RE-ADVERTISED Habitat Programme Manager
To navigation- Agency:
- UN-Habitat
- Project:
- UN-HABITAT
- Location:
- Moscow, Russian Federation
- Duration:
- 1 year Service Contract, extendable (subject to funds availability)
- Expiry Date:
- 2009-01-31
- Description:
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Technical Advisory Branch (TAB) of UN-HABITAT and the overall guidance of the Director Regional and Technical Cooperation Division (RTCD), the UN-HABITAT Programme Manager (HPM) in Moscow, Russia will be responsible of the following tasks:
• UN-HABITAT Representation: participation in UN system activities and other coordinated initiatives
The HPM will participate actively in the UN Country Team and UN common strategic planning through his/her active involvement in programming activities in particular for supporting priority areas in the sphere of human settlements in Russia. Activities would include, inter alia:
- Provide support to UN-HABITAT operational activities including implementation of Biennial Programme of Cooperation between UN-HABITAT and the Russian Federation in partnership with the focal Ministry (Ministry for Regional Development);
- Negotiate with the focal Ministry to get the Habitat Agenda issues in the Government’s National urban development plan, so that development assistance will include shelter and urban development, and strengthening of local authorities as the areas of focus;
- Provide a programmatic link with UNDP’s poverty reduction and governance programmes;
- Provide links with other UN agencies represented in the Russian Federation;
- Participate in the preparation of the common Country Team plans providing relevant inputs that reflect UN-HABITAT mandate and the needs of the country (including the linkage between emergency, recovery and development in the human settlement sector if needed);
- Prepare briefings for the UN Resident Coordinator on human settlements issues on a regular base (annually or as required);
- Formulation, updating or progress assessment, provision of inputs to the CCA/CCF and Country Strategy papers, on shelter and human settlements development, good governance, the urban sector, and related issues;
- Undertake negotiations to promote the inclusion of the urban and shelter chapters within the CCA, MDG country reports, National Human Development Reports, etc., provide necessary inputs accordingly;
- Participate in the country activities related to the Millennium Developments Goals;
- Participate in the preparation of the Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP) whenever needed providing inputs that stress the linkage between emergency, recovery and development issues in the human settlement sector.
• Habitat Agenda and Global Campaigns
- Serving as in-country liaison officer for UN-HABITAT, particularly with reference to implementation of the Habitat Agenda and advocacy of the norms and principles of the UN-HABITAT Global Campaign on Sustainable Urbanisation;
- Providing support to the National Agency in the Government in charge for Implementation of the Habitat Agenda and UN-HABITAT Global Campaign;
- Where appropriate, play a co-ordination role for urban sector, by liaising with governments, donors and programmes active in the urban sector.
• Project and programme identification
- Together with the TAB/RTCD assist with the identification of Programmes or Projects related to the urban sector, good urban governance and urban management, shelter, urban upgrading, access to basic services and local economic development and seek/discuss/mobilize potential local funding partners from Central and Local Governments and the private sector. Prepare briefing notes. Draft ToR for Programmes/Projects design;
- Identify specific requests (policy, technical and information assistance) from key government and Habitat partners and pass on to UN-HABITAT Headquarters;
- Strengthen liaison and communication between on-going UN-HABITAT supported Programmes/Projects, UNDP, government and other national partners and UN-HABITAT HQ and Regional Offices;
- Coordinate the agenda and support all visiting UN-HABITAT and associated missions. Follow-up actions recommended or agreed during visiting missions;
- Follow-up with Programmes and Projects to ensure that reports and records are of the required standard and are prepared and submitted in time;
- Assist, where necessary, UN-HABITAT supported Programmes/Projects with recruitment and procurement;
- Together with UN-HABITAT HQ participate in resource mobilization and development of relevant tools.
• Liaison with UN-HABITAT partners
- strengthen linkages and information flow between UN-HABITAT and local partners and correspondents through representation, liaison, networking, and attendance at meetings;
- Provide adequate and informed feedback to UN-HABITAT HQ;
- Represent Habitat in international, regional, and national workshops and conferences hosted in by the country. Provide adequate and relevant information feedback to UN-HABITAT HQ and Regional Offices;
- Develop close collaboration with the national and regional Associations of the Local Governments (chapters of UCLG).
• Knowledge management and information dissemination
- Where appropriate, play a co-ordination role for the urban sector, by liaising, governments, donors and programmes active in this sector and contributing to the WUF sessions;
- Support and promote the biennial publication “State of the Russian Cities” Report;
- Disseminate information including the Campaign materials, Habitat publications and global commitments and decisions on human settlements issues;
- Facilitate knowledge management and information dissemination;
- Disseminate information related to UN-HABITAT country activities within the UNCT, other interagency forums;
- Disseminate information related to UN-HABITAT country activities among Russian cities and their organizations;
- Coordinate and provide information and materials for partners to organize the World Habitat Day event.
Supervision
In order to ensure effectiveness in the undertaking of responsibilities the HPM will receive a thorough orientation from UN-HABITAT. The HPM will receive a full information package on UN-HABITAT, and a targeted training at UN-HABITAT Headquarters organised by RTCD/TAB.
The HPM will be accountable to the Technical Advisor/Senior HSO - Focal point for Eastern Europe and Countries with Economies in Transition and through him/her to the Director of the Regional and Technical Cooperation Division. The supervision will include among others:
i) regular missions to the country by the Technical Advisor/SHSO to review the work performed by the HPM by direct brief meetings;
ii) participation in coordination/planning meetings at the Headquarters or elsewhere as needed and subject to funds availability;
iii) reviewing the HPM’s work through his/her monthly reports;
iv) consult the national counterparts about the HPM’s work,
v) tracking progress through work-plan and tripartite evaluations (when available); and,
vi) evaluate HPM performance through UN Performance Appraisal System (PAS) or other accessible evaluation forms.
Note: The HPM should not undertake any action related to finance and administrative tasks without due instructions. This responsibility is under the Technical Advisor/Senior HSO in close collaboration with the PMO at HQ.
Qualifications
- Advanced university degree in urban planning, architecture, or any other social science fields (e.g. economic geography, urban/municipal planning, urban and regional economy, municipal and civil engineering and environmental sciences, public and business administration etc.).
Experience
- At least ten years of recent and relevant experience in the Russian Federation on human settlements issues;
- Relevant experience in the formulation and implementation of human settlements programmes and projects and in mobilization of resources;
- Knowledge of administrative work will be an additional asset.
Skills
- Knowledge of UN-HABITAT activities especially with regards to the Habitat Agenda, MDGs and other UN activities related to the human settlements;
- Capacity to understand policy approaches and strategic plans for the implementation of human settlements programmes, and flexibility in their implementation under changing circumstances;
- Ability to work independently with a high degree of responsibility, in a flexible manner and often under pressure;
- Knowledge of procedures related to technical co-operation, programme/project identification/formulation/appraisal/implementation and evaluation, programme management and fundraising;
- Knowledge of computer applications (database management, word-processing, spread-sheet, and preferably programme management);
- Written and oral fluency in the Russian language as the official national language and in English as the language to communicate with the HQ and Regional Offices. Knowledge of another UN official language is an asset.
Recruitment
- HPM will be recruited through UNDP office in Moscow according to the rules of the UN system applicable to national staff;
- HPM will be paid by UN-HABITAT out of the annual earmarked contribution of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation.
Reporting Arrangements
The Habitat Programme Manager will report to the Technical Advisor /Senior Human Settlements Officer (SHSO) in RTCD on a regular basis. For the purpose of evaluating and assessing his/her performance the Technical Advisor/SHSO will be primary reporting officer while the Director of RTCD shall be the secondary reporting officer. On political issues related to human settlements at the country level, the HPM will also be reporting to the UN Resident Coordinator in the Russian Federation.
- Contact Us:
Please send your application (UN Personal History Form available for download under vacancy section and letter of interest) in English with a code PM-Russia to UN-HABITAT to Marsha Nindi at marsha.nindi@unhabitat.org by 31 January 2009. Applicants will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration.