Org. Setting and Reporting
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the United Nations programme working towards a better urban future. Its mission is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all. In October 2016, at the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development – Habitat III – member states signed the New Urban Agenda. This is an action-oriented document which sets global standards of achievement in sustainable urban development, rethinking the way we build, manage, and live in cities. Through drawing together cooperation with committed partners, relevant stakeholders, and urban actors, including at all levels of government as well as the private sector, UN-Habitat is applying its technical expertise, normative work and capacity development to implement the New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 11 – to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. UN-Habitat is an active member of the Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC)which is the longest-standing and highest-level humanitarian coordination forum of the United Nations system and has been contributing to policy making pertaining emergency response to manmade armed conflict and natural disasters. UN-Habitat continues to advice IASC on Housing Land and Property Rights and emergency shelter and housing rehabilitation in conflict and post conflict and post natural disaster context, in line with the fourth Domain of Change of its 2020 to 2025 Strategic Plan: “Effective urban crisis prevention and response”. It has built a significant expertise at the global level to support national and local authorities to assess the impact of crises on housing and infrastructure. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia plays a critical role in supporting humanitarian operations globally through several instruments including the King Salman Relief (KSRELIEF) which was established to ensure close cooperation with fully-accredited international humanitarian relief organizations and other vital support partners dedicated to coordinating and providing international relief to crisis-afflicted communities, alleviating suffering and providing the essentials to allow people everywhere to live good lives. Under the direct supervision of UN-Habitat Director, Regional Programme Division and in coordination with the Emergency Director of UN-Habitat, the Regional Representatives of the UN-Habitat Regional Offices and the Head of KSA Country Programme, the incumbent shall perform his tasks towards achieving the key following objectives: • Strengthen the strategic partnership between UN-Habitat and the humanitarian instruments of the Kingdom such as KSRelief, humanitarian Philanthropies and non-governmental organizations among others, with direct support to humanitarian affairs, and emergency response outside the kingdom of Saudi Arabia • Develop new initiatives and concepts to respond to impact of manmade and natural disasters and emergency response and negotiate with the above organizations’ collaboration and potential funding. • Facilitate knowledge exchange, skills development, and joint collaboration between UN-Habitat and the above organizations in the areas of emergency and humanitarian response at the global level. UN-Habitat selected candidate shall work closely across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration. She/he shall work closely with all regional offices and humanitarian technical advisors at the regions and at HQ and hence shall adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals of UN-Habitat 2020-2025. This position is located in the Regional Programme Division (RPD) at the Riyadh Duty Station.
Responsibilities
1. Establish and maintain strategic partnerships and support resource mobilization efforts to achieve programme outcomes: • Identifies areas of common interest, in accordance with UN-Habitat’s strategic plan and KS relief and KSA humanitarian organisations/Funds strategic focus areas and supports the development of proposals for potential joint initiatives/ projects. • Serves as a focal point for coordination, follow up, and ensuring the development of effective collaboration between UN-Habitat and KS relief and other KSA humanitarian organisations. • Assists in the coordination of programme/project planning and preparation; monitors status of programme/project proposals and funding requests. • Serves as focal point for coordination, monitoring, and expedition of programme/project implementation activities, including extensive liaison with relevant teams at UN-Habitat and KSA humanitarian organisations. • Ensures monitoring and regular reporting on implementation of joint activities and maintains regular updates to the workplan regular in line with organisational priorities at the global level. 2. Ensure provision of top-quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management: • Conducts research and prepares background information for programme/project formulation. • Prepares/reviews programme-related documents, drafts standard correspondence, and develops presentations on the projects/programmes. • Facilitates regular communication and information exchange among relevant teams at UN-Habitat and KS relief and other KSA humanitarian organisations through support to meetings, preparation of background documents, and developing project briefs. • Ensure the effective use of data in programme implementation, across the data lifecycle, and ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and learning on programme impact. • Constantly monitor trends analysis for future informed and anticipatory programming; track achievement of strategic results, and effectively apply results-based management tools. • Ensure aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes, including preparation of donor and corporate reports. • Identify policy-driven issues; and identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to respective UN-Habitat’s countries humanitarian and recovery plans. • Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks, communities of practice, and digital knowledge platforms. • Organize and deliver training when needed. 3. Establish and maintain strategic partnerships and support resource mobilization efforts to advance the implementation of humanitarian plans by respective country programmes: • Initiate sound partnership and resource mobilization strategies. • Determine strategic programmatic areas of cooperation in relevant humanitarian areas, including for joint programming, in line with agreed global, regional and national priorities. • Lead development of pipelines and portfolio that includes designing Programme/Project documents, concept notes, proposals and cross-sectoral. • Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Ensures that requirements, background information used for data analysis are documented.
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to international affairs and humanitarian programme coordination urban crises and humanitarian field. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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. PLANNING & ORGANIZING: 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.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international relations, political affairs, social sciences, business administration, urban development, architecture, or any other related fields is required. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.
Job – Specific Qualification
Not available.
Work Experience
A Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in international affairs and humanitarian programme coordination urban crises and humanitarian field is required. Experience in the field coordinating international humanitarian response to natural disasters and/or complex emergencies is desirable. Experience working in international development is desirable. Experience representing your organization at high level international, regional and inter-agency meetings, seminars and other forums where you have been asked to speak authoritatively on issues of substance or policy is desirable. Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English & Arabic is required. Knowledge of another UN language is desirable. NOTE: “Fluency equals a rating of “fluent” in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand), and ” Knowledge of” equals a rating of ” confident” in two of the four areas.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
This is a project post. Appointment against this position is for an initial period of one (1) 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. Candidates for the National Professional Officer category shall be of the nationality of the country where this position is located. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Applicants – When completing the Candidate Profile form, 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 or be appointed to any professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions, within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. For such positions, at least six months need to have elapsed between the end of a consultancy or individual contract and the time of application and consideration for an appointment as a staff member under the Staff Rules and Regulations of the United Nations. 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 “Contact Us” link. 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. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. 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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.