CONSULTANT VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
    Issued on: 18 November 2022

BACKGROUND

The United Nations Human Settlements Program, UN-Habitat, is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable cities with the aim of providing adequate housing for all. UN-Habitat will lead advocacy efforts to raise awareness of sustainable urbanization issues; provide practical, evidence-based advice; build capacity; develop tools, standards and rules based on best practices; work on demonstration projects and provide assistance to national governments, local authorities and other public institutions responsible for urban issues. To enable it to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of 21st century cities century and human settlements more comprehensively, and also to meet one of the most important needs in developing countries, the UN-Habitat Regional Representation for Africa is working with member states to develop and facilitate the implementation of a more systematic integrated approach to foster better urban living conditions without leaving anyone behind. The general objective is to promote innovative solutions to tackle the root causes of faulty urbanization. The inclusive approach to advance structural transformation and the well-coordinated mechanism to generate sustainable and smart urbanization are at the center of efforts to improve access to decent housing and affordable housing in fragile, post-human settlements. conflict and peaceful.

The socio-political upheaval in the North-West and South-West regions observed began with peaceful protests by lawyers and teachers which stemmed from the perception of discrimination and marginalization in the provision of essential services, especially in the educational and judicial systems. Despite efforts through consultation meetings, an armed conflict broke out between the national army and secessionist groups. To date, according to the United Nations, this crisis has resulted in the displacement of 65,500 people to Nigeria (UNHCR, Nigeria: Registration of Cameroonian refugees, June 30, 2021) and 712,800 inside Cameroon. Among the internally displaced persons (IDPs) outside the two crisis regions, 80% have found refuge in the West (162,726) and Littoral (80,925) regions (OCHA, OIM and CHOI, MSNA August and September 2020). In the Littoral and Western regions, internally displaced people have found a context already characterized by governance deficits and land scarcity (especially in the West the smallest yet most densely populated region of the country). Their arrival has repercussions on social cohesion at the individual, economic, socio-cultural and socio-political levels. Tense social cohesion has materialized mainly around land, housing and security.
The incumbent will work with United Nations teams, government institutions, the private sector and civil society organizations, as appropriate, to ensure the protection and socio-economic integration of people who have been internally displaced. of the country and vulnerable host communities in the Littoral and western regions of Cameroon. This position, located in Yaoundé, Cameroon, is coordinated by the Regional Adviser for Central Africa Region based in Kinshasa, DRC.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Programme Management Officer in charge of Cameroon. The incumbent will, work closely with the Country Programme Manager, to ensure evidence-based reporting and streamline resource mobilization initiatives to increase public and donors’ investment into the Peace Building F and the Humanitarian Peace and Development projects.

The main responsibilities of the consultant are:

1. Supports the production of reports focusing on evidence and storytelling to support the
production of advocacy documents for financial partners and to build a toolkit on municipalities and governance of durable solutions in crisis situations;

2. Coordinates resources mobilization to initiate and support the sustainability of communal resilience projects addressing shocks induced by climate change, conflict/crisis, and destruction of biodiversity

3. Co-leads the organization of the first consultative multi-stakeholders meeting on harmonizing the measurement of IDPs in urban and rural settings

EXPECTED RESULTS

The main result is the existence of a position paper on UN-Habitat’s contribution to durable solutions for IDPs/refugees through enhanced community participation into local governance and connection of beneficiaries with potential financing institution to support the sustainability of PBF and Nexus led activities in seven municipalities in Cameroon. Based on this, the induced result will be the availability of a resource mobilization action plan to support UN-Habitat’s effort in generating more fund in the Central Africa Region by extending its integrated spatial approach to the governance of conflict prevention and Humanitarian, Peace and Development Nexus.
The expected deliverables at the end of the assignments are:
1. Draft toolkit (toolbox) on Municipalities/Decentralization and Governance of durable solutions in crisis situations reviewed by UN, donors and public institutions.

2. Resources mobilization action plan in the Central Africa Region including a mechanism to increase the finance of selected activities of the PBF and Nexus projects by public institutions in Cameroon submitted.

3. Technical notes (including draft harmonized methodology) on the measurement and validation of IDPs’ geodatabase by the public authorities and the UN system available.

4. COMPETENCIES

Professionalism: Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries and the ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity. Experience in mentoring staff and in coordinating their work. Demonstrated ability to manage a land program and related issues in a very volatile environment and able to reorient the program in a very innovative direction. Demonstrate ability to prepare projects documents and funding proposal and ensuring that their implementation meets all partners' expectations, including both donors and national partners. Have a sound skill in urban development challenges and decentralization in Cameroon.

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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Planning and Organising: Pursues 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 work plan completion; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently. 

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and commitments; Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education
Have a master’s degree in urban planning, urban planning and development, urban engineering and social sciences or in a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work experience
A minimum of eight (08) years of relevant work experience in the areas of urban planning, urban development issues, United Nations country team activities, conflict and internally displaced persons own country, refugees and institutional capacity building. A record of research and reports documenting the ability to analyze technical information and to have excellent writing skills, i.e. to write clearly and concisely is desirable. Experience in working on humanitarian, peace and development nexus in Africa is desirable. Skills in urban development and analyzing of local authorities’ response to COVID19 and management of Internally Displaced Persons in Cameroon is required.
Language
French and English are the working languages ​​of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in written and oral French and English is required.

Payment
The consultant will be paid in three instalments upon presentation and satisfaction of the following deliverables. The fees will be clarified later.

 Applications should include:

• Cover memo (maximum 1 page)
• P11, indicating the following information:
  • Educational Background (incl. dates)
  • Professional Experience (assignments, tasks, achievements, duration by years/ months)
  • Other Experience and Expertise (e.g. Internships/ voluntary work, etc.)

All applications should be submitted to: serah.mutisya@un.org

Deadline for applications: 2 January 2023
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: recruitment@unon.org