Project Support Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

The Land, Housing and Shelter Section of UN-Habitat is mandated to develop, test, disseminate and support country-level implementation of pro-poor and gender responsive land tools and approaches. In the past years, the Land, Shelter and Housing Section, through its flagship Global Land Tool Network’s programme (GLTN), has been expanding its work globally, in conflict affected countries and in the Arab region to advance housing, land and property rights for everyone and especially for vulnerable groups, including women, displaced people and migrants. Enchaining access to land and tenure security for vulnerable groups, including women, is crucial for poverty reduction, as well as for triggering broader social and economic development, and for the full realisation of human rights, peace and stability.

This UNV assignment will support the implementation of the UN-Habitat land-related projects globally. Under the overall leadership of the Chief of the Land, Shelter and Housing Section and the supervision of the Land Specialist of the Land, Shelter and Housing Section, the International Specialist UN Volunteer will deliver specific components of the projects and coordinate the work of UN-Habitat on advancing housing, land and property rights - with a focus on women's HLP rights; land and conflict; and the Arab land governance portfolio. The responsibilities include developing and adapting training materials; developing documents and papers; reviewing and providing inputs in research assignments and analyses; preparing concept notes and programme documents; undertaking capacity development and training events and workshops; and implementing other specific activities within the UN-Habitat’s land portfolio.The International UNV will also collaborate with UN-Habitat colleagues based in country offices and other Headquarters’ divisions.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Land Specialist, within the Land, Housing and Shelter Section, the International Specialist UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

1. Organize events, supporting the preparation of knowledge exchange events, expert group meetings, training events undertaken as part of the land-related programmes and within the Housing, Land and Property (HLP) rights area of work.
2. Expand and sustain the engagement of the partners of the Arab Land Initiative and of the Housing, Land and Property Area of Responsibility of the Global Protection Cluster, including sharing information and updates, developing joint materials, continuously update the existing land stakeholders’ database and reach out to new partners and land experts.
3. Develop, review and provide inputs to country-level project and related land and HLP documents. This includes developing, reviewing and providing inputs to research and analysis documents, implementation frameworks, methodology notes and providing inputs and guiding partners in the preparation and finalisation of documents and research papers.
4. Support the implementation of the Housing, Land and Property Rights for women, refugees and displaced people at the global, regional and country level.,
5. Coordinate the regional campaign on women and land in the Arab region.
6. Prepare communication, visibility and promotional materials related to the land and HLP portfolio of LHS and GLTN.
7. Develop new programmes and support the implementation of ongoing programmes related to land and HLP rights.

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: • At least ten events on land governance, land tenure security and land in conflict context prepared and delivered; • Two land related report development and two training session co-organised; • Quality partnership developed with at least ten national, local and international partners; • At least two land and HLP-related publications co-authored with other team members; • At least ten communication materials (e.g. articles, press releases, videos, etc.) developed in collaboration with the communication team; • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment; • A report on the number and type of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacity developed in support of volunteerism for peace and development.

• Professionalism: • Integrity: • Teamwork and respect for diversity: • Commitment to continuous learning: • Planning and organizing • Communication • Flexibility • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UN-Habitat’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

urban development, land administration and management, partnership development, capacity building or related areas; working experience in the UN or other international development organizations and familiarity with working in the Arab region and conflict-affected countries are important assets; • Good understanding of concepts and practices related to land management, housing land and property rights, human rights, urban development, gender and youth empowerment, climate resilience and partnership development. • Excellent oral and written communication skills and ability to tailor the communication style to the intended audience; • Excellent analytical capacity, accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Good interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; able to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; • 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; • Affinity with or interest in promoting transformative changes in human settlements through collaborative actions and volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, multilateralism and the UN System, knowledge and capacity development and partnership building.

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.