UN-Habitat recrute un “Habitat Programme Manager” (Offre en Anglais) عودة إلى الفرص

Location : Tunis, Tunisia

Application Deadline : 15-Jan-16

Type of Contract : Service Contract

Post Level : SB-5

Languages Required : Arabic ;  English ;  French

Duration of Initial Contract : One year

Background : 

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the United Nations 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 with dignity. The Regional Office for Arab States – ROAS was established in 2010, and has had a major focus on the Mashreq sub-region, particularly due to the various ongoing crises. However, ROAS recognizes the need to be more strongly engaged in the Maghreb sub region. Since 2014 the UN Country Team for Libya has evacuated to Tunis. UN-Habitat is seeking the opportunity to continue and strengthen its programme in Libya during this time, by placing a Habitat Programme Manager (HPM) in Tunis, who would oversee UN-Habitat’s activities and the development of Technical Cooperation portfolio in both Libya and Tunisia. The Post is located in Tunis, Tunisia, under the United Nations agency for Human Settlements. The duration of the post is 12 months, with the possibility of renewal.

The focus of this post is on the substantive delivery of UN-HABITAT’s mandate, objectives, focus areas and expected results at country level. The overall goal is to help build, manage, plan and finance sustainable urban development and support the achievement of adequate housing for all. The HPM will be responsible for substantive projects in Libya and Tunisia in terms of the overall management, coordination, monitoring and evaluation. In the immediate term the focus in Libya is the support of urban recovery in areas affected by conflict. This will initially involve the preparation of Rapid City Profiles and the implementation of basic infrastructure and shelter related projects to support displaced and other vulnerable people. Currently UN-Habitat does not have activities in Tunisia, but is seeking to provide technical cooperation in areas of sustainable urbanization and housing. In the immediate term to develop a study on the impact of migration in urban areas; to initiate a Safer Cities programme, and to provide technical support if requested in the implementation of the Tunisia Housing Strategy.

The HPM is accountable to the Senior Human Settlements Officer of the Regional Office for Arab States – ROAS, who reports to the Director of ROAS. At a later date UN-Habitat may appoint an international head of programme in Tunis reporting to the Director of ROAS, to whom the HPM will report. The HPM coordinates with the UN Resident Coordinator and relevant HQ substantive branches to ensure alignment of the work programme with UN-Habitat’s Strategic Plan. Supervision of the work performed by the HPM is provided by the Regional Office.

Duties and Responsibilities :

Responsibilities:

The UN-Habitat Programme Manager (HPM) will be responsible to promote UN-HABITAT and managing projects operations in Libya and Tunisia viz à viz the relevant institutions of the respective governments in addition to non-government entities including civil society and private sector. The HPM will be part of the UN Country Team in Libya and Tunisia, working closely with a wide variety of local, national and international partners to implement the Habitat Agenda by:

UN-HABITAT Representation: participation in UN system activities and other coordinated initiatives: The HPM will participate actively in the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) activities, and UN common strategic planning through his/her active involvement in the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and the preparation and implementation of poverty reduction programmes.

Activities would include, inter alia:

• Formulation and updating of the Habitat Country Programme Document (HCPD);
• Support the formulation, updating of UN Assistance Framework documents by provision of inputs to the Common Country Assessment (CCA), Strategic Framework, Humanitarian Needs Overview and Humanitarian Action Plans, UN Development Assistance Framework and related documents to ensure Habitat Agenda issues and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 11 are adequately reflected;
• Provide a programmatic link with United Nations’ poverty reduction and governance programme;
• Negotiate with focal Ministries to get the Habitat Agenda issues prominently in their governments’ national development plan;
• Undertake negotiations to promote the inclusion of the urban and shelter chapters within the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) and other mechanisms for development funding and debt reduction and to provide inputs accordingly.

Habitat Agenda and Global Campaign:

• Serve as in-country liaison officer for UN-HABITAT, particularly with reference to implementation of the Habitat Agenda and advocacy of the norms and principles of the UN-HABITAT World Urban Campaign;
• Provide liaison between the national Habitat Focal Point, the National Committee for Implementation of the Habitat Agenda (National Urban Forum), UN-HABITAT (the UN organization appointed as the focal point for regular review of implementation progress) and UNDP.

Project and Programme Management:

• Identify Programmes or Projects related to the urban sector, good urban governance and urban management, urban recovery in conflict affected areas, shelter, slum upgrading, rural-urban linkages and local economic development. Prepare briefing notes. Draft Terms of Reference for Programmes/Projects design and liaise with donors to generate project resources with the support of the Senior Human Settlements officer;
• Identify specific requests (policy, technical and information assistance) from key governments and Habitat partners and coordinate responding to it with UN-HABITAT Regional Office;
• Manage new and ongoing UN-HABITAT supported Programmes/Projects. Strengthen liaison and communication with UNDP, government and other national partners, and the UN-HABITAT regional office to ensure partnership for effective delivery;
• Coordinate the agenda and support all visiting UN-HABITAT experts and associated missions. Follow up on actions recommended or agreed during visiting missions and ensure documentation of missions activities in timely reports;
• Supervise and coordinate experts involvement in Programmes and Projects implementation and ensure that reports and deliverables are of the required standard and are prepared and submitted in time;
• Advise Regional Office on recruitment and procurement of consultants, experts and services necessary to ensure effective country projects and programmes delivery.

Liaison with UN-HABITAT partners:

• Strengthen linkages and information flow between UN-HABITAT and local partners and correspondents through representation, liaison, networking, and attendance at meetings. Provide adequate and informed feedback to UN-HABITAT Regional Office;
• Represent Habitat in international, regional, and national workshops and conferences hosted in by the country and overseas when delegated by the Senior Human Settlements officer or Director of ROAS. Provide adequate and relevant information feedback to UN-HABITAT Regional Office and Headquarters.

Knowledge management and information dissemination:

• Disseminate information including the Campaign materials, Habitat publications and global commitments and decisions on human settlements issues conjunction with the Information Office;
• Coordinate and provide information and materials for partners to organize the World Habitat Day event and participate in World Urban Forums.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following: national counterparts, UNDP country offices and other UN agencies, a Project Management Officer and, Human Settlement Officers, Programme Management Officers, Branch/ Regional Managers, Programme Support Division and other units at Headquarters. In exercising his/her functions the HPM will be assisted by a Programme Assistant.

Competencies : 

Professionalism:

• Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to particular sector,functional area or other specialized field;
• Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems;
• Ability to assist with data collection using various methods;
• Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given;
• Plan own work and manage conflicting priorities;
• 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:

• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively;
• Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately;
• Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication;
• Tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience;
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork:

• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals;
• Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise;
• Is willing to learn from others;
• Places team agenda before personal agenda;
• Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position;
• Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Client Orientation:

• Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view;
• Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions;
• Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems;
• Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects;
• Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.