Development Coordination Officer, Engineer (Fixed Term Limited)

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty. UN-Habitat’s global headquarters is located in Nairobi, Kenya. UN-Habitat places particular emphasis on supporting development priorities in Kenya as its host country. Its work is guided by the Habitat Country Programme Document, developed jointly with the Government of Kenya, and aligned with Kenya Vision 2030 and other relevant national development frameworks. The Kenya Country Programme , under UN-Habitat’s Regional Office for Africa, coordinates the organization’s engagement with the Government of Kenya and other national, county and development partners. The Office implements interventions at national and county levels that promote sustainable urban development, resilient infrastructure, improved basic services and inclusive development, particularly in underserved and displacement-affected areas. In Turkana County, UN-Habitat is implementing the project for the improvement of water supply facilities for refugees and their host communities that is funded by the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The project aims to improve integrated and sustainable water-service provision for refugee and host communities in Kakuma and Lodwar municipalities. It is expected to enhance equitable access to water for approximately 468,000 beneficiaries, reduce tensions associated with sharing limited water resources, and support the inclusion and integration of refugees and host communities. This is a fixed term limited position located within the Regional Office for Africa, under the Kenya Country Programme, and is based in Kakuma. Under the direct supervision of the Human Settlements Officer, Head of the Kenya Country Programme, the incumbent will support the planning, design, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the JICA-funded project. The incumbent will provide technical and operational support in engineering, infrastructure development, urban planning, data analysis and programme management, contributing to the timely and cost-effective delivery of sustainable and inclusive development solutions. Within delegated authority, the Associate Programme Management Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Support the implementation of project work plans, engineering activities, and infrastructure interventions in accordance with approved project documents and implementation schedules. • Coordinate the day-to-day implementation of project activities in collaboration with county government departments, implementing partners, contractors, consultants, refugee leadership structures, and host community representatives. • Conduct regular field missions and site inspections to monitor implementation progress, verify completed works, identify implementation challenges, and recommend corrective actions. • Support the supervision of infrastructure works, ensuring compliance with approved technical specifications, quality standards, environmental safeguards, health and safety requirements, and contractual obligations. • Participate in technical assessments, engineering inspections, feasibility studies, and infrastructure assessments to support ongoing project implementation. • Collect, verify, compile, and maintain project implementation data from field activities to support monitoring, reporting, and decision-making. • Support the implementation of project monitoring and evaluation activities through routine field monitoring, data collection, verification of project outputs, and preparation of progress reports. • Maintain project databases, monitoring tools, dashboards, and other information management systems to support timely reporting on project implementation. • Prepare monthly, quarterly, donor, and internal implementation reports, technical summaries, engineering progress reports, and other project documentation. • Support the organization and facilitation of community consultations, public participation forums, stakeholder meetings, technical working groups, and coordination meetings involving county government, national authorities, refugee and host communities, development partners, and civil society organizations. • Liaise regularly with Turkana County Government, relevant national government institutions, local authorities, refugee leadership structures, community-based organizations, and implementing partners to facilitate effective project implementation and strengthen local coordination. • Support engagement with local communities to ensure project activities respond to community priorities and promote inclusive participation throughout project implementation. • Assist in identifying implementation risks, operational bottlenecks, and technical challenges, and recommend practical solutions to improve project delivery. • Support procurement processes through the preparation of technical specifications, Bills of Quantities (BoQs), scope of works, engineering estimates, and technical evaluations, as required. • Assist in monitoring contractor and consultant performance, reviewing technical deliverables, verifying completed outputs, and documenting implementation progress. • Support the implementation of environmental and social safeguards, ensuring compliance with UN-Habitat policies, national regulations, and project requirements. • Assist in documenting lessons learned, good practices, implementation challenges, and innovative approaches arising from project implementation to support organizational learning. • Support the preparation and delivery of technical training sessions, community awareness activities, and capacity-building initiatives for county government officials, implementing partners, local communities, and other project stakeholders. • Assist in preparing technical maps, engineering drawings, data visualizations, dashboards, and analytical summaries to support project implementation, monitoring, and reporting. • Maintain accurate technical documentation, engineering records, project files, monitoring records, and implementation evidence in accordance with UN-Habitat standards. • Support coordination with other UN agencies, government institutions, development partners, and local stakeholders during joint field missions and implementation activities. • Contribute technical inputs to project planning, annual work plans, and reporting processes based on implementation experience and field observations. • Contributes to the collection and analysis of data and identification of trends or patterns and provides draft insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Documents requirements and background information used for data analysis. • Perform any other related duties as assigned to support the effective implementation of project activities.

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and understanding of sustainable development theories, concepts and approaches. Ability to identify and develop sources for data collection. Ability to undertake research, analyze data, make recommendations and write draft reports on sustainable development issues. Able 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. 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. 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.

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in sustainable development, civil engineering, or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional 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.

Certification/ training on green infrastructure and sustainable construction is desirable. Certification/ training on inclusive infrastructure frameworks for informal settlements and refugee settlements is desirable.

A minimum of two (2) years of progressive work experience in providing strategic engineering support to research and data analysis, knowledge management or project/programme management in the context of development cooperation or related area is required. Experience in Multidisciplinary Engineering Infrastructure projects, including road works, building works, water supply, wastewater systems, drainage, and telecommunications infrastructure, is required. Experience working in refugee and host community settings, including hardship duty stations such as Kakuma, Kalobeyei, Dadaab, or similar humanitarian and development contexts, is desirable. Experience within the United Nations System or similar organization is desirable. One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Either Kiswahili

or

Swahili is required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult

https://languages.un.org

for details).

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Required Languages

Language

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

English

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

Kiswahili

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

Swahili

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

The appointment against this position is limited to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. This post is Fixed Term - Limited Duration position. Appointment against this post is for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension. THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO NATIONALS OF KENYA ONLY. National Professional Officer category shall be of the nationality of the country where this position is located and will be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of the office. If no suitable local candidate is identified, Kenyan nationals residing elsewhere may be considered, in which case the candidate would be responsible for any costs related to traveling and relocating to Kenya in the event of an employment offer. External candidate selected for this position will be granted a fixed-term appointment limited ("FTA-limited") in accordance with section 2.2 (b) of administrative instruction ST/AI/2013/1 on Administration of fixed-term appointments. Renewal of appointment is contingent upon continued existence of mandate and availability of funding. If this position is discontinued, the incumbent will be separated from service. United Nations Secretariat staff members who meet the definition of "internal candidate" in staff rule 4.10 who are selected for this position subject to limitation will retain their current appointment status and will be reassigned or transferred to the position, without a lien to their parent position. This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. All staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. When completing the 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. 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. 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. 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 "Contact Us" link.

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. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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