Civil Engineer/Architect

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. Given the extensive experience of UN-Habitat in working in crises conditions over the years, the agency`s role became crucial in promoting and achieving sustainable urban development from the earliest possible opportunity in post crisis situations. UN-Habitat is assisting local governments in developing well-planned and efficient human settlements, with adequate housing, infrastructure, and universal access to employment and basic services such as water, energy, and sanitation. To achieve this vision, UN-Habitat is following a highly participatory approach, supporting the government in planning, ownership and management of human settlements, as well as giving incentives for further development by increasing the institutional capacity in sustainable development of human settlements. UN-Habitat has been supporting member states in developing well-planned and efficient human settlements, with adequate access to housing, infrastructure, and universal access to employment and basic services such as water, energy, and sanitation. In Kenya, UN-Habitat partnered with the Garissa County Government and Turkana County Government to ensure peaceful coexistence though spatial development in Dadaab settlement as well as Kalobeyei new settlement albeit under the urgency of humanitarian and development assistance.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Program Management Officer of the UN-Habitat's Planning Finance and Economy Section, or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Civil Engineer or Architect will: • Compile GIS data and other relevant information in collaboration with Garissa County and develop baseline data folder. • Based on compiled GIS data, develop final analysis report in collaboration with identified university. • Develop cadastral maps for Dadaab refugee camps and surrounding area. • Prepare technical costing and engineering inputs. • Conduct various community sensitization sessions for visioning and consolidation strategy together with Garissa County and refugee/host community. • Finalize concept development plan of identified area in Garissa County. • Provide report on technical advice as a civil engineer to on-going public space construction works, and future infrastructure projects and develop final advisory report. • Provide technical advice as a civil engineer on costing approaches to infrastructure development in humanitarian contexts for input into normative tool development. • Provide technical inputs in collaboration with UNHCR and other key stakeholders in line with UN-Habitats regeneration strategy. • Draft reporting and communications material capturing outputs and activities for the programme. • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Results/expected outputs:

As an active [UN-Habitat] team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to [UN-Habitat] and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

• GIS data and other relevant information and baseline data folder. • Final analysis report in collaboration with identified university. • Cadastral maps for Dadaab refugee camps and surrounding area. • Technical costing and engineering inputs. • Various community sensitization sessions for visioning and consolidation strategy together with Garissa County and refugee/host community. • Concept development plan of identified area in Garissa County. • Technical advice as a civil engineer to on-going public space construction works, and future infrastructure projects and develop final advisory report. • Technical advice as a civil engineer on costing approaches to infrastructure development in humanitarian contexts for input into normative tool development. • Technical inputs in collaboration with UNHCR and other key stakeholders in line with UN-Habitats regeneration strategy. • Reporting and communications material capturing outputs and activities for the programme

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UN-Habitat; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to [UN-Habitat procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups

Civil Engineering, Architecture, or other relevant programmes; working experience in the UN or other international development organization is an asset. • Other desired/mandatory required technical knowledge • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; • 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 MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Sound security awareness;

The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial nation on the coast of East Africa, neighbouring Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Indian Ocean. Kenya has two levels of Government; National Government and 47 sub-national Governments called Counties. Counties are further divided into sub-counties. Kenya is a multi-party state with Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Kenya’s population of more than 40 million is growing at an annual rate of 2.2%. The country’s GNP per capita estimated at purchasing power parity (PPP) is $975, and the GNP is growing at an average rate of 0.1% annually. More than 26% of Kenya’s people live below the international poverty line of $1 per day. Kenya’s main food crops are “maize, wheat, pulses, roots and tubers.” (FAO).

Nairobi is a modern metropolitan city where most basic goods and services, health facilities, public transport, telecommunication and banking services and educational facilities are readily available. The city is widely connected through its main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the smaller Wilson Airport. Air transport is also available to many up-country destinations. The city is home to some 3,000 UN personnel mainly attributed to the fact that it serves as the headquarters for both the UN HABITAT and UNEP.

The socio-economic and cultural background of the immediate society the UNV would be living and working in is diverse and prevailing security conditions at the place of assignment is modest. The topographic and climatic features of the assignment location is highland cool and warm tropical climate.