Afghanistan: Technical Advisor / Programme Manager for AUPP, (Kabul, Afghanistan),Deadline:23 September 2015

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VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTIssued on:******3 September 2015

ORGANIZATION:****UN-H****abitat

DUTY STATION:****Kabul,****Afghanistan, travel to provinces required

FUNCTIONAL TITLE:Technical Advisor / Programme Manager for AUPP

GRADE:****I-ICA(P3 Equivalent)

POST DURATION12 months upon initial appointment up to 3 years

CLOSING DATE:****23 September 2015

UN-HABITAT AFGHANISTAN:

UN-Habitat has been involved in a range of activities across Afghanistan over more than two decades, through periods of relative calm and intense conflict. A national resettlement programme initiated in 1990 evolved into an Urban Reconstruction Programme in 1994, in the context of which community-based approaches to recovery were explored, including the formation of Community Forums. Assimilated into a national multi-agency PEACE Initiative during the Taliban administration, these Forums evolved in to the Community Development Councils that are still the backbone of NSP.

In addition to direct implementation of community-based urban and rural rehabilitation and development initiatives, the enhancement of professional and technical skills, and the delivery of humanitarian relief, UN-Habitat is still supporting the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GoIRA) counterparts with technical assistance in policy, planning and urban management, the provision or upgrading of services and infrastructure and the reintegration of returnees.

B****ACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF POST****:

The Afghanistan Urban Peacebuilding Programme (AUPP) is predicated on the vital linkage between state-society relations, local government capacity, and basic service provision in strengthening safety and security. It will provide direct assistance to the development of state capacity at the sub-national level, focusing on municipal administrations in eight of the country’s most strategic cities. By concentrating on the urban terrain of peacebuilding and state building, the programme will strengthen the production of public goods, especially security; improve local government responsiveness and accountability; and strengthen partnerships with communities, civil society, and security providers, contributing to collective efficacy– all of which are central peacebuilding and state building goals in the New Deal. The programme complements the international community’s efforts to support a highly centralized state building approach, with a bottom-up strategy that builds the state out from community and subnational levels.

The expected impact of the AUPP is: “Women and men, girls and boys, in cities have increased trust in the local government’s capacity to uphold rights, achieve safe, secure and inclusive cities, contributing to improved government legitimacy”. To achieve the overall impact, the programme includes three outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Municipalities in collaboration with line departments better plan and implement demand-driven and inclusive services in the area of safety and security.


• Outcome 2: Communities particularly excluded and under-represented groups, increasingly and with a spirit of solidarity engage in civic affairs and municipal governance.


• Outcome 3: National government establishes framework for accountable, transparent and participatory municipal governance in particular in the area of safety and security.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the overall supervision of the UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) and direct supervision of the Country Representative/Manager the Technical Advisor / Programme Manager will undertake the following tasks and activities:

• Strategic p****rogramme management;


• Lead in the technical and strategic management of project design, work planning, budgeting, procurement, and impact monitoring of project activities in the field;


• Oversee effective and efficient execution of project activities by working in close collaboration with the relevant institutions and project teams, at the national and local levels;


• Support the recruitment and capacity development of national staff, ensuring at least 20% programme staff are female;


• Lead in identifying and securing international technical expertise (consultants) as and when required during programme duration to support specific tasks and outputs;


• Coordinate results-based monitoring, evaluations and outcome-based reporting, including ensuring proper baselines, mid-term monitoring, and final evaluations;


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  Develop and implement on-the-job capacity development and knowledge transfer mechanisms for relevant government partners and national programme staff;

  
  


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  Provide advisory services to national and local institutions, including support to policy processes, technical advice and support to seminars, trainings and on-the-job capacity development in urban land, planning, housing and basic services.

  
  


• Undertake in-country missions to field sites to monitor programme implementation and strengthen partnerships with local authorities and partners;


• Coordinate and monitor project progress by defining performance criteria, ensuring periodic reporting from the field through assessment of results achieved and external reviews; ensure proper documentation of positive and negative programme experiences and provide them as an input to policy dialogues;


• Ensure the systematic mainstreaming of cross cutting issues of gender, youth, climate change and human rights in programme activities;

2) Ensure coordination and cooperation between programme activities/outputs/outcomes and related local, regional and international development efforts

• Lead in building and maintaining strong relationships and coordination with partners (UN, government, I/NGO) at city, national, regional and global levels;


• Support improved coordination of UN activities in Afghanistan,including contributing to the UNDAF and joint integrated workplans with programme-related inputs and monitoring;


• Support the dissemination of programme outcomes and impacts to improve future programming and policies;


• Support the promotion of sustainable urbanisation and adequate shelter for all in Afghanistan;


• Technical assistance to the National Habitat Committee and other urban development taskforces in relation to programme activities/outputs/outcomes.


• Ensure timely and relevant informal and formal donor reporting, breifings, meetings and field visits

3)****Contribute to UN-Habitat’s support to the GoIRA

• Promote cross-fertilisation across all UN-Habitat programming, including supporting thematic linkages, enhancing delivery cost-efficenies, and streamlining progamme tehnical assistance and capacity development to government partners to maximise its effectiveness/impact and reduce duplication;


• Support the implementation of the Habitat Country Programme Document (HCPD) 2015-2019, in particular through (i) strengthening UN-Habitat as a knowledge partner for the GoIRA; (ii) fostering a shift away from direct implementation to technical assistance and capacity development of government;


• Support the GoIRA with resource mobilization by identifying new programmatic opportunities, developing concept notes and project documents, and building partnerships with donors and partners;


• Supporting the strategic planning and management of UN-Habitat Afghanistan through the Senior Staff Team to promote alignment and maximize support for the GoIRA;


• Capacity development of national staff.

Other:

• Represent the programme/UN-Habitat in national humanitarian forums (i.e. KIS Taskforce, IDP Taskforce), policy forums (i.e. IDP Policy Working Group) and build support for humanitarian-development programming in Afghanistan;


• Lead capacity development of national colleagues working in relevant provinces to engage and represent UN-Habitat in programme-relevant provincial forums (e.g. Provincial IDP Taskforces, Regional HLP TF, etc).

4)****Perform other duties and responsibilities which are within the expertise and experience as may be required by ROAP or Country Representative****/Manager****in support of the activities of the Agency****and programme****.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Project and program management, including project formulation and implementation in conflict and post-conflict environments


• Good knowledge of project monitoring and evaluation


• The capacity to provide quick and practical feedback and guidance to field staff is essential, as is the ability to adapt existing methodologies to the Afghan context


• Maintaining appropriate balance between operational needs of the project and contributing to developing a longer-term vision of the program


• Good knowledge of UN operational rules and procedures


• Good coordination skills, with ability to handle multiple activities concurrently, work under pressure and to tight deadlines


• Positive approach to work with consistent energy and a positive, constructive attitude


• Ability to participate effectively in teams of various expertise as well as organizations


• Good diplomatic qualities and negotiating skills

EDUCATION:

Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in international development, urban planning/design, urban studies, peace and conflict studies, law, political science or related field. A bachelor degree in combination with five additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of a university degree.
WORK EXPERIENCE:

A minimum of 5 years’ experience with:

• managing complex urban development programming, including in fragile states,


• providing policy and technical assistance to governments,


• community-based programming,


• local governance and peacebuilding,


• Familiarity with the UN in Afghanistan.

LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

Fluency in English is required; another UN language or Dari/Pashto would be an advantage.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL (HOME – KABUL):

The cost of a return air-ticket from the place of recruitment on least-cost economy will be reimbursed upon submission of travel claim together with the supporting documents including copy of e-ticket, receipts and used boarding passes. Three quotations from the reputable travel agents shall be submitted for UN-Habitat’s clearance prior to purchase of tickets.

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION:

Such as vehicle arrangements to provinces will be covered by UN-Habitat.

TRAVEL ADVICE/ REQUIREMENTS:

The Technical Advisor / Programme Manager shall abide by all UN security instructions. Upon arrival in Kabul security briefing will be provided by UN-Habitat while the Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) will arrange security briefings in other cities.

REPORTING ARRANGEMENTS:

The Technical Advisor / Programme Manager shall report to the Country Representative/Manager and Senior Human Settlements Officer/SHSO based in ROAP.
The application should comprise: