PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT OFFICER, Human Settlements

Contract

This is a NO-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-3 contracts.

Org. Setting and Reporting The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote, monitor and report on progress in the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, with the twin objectives of housing for all and sustainable urban development. UN-Habitat works and cooperates with governments, local authorities, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and other agencies in promoting sustainable urbanization and reduction of urban poverty. Its work involves norm setting, operational activities, capacity-building, monitoring, advocacy and partnership building at global, regional, national and local levels.

UN-Habitat has been actively working in Guinea-Bissau since 2015, with its action embracing a series of areas associated with sustainable urbanization, including urban resilience, urban and regional planning, urban governance, reduction of land-related conflicts, basic services delivery, affordable housing, urban policy and related legislation, etc. The Programme in Guinea-Bissau also plays a key role on partnerships with, amongst others, UN sister agencies and the European Union, and especially with the Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Urban Planning (MOPHU), the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Local Government, well as regional and city authorities.

UN-Habitat has recently established a new Habitat Country Programme Document (HCPD) for the 2022-2026 period, building on the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) established in 2021, in line with the Government Programme 2020-2023. For this new period, UN-Habitat aims to strengthen its niche position as "thought leader", setting the global discourse and agenda on sustainable urban development, driving the policy discussion, generating expert and cutting-edge knowledge, shaping technical norms, principles and standards, and acting as a multiplier in the exchange of knowledge, experiences and best practices in cities and other human settlements.

To coherently implement its HCPD and respond to the increase of the country portfolio, UN-Habitat, through its Regional Office for Africa, needs to open a FTA as National Programme Manager (NOC) position who will act effectively as the Country Programme Manager. He/she will effectively coordinate UN-Habitat activities in Guinea-Bissau in collaboration with a team of national/international staff/consultants to guarantee a stronger programme development and delivery capability in coherence with the UNSDCF priorities, the New Urban Agenda (NUA) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 11.

This position is located in the Regional Office for Africa (ROAF) at Guinea Bissau and the Programme management Officer, Human Settlements will report to the Senior Human Settlements Officer.

Responsibilities a) Coordination with national and local authorities: - Act as Liaison Officer for the Government and coordinates with Government officials on UN-Habitat on-going and planned activities in Guinea-Bissau by promoting, advocating and raising awareness on the New Urban Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goal n. 11, the Habitat Country Programme Document and UN-Habitat Strategic Plan 2020-2025; - Support national authorities and other national/local stakeholders in participating and/or holding national and international events related to UN-Habitat's mandate and work, e.g. National Urban Forums, the Urban October (including the World Habitat Day and the World Cities Day), the World urban Forum, Africities, the Habitat Assembly, among others; - Ensure capacity-building opportunities in fields related to urban and housing development for government officials and other relevant stakeholders are pursued within and beyond the scope of ongoing projects. b) Programme development, management and resource mobilization: - Provide leadership and support in the implementation of the HCPD for Guinea-Bissau, and support its implementation and monitoring; - Identify programme and project opportunities and actively support resource mobilization efforts, advocacy and building partnerships; - Negotiate and prepare Terms of Reference, Memorandums of Understanding, Agreements of Cooperation and other substantive documents with programme and project-specific partners; - Support the smooth implementation of on-going projects and activities at country level, including reporting and the application of proper administrative processes; - Provide high-level technical oversight for on-going projects in the fields of urban and housing development, as well as associated fields. c) Team management, communication and reporting: - Supervise, manage and monitor UN-Habitat team members working in Guinea-Bissau in coordination with the Senior Human Settlements Officer responsible for Guinea Bissau within the Regional Office for Africa (ROAf); - Support recruitment and procurement processes to ensure the programme holds the necessary resources for the implementation of projects; - Share information on available UN-Habitat reports and tools with national and local government partners; - Promote knowledge management through good practices and supports reporting to donors, UN System and Government. - Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. - Ensures that requirements, background information used for data analysis are documented.

Competencies PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to negotiate with high-level Government, multi and bilateral technical and funding agency officials. Ability to present and debate in public forum and events the main policy and substantive messages related to the development issues identified with the Programme's work. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Familiar with UN policies, procedures and practices, including those relevant to technical cooperation projects. Good technical skills in programme and projects monitoring, execution and development, as well as recognized technical knowledge in the fields of disaster risk reduction and management, post-disaster recovery, urban resilience and development. 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 the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

PLANNING AND ORGANISING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Education Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in management, architecture, law, urban planning, engineering or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage.

Work Experience A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience on human settlements issues with recent direct experience in the formulation and implementation of human settlements programmes and projects is required.

Experience with procedures related to technical cooperation, programme/project identification/formulation/appraisal/ implementation and evaluation and of programme management is required

Experience working with national partners and liaising with government officials is desirable

Experience in building partnerships and alliances for the implementation of joint strategies and programs is desirable

Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this position advertised, fluency in oral and written English and Portuguese is required.

NOTE: "Fluency equals a rating of "fluent" in all four areas (read, write,speak, understand) and " Knowledge of" equals a rating of " confident" in two of the four areas.

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice This is a project funded post. The initial appointment is for a period of one year. Extension of appointment is subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds.

THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO NATIONALS OF GUINEA-BISSAU ONLY. National Professional Officer category shall be of the nationality of the country where this position is located and will be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of the office. If no suitable local candidate is identified, Guinea-Bissau nationals residing elsewhere may be considered, in which case the candidate would be responsible for any costs related to traveling and relocating to Guinea-Bissau in the event of an employment offer.

This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. All staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Internal Applicants : When completing the form, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. " The expression "Internal candidates", shall mean staff members who have been recruited after a competitive examination under staff rule 4.16 or after the advice of a central review body under staff rule 4.15.

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.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect.

The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before 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.

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. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The 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 according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. 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 reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (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.