Programme Assistant

Result of Service He/she will provide technical advice and support the execution of activities related to the implementation of the abovementioned project. The Programme Assistant will work in close collaboration with the operational, technical and communications teams of UN-Habitat in Rio de Janeiro and local project teams, staff of other UN Agencies, Government officials, media, multilateral and bilateral donors and civil society.

Work Location Rio de Janeiro

Expected duration One month upon the signature of the contract, with the possibility of renewal.

Duties and Responsibilities Background

The main mandate of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is to promote sustainable development of human settlements and policies conducive to adequate housing for all. Within this framework, UN-Habitat supports central and state governments, as well as local authorities and other partners for the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, the 2030 Agenda with the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda. UN-Habitat's Regional Office for Latin American and the Caribbean – ROLAC – is based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

In Brazil, UN-Habitat works with the three tiers of government in order to support the formulation and implementation of more effective, sustainable, participative and socially fairer urban economic, social and environmental policies and transform cities into safer, more inclusive, compact, integrated, resilient and connected places with better opportunities where everyone can live with dignity. It also works with civil society and the private sector to help build, manage, plan and finance sustainable urban development.

Within this context, UN-Habitat and Brazil government – represented by the Brazilian Cooperation Agency from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (ABC/MRE) - signed the trilateral South-South Cooperation umbrella Project "Mainstreaming Sustainable Urbanization Trough South-South Cooperation” to share urban knowledge and experiences with the Global South in several areas such as housing and informal settlements, urban basic services, public spaces, post-COVID-19 response and SDGs localization.

This Project seeks to support subnational and national governments from the global south to take ownership of and implementing the urban SDG’s, adapting Brazilian proven experiences, frameworks and tools, especially those that were built with the support of UN-Habitat after 25 years of presence in the country.

This initiative objective is to enhance capacities of local and national governments to formulate, implement and monitor policies, strategies and tools for responding to their urban challenges. It will rely on the engagement of Brazilian institutions, at national and subnational level, who have first-hand experience in tackling urban challenges. The initiative will rely as well as on the capacity of UN- Habitat to play a broker and a convener role in leveraging Brazilian institutions to support partner countries with new knowledge, better policies and tools to reinforce their urban development processes. It also aims to formulate and potentially implement concrete actions for sustainable urban development.

This Umbrella will also foster the importance of taking into account the local context in order to adapt the methods and tools that will be offered, as well as benefiting from mutual understanding and exchange. And will be guided by principles as the demand-driven approach and solidarity and non-interference in partners’ domestic affairs, leading to practices of non-conditionality.

In order to support the implementation of the above-mentioned initiative, we are looking for a Programme Assistant.

Report to UN-Habitat Manager

The Programme Assistant reports to the National Officer for Brazil, who will evaluate him/her.

Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the National Officer for Brazil, the Programme Assistant will work in the following areas:

a) Support technical, administrative and management activities to ensure that projects meet the objectives in terms of deadlines, budget and quality. b) Conduct research on urban issues as well as UN-Habitat methodologies to support the programme development team in the negotiation of new projects. c) Support the systematization and exchange of successful practices and experiences with other offices in the region and with headquarters divisions. d) Attend to meetings and conferences promoted by UN-Habitat partners. e) Provide inputs for the identification and mitigation of project risks. f) Conduct technical activities to ensure that projects meet deadlines and quality objectives; g) Inputs for the identification and mitigation of projects’ risks, including relevant challenges or omissions and other situations that may affect the development and implementation of projects; h) Prepare reports to partners, internal reports, etc. at various stages of the projects. i) Document expert group meetings, training events and other activities related to the planning, development and implementation of ongoing and new projects. j) Be responsible for maintaining an organized and accessible information file. k) Be responsible for ensuring that all activities observe the principles of integrity of the United Nations. l) Participate in missions as requested.

The consultant will be responsible for completing all courses or training activities that are indicated to him/her by his/her supervisor. The security course BSAFE is required to be accredited during the first month of employment.

The consultant will be responsible for his/her own security, so the person should get familiarized with United Nations security mechanisms and comply with them according to the Framework of Accountability for the United Nations Security Management System.

Outputs/Work Assignment

The Programme Assistant shall support and advise the implementation of projects activities according to the responsibilities indicated below.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications:

Required: ¿ Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences, Urban Studies, Architecture and Urbanism, Law, Geography, Economics, International Relations or related fields, or additional 3 (three) years of relevant experience to the post, beyond the requirement.

Desired: ¿ Postgraduate Degree (Lato Sensu or Stricto Sensu) in Social Sciences, Urban Studies, Architecture and Urbanism, Law, Geography, Economics, International Relations or related fields.

Experience:

¿ A minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in project/programme management on development or urban related themes. ¿ Professional and academic experience on themes related to urban policy and development, public policy, social inclusion, gender equality, diversity or human rights in Brazil is required. ¿ Previous experience within the UN System is desired.

Skills:

¿ Good computer skills in Windows and Office packages and Web search engines is required. ¿ Good handling of technological tools and use of software and online platforms is desirable. ¿ Good handling of online event and conference tools is desirable. ¿ Good knowledge on project management methodologies is desirable.

Knowledge Management

¿ The person must know the processes, procedures and norms of UN-Habitat, in order to guarantee an adequate quality of the activities described above, following the standards of the organization. ¿ The person will propose formats and procedures that allow the efficient implementation of the activities related to the project development. ¿ The person must know the file of the Office, work with it and ensure its proper maintenance, accessibility for all staff and due updating. ¿ The person will prepare databases related to the project running. ¿ The person will make sure that all relevant technical information will be adequately shared with the correspondent staff. ¿ The person will ensure that all produced material will be fit-for-purpose and delivered, in an organized way, for posterior consultation and use of the Agency.

Competencies

¿ Professionalism: Experience working in inter-institutional environment, project management, monitoring-evaluation; approaches and strategies with regard to good urban governance and local and regional development. ¿ Planning and organization: Professional approach to work, strong sense of responsibility, operate with minimal supervision; proven organizational skills and ability to manage a workload efficiently and within set deadlines. ¿ Communication: Ability to write clearly and effectively; listen to others, interpret messages correctly and respond appropriately; show openness in information sharing and keep everyone informed; solid abstract reasoning skills together with a proven capacity to write documents for diverse audiences. ¿ Teamwork: Ability to work with teams, demonstrate leadership, conflict management and consensus facilitation skills; ability to work in a multicultural and multi-ethnic environment, and to respect diversity; sensitivity to the main streaming of vulnerability; willingness and ability to work in difficult environments.

Languages ¿ English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat, and Spanish is the working language of the Regional Office. ¿ For the post advertised, fluency in Portuguese and English is required.

Additional Information Travel details

The consultant must be available to travel to the places related to the activities in the country, if requested by the National Officer for Brazil and/or the International Officer. Travels will be coordinated and financed by UN-Habitat, according to the United Nations travel rules and guidelines.

Remuneration (SB-3/2) BRL 4.907,42 (net amount).

Notes

Appointment against this post is on local basis and only nationals from Brazil or external candidates who hold a permanent visa in Brazil may apply.

It is required for all the curricular information to be inserted in the system, which may take a few hours. Only complete applications in English will be considered.

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. Due to the volume of applications received, receipt of applications cannot be acknowledged individually. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

Applications should be submitted through INSPIRA and must include all documents required at the system, please be ready to include the following information at the “Personal History Form” (PHP) at Inspira:

1. Cover memo (maximum 1 page) 2. Educational Background (incl. dates) 3. Professional Experience (assignments, tasks, achievements, duration by years/ months) 4. Expertise and preferences regarding location of potential assignments 5. Other Experience and Expertise (e.g. Internships/ voluntary work, etc.)* * Please note that Internships, self-employment and part-time count as 50%. In addition to it, note experience not relevant to the position will not be considered.

All applications should be submitted to: Inspira Deadline for applications: UN-HABITAT does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. If you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of these offices and requesting the payment of a fee, please contact: [email protected]

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.