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 current portfolio of UN-Habitat activities in Africa is expanding and there is urgent need for strengthening the capacity at country level as part of Regional Office for Africa (ROAf).
Mozambique is a highly susceptible country to risks and disasters. According to Global Climate Risk Index (2014), Mozambique falls in third place amongst the African countries that are most vulnerable to disasters such as floods, cyclones, droughts, earthquakes of small magnitude, among the most frequent and recurrent disasters. In the early months of 2019 (March and April), the cyclones Idai and Kenneth hit Mozambique causing a negative impact on the communities’ livelihoods. The disaster interrupted the delivery of basic services such as water and electricity, it damaged roads and bridges that are essential for commercial activity, and destroyed more than 300.000 houses, approximately 4000 classrooms were partially or/totally damaged and other social and public buildings. Cyclones Idai and Kenneth, with gusty winds ranging from 180 to 220 km/h accompanied by heavy rainfall, also had a huge social impact, causing the death of more than 650 people and directly affecting about 2 million people in the provinces of Sofala, Manica, Tete, Zambézia, Inhambane, Cabo Delgado and Nampula.
The position is located with the Regional Office for Africa of the Regional Programmes Division and based in Maputo, Mozambique. The Senior Programme Officer reports to the Director of the Regional Office for Africa. The focus of the position is to manage the Mozambique country programme.
The Regional Programme Division is responsible for consolidating and enhancing the linkages between UN Habitat's activities in the field with the Strategic Plan, the 2030 Agenda, and the UN-Habitat’s overall future priorities and to make sure that they are appropriate to the country context. UN-Habitat’s Regional Office for Africa manages UN-Habitat’s project portfolio in the African region. It ensures that country priorities are in alignment with the UN-Habitat’s organizational policies and strategic objectives and brings through its Regional Representative to the attention of the Executive Management Committee (EMC) opportunities and challenges in the region, allowing for timely feedback and responses to urgent demands and requests from Member.
Under the overall supervision of the Director of the Regional Office for Africa, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:
Responsibilities
1. Overall management of the Mozambique country programme:
• Takes the lead to develop, implement and monitor projects within the programme; directs subordinates in programme/project development, implementation, monitoring and assessment; directs review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions.
• Represents UN-Habitat in Mozambique and liaises with donors, national and city government officials, UN partners and other relevant parties; identifies and initiates follow-up actions.
• Manages and supervises a multi-disciplinary team in Mozambique, composed of national/ international staff/consultants, working in the different thematic areas of the country programme, and oversees both programmatic and administration/finance work.
• Directs research and assessments related to urbanization in Mozambique; guides the design of data collection, as well as their review, analysis and interpretation; provides recommendations for the way forward.
• Supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g. progress reports, Terms of Reference, contractual agreements, studies and publications.
2. Establishment, operationalization and management of an UN-Habitat Multi-Country Office (MCO) covering Angola, Mozambique and São Tomé e Príncipe:
• Takes the lead on establishing the MCO including leading on resource mobilization and programme development, negotiating legal agreements, recruitment and management of staff, development of workflow, provision of technical expertise to country offices, and contributing to the CCAs and UNSDFs.
• Coordinates policy development and coherence; reviews the assessments of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or research activities and studies.
• Supervision of MCO and country programme officers and the supervision of the implementation of the country programmes.
• Provide advice, guidance and training to new country and MCO programme officers on programmatic and operations procedures for project/programme implementation.
• Promote information sharing and mutual learning among programme officers in the different countries.
3. Ensures implementation of gender mainstreaming policies by assessing the implications for men and women of any planned action, including while reviewing legislation, policies and/or projects/programmes, in all areas and at all levels.
4. Coordinates outreach activities, training workshops and seminars, and makes interventions in representation to UN-Habitat in key events.
5. Coordinates activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and ensures preparation of related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.).
6. Serves as an effective spokesperson and establishes collaboration and partnerships with key officials at all levels inside and outside the organization.
7. May perform other related duties as required.
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership on issues related to urban development by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment 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.
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.
PLANNING & ORGNIZING: 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.
LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
BUILDING TRUST: Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; manages in a deliberate and predictable way; operates with transparency; has no hidden agenda; places confidences in colleagues, staff members and clients; gives proper credit to theirs; follows through on agreed upon actions; treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in urban planning, architecture, business administration, management, economics or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, administration or related area, at international level, is required.
Experience in liaising with donors, national and city governments officials, United Nations partners or other relevant parties is required.
Experience in managing and coordinating multi-disciplinary teams is required.
Experience in preparing relevant substantive documents and reports is required.
Experience in resource mobilization and programme development is required.
Experience in sub-Saharan Africa is desirable.
Experience in negotiating legal agreements is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English and Portuguese is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
Initial appointment against this post is for a 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 fulfill the lateral move(s) requirements, or geographical to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral or geographical move(s) in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover note.
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 PHP, 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 professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered. 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 "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.
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No Fee
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