Programme Management Specialist- Civic and Women Engagement

Contract

This is a LICA Specialist-10 contract. This kind of contract is known as Local Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally only for nationals. It's an external contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education. More about LICA Specialist-10 contracts.

Background Information - Job-specific

Background information – Cities Alliance

The Cities Alliance is a global partnership promoting the role of cities in poverty reduction and sustainable development. Hosted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and managed by a Secretariat based in Brussels, the Cities Alliance is a unique partnership with a diverse membership, which is committed to strengthen both developmental impacts through improved coherence in urban development. Cities Alliance is a global leader with a strong track record in grant making, that supports strategic city planning, slum upgrading strategies and national policies designed to make cities more inclusive and sustainable.

Background information – job specific

UNOPS Nepal and Cities Alliance Secretariat, together with UN-Habitat are implementing an EU-funded project: the “Cities for Women Programme in Nepal”. The project focuses on improving the participatory aspects of existing planning processes in city planning, empowering women and supporting municipalities to design inclusive public spaces. The project aims at co-designing spatial interventions in different partner municipalities that could improve the lives and opportunities of women, and by extension, of all residents. This multi-year engagement in Nepal with a focus on participatory and gender-sensitive urban planning and design, UNOPS Nepal Office is seeking a highly motivated and dynamic Programme Managemetn Specialist- Civic and Women Engagement in the country. Under the guidance of the Cities Alliance’s secretariat in Brussels (which will hold the primary reporting line) and in close collaboration with the Project Manager in the country, the Engagement Coordinator will plan and coordinate the participatory planning process activities in the different municipalities, by planning and delivering events, engagement activities, communication efforts and collecting required data. S/He will ensure that project management policies, processes and methods are followed and practiced according to the standards of UNOPS.

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Mainstreaming in Projects Strategy reaffirms UNOPS commitment to gender equality, diversity and inclusion. It mobilizes our efforts to promote equal rights and opportunities for people to live full lives, supported by sustainable, resilient, and inclusive infrastructure, and by the efficient and transparent use of public resources in procurement and project management. The following are a part of the project guidelines:

Please note that the job offer is subject to signing of the project agreement and availability of funds.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST- Civic and Women Engagement will be responsible for the implementation of the Project Component on “Promotion of women’s leadership and participation in decision-making at the local level” of the “Cities for Women Programme in Nepal”. For the day-to-day operation she/he will follow the Project Manager’s guidance, while for strategic direction, technical content and partnership matters, he/she will follow Cities Alliance’s guidance. Main responsibilities will include:

• Adapt and apply Cities Alliance’s tools on gender-sensitive planning and design (e.g WEC Framework, Her4Climate tool) in partners cities to design a specific manual for gender-sensitive participatory decision-making process;
• Coordinate the assessment of the seven-step planning process and other municipal plans from a gender and climate-sensitive perspective;
• Design participatory processes embedded in the local budgeting processes, in dialogue with local stakeholders to ensure the representation of women and marginalized groups;
• Coordinate the visibility and communication actions at local level, to share key findings , data with the local communities;
• Coordinate the organization of participatory women-focused workshops workshops in different municipalities to identify and co-design spatial interventions ;
• Facilitate participatory women-focused workshops workshops in different municipalities to identify and co-design spatial interventions ;
• Coordinate the development of Gender Sensitive Participatory Manual and Urban Design Guidelines based on the learning from the participatory process and dialogue with municipalities;
• Represent Cities Alliance in meetings with key partners and donors in the Country;
• Ensure that the respective project outputs are delivered within the specified project tolerances of time, cost, quality, scope, risk and benefits.

He/she has the authority to assign, as per the Project Plan, work packages to other local team members and approve deliverables produced by them.Programme Management Specialist - Civic and Women Engagement needs to have a thorough understanding of the terms, conditions, and the respective roles and responsibilities of the partners/stakeholders, to ensure the project(s) outputs are capable of meeting the business cases for all consortium partners. Success of the project(s) and hence of the Coordinator will be based on the defined Success Criteria.

Functional Responsibilities

Summary of functions:

1. Project Delivery and Performance
2. Monitoring and Reporting
3. Stakeholder management, coordination and liaison
4. Knowledge Management and Capacity Building

Project Delivery and Performance

• Coordinate assigned delivery of work packages and take responsibility for progress.
• Coordinate and liaise with the Project Manager on the implementation progress;
• Regularly exchange with the Cities Alliance secretariat on project component status, evaluating performance criteria, technical matters such as participatory planning, inclusive urban design and planning;
• Maintain and update implementation plans for the assigned work package;
• Identify continuous improvement and lessons learned.
• Manage contracts with services providers and local experts involved in the delivery of the project component.

Monitoring and reporting

• Conduct regular field visits to project sites to monitor progress;
• Coordinate and oversee all reports from field workshop facilitators and data collectors;
• Maintain diaries and progress reports for the component, as required by the organization’s standard procedures;
• Contribute to the preparation and timely submission of quarterly and annual progress reports to the donors and other stakeholders.

Stakeholder management, coordination and liaison

• Represent the Cities Alliance in Nepal, by developing new working partnerships, developing business opportunities in the field of urban planning, sustainable and inclusive urban design, community engagement;
• Establish a solid working relationship with the project steering committee, donor and key stakeholders;
• Explore business opportunities and operational partnership with UNOPS in Nepal

Knowledge management and Capacity Building

• Facilitate dissemination and use of lessons learnt, project findings and reports amongst stakeholders;
• Support in building capacities of municipalities and local stakeholders through meetings, workshops and tools as needed;
• Adapt and apply Cities Alliance’s tools on gender-sensitive planning and design to the Nepalese context;
• Develop a learning strategic report for each municipality;
• Prepare the final draft of the Gender Sensitive Participatory Manual and Urban Design Guideline to inform the other outcomes of the project;
• Organize a final atelier with local representatives and national representatives to share the manuals and learnings.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• Advanced University (Master’s) Degree in Urban Planning, Architecture, Gender, Social Science or other disciplines

• Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Planning, Architecture, Gender, Social Science or other disciplines with an additional two (2) years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree

  Work Experience

• A minimum of five (5) years (or more) working experience in urban planning/design or local community engagement.

• Experience on gender equality and women empowerment is considered an asset.

  Language:

• Fluency in oral and written Nepalese and English is required.

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above) Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreements (LICA)

Contract level: LICA Specialist 10

Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Additional Information

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.