Country Programme Manager

Posting Title: Country Programme Manager, P5

Job Code Title: Senior Programme Officer, Human Settlements

Organization: United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN HABITAT)

Duty Station: Kabul, Afghanistan

Posting Period: 16 August 2023 - 29 September 2023

Job Opening Number: 23-Human Settlements-UN-HABITAT-213183-R-Kabul (E)

Staffing Exercise: N/A

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all.

The post is located in the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP), Kabul, Afghanistan duty station.

In close coordination with Programme Division, respective Branches and Units based in Nairobi, the Headquarter, under the guidance of the Senior Human Settlements Officer responsible for Afghanistan backstopping operations at ROAP, Japan duty station and under the direct supervision of the Senior Human Settlements Officer and Director of ROAP, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

Responsibilities

A. Representation: As Country Programme Manager, leads UN-Habitat Afghanistan by:
•Representing UN-Habitat at UN country team meetings, meetings with the Government at various forums and by garnering support for the mandate, and identifying partnerships for the strategic plan of the agency.
•Serving as UN-Habitat's spokesperson and establishing collaboration and partnerships with key stakeholders and partners outside the organization. Also, by identifying strategic areas of partnership with diverse stakeholders, and finding creative and innovative solutions to development challenges while appreciating political sensitivities.
•Developing, implementing and evaluating programmes/projects, and meeting potential donors to actively pursue further resource mobilisation to advance UN-Habitat's mandate in Afghanistan.

B. Programme Management :
•Supervise and provide technical and management support in Human Settlements analysis, needs assessments and other activities, participate in advisory missions to carry out high level consultations and other activities aimed at development of human settlements policies, strategies and programmes.
•Coordinate policy development, review the assessments of issues and trends, prepare evaluations or research activities and studies and contribute to wider knowledge management initiatives within the organization (regional offices/excellence centres/headquarters) and to external stakeholders.
•Ensure coherence amongst various projects and between programmes, by guiding respective programme/project managers and their teams to share common sets of strategic principles (some of which will be derived from UN-Habitat’s normative work) and performance standards.
•Review progress made, problems encountered and concerns identified for four purposes:
-To ensure that all projects are achieving their set targets;
-To promote synergy across the projects/programmes in terms of lessons learned;
-Maintaining coherence in implementation (especially where projects share a common geographical area);
-To report periodically to ROAP.
•Ensure implementation of gender mainstreaming guidelines by assessing the implications for men and women of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in all areas and at all levels.
•Undertake survey initiatives, guide design of data collection instruments, review/analyse and interpret responses, identify problems/issues and prepare conclusions.
•Supervise preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analysis, reports, studies and inputs to publications etc.
•Coordinate activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and ensure preparation of related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.).
•Through advocacy and campaign work in the related field, develop and supervise the execution of priority projects and programmes in a cost effective and efficient manner to meet the expectations of governments, donors, partners and the organization.

C. Project Management:
•Supervise and ensure effective and efficient execution of projects, within the limit of the allocated resources, by providing appropriate technical support to projects through project design, field visits, training and evaluation, coordination and monitoring activities related to the following areas: effective advocacy, monitoring and partnership, participatory urban planning, management and governance, land and housing, environmentally sound urban infrastructure and services and disaster risk reduction and rehabilitation/reconstruction.

D. Capacity Development:
•Provide capacity development support through documentation of knowledge management, tool development and by facilitating networking with partners and programmes that contribute to the enhancement of policy dialogues at UN-Habitat Afghanistan and the region.

E. Data Strategy:
•Leads team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of technical cooperation programme design and implementation in recovery settings. Ability to identify issues and then analyze and participate in their resolution. Ability to conduct data collection exercises using various methods. Conceptual, analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Ability to think creatively. Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Show pride in work and achievements, demonstrate professional competence and mastery of subject matter; be conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observe deadlines and achieve results, be motivated by professional rather than personal concerns, show persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges and remain calm in stressful situations.

PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develop clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identify priority activities and assignments; adjust priorities as required; allocate appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresee risks and allow for contingencies when planning; monitor and adjust plans and actions as necessary; use time efficiently.

TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; Places team agenda before personal agenda; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

LEADERSHIP: Serve as a role model that other people want to follow: empower others to translate vision into results; be proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establish and maintain relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipate and resolve conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drive for change and improvements; not accept the status quo; show the courage to take unpopular stands. Provide leadership and take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrate knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

MANAGING PERFORMANCE: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; Appraises performance fairly.

Education

Advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent) in architecture, civil engineering, urban and regional planning, economics or physical sciences relevant to development and management of human settlements.

A first-level university degree in any of these fields, in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying work-experience, may be acceptable 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 desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten(10) years of progressively responsible experience in human settlements (urban planning and management, human development initiatives, housing and slum upgrading, land and urban infrastructure) at national level is required.

At least seven (7) years of experience at the international level is required.

Proven experience in human settlements development fields, projects/programme design and implementation with the UN or other international agencies is desirable.

Experience working under challenging circumstances preferably in a non-family duty station is desired..

Experience with other relevant enterprise resource planning software (ERP) and UN applications e.g. UMOJA is desirable.

Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this post fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable. Working knowledge of Dari or Pastho is desirable.

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 post and is funded for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension.

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.

Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Candidate Profile (CP) and motivation statement.

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

Internal Applicants – When completing the Candidate Profile 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.

Individual Contractors and Consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for or be appointed to any professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions, within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. For such positions, at least six months need to have elapsed between the end of a consultancy or individual contract and the time of application and consideration for an appointment as a staff member under the Staff Rules and Regulations of the United Nations.

Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection.

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.

On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. 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. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira "Contact Us" 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.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

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.

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