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. Within UN Habitat, the Urban Practices Branch supports governments and local authorities with tested approaches, guidelines, and tools to plan the growth of cities in an inclusive, sustainable, and future-proof way, in tune with social, cultural, economic, and environmental concerns and particularities. Efforts focus on making cities more livable, productive, and inclusive through proper planning and design. This includes optimizing the population and economic density of urban settlements and promoting mixed land use, diversity, and better connectivity. It also encompasses social inclusion and gender balance, as well as ensuring that planning and design contribute to the development of more efficient, greener, and cleaner cities able to cope with the consequences of climate change. The Branch has five areas of work which are closely related: (1) Policy, Legislation and Governance, (2) Urban Basic Services, (3) Land, Housing and Shelter, (4) Planning, Finance and Economic Development, and (5) Human Rights and Social Inclusion.
This position is in the Policy, Legislation and Governance Section (PLGS). The Urban Policy Specialist will report to the leader of the Policy, Legislation and Governance Section (PLGS) that focuses on a broader frameworks through different scales (metropolitan, regional, national and trans-national). The Section plays a critical role in implementing the Agency’s Strategic Plan, flagship programmes, the relevant Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Human settlement officer will be responsible for the following duties:
•Substantive design, preparation, and administration of best practices interface on the Cameroon, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Guinea on NUP Implementation Platform, to enable direct engagement by Member States and Stakeholders on practices and policies for implementing the National Urban Planning.
•Analysis and selection of best practices/policies on urban development issues at the global, regional and national levels; undertakes empirical research and analysis of trends, developments, and related policy issues relevant to the unit /departmental mandate, including urbanization, urban economics, spatial development, local economic development and regional planning.
•Provides support to intergovernmental processes dealing with urban development issues by preparing best practice inputs for reports to intergovernmental bodies and processes.
•Researches, analyzes and presents best practices and policies on urban and human settlements information gathered from diverse sources for the NUP Implementation Platform.
•Contributes to the preparation of qualitative information for the Quadrennial Report on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and other internationally agreed goals and targets relevant to sustainable urbanization and human settlements
•Contributes to the preparation and revision of the best-practice specific component of the guidelines for reporting on internationally agreed goals and targets relevant to sustainable urbanization.
•Reviews, revises, summarizes and edits best practices/policies for regional and country reports on internationally agreed goals and targets relevant to sustainable urbanization.
•Develops collaborative working relations on best practices and policies with UN-Habitat’s regional offices, other relevant branches and units within the organization and other UN agencies
•Assists in the planning, organizing and servicing of expert group and technical meetings, policy dialogues, development seminars.
•Undertakes outreach activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
•Participates in or lead field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc.
•Participates in Urban Policy programme, by contributing to expanding the NUP knowledge and capacity development resources providing by the Unit, assisting in the development and implementation, monitoring and evaluation of NUP
•Coordinates the implementation of corridor development projects while mainstreaming the International Guidelines on Urban and Territorial Planning (IG-UTP) principles and Urban-Rural Linkages Guiding principles, Metropolitan Development (MetroHUB) Initiative and approach.
•Develops new concept notes, project proposals on Urban Policy, corridors development and land use planning;
•Perform any other duties as requested by the supervisor for the support of the Unit work
Competencies
Professionalism: Demonstrable understanding theories and concepts related to urbanization including social and economic development, urban economics, spatial development, local economic development and planning, urban, and regional and territorial planning. Strong research and writing skills. Ability to carry out research on the social, economic, political, spatial and planning dimensions of cities and human settlements at local, national and international levels. Ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources using standard methodologies and analytical techniques and draw conclusions and assess impacts at different levels. Experience in preparing large/flagship reports. Ability to review, edit and summarize the work of others. Strong analytical capacity and the ability to identify, analyze and articulate difficult issues/problems. 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.
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.
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
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or higher) in public/urban policy, regional planning, land use planning and management, and urban management is required. 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
At least five (5) years of professional experience in land use planning, regional and territorial planning, metropolitan planning or policy analysis and assessment is required.
Proven and demonstrable experience in project management on urban policy, metropolitan planning issues preferably in francophone countries will be a requirement.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in Oral and written both in English and French is required.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
• This position is temporarily available for 364 days. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.
• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.
• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.
• This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.
• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.
• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as “retirement.” Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.
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.
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.
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