1. Senior Technical Adviser, Senior Programme Officer, Human Settlements, Nairobi, Kenya City: Nairobi Office: UN-Habitat Nairobi Grade:
1. Senior Technical Adviser, Senior Programme Officer, Human Settlements, Nairobi, Kenya
City: Nairobi
Office: UN-Habitat Nairobi
Grade: P-5
Deadline: 13th September, 2025
Organizational Setting and Reporting
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.
Responsibilities
- Takes the lead to develop, implement and evaluate assigned programmes/projects; directs subordinates in programme/project development, implementation, monitoring and assessment; directs review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and initiates follow-up actions.
- Ensures implementation of gender mainstreaming guidelines by assessing the implications for men and women of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in all areas and at all levels.
- Coordinates policy development; reviews the assessments of issues and trends, preparation of evaluation or research activities and studies.
- Provides technical advice on National Urban Policies, governance and related, by undertaking policy analysis, developing tools and guides, responding to country demand for advisory services and developing project proposals.
- Directs substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations.
- Manages outreach activities; designs and conducts training workshops, seminars, makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
- Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries.
- Provides technical support on resource mobilization (preparation of concept notes and project proposals), budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements) and ensures preparation of related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget).
- Serves as an effective spokesperson and establishes collaboration and partnership with key officials at all levels inside and outside the organization.
- Ensures effective utilization, supervision and development of staff; Guides, evaluates and mentors staff.
- Leads team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need.
- May perform other duties as required.
Competencies
I. PROFESSIONALISM:
- Knowledge of theories, concepts and approaches related to National Urban policies and their implementation.
- Ability to identify key urban and human settlements strategic issues, opportunities and risks. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction.
- Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment.
- The ability 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.
II. 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.
III. ACCOUNTABILITY:
- Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments;
- delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards;
- operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments;
- takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
IV. 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 improvements;
- does not accept the status quo;
- shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work;
- demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
V. JUDGEMENT/DECISION-MAKING:
- Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly;
- gathers relevant information before making a decision;
- considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them;
- takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization;
- proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information;
- checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision;
- makes tough decisions when necessary.Food safety certification
Education
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, public/business administration, policy, law, urban/regional planning, urbanism, civil engineering, sustainable urban development 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.
Work Experience
- A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in the field of urban policy, urban and territorial development, urban basic services and infrastructure, housing, land management, urban transport or any other field that is relevant for sustainable urban development or related area is required.
- Experience of at least five (5) years within the ministry of a national government responsible for human settlements and urban issues is required.
- Experience in substantive servicing of expert group meetings or commissions or intergovernmental bodies at the regional or global level is desirable.
- Experience in organizing workshops/missions and developing relations with governments and international partners is desirable.
- Experience in government, parliament or international organizations is desirable.
- Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.
- Food safety certification United Nations-approved training program
2. Programme Management Assistant, Nairobi, Kenya
Organization training
Country: Kenya
City: Nairobi
Office: UN-Habitat Nairobi
Grade: G-6
Responsibilities
- Provides assistance in support of planning and implementation activities/processes for, typically, a large and highly complex component of the departmental programme/project initiatives.
- Researches/compiles data and other information required by the Programme Management Officer(s) in the review and analysis of relevant budget proposals;
- Consolidates data and provides support to Programme Management Officer(s) with respect to budget and expenditures review relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies and donors.
- Researches, compiles, analyses, summarizes, and presents basic information/data on specific programmes/project and related topics.
- Assists in the coordination of programme/project planning and preparation; monitors status of programme/project proposals; takes necessary action to ensure project documents are completed and submitted to relevant parties for approval.
- Supports the Programme Management Officer(s) extracting information and generating expenditures, donor income, and other relevant grants/project reports from computerized information system databases such as Umoja.
- Assists in the preparation and analysis of programme/project budget proposals; provides assistance in the interpretation of budget guidelines; reviews and coordinates submissions of programme proposals and budget estimates, ensuring that requisite information is included and justified in terms of proposed activities; propose adjustments as necessary; prepares reports and ensures that outputs/services are properly categorized.
- Assists in the monitoring and evaluation of programmes/projects;
- categorizes, updates, tracks and analyses data related to programmes/projects, e.g. accounting records, outputs, resources utilized, deviations/revisions;
- carries out periodic status reviews, identifies issues and initiates requisite follow-up actions;
- prepares revised budget estimates;
- reports on budget revisions, expenditures and obligations, verifies availability of funds;
- ensures necessary approval and entry in computerized budget system; initiates financial authorizations for expenditures.
- Collaborates with programme/project managers on performance reporting;
- liaises with relevant parties on the interpretation of the activities/services scheduled in the PB and various planning instruments such as the medium-term plan and internal work plans;
- provides assistance on reporting requirements, guidelines, rules and procedures and ensures completeness and accuracy of data submitted.
- Drafts programme/project summaries, coordinates review and clearance process, and coordinates with editor, translation services, etc. on finalization and publication of report multiple languages.
- Serves as focal point for coordination, monitoring and expedition of programme/project implementation activities, involving extensive liaison with a diverse organisational units to initiate requests, prepare standard terms of reference against programme/project objectives, obtain necessary clearances, process and follow-up on administrative actions and resolve issues related to project implementation, e.g. recruitment and appointment of personnel, travel arrangements, organisation of and participation in training/study tours, authorization of payments, disbursement of funds, procurement of equipment and services.
- Assists the Programme Management Officer(s) in the issuance of Grant budget/allotment.
- Prepares, maintains and updates files (electronic and paper) and internal databases;
- designs and generates a variety of periodic and ad hoc reports, statistical tables, graphic content, and other background materials/notes to facilitate inspection and other reviews.
- Drafts correspondence and communications related to all aspects of programme/project administration, including work plan and budgets, revisions and other related issues, as well as prepares unit contributions for a variety of periodic reports.
- Initiates, processes, monitors, reviews and follows-up on actions related to the administration of the unit’s human resource activities, e.g., recruitment, placement, relocation, promotion, performance appraisal, job classification reviews, separation, training, ensuring consistency in the application of regulations and procedures.
- Provides guidance and training to new/junior staff.
- Assists with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making.
- Assists with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Competencies
I. PROFESSIONALISM:
- Knowledge of financial rules, regulations, and budgetary processes.
- Ability to perform a broad range of administrative functions, e.g., budget/work programme, human resources, database management.
- Ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial and human resources rules and regulations in work situations.
- The ability to perform analysis, modeling and interpretation of data in support of decision-making.
- 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; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.
II. 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 short comings.
III. PLANNING AND 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.
Education
High school diploma or equivalent is required.
Work Experience
- A minimum of seven (7) years of experience in programme or project administration, technical cooperation or related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to five (5) years for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher.
- Experience in project management administration within the United Nations common system or similar international organizations is desirable.
- Experience in using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, preferably Systems Applications and Products (SAP) is desirable.
- One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable. International relations educational programs United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization training
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