Vacancy Announcement

BACKGROUND 

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. UN-Habitat helps the urban poor by transforming cities into safer, healthier, greener places with better opportunities where everyone can live in with dignity. It works with organizations at every level, including all spheres of government, civil society and the private sector to help build, manage, plan and finance sustainable urban development. The post is located within the Somali Programme, Regional Office for Africa (ROAF).

The UN Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery (UN JPLG) is a five-year joint programme comprising of ILO, UNCDF, UNDP, UN-HABITAT and UNICEF. The Programme aims at creating an enabling environment for improved service delivery, through improved legal, policy and system frameworks and building the knowledge of those working in and with local governments.  JPLG commenced in 2009 and is now in its third and final phase.

The overall objective of JPGL is to promote improvements in local governance functions that can contribute to peace consolidation, development and equitable service delivery. The programme strategic objectives are structured around three mutually reinforcing outcomes:

1. Policy, legal and regulatory frameworks on local governance finalized,
2. Local governments’ have the capacity to deliver equitable and sustainable services, promote economic development and peace.
3. Local governments demonstrate improved engagement of citizens, with an emphasis on women and marginalized groups

RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall coordination of UN-Habitat’s Somalia Programme Chief Technical Advisor (CTA), OiC, and direct supervision of the Program Manager, the National Programme Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

1. Efficient Implementation of UN-Habitat/JPLG activities

• Supports the Program Management in effective program management and ensuring that all work plan activities are implemented in time and within budget;
• Provides technical input in development and implementation of work plan activities particularly in the areas of financial management at sub-national structures, urban planning and capacity development;
• Contributes to drafting concept notes, terms of references, work plans, project briefing updates, media articles, consolidated monthly reports, MPTF reports and related correspondences.
• Ensures that activities in the work plan are implemented in a sequential manner and maintain close collaboration with the other agencies in the program.
• Attends Technical Working Group meetings along with the Program Manager and contributes to the program’s overall implementation;
• Plays a key role in the local teams’ work, effectively contributing to improved delivery, creating a shared understanding and participating joint field assessments.
• Undertakes missions to various locations to help timely delivery of program deliverables.
• Assists in creating synergies with all other relevant programs, funds and projects,
• Organizes and effectively participates in consultative sessions with the implementing partners, at all levels and across the regions to provide programme updates, address emerging issues and keep each other well-informed.
• Contributes to programme’s adequate visibility and public awareness in collaboration with relevant staff.
• Contributes and assists preparation for review meetings, planning sessions and steering committee meetings.
• Assists the Program Manager in monitoring progress, sorting out challenges, document lessons learnt and keeping monitoring and evolution tools updated.
• Undertakes any other tasks assigned to him/her

2. Effective communication and partnership building

• Actively communicates with the project stakeholders, particularly government counterparts across the regions and ensures that common and shared understanding is in place.
• Liaises regularly with the JPLG local teams on work plan implementation and proposes mitigation measures on emerging issues;
• Undertakes thorough gender sensitive analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country and prepares substantive inputs to the programme and other policy documents;

3. Facilitation of knowledge building and sharing

• Synthesize good practices and lessons learnt of UN-Habitat initiatives for sharing among the team members;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice

COMPETENCIES

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN values and ethical standards.  Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN-Habitat.  Displays cultural, gender, religion, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

An advanced level university degree in development studies, public administration, urban management, local governance, business administration and international relations or other related social sciences is a requirement. A first level university degree in combination with additional five years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

Proven work experience of at least three years with international organizations, public/private sector entities as well as experiences in project management, local governance, representation, report writing and monitoring and evaluation is a requirement. Substantive experience in local governance, automated systems for financial management, geo-spatial data, urban and district development planning and capacity development is an added advantage

Working experience with an INGO or UN is an asset.

Substantive knowledge in development issues in general and gender mainstreaming is desirable.

Language

Strong written and oral skills in both English and Somali are a requirement.

Other skills

  Proven knowledge in project management, coordination and finance.  Proactive, results            oriented, independent, able to identify and carry out duties and responsibilities with minimum supervision.   Mature, professional, supportive and cooperative in all matters within the work setting, problem-solving oriented.  Maintain confidentiality with regards to all work-related issues.

PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

How to Apply

Applications should include:

1) Motivation letter (maximum 1 page)

2) Completed United Nation Personal History Form ( P.11) marked “National Program Officer, Hargeisa, JPLG

Qualified women are highly encouraged to submit their application.

Assessment Method

Evaluation of qualified candidates includes an assessment exercise which will be followed by competency-based interview and written test for short-listed candidates.