Special Notice
Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. This is a project post and is funded for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this positionAll applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and by the deadline stated in the job opening. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira ‘Need Help?’ link.
Organizational Setting and Reporting
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT, is the focal point for human settlements in the United Nations. 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. This post is located in the Urban Planning and Design Branch (UPDB), Climate Change Planning Unit (CCPU) of UN-HABITAT at the Nairobi duty station.
Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Urban Planning and Design Branch Coordinator, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties: 1. Management of the Climate Change Planning Unit:
- Establish and maintain a systematic and comprehensive substantive and financial reporting and monitoring system for the logical framework for the climate change related activities of UN-Habitat.
- Provide inputs to annual and biannual sub-programme work plans, according to existing budget and assisting in the development of individual work plans and targets for the Unit’s Staff.
- Supervise and guide overall delivery and performance of the Unit team.
- Ensure timely and accurate reporting. 2. Develop products and services on cities and climate change.
- Provide support in the design and development of partnership instruments for the Cities and Climate Change Initiative (CCCI) and Low Emission Urban Development Strategies (Urban LEDS) initiative.
- Support the development of national and local level action plans for mainstreaming climate change mitigation and adaptation.
- Provide necessary technical inputs towards the design and implementation of demonstration projects on mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
- Provide the required technical support towards the design and development of advocacy materials and activities in the selected countries and cities.
- Undertake missions as directed in support of networking and operational activities including backstopping and representation in meetings. 3. Resource mobilisation on cities and climate change.
- Backstopping Regional activities on cities and climate change.
- Coordinating implementation of relevant GC Resolutions.
- Support the development of new initiatives including the mobilization of additional resources.
- Pursue accreditation to and fundraising from major global climate change funds. 4. Promote synergy with other UPDB units, UN-Habitat Branches and Regional Offices and UN System organisations.
- Coordinate the development, implementation and periodic review of UN-Habitat’s cross cutting climate change strategy in consultation with the Director, Programme Division.
- Engage with United Nations bodies and processes related to climate change, including the Paris Agreement, the Conference of Parties and related structures of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and its working groups; the follow up of the Secretary General’s Climate Change Summit.
- Promote collaboration with UNEP in the field of urban environment based on the principles of comparative advantage and synergy.
- Liaise with the Habitat Programme Managers (HPMs), Habitat Regional Offices, other UN entities and other key partners to ensure synergy and coordination of activities with the ‘One UN’ and UNDAF country level assistance frameworks.
Competencies
- Professionalism: Expert knowledge in urban development and in urban planning and design in particular. Proven ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues for a variety of audiences. Ability to negotiate with high-level Government and multi-and bilateral technical or funding agency officials. Ability to present and debate in high level public events.
- Communication: Excellent communication skills, both oral and written; proven ability to communicate complex concepts orally; ability to prepare written reports that are clear, concise and meaningful. Commitment to sharing information timely with the Unit team and to use communication to build trust and collaboration with external and internal partners.
- Client orientation: Ability to identify clients’ needs and propose appropriate solutions as well as establish and maintain effective relationships with outside collaborators and other contacts.
- Judgment / Decision-making: Mature judgment and initiative, imagination and resourcefulness, energy and tact; proven ability to provide strategic direction, to plan and establish priorities, and to ensure an effective work structure to maximize productivity and achieve goals.
- Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
Education
An advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent) in social sciences, urban planning and/or any relevant academic discipline related to human settlements development, with a particular emphasis on planning and management issues related to human settlements. A first university degree with combination of 2 years professional and academic qualifications may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Contemporary understanding of information technology including digital media.
Work Experience
At least 10 years of substantive professional experience is required, including 4 years at the international level dealing with urban development planning or project management. Relevant experience in developing countries gained in various continents is desirable. Good understanding of urban social dynamics and urban governance systems in developing countries as well as linkages between urbanization and climate change is desirable. Experience in working in large multi-cultural environments with proven experience in human settlements development fields, project design and implementation with the United Nations or other International Agencies is an asset. Familiarity with UN policies, procedures and practices including those relevant to technical cooperation projects would be an advantage.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of any other UN language, particularly French and/or Spanish, is an asset.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
United Nations Considerations
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity, including but not limited to, respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to, whether they have committed or are alleged to have committed criminal offences or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on ‘The Application Process’ and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on ‘Manuals’ hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.
The screening and evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications, including but not limited to, their education, work experience, and language skills, according to the instructions provided on inspira. Applicants will be disqualified from consideration if they do not demonstrate in their application that they meet the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations. Applicants are solely responsible for providing complete and accurate information at the time of application: no amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.
More Information
- Job City Nairobi
