Job: PROGRAMME OFFICER (Land & Natural Resources Tenure) - Project, P3

Department/ Office: United Nations Human Settlements Programme

Duty Station: NAIROBI

Posting Period: 12 September 2013-12 October 2013

Job Opening number: 13-PGM-UNHABITAT-30540-R-NAIROBI (E)

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Organizational Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT, is the focal point for human settlements in the United Nations. It 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. This post is located in Nairobi duty station under Urban Legislation, Land and Governance Branch of UN-Habitat.

Responsibilities

Under the general supervision of the Leader, Land and GLTN Unit and in close collaboration with implementing partners at global, regional and country levels, the incumbent will perform the following:

• Provide substantive support in the implementation of assigned projects and initiatives towards strengthening and scaling-up policies, tools and approaches for securing land and natural resources tenure;
• Support the effective and timely execution of the assigned projects and activities;
• Identify appropriate tools, approaches and capacity development initiatives suitable for project implementation and for possible adoption and application at country level and coordinate and support its piloting and implementation;
• Increase the knowledge base on land and natural resources tenure security by initiating and disseminating action research activities, policy dialogues, learning exchanges and multi-stakeholder meetings;
• Support the documentation, reporting and dissemination of lessons learned, experiences and opportunities for growth and scaling up of field or country level projects and interventions related to improving land and natural resources tenure security;
• Liaise with IFAD, other UN-Habitat units, other GLTN partners (i.e. ILC, FAO, LPI) and regional and country level partners towards a more effective and partnership-driven approach to improve tenure security of the poor and vulnerable groups;
• Provide substantive backstopping and support to project-related missions, meetings and conferences including on learning and capacity development initiatives;
• Perform other related duties as may be assigned.

Competencies

Professionalism:

• Knowledge of concepts and approaches relevant to the land and natural resources tenure rights and ability to conduct independent analysis, identifying issues, formulating options and making conclusions and recommendations;

Communication:

• Excellent written, verbal and visual communication skills and ability to articulate ideas in a clear and accurate manner including the ability to prepare and edit a variety of documents, reports and briefs;

Planning and organizing:

• Ability to work under pressure, establish priorities and plan, coordinate own work plan, use time efficiently and apply judgment in the context of competing deadlines;

Client Orientation:

• Considers all those to whom services are provided to be 'clients' and seeks to see Things from clients' point of view, establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect, identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions, monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems, keeps a client informed of progress or setbacks in projects and meets timeline for delivery of product or services to client.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in a field deemed relevant to the subject areas covered by the terms of reference such as land and natural resources management, land tenure and land administration, programme coordination and management, knowledge management and communications and other relevant fields.
• A first level university degree in combination of two years of professional and academic qualifications may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five years of experience in land and natural management and tenure security in developing world is required.
• Experience in programme management and coordination, knowledge management, tool and capacity development and partnership building is preferable.
• Experience in the work of the UN system in the area of land and natural resources tenure in Africa is desirable.
• Qualifying years of experience are calculated following the receipt of the first level university degree recognized by the United Nations.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. Proficiency in written and spoken English is required. However, proficiency in French is an advantage.

Assessment Method

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

Special Notice

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. This is a project post and is funded for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension.

1. 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.

2. 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 'Need Help?' link.

United Nations Considerations

The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.

More Info and Application