UN-Habitat in Sudan has developed in recent years a complex but consistent programme that addresses sustainable urbanization, public/basic services delivery, housing development and livelihoods, among other aspects, with activities ranging from policy and strategy making, to studies and assessments, training and capacity development, and implementation of physical interventions at the local level, using participatory approach and alternative construction technologies. Up to now the programme is been implemented in Khartoum State, Southern Sudan and Darfur, and has the ambition to expand to Eastern Sudan, as well as starting national initiatives.

 

In the context of the ongoing conflict in Darfur, UN-Habitat is intensifying its urban planning and human settlement programmes to complement humanitarian assistance and prepare the grounds for an eventual transition to recovery and development. UN-Habitat has established an important presence in Darfur as the leading UN agency in the areas of Urban Planning, Land Management and Pro-poor Housing through a variety of large projects that are managed from Khartoum and implemented through competent national professional in Darfur.

 

UN-Habitat participated effectively in the Darfur Joint Assessment (DJA) in August 2012 and in the development of Darfur Development Strategy which was endorsed during the Doha Donors’ conference in April 2013 and identified a number of joint programme with other UN agencies and individual projects focusing on Land Conflict resolutions and Land Management, Improving Urban Environment, and enhancing the basic services and infrastructure and livelihoods.

 

OVERALL OBJECTIVE

 

The Regional Programme Coordinator covers a broad range of issues ranging from programmatic, technical and general administration, security of premises and staff to effectively advising projects on all matters pertaining to quality and timely completion, such as assessment of needs, technical and managerial guidance to field staff, and financial management in close coordination with UN-Habitat Khartoum Office.

 

He/she is responsible for the supervision and guidance of field staff in Darfur and should ensure a client-oriented approach and consistency with UN-Habitat rules and regulations in conformity with the good management practice. He/she advises the field staff on quality control, cost effectiveness and responses to emerging technical and operational challenges in managing UN-Habitat projects.

 

SCOPE OF THE WORK

 

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the CTA/Head of Programme, and in close coordination with the National Programme Coordinator based in Khartoum; the Regional Programme Coordinator strengthens the relationship with the government counterparts at the regional and state levels, DRA in Darfur to advocate for UN-Habitat mandate and ensure the facilitation of and smooth implementation of UN-Habitat programmes/projects. The Regional Programme Coordinator reinforces the capacity of the UN-Habitat field team and provides them with technical and managerial guidance to deliver the formulated programme outputs/results under the Regional and Urban Planning Project, Improving Basic Services and upgrading human settlements projects in the five states of Darfur, in close coordination with UNAMID and UNCT members in Darfur.

 

The Regional Programme Coordinator represents UN-Habitat in the UNCT and sector coordination meetings at the state level and ensure proper advocacy for the UN-Habitat roles and responsibilities and shares information on the progress of works on different projects on the ground.

Specifically the UN-Habitat Regional Programme Coordinator shall:

 

• Lead the coordination with and substantive preparation and support provided to the Darfur Regional Authority, Sate Ministries of Physical Planning and Public Utilities MPPPUs and other relevant state ministries’ senior officials and community leaders and stakeholders pertaining institutional and human development and capacity building initiatives.
• Assess government plans, policies, economic and legal issues affecting land use, zoning, public utilities, community facilities, housing, and transportation and other infrastructure.
• Collaborate with MPPPUs senior staff; Urban Planners, Land Conflict Management consultant and other concerned ministries in Darfur, social scientists/academia, lawyers, developers, the public, and special interest groups to formulate and develop land use or community plans in participatory manner;
• Establish effective regional coordination mechanism to ease collaboration and sharing of information among UN-habitat team in Darfur with UN-Habitat partners in Darfur
• Coordinate with the Ministries senior official and stakeholders to align the design/formulation of UN-Habitat projects with the government development priorities in the field of urban planning, land management, basic services and infrastructure and pro-poor housing strategies
• Coordinate substantive preparations and support provided to the different ministries at the regional and state levels and DRA pertaining institutional and human development and capacity building initiatives
• Coordinate the proper information sharing and reporting to the different ministries related to the progress of ongoing projects and ensure effective participation of counterparts in the review and evaluation of completed initiatives/projects.
• Coordinate with HAC and other government commissions and departments to ensure facilitation of access of UN-Habitat staff to the different states of Sudan where UN-Habitat has ongoing or future activities
• Advise on the preparatory activities to undertake an advocacy/media campaign to include public input to inform the decision making process ;
• Provide performance monitoring and evaluation framework to ensure with objectively verifiable indicators the high performance in implementing good governance approach while preparing regional and urban development plans;
• Provide technical and managerial guidance to the field team on implementation of land management, community based infrastructure and livelihood initiates
• Prepare regular and ad-hoc reports on the progress of works of different activities implemented at the regional level, based on inputs from team leaders at different states.
• Ensure safety and security of the field team in close coordination with the UN security focal persons
• Check and verify payments made by the different counterparts, contractors and suppliers and office operations related payments and provide recommendations to Khartoum office to process payments.
• Attend regular meetings with the UN coordination forums and provide information on the progress of works at the state and regional levels.

 

COMPETENCY AND EXPERTISE REQUIREMENTS

 

• Advanced degree (Master) in Civil Engineering, Architect, Urban Planning
• At least 5 years experience in Planning, design, and implementation of basic infrastructure, housing and engineering projects
• Knowledge of different environmental-friendly and low-cost construction technology is an asset
•  Very good command of English language
• Basic understanding/experience of urban planning, housing, basic infrastructure  and related issues is an asset 

 

 

 

Core Competencies

• Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents
• Building support and political acumen
• Building staff competence,  creating an environment of creativity and innovation
• Building and promoting effective teams
• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication
• Creating an emotionally intelligent organization
• Leveraging conflict in the interests of UN-Habitat & setting standards
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
• Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking

 

Functional Competencies:      

 

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda

 

• Creates effective advocacy strategies.
• Contributes to the elaboration of advocacy strategies by identifying and prioritizing audiences and communication means.
• Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

 

• Identifies programme needs and strategies using a fact-based approach
• Sets performance standards, monitors progress and intervenes at an early stage to ensure results are in accordance with agreed-upon quality and timeframes
• Oversees and documents the process of strategy formulation for programmes at country level

Building Strategic Partnerships

 

• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UN strategic agenda
• Sensitizes UN Partners, donors and other international organizations and identifying areas for joint efforts
• Develops positive ties with civil society to build/strengthen UN/UNCT’s mandate
• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

 

• Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals
• Generates for regional and innovative ideas and effective solutions to problems
• Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations
• Documents successes and uses them to project a positive image

Resource Mobilization

 

• Develops detailed knowledge and understanding of key donors, their priorities and areas of interest and adapts content and approach of resource mobilization activities to their requirements
• Builds and maintains relationships with donors demonstrating professionalism in providing advice and information on UN-Habitat activities and sensitivity to donor concerns

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

 

• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines
• Serves as internal consultant in the area of expertise and shares knowledge with staff
• Continues to seeks new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the unit
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally
• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UN-Habitat’s Goals

 

• Performed analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses
• Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level

Client Orientation

 

• Anticipates client needs
• Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider
• Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Women Candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
Notice
UNDP, as a matter of practice, does not charge any application, processing fee at any stage of the recruitment.