the Energy Planning team is to support global progress on SDG-7 and SDG-13, particularly in developing and emerging economies. The team supports developing countries to develop their comprehensive Energy Transition and Investment Plans that take a whole-of-economy approach, covering key sectors such as power, transport, industry, buildings, and agriculture. The team works closely with governments, development finance institutions, private sector investors, and other stakeholders to accelerate the mobilization of capital for clean energy projects and programs.

Under the supervision of the Senior Officer, the Project Officer provides technical support and coordination for the implementation of Ghana’s Energy Transition and Investment Plan (ETIP). The role coordinates government, private sector, and development partners, ensuring accurate data for decision-making and alignment of energy models. It also supports the development of bankable energy projects and integrates industrial strategies and mineral value chains into Ghana’s broader energy transition and investment efforts.

The Project Officer will interact closely with and provide cross-support to the Government of Ghana through relevant government agencies where required, serving as a primary liaison to SEforALL. The incumbent will report directly to the Senior Officer, Energy Transition Policy and Governance, SEforALL, facilitate high-level alignment between national policy objectives and international investment frameworks.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Renewable Energy, Climate Policy, Energy,Natural Resource Management,  Economics, Public Policy with 2 years of relevant experience OR

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields with 0 years of relevant experience.

Desired

• Professional certification in Project Management (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2) or Sustainable Finance

Required

• A minimum of two years of relevant work experience in the energy, minerals, and/or investment sectors.

• Demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement within the energy, manufacturing, and investment sectors.

• Proven coordination and relationship-building capabilities in a professional setting. 

Desired

• Relevant experience working with or providing technical support to The Government of Ghana agencies such as the Energy Commission or the Ministry Of Energy And Green Transition

• Practical experience in developing investment pipelines, curating project inventories (like the GETAPI), or designing blended finance/local currency instruments.

• Experience working within a multilateral organization, international NGO, or a Secretariat-style environment (e.g., UN, World Bank, AfDB).

• Experience supporting complex projects using structured methodologies (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2), including coordinating with government institutions, development partners, and private sector stakeholder.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.