Urban Planner/Resilience Analyst (NPSA8)

Kathmandu

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: Kathmandu
Grade: Junior level - NPSA-8, National Personnel Services Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Environment
- Infrastructure and Urban-Rural development
- Disaster Management (Preparedness, Resilience, Response and Recovery)
- Urban Development, planning and design
- Natural Resource Management
Closing Date: Closed

Background

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

UNDP has been present in Nepal since 1963, working towards greater development impact in the most remote, poor, and vulnerable areas. Reduction of vulnerability to disaster and climate risks is one of the core programmatic approaches in promoting sustainable and resilient development. Over the years, UNDP has established itself as the Government of Nepal's key partner on disaster risk management, in the areas of policy and institutional capacity enhancement as well as community-level risk reduction.

A.) Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Programme (CDRMP) has been formulated as part of the Strategic Partnership Framework signed between the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR) and UNDP, and in accordance with the Nepal Risk Reduction Consortium. It aims to strengthen the institutional and legislative aspects of disaster risk management in Nepal by building the capacities of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), Ministry of Home Affairs, other ministries, provincial governments and local governments. The programme’s intervention in DRR legal and policy aspects, Building Code, Risk Sensitive Land Use Plan, safer construction practices, climate risk management, disaster information management system, community-based disaster risk management, and emergency preparedness, response and recovery aims to strengthen the overall system of disaster risk management and resilience building in Nepal. In addition, CDRMP has been providing support to federal, provincial and local governments for developing long term DRRM policies and action plans, building urban resilience and strengthening disaster preparedness considering the multi-hazard risks that Nepal is exposed to.

B.) The main objective of this position is to support the CDRMP in planning, implementing, monitoring and reporting on the initiatives related to building code, risk sensitive land use planning, risk informed urban development and urban resilience. The selected personnel will be responsible for providing required inputs in CDRMP’s overall work framework.

Duties and Responsibilities

The individual will directly work under the supervision of the Officer-in-charge, CDRMP with the overall guidance of Policy Advisor for Resilience and Disaster Preparedness. The individual will have to collaborate and coordinate with Portfolio Manager for Environment and Resilience and other personnel as required. The individual will also have to maintain regular coordination with the national, provincial and local governments. He/she should bear responsibility for monitoring and review of tasks under the scope of works for their successful completion and implementation.

Develop and maintain effective relations including with the partners and counterparts of the Building Codes Compliance and Risk Sensitive Land Use Planning (BC & RSLUP) and safer housing activities of CDRMP:

In close coordination with the CDRMP’s Officer-in-charge (OIC), contribute to the development of appropriate working relations with national stakeholders to advance buy-in and national ownership of relevant aspects of the CDRMP: with focus on BC, RSLUP, urban development and safer housing activities
Provide support for planning, management and quality delivery of outputs and activities related to Building Codes Compliance and Risk Sensitive Land Use Planning (BC & RSLUP) and urban development in a timely, efficient and dynamic manner
Assist CDRMP in representing the team in all relevant technical meetings in UNDP Country Office, at national and province levels
Ensure all activities are being planned, implemented and monitored in close coordination with key national counterparts: MOUD, MOFAGA, NDRRMA and respective provincial as well as municipal governments/agencies where applicable. Prepare project concept papers as and when required and other such documents

Carry out the monitoring and evaluation, planning and reporting responsibilities related to BC & RSLUP activities and urban preparedness:

Support/work with CDRMP’s OIC to ensure quality assurance and M&E aspects of BC & RSLUP activities, urban development and preparedness are well captured.
Contribute to timely preparation of required quality reports
Work with CDRMP staff responsible for operation and management of project on strengthening urban preparedness, earthquake preparedness and response (SUPER) in western regions of Nepal and assist on urban resilience related issues
Assist to prepare detail work plans, action plans, calendar of events, M&E framework and plan, risk, issue and lessons learned in consultation with the implementing partners and stakeholders

Provide support for preparing urban resilience policy for two urban municipalities and other activities under UNDP’s joint programme on environment and climate.

Provide inputs in project design including concept notes and project proposal related to BC & RSLUP, risk informed urban development, urban resilience policy, green recovery and safer housing and retrofitting in consultation with UNDP’s Policy Advisor, Portfolio Manager and CDRMP’s Officer-in-charge.

Ensure timely mobilization and utilization of CDRMP subcontracts, training and equipment, consultancy inputs to the BC & RSLUP, urban resilience and safer housing activities.

Assist to develop and maintain effective relations including with the partners and counterparts of the BC & RSLUP, urban resilience and safer housing practices.

Ensure key considerations of gender, disability and social inclusion are effectively included in all the activities.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business direction and strategy

Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions
Effective Decision Making: Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources

Business management

Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
Integration within: The UN Ability to identity, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work; knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations

Business development

Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results
Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

Risk informed urban development

Urban Resilience and Climate Change: Ability to develop effective plan of action aligned with UNDP’s agenda and government’s climate change and adaptation priorities

Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery

Disaster Risk Management and Reconstruction: Ability to develop plans and strategies for disaster preparedness, response, recovery and reconstruction

Gender

Climate Change and Risk Management of Disasters with a Gender Perspective

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s or Bacehlor’s degree in Urban Planning, Regional/Land Use Planning, Natural Resources Management or any related field

Experience:

Master’s degree with zero years or Bachelor’s degree with two years of relevant experience in the field of urban development; policy, act and regulation formulation and processes; safer building construction; multi-stakeholders and comprehensive development programmes with national and international agencies
Knowledge of urban resilience, disaster risk reduction and safer construction practices in Nepal
Knowledge in writing technical papers and concept notes on risk informed development and urban resilience related topics
Good knowledge in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.)
Candidates from PGI and PGII will be given preference as per the Diversity policy
Strong knowledge of urban planning and disaster risk management and a good experience with national and international agencies
Skills on preparing quality reports and other knowledge products

Language Requirements:

Excellent command on spoken and written English. Knowledge of Nepali language is required

Note: This position is open for Nepal nationals only

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

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.

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This vacancy is now closed.
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