Hub Coordinator / Area Urban Planner

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.

Mandated by the UN General Assembly in 1978 to address the issues of urban growth, UN-Habitat is a knowledge institution on urban development processes and understands the aspirations of cities and their residents. For forty years, UN-Habitat has been working in human settlements throughout the world, focusing on building a brighter future for villages, towns, and cities of all sizes. Because of these four decades of extensive experience, from the highest levels of policy to a range of specific technical issues, UN-Habitat has gained unique and universally acknowledged expertise in all things urban. This has placed UN-Habitat in the best position to develop achievable solutions to the current challenges faced by our cities. UN-Habitat is capitalizing on its experience and position to work with partners to formulate urban visions of tomorrow. It strives to ensure that cities become affordable living spaces of inclusive economic growth and social development for all citizens.

Since 2015, UN-Habitat Syria Programme has worked closely with Syrian cities and communities to develop an urban resilience and recovery approach. UN-Habitat supports local authorities and communities (1) to collect better urban data to reach a common understanding on urban recovery needs; (2) to jointly identify neighborhood and municipal area response priorities – from humanitarian, to resilience, to recovery; and (3) to design and implement housing, infrastructure and basic services, urban environment, and urban cultural heritage projects that directly respond to these local priorities.

UN-Habitat Syria currently has offices in Damascus, Homs and Aleppo and plans to open an office in Deir Azzor, The UN-Habitat Syria programme operationalizes projects across Syria.

The UN-Habitat Area Urban Planner / Hub Coordinator is responsible to represent UN-Habitat at the Hub level, coordinate the delivery of UN-Habitat programming, and to provide urban planning advisory services to UN-Habitat’s area partners.  The UN-Habitat Area Urban Planner / Hub Coordinator is part of UN-Habitat Syria Programme Country Management Team.

The Hub Coordinator and Area Urban Planner is expected to perform the following tasks and responsibilities:

UN-Habitat Hub Coordination:

• Organizational representation of UN-Habitat at the UN Hub;
• Inter – agency coordination on behalf of UN-Habitat at the UN Hub;
• Manage UN-Habitat staff at the Hub as per UN-Habitat and UN Hub requirements and regulations;
• Manage and safeguard UN-Habitat and UN Hub tangible and intangible assets;
• Collaborate effectively with other organizations in regards of use of resources, common field missions, and joint assessments / interaction with local stakeholders;
• Responsible for delegated authority and compliance with UNSMS, UNDSS, and all UN Hub and UN-Habitat administrative and security procedures.

Prepare Area annual workplans for UN-Habitat:

• Understand the UN-Habitat program plan at the National, Governorate, and city level;
• Update context analysis and stakeholder mapping at the Governorate and city levels;
• Develop workplan for different operational frameworks (HRP, SF, others) with resource requirements;
• Develop a stakeholder engagement plan;
• Contribute to UN-Habitat, UN, and Government reporting requirements on UN-Habitat activities in the area of operations.

Support the development of local planning and technical assistance programs for the Area:

• Support the development and implementation of the MTOS program and other technical assistance programmes in the area of operations;
• Coordinate with municipality, technical service directorates, and Governorate office to asses needs, develop capacity building and technical assistance programmes, and to deliver the necessary assistance;
• Organize workshops and assessments in the area of operations as required.

Support the development of projects for the Area, funded through Joint Programme and bilateral funding and other sources:

• Support the detailed assessments, design, implementation and monitoring plans for planned projects in the area of operations;
• In close collaboration with UN-Habitat Damascus Office participate in relevant procurement, tendering and recruitment processes;
• Coordinate area-specific joint project development with partner UN agencies.

Joint Programme Management on behalf of UN-Habitat :

• Represent UN-Habitat as convener of JP TWG meeting and -events;
• In close collaboration with JP IT support keep track, systemize and manage JP planning documents relevant for technical advice to TWG and JO agencies;
• Ensure systematic and efficient operationalization o JPs during inception phase.

Support to the UN-Habitat Syria Country Programme, as a member of the Country Management Team the position is expected to be able to support all areas of UN-Habitat Syria Country Programme as needed.

Represent the UN-Habitat Syria Focal Point between planning consultants, Heads of Programme Support- and Project Implementation Units to ensure effective operationalization of programs and grant requirements through projects, in alignment with MTOS based municipality action plans.

Supervision:

The vacancy is full time and located in the UN-Habitat Hub of Damascus. The Hub Coordinator and Area Urban Planner will report to and work under the direct supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor / Head of Syria Operation, in close collaboration with the Human Settlements Officers for Program and Projects.

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect of Diversity.

Competencies:

Integrity:

• Demonstrates the values of the United Nations in daily activities and behaviours; acts without consideration of personal gain; resists undue political pressure in decision-making; does not abuse power or authority; stands by decisions that are in the Organization’s interest, even if they are unpopular; takes prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour.

Professionalism:

• 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.

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; 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.

Leadership:

• Serves as a role model that other people want to follow; empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands.

Education:

• Master’s degree in urban planning, architecture, or engineering.

• First level university degree in urban planning, architecture, or engineering combined with 7 years of experience may be considered in lieu of advanced university degree.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of experience for master’s degree in (1) Program implementation in urban and or regional planning in Syria in the public or private sector; (2) Housing, infrastructure-and basic service-related program/project design, coordination, and/or implementation; or 7 years of experience for bachelor’s degree.

• Proven experience working with UN, NGOs, Private Sector, Municipalities and/or Governorate offices in an urban or regional planning capacity in Syria will be an asset;

• Solid understanding of issues concerning housing and sustainable urban development, with a focus on participatory processes and cross-cutting issues (human rights, gender, youth, climate change).

Language:

• Fluency in English as well as Arabic (both oral and written) is required.

Other skills:

• Technical report writing skill and a high-level of computer literacy. Proficient in website and internet applications, database management, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).Manifest personal organization-, interpersonal- and communication skills.

Submission of applications:

• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for further interviews.

Candidate must provide a motivation letter in their P-11 that clearly explains their expertise in sustainable urban issues in Syria.

Important applicant information

All posts in the GS categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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