Human Settlements Officer, P-3

Human Settlements Officer, P-3,(Nairobi)

ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION: UN-HABITAT, Regional Office for Africa and the Arab States

DUTY STATION: Nairobi

FUNCTIONAL TITLE: Human Settlements Officer

GRADE: P3

POST DURATION: 1 year, renewable

CLOSING DATE: 04 March 2011

BACKGROUND

If you are qualified and looking for a chance to make a real difference in the lives of slum dwellers in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions and share your experience with other representatives from 30 countries, you are invited to apply for the post of a Human Settlements Officer with UN-HABITAT and the Regional Office for Africa and the Arab States (ROAAS).

The overall aim of the assignment is to support the successful implementation of the Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme (PSUP) in 30 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and more than 69 cities, financed by the European Commission (EC) and in partnership with the ACP Group of States.

The programme seeks to reduce and prevent urban poverty and enhance management of urbanization through assessment studies and planning approaches for participatory and inclusive decision-making processes.
It contributes to the improvement of living conditions in towns and cities, particularly of the urban poor, and therefore contributes to Millennium Development Goal # 7.
The programme activities include urban development assessment studies, urban policy review, city-wide slum upgrading and prevention strategies as well as the identification of comprehensive slum upgrading programmes.

Further globally, the PSUP aims to reinforce the partnership between the EC, the ACP Secretariat and UN-HABITAT for strengthened urban development cooperation and poverty reduction in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, cities and towns.

ROAAS will need your support to the current Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme as well as to the negotiations of expanding the programme to more countries and activities; more particularly the following areas will be part of the responsibilities: A) Programme Management and Coordination (with approximately 40% of the time/effort), B) Capacity Building and Technical Support (25%), C) Research and Analysis (20%) and D) Advocacy, Networking and Communication (15%);

You shall be a dynamic member of the programme team and contribute to the programme implementation aligned with UN-HABITAT and the EC policy and programming frameworks as well as with the international aid effectiveness agenda (Paris Declaration);
Incorporating the following programme values:

* Cross-cutting and sustainable: tackling cross-sector challenges and gaps, including economic, social and environmental development issues with a view to future generations;
* Strategic and significant: application of strategic planning and development tools, integrating local, national and regional priorities, activities and development opportunities;
* Sensitive and sensible: contextualization to country needs, to the cultural and political environment; strengthened through capacity building and using an approach that invites for replication and up-scaling;

RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the supervision of the Programme Manager, the Human Settlements Officer will work on the following:

Programme Management and Coordination (40%):

* Set-up and adapt internal and external programme management, coordination, support, monitoring and evaluation frameworks at city, national, regional and global levels in English and French;
* Coordinate activities with the Regional Office for Africa and the Arab States, the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, the Brussels Liaison Office and various units at UN-HABITAT Headquarters;
* Ensure programme activities are aligned to the programme document, UN-HABITAT and EC policies and agendas;
* Develop country-tailored strategies and goals;
* To provide substantive, technical and logistic inputs throughout the programme management cycle, to colleagues, to governments and other programme partners;
* Adjust programme activities, priorities and resources as well as monitor financial operations throughout the implementation process;
* Support partners involved in the programme and oversee outputs, documentation and dissemination;
* Undertake backstopping, logistical and technical missions to support the implementation of the PSUP, individually or with colleagues, as needed;
* Mobilize additional resources, design activities and formulate programme documents to be submitted to multi-and bilateral partners to ensure follow-up activities and further expansion of the programme;
* Build partnerships with other UN agencies; and contribute to the DaO and UNCT in programme countries;
* Supervise interns, consultants, field staff and programme support staff for an efficient programme implementation;
* Oversee and support programme administration and logistics;

Capacity Building and Technical Support (25%):

* Design, organise and conduct regional training workshops for programme country teams;
* Provide training materials and improve training programmes according to evaluation results and experience in cooperation with the Training and Capacity Building Branch;
* Support the development of programme guidelines;
* Provide backstopping and technical support throughout the programme implementation with national institutions for strengthening their capacity in urban development;

Research and Analysis (20%):

* Design, update and improve the programme approach, tools and methodologies according to UN-HABITAT and European Commission focus areas and countries’ needs, in collaboration with UN-HABITAT’s units and expertise;
* Ensure that the relevant selection of urban sectors are represented for assessment studies and action planning to get an accurate picture of urban development challenges;
* Assess and share UN-HABITAT’s tools and guides for sustainable urban development;
* Evaluate programme outputs based on UN-HABITAT’s expertise and countries’ context;
* Analyse relevant data from UNDESA, UNDP, World Bank, UN-HABITAT and other resources to evaluate outputs and messages;
* Identify and analyse regional urban development challenges and adequate response mechanisms in partnership with regional implementation partners, universities, NGOs and UN-HABITAT colleagues;
* Assess, analyse and evaluate programme opportunities at city, country and regional levels;
* Research donor’s priorities and country strategies to harmonize efforts at city, national, regional and global levels;

Advocacy, Networking and Communication (15%):

* Facilitate internal and external collaboration to unify efforts in addressing urban poverty reduction at city, country and regional levels;
* Facilitate regional and national exchange on urban development challenges through different media;
* Organise, conduct and report from side events during global events such as the UN-HABITAT Governing Council, regional conferences and others;
* Author reports to the EC and ACP Group of States on programme implementation status, conference outputs and minutes;
* Communicate with national implementation partners, local and national governments, communities, NGOs and CBOs, the EC and other partners on daily basis;
* Support local and international media with information, imagery, interview requests, etc.
* Compile data, oversee editing, and desk-top publishing for city and national urban profiles;
* Write and prepare and host presentations;
* Prepare and draft concept papers, meetings, speeches and briefing notes, press releases and other products;
* Support the establishment of the programme website and its maintenance;

COMPETENCIES

Professionalism: Knowledge of UN-HABITAT approaches, concepts, tools and guidelines as well as programme activities for slum upgrading and prevention. Understanding of urban development challenges in the African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries and practice in collaborating with the European Commission. Ability to design, implement and monitor programmes (at city, country, regional and global levels) and experience in managing complex programmes. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations; takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communication: Excellent writing skills, proven ability to write research papers, project documents and reports. Commitment to tailor language and format to the needs of the audience;

Planning and Organizing: Ability to establish, plan and organize publications and other communication tools as well as workshops and conferences with minimal supervision and strong ability to implement and complete work programmes within stipulated deadlines and withstanding work pressure in a resource constrained situation;

Teamwork: Ability to effectively participate in the programme team and contribute to the achievement of programme goals in the set timeframe as well as to learn from partners, colleagues within the context of a learning organization;

Client Orientation: Ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships for the Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme and the Urban Vulnerability Initiative in Kenya; to identify client’s needs (slum dwellers needs in slums all over Kenya) and find solutions to them; to meet deadlines for delivery of reports, outputs to government partners and donors and to see programme delivery and implementation from the client’s point of view;

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Master degree in urban development related studies, political or social science, preferably with programme management or other relevant field.

Work Experience: A minimum of five years working experience of which three years with the UN and a familiarity with UN procedures, and preferably in the area of sustainable urban development, slum upgrading and urban assessment studies;

Language: The PSUP is implemented in 30 African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries. The official language of the ACP Secretariat is English and French and 23 countries are from the Anglophone and Francophone Africa. Thus, the knowledge of English and French is required.

Other skills: Excellent writing skills in English and good computer skills.

Remuneration
See UN website http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances/index.html

View the original article here