Program Officer (Urban Planner/Architect)

ORGANIZATIONAL: UN-HABITAT

DUTY STATION: Garowe with frequent travel to other project locations

FUNCTIONAL TITLE: Program Officer (Urban Planner/Architect)

CONTRACT LEVEL: SB 5

DURATION: One year, renewable subject to performance and fund availability

CLOSING DATE: 10/06/2022

BACKGROUND

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the agency for human settlements. 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. UN-Habitat helps the urban poor by transforming cities into safer, healthier, greener places with better opportunities where everyone can live in with dignity. It works with organizations at every level, including all spheres of government, civil society and the private sector to help build, manage, plan and finance sustainable urban development. The post is located within the Somalia Programme, Regional Office for Africa (ROAF).

The UN Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery in Somalia (UN JPLG) is a joint programme comprising of ILO, UNCDF, UNDP, UN-HABITAT and UNICEF. The Programme’s overall goal is “creating an enabling environment for improved service delivery and greater stability, through improved legal, policy and system frameworks – building the knowledge of those working in and with local governments.” JPLG commenced in April 2008 and has now entered its third phase (2018-2023).

The overall objective of JPLG is to promote improvements in local governance quality that can contribute to peace consolidation, development and equitable service delivery. The programme outcomes are structured around three mutually reinforcing strategies:

1. Supporting policy and legislative reforms for functional, fiscal and administrative decentralization that clarify and enhance the role of local government, its relationship to central government, and to improve local service delivery,
2. Improving local government capacity for equitable service delivery,
3. Improving and expanding the delivery of sustainable services to citizens in an equitable, responsive and socially accountable manner and promoting local economic environment.

Urban areas in Somalia are growing rapidly and a large part of this growth is through informal developments as migrants and movement from rural to urban areas are contributing to this growth. Comprehensive urban development plans are either not existent or poorly designed and implemented. Numerous informal settlements, urban sprawl, inefficient land use is collectively impacting the access to basic urban services and service delivery. Therefore, the role of urban planning in guiding sustainable development of urban areas in Somalia, at all levels, is gaining more significance.

Besides insecurities in land tenure, there are also overlapping claims on land (both in urban and rural areas) which leads to clashes, sometime violent, between the different claimants of land. Improved and streamlined urban planning capacity in district can address the problem of land development and

administration. Supporting the preparation of urban development strategy and plans indicating directions for the future urban expansion and investment in basic services and infrastructure, land development, planning regulatory standards, are crucial benefits for the district, state and federal level of governance in Somalia.

To this end, the urban planner/architect will help enhance an essential capacity of districts, ministries and other relevant government counterparts to deal with urbanization-related problems through an inclusive participatory planning process and sustainable capacity development packages.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Assistance to Urban Planning Activities

• Under the overall guidance of the Program Manager and more closely from the international urban planner, the incumbent will carry out all aspects of urban planning activities within the framework of JPLG particularly in Puntland and generally in all Federal Members States of Somalia.
• Assist review, updating, translation and implementation of Urban Regulatory Frameworks in all project locations.
• Assist in implementation of city extension plans by offering effective coordination with all local stakeholders and maintaining shared understanding at all levels.
• Support and provide technical assistance in development, translation and dissemination of Urban Land Management Law in all targeted areas.
• Assist in all technical drawings and designs for program specific needs using relevant software applications such as computer-aided design (CAD).
• Conduct surveys on land, buildings and public spaces, analyze its current use and make recommendations for their future development.
• Facilitate and organize all trainings related to urban regulatory framework such as building permit, city extension plans, land use planning, road network planning, GIS and urban resilience.
• Provide technical support in spatial and socio-economic data compilation for urban planning, city extension, land adjustment and knowledge management purposes.
• As part of city extension plans, provide technical support to government counterparts in preparing physical layout plans for residential, commercial, institutional, recreational, industrial areas and tourism development plans.
• Drafts and presents graphic and narrative plans affecting the use of public and private land, housing and transport facilities.
• Support the government in developing urbanization policies, taking into account the local economy, green infrastructure, renewable energy, climate change, and the historic environment.
• Closely work with government counterparts mandated for urban planning related work at all levels to strengthen urban planning functions by providing support in town planning, city mapping and developing district profiles.
• Through regular consultations and follow-up with local partners, ensure UN-Habitat interventions are contributing to transformative actions and producing desired outcomes.
• Advise the international urban planner and the Program Manager about changes in the project target areas that may impact on the implementation of urban planning component of the program.
• Closely work with government counterparts and ensure that activities are implemented in a sequential manner to maximize impact.

1. Support to Capacity Development related activities

• Support coordination with national and local counterparts, in the capacity building and operational support in the fields of urban planning, urban regulatory framework and on-the-job training.
• Promote strong local ownership of activities and outputs of the urban planning component,
• Provide substantive support for preparation of training materials and inputs for all urban planning related interventions.
• Evaluate the effect of various capacity development related activities on urban planning and suggest proposals for further improvements.
• Supervise, monitor and evaluate the work of staff deployed to supporting the implementation of activities across the partner institutions.

III.  General Programme Management Support

• Liaise with JPLG teams on the ground to ensure full and timely delivery of work plan activities.
• Assist in timely programme and financial reporting on all interventions supported by the program.
• Provide inputs to the formulation of project proposals, concept notes quarterly and annual reports,
• Backstop the preparation and implementation of Annual Work Plans, Terms of Reference for staff and implementing partners, and organization of seminars/workshops,
• Contribute to the monitoring and evaluation of UN- Habitat urban planning and land governance in all project locations with regard to effectiveness and impact of the sad interventions.
• Any other related tasks as assigned by the international urban planner and the Program Manager.

COMPETENCIES

• Professionalism:
• Able to demonstrate professional competence and mastery in the field of urban management, architectural engineering, urban upgrading, urban planning and management.
• Knowledge of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to urban management and urban upgrading. Ability to assess political trends, the attitudes of target audiences, local conditions and developments.
• Acquaintance of the UN system, organization and inter-agency relationships. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to assist with data collection using various methods.
• Have conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, familiar with various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases,
• Demonstrate a sense of pride in work and accomplishments; shows professional competence and mastery of subject matter and able to meet the dateline by closely observing internal and external factors that might affect the completions of plans.
• Ensure inclusivity during the implementation of consultation and other activities and also ensuring the equal participation for all ages and gender as well.
• Has sufficient knowledge about UN Habitat as well as its principles and values such as the five planning principles and the three-legged approach and familiar with the New Urban Agenda and the SDGs, in particular SDG 11.
• Communication:
• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately,
• Can adjust communication style to various situations, for example presentation, planning discussion, inter-ministerial working group,
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Teamwork:
  • Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals,
  • Willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda,

• Supports and acts in accordance with decisions, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position,
• Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• 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 time contingencies; adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently,
• Report in time when challenges occur that hamper accomplishment of assigned tasks; foreseeing risks and allowing for contingencies when preparing work plans and project timelines,
• Maintain a close collaboration to project partners (service-oriented) and UN-Habitat.

Education

Education: Advanced university degree (MSc degree) in architecture, urban management and planning, land use management or engineering relevant to urban management, urban upgrading or urban/regional planning.

Work Experience

A minimum of 5 years of professional experience with a proven professional record in working in the field of urban management, housing, urban planning and design and urban upgrading, preferably with experience in urban management and interventions and working with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders.

Language

Strong written and oral skills in both Somali and English are a requirement.

Other skills

Knowledge of basic computer programmes such as Word, spread sheet, email and internet search functions is essential. The same is for presentation skills and experience in moderation and mediation. Profound GIS applications and AutoCAD knowledge is essential.

Gender

Job applications from qualified women will be highly welcomed.

Eligibility

Internal candidates with required qualification and experience are highly encouraged to apply.

• Cover memo (maximum 1 page)
• CV
• Supporting documents indicating higher learning institution degrees

All applications should be submitted to: [email protected]

Deadline for applications: 10/06/2022

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NAGUSOO BIIR ---  SOMALI JOBS

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