General
Description of assignment title: National Urban Resilience Expert
Assignment country: Ethiopia
Expected start date: 04/10/2025
Sustainable Development Goal: 11. Sustainable cities and communities
Volunteer category: National UN Volunteer Expert
Host entity: UNDP
Type: Onsite
Duration: 12 months
(with possibility of extension)
Number of assignments: 1
Duty stations: Addis Ababa
Details
Mission and objectives
UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System. It serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a continuous spectrum of in-depth local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.
The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UN Guiding Principles) is widely recognized as the most authoritative, normative framework guiding efforts to reduce or eliminate the adverse impact of business operations on human rights. Experts have described it as the single most important innovation in promoting sustainable business practices in the last 25 years – a role that is reinforced by its inclusion as one of the Means of Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda).
Context
UNDP has operated in Ethiopia since 1981. Since then, UNDP has focused on providing Ethiopia with strategic support to build national capacity and enhance the country’s development results in the areas of poverty reduction and economic growth, democratic governance as well as climate resilient development. UNDP is currently assisting the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to overcome its structural challenges as it strives to become a democratic, peaceful and prosperous middle-income country. It supports a successful transition to democratic governance, address drivers of conflict to consolidate and build peace, foster enabling conditions for expanded job creation by the private sector (especially SMEs) and accelerate the transition to a green economy resilient to climate change. Gender equality and women’s empowerment are embedded across all areas of work.
UNDP is seeking to recruit a National United Nations Volunteer (UNV) for the UNDP’s “Urban resilient futures” Project, which is jointly implemented in Hawassa City, by the Ethiopian Disaster
Risk Management Commission (EDRMC) and Hawassa City Administration.
The overall purpose and objective of the Strengthening urban resilience to emerging disaster/climate risks is to foster heatwave and water resilience through the application of digital tech and nature-based solutions. The initiative will enable target cities to scale-up climate and disaster resilience by (i) having improved access and ability to apply disaster/climate risk analytics and resilience diagnostics, (ii) augmenting urban governance systems, (iii) strengthening capacity to implement DRR-CCA action for vulnerable socio-economic sectors e.g., water, (iv) as well as disaster preparedness, emergency management and response capabilities. Informed by systems thinking, the Program will adopt a multi-sectoral and multi- stakeholder approach by engaging national and local governments and a diverse set of city actors including private sector, academia and community representative organizations.
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The Project will seek to identify and implement catalytic resilience building action informed by a community-centric, participatory, gender-responsive and environment sensitive approach. By enhancing access to disaster and climate risk analytics, improving urban governance systems, and implementing effective disaster
risk reduction and climate adaptation methods, the selected cities can safeguard vulnerable communities and economic sectors, and critical infrastructure
The National United Nations Volunteer (UNV) will work under the direct supervision of the focal point of “Resilient Urban Futures” Project in Ethiopia Country Office (CO), with secondary reporting to the Nairobi-based Regional Specialist.
Task description
The National United Nations Volunteer (UNV) will work under the direct supervision of the focal point of “Resilient Urban Futures” Project in Ethiopia Country Office (CO), with secondary reporting to the Nairobi-based Regional Specialist. will perform: Project Management Support:
- Coordinating the day-to-day implementation of Urban resilience project.
- Provide substantive and administrative support to the preparation of country missions, meetings and other consultations.
- Contribute to the drafting, review and/or revision of the ToRs and other technical documents related to the project activities.
- Provide support on project delivery, technical policy advice, and programme support that responds to office needs related to the Project.
- Prepare various written outputs, as may be required (e.g. draft background papers, concept notes, briefing notes and talking points).
- Set up a dynamic data collection system to ensure that project results are measured regularly and propose any necessary corrections.
- Ensure the proper implementation of the project, in line with Annual Work Plan, contributing to the achievement of expected results and the impact of the project, in collaboration with the rest of the UNDP teams and in accordance with its rules and procedures.
Reporting, and Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Collect, synthesize and monitor information on the progress made in the implementation of the project
- Analyse documents and reports submitted by implementing partners and ensure that they are of good quality.
- Put in place mechanisms to ensure a good flow of information on project implementation between the national level and the regional level.
- Provide regular information/data for updating UNDP platforms.
- Provide inputs for the preparation of the project reports (including monthly, quarterly and annual reports).
- Participate in the various meetings relating to the project and take part in all relevant initiatives related to the project and implemented by the partners involved.
- Alert the national and global teams of any delays in the implementation of the project and suggest ways of reorienting the activities concerned.
Stakeholder Coordination and Partnership-building:
- Ensure effective participation and ownership of all stakeholders in the various activities at national level.
- Facilitate regular exchanges between key partners and stakeholders at the national level to inform them on the project status and seek alignment with complementary initiatives.
- Support the development of effective partnership and working relationships with UNDP partners including UN agencies, implementing partners, government institutions, bi- lateral and multi-lateral donors, CSOs and the private sector.
- Contribute to the preparation of project documents or concept notes based on the needs expressed by actors at national level, lessons learned and good practices from the Urban Resilience Project.
Learning and knowledge sharing:
- Liaise with Project Team, UNDP CO teams, UN Agencies and other partners on knowledge-sharing, through identification and synthesis of information resources,
lessons learnt and best practices.
- Capture in different formats, the good practices and lessons learnt from the implementation of the project at national level. epF7Ncv BTn6yA
- Contribute to the development of knowledge products and tools.
- Contribute to the establishment of a knowledge management system and the sharing of lessons learnt in relation to project results, prepare and produce case studies as required.
- Support
- communications and advocacy outreach on key achievements.
- Enhance visibility of the project action in collaboration with the Country Office
- Communications Team.
- Make contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
- Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.
Eligibility criteria
Age: 18 – 80
Required experience
7 years
Nationality
Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.
Assignment requirements
Relevant experience
15 years
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required
Amharic, Level: Fluent, Required
Required education level
Master degree or equivalent in Development studies, Economics, Urban resilience, Project management, Urban/land resources management, Disaster preparedness, public policy/administration, Business Administration, or related fields
Competencies and values
- Professionalism:
- Integrity:
- Teamwork and respect for diversity
- Communication
Skills and experience
- 15 years of relevant professional experience in one or combination of project management/support and coordination, Monitoring and evaluation, and communications & knowledge management.
- Demonstrated experience in resilience/urban resilience, preparedness, WASH and or water governance.
- Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.
- Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.
- Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet; familiarity with database.
management; and office technology equipment.
- Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.
- Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrated results.
- Knowledge of diversity issues, concepts, principles and policies and the ability to apply in strategic and/or practical situations.
- Ability to effectively communicate intentions and requirements to internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of professionals towards common goals.
- Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships.
- Familiarity with the UN system and/or other international development organizations is an asset.
- Having a certification/qualification in project management is an asset
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Area(s) of expertise
Community development, Crisis and emergency response, Development programmes
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Other information
Living conditions and remarks
Living in Ethiopia provides an exciting experience of embracing a multicultural and diverse way of living in various ways. The people are very friendly. There are many expats working in Ethiopia, both in Addis Ababa and many other towns in the throughout the country. There are very good quality international standard hotels, restaurants, Café’s, supermarkets, snacks, and other social services. Addis Ababa, as capital city of the country, has very good quality health and pharmaceutical services. Ethiopia’s healthcare system is in a state of development, although things are gradually improving. Conditions are better in the cities, where access to doctors and hospitals is easier. Ethiopia has a fairly well-developed transport infrastructure. Ethiopia has got a world-class airline, being the top rated in Africa. International flights depart from and arrive at the Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa. There are several international schools in Addis Ababa, where children of expat staff are comfortably attending. Thus, schooling is generally of a good standard, so you can settle down with your family There is relatively good supply of water and electricity in the capital Addis Ababa, with some intermittent power cut-off. Addis Ababa also sees better access to internet connectivity compared to the rest of the country.
As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.
You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator.
The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.”
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy
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More Information
- Job City Ethiopia
