Programme Specialist - Head of Pemba SubOffice-UNHABITAT-(Nationals Only)

This position is open to Mozambique  Nationals Only 

BACKGROUND

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. The current portfolio of UN-Habitat activities in Africa is expanding and there is urgent need for strengthening the capacity at country level as part of Regional Office for Africa (ROAf).

In Mozambique, the UN Habitat Country Programme has expanded rapidly since 2020, in particular because of the development of a large portfolio responding to the cyclones Idai and Kenneth which hit Mozambique in 2019 causing dramatic death toll, destruction and loss in the country’s central and northern regions. The UN Habitat Country Programme has continued to expand as Mozambique confronts additional crises. Since 2017, the Province of Cabo Delgado has experienced an armed conflict which, in the last three years, has increased in intensity and has brought instability and a sense of general insecurity to the whole Mozambique’s Northern region. While the conflict started in the north of Cabo Delgado it has now expanded to the south of the province and threatens the neighbouring provinces of Nampula and Niassa. 

The conflict in Cabo Delgado Province resulted in large scale displacement of people, affecting the human geography of the entire Northern Region of Mozambique (including Nampula and Niassa Provinces). Today, estimates indicate that more than one million people have been displaced looking for safe spaces where to (re)settle and recover. Cities, such as Pemba, and several smaller towns have seen their population almost doubled, and new villages and towns are emerging due to this massive displacement of people. This situation led to an exponential increase in needs for access to basic services and infrastructure, housing, livelihoods and employment opportunities.

To respond to the crisis in Northern Mozambique, UN-Habitat in Mozambique has opened an office in Pemba in 2021 and has developed the Northern Mozambique Umbrella Programme which contains the concepts for a series of projects to respond to the existing crisis. As both the regional programme expands and the number of staff increases, UN Habitat is looking for a Head of the Northen Sub-Office, who would lead the implementation of the Country Programme in the Region. 

Position Purpose: 

The Head of the Northen Sub-Office will support the implementation of the UN-Habitat portfolio in the Northern Region of Mozambique, which includes the provinces of Cabo Delgado, Nampula and Niassa. Under the overall supervision of the Head of the UN Habitat Mozambique Country Office, the Head of the Northen Sub-Office will enhance the project portfolio delivery in Northern Mozambique by managing the local office, coordinating and supporting the local team, strengthening technical capacities, and ensuring quality of project activities in alignment with the UN-Habitat mandate and Country Programme.  

UN-Habitat adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of interconnected nature of development risks & crises that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response. Therefore, UN-Habitat personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSABILITIES

1. Programme development, management and resource mobilization:

• Provide leadership and support in the implementation of the Mozambique HCPD in Northern Mozambique, and the smooth implementation of on-going projects and activities and, when necessary, at country level. 
• Provide high-level technical oversight for on-going projects in the fields of infrastructure resilience, durable solutions, housing development and sustainable urbanization as well as associated fields.
• Identify programme and project opportunities and actively support resource mobilization efforts and project development. 
• Ensure local project operations, including the application of proper administrative processes.
• Coordinate with the UN local security system and ensure compliance with security standards, including other UN local coordination and planning structure.

2.) Coordination with national and local authorities and stakeholders

• In coordination with the Country Office Management, acts as Liaison Officer for the Northern Mozambique Government and coordinates with Government officials on UN-Habitat on-going and planned activities by promoting, advocating and raising awareness on the New Urban Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goal n. 11, the Mozambique Habitat Country Programme Document and UN-Habitat Strategic Plan 2020-2025. 
• Support national and local authorities and other national/local stakeholders in participating and/or holding national and international events taking place in Northern Mozambique related to UN-Habitat's mandate and work, e.g. Urban Forums, Urban October, the World Urban Forum, the Habitat Assembly, among others. 
• Promote communications and advocacy around UN-Habitat’s mandate and foster partnerships that support the development and effectiveness of UN-Habitat’s operations.
• Ensure capacity-building opportunities in fields related to urban development and policies, infrastructure resilience, and housing development for government officials and other relevant stakeholders are pursued within and beyond the scope of ongoing projects. 

3.) Northern Office Team management 

• Supervise, manage and monitor UN-Habitat team members working in Northern Mozambique in coordination with the Head of Office and Management Team for UN-Habitat Mozambique in Mozambique.
• Support recruitment and procurement processes to ensure the programme within the central region holds the necessary resources for the implementation of its projects. 
• Ensure the implementation of UN-Habitat Policy and Plan for Inclusion, Gender Equality and Empowerment, through providing support and advice to PMs and local staff.
• Ensure the implementation of UN-Habitat Policy regarding social and environmental safeguards through providing support and advice to the PMs and local staff.

4.) Knowledge management and reporting efforts 

• Promote knowledge management through good practices and supports reporting to donors, UN System and Government. 
• Ensure local projects monitoring and learning across the Northern programmme as a basis for technical development, increased effectiveness and innovation. 
• Ensure collection and analysis of data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. 
• Ensure effective reporting across the Northern Programme to respond to UN-Habitat’s, the UN systems and the Government of Mozambique’s information needs. 
• Promote local dissemination of information on available UN-Habitat activities and tools with local government and partners. 

5.) The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

  Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: This Officer will be supervising a growing team of 15-20              people.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management 

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-functional & Technical competencies

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in urban planning, architecture, engineering, disaster risk management, urban sociology or a related field with five years’ experience.

OR

• A first-level university degree in combination with seven additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree is required.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience on urbanization, human settlements development and climate resilience issues is required. Or a minimum of 7 years professional experience in a relevant field of work with Bachelor’s Degree
• Experience in climate resilient infrastructure with recent direct experience in the formulation and implementation of relevant programmes and projects is required. 
• Experience in managing projects and teams in international humanitarian response to natural disasters and/or complex emergencies is required. 
• Experience in fund-raising and resources mobilization, especially in a UN environment is required. 
• Experience in building partnerships and alliances for the implementation of joint strategies and programmes is desirable. 
• Working experience for an international organization in Africa and/or Mozambique is desirable. 
• Essential knowledge and skills required for entry into position. 
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to analyze and interpret information and draw out key results.
• Networking and relationships management 
• Knowledge of common business principals and processes and the ability to quickly assimilate UN/UN-Habitat specific processes and systems 

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in both Portuguese and English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Applicant information about UNHABITAT rosters

UNHABITAT 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 UNHABITAT at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience, and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNHABITAT has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 

UNHABITAT is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin, or other status.

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