Urban Programme and Partnerships Officer

UNOPS mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need.  Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, UNOPS vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness.

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the United Nations agency for cities and human settlements. UN-Habitat’s humanitarian work is guided by its Strategic Policy on Human Settlements in Crisis and the agency is a member of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC).  At the core of UN- Habitat’s work is UN-Habitat People’s Process and New Urban Agenda, which places participatory urban analysis, and planning as a central pillar of humanitarian response, recovery, and the rehabilitation of conflict-affected cities.

UN-Habitat’s Regional Office for the Arab States (ROAS) manages UN-Habitat’s project portfolio in the Arab States. 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 States. 

In Jordan, UN-Habitat has been working with national and local stakeholders and communities to support sustainable urban development and resilience-building, focusing on its core thematic areas; Climate Change and City Resilience, Urban Data and Planning, SDG Localization, and Community- Led Public Space Development. Through several of these initiatives, Jordan has been selected as a pilot country for innovative approaches.

Addressing Climate Change and Building City Resilience 

UN-Habitat Jordan has been responding to water and food insecurities and enhancing the adaptive capacities of vulnerable populations, including refugees and host communities through cross-sectoral approach, integrating interventions within the Water, Energy, Food, and Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus. Through national and regional projects, UN-Habitat has been integrating and promoting climate adaptation measures within this Nexus with humanitarian-development efforts, promoting sustainable resource management practices and implementing pilots in various cities, including, but not limited to, Amman, Irbid, Mafraq, and Madaba, in accordance with community needs and evidence-based studies. Additionally, UN-Habitat has been linking operational work with normative guidelines and knowledge resources, including climate change adaptation action plans, risk assessments, multi-layered vulnerability profiles, and more, to support cities in adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change-related challenges. 

Multi-Stakeholder Urban Data and Planning Frameworks 

UN-Habitat Jordan has been supporting national and local urban planning frameworks, enhancing spatial analysis, urban policies, and planning regulations, facilitating sustainable local development initiatives. These urban planning initiatives have enhanced institutional capacities and fostered participatory decision-making processes, ensuring cities are planned with resilience and sustainability at their core.

Community-Led Public Space Development 

Under the Jordan country programme, normative and operational tools are combined to leverage public spaces in order to enhance socioeconomic conditions, climate resilience, social cohesion and the overall well-being of vulnerable communities. Targeting dense urban areas, heritage cities, affordable housing projects, poverty pockets, and refugee camps, these community-driven initiatives emphasize empowering vulnerable groups and evolving along with the needs of communities. Public space rehabilitation projects in Al-Salt city, Madaba, Amman, Irbid, Ghor Al-Safi, and more, are serving as vital entry points to enhance social cohesion, economic opportunities, and climate resilience for vulnerable communities, including refugees and women.

Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals 

UN-Habitat has been supporting localized data collection, monitoring, and analysis to ensure local actions contribute to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. By bridging local and national gaps, UN-Habitat and partners are striving to ensure that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is tailored to the needs and context of Jordanian cities, in alignment with the subprogrammes of UN-Habitat. This includes through the development of key normative documents, such as assessment, Voluntary Local Reviews, New Urban Agenda progress reports, guidelines, and other knowledge products. It additionally includes support to capacity building, advocacy, and technical support for SDG localization. 

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager, the Urban Programme and Partnerships Officer will support the effective design, implementation, coordination, monitoring, and development of UN-Habitat Jordan’s portfolio. The role contributes to advancing sustainable urban development, climate resilience, governance, and inclusive urbanization priorities in Jordan through technical support, programme coordination, resource mobilization, stakeholder engagement, knowledge management, and institutional capacity strengthening. The Officer will support the development of strategic partnerships, while ensuring timely delivery of programme outputs, quality reporting, and effective representation of UN-Habitat in relevant coordination mechanisms and technical platforms.

Within the delegated authority and under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager, UN-Habitat Jordan Programme, the Urban Programme and Partnerships Officer will be assigned to UN-Habitat Amman Office and be responsible for the following duties: 

• Support in effective and timely implementation of UN-Habitat programmes by providing appropriate technical support.

• Identify opportunities for collaboration and joint programming with national and international partners to advance sustainable urban development priorities.

• Support programme’s resource mobilization efforts, including developing new programmes and drafting concept notes and project proposals, supporting communication with potential donors and partners, and supporting in the development of Project and Programme Review Committee documents.

• Contribute to donor engagement activities, including meetings, presentations, and reporting on programme achievements and impact.

• Participate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects, etc.; monitor and analyse specific aspects of programme/project development and implementation; review relevant documents and reports; liaise with relevant parties; and identify follow-up actions.

• Facilitate coordination among implementing partners and stakeholders to ensure alignment of activities, timelines, and expected results. 

• Provide technical support to the project team in the area of analysis and report writing.

• Provide technical support to the project team in area of knowledge management and programme branding.

• Coordinate capacity building opportunities and initiatives of key institutions and mechanisms.

• Provide partners and the local government with assistance, training, and capacity development initiatives as needed.

• Provide technical inputs to urban policies, strategies, action plans, and frameworks related to sustainable urbanization, climate resilience, local governance, and inclusive development.

• Provide technical inputs to the establishment of an effective monitoring system for the delivery of project results, including supporting reporting process such as annual programmatic reports.

• Support the preparation and review of relevant projects annual work plans, results frameworks, and budgets.

• Represent UN-Habitat and participate in workshops, Working Groups, committees, and conferences related to programmatic work.

• Identify best practices and lessons learned that are directly linked to the implementation of projects/programmes and disseminate information.

• Participate in the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework in Jordan’s Governance Results Groups, specifically to identify synergies and areas for possible greater joint programming.

• Undertake assessment and collect up-to-date information for new projects/initiatives to improve the living conditions of the people in Jordan.

• Performs other duties as required. 

Work implies frequent interaction with the following: Counterparts, officers and technical staff in relevant Secretariat units and in UN funds, programs and other UN specialized agencies. Representatives and officials in national governments, international organizations, consultants.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in architecture, urban development, spatial planning, or a related field with 2 years of relevant experience, OR

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields with 0 years of relevant experience is required. 

Desired:

• A recognized professional certification or membership in architectural engineering association, at the national or international level, is desirable.

Required:

• Minimum of two (2) years of working experience in the areas related to urban development, human settlements, data analysis, project or programme management and/or development.

Desired:

• Experience in managing a team, resource mobilization and donor coordination.

• Experience working in the United Nations system. 

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
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• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.