Post Date: May 29, 2024

Closing Date: Jun 09, 2024

Reference: 2024-05-238

Number of Vacancies: 1

Salary Range: As per company salary scale

Years of Experience: 7 – 14 years

Probation Period: 3 month

Contract Type: LICA

Contract Duration: 1 year

Contract Extensible: Yes

Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Gender: Any

About UN-Habitat

UN-Habitat Afghanistan

The Afghanistan Programme is a strategic partner of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in promoting sustainable urban development. Since 1992, UN-Habitat has worked closely with the government, municipal and local authorities, especially Afghan communities, contributing to the physical and social reconstruction of the country. Our work has focused on assisting the government in the development of urban policies and regulations; strategic urban planning; increasing municipal revenue;  establishing community-based organizations; addressing the land and housing needs of IDPs and returnees and contributing to the provision of basic urban services.

The fall of the government in the August 2021 event has led to a decline in human rights especially for women and girls. The international community also stopped much needed aid affecting public expenditure and socio-economic activities triggering a dire need for humanitarian and basic human needs assistance. Climate change, natural disasters, and forced returnees from Pakistan have also increased the needs for humanitarian assistance and basic human services. According to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) 2024, an estimated 27.3 million people need humanitarian assistance with $3.06 billion required to support over 17.3 million people. Furthermore, OCHA Natural Disasters Overview May 2024, stated over 20,308 people have been affected by natural disasters with 62 dead and 37 injured since January 2024. IOM Afghanistan Situation Report March-April 2024 reported over 548,900 returnees have been documented with the Afghanistan HNRP 2024 estimating an additional 423,000 returnees and 60,000 refugees from Pakistan projected in 2024.

Insecure Housing, Land and Property (HLP) rights have resulted in frequent evictions for residents of informal settlements. across Afghanistan, harming already vulnerable populations. Consequently, averting evictions is a priority to arrest a worsening humanitarian crisis. As well as evictions, insecure HLP rights constrain lifesaving service and infrastructure investments in informal settlements, leading to unsafe physical environments (unlit streets, exposure to disease, unsanitary/unavailable/inadequate WASH), and increasing safety risks, particularly for women. The proposed action deploys a community-based approach to strengthen HLP rights and make gender safe investments in informal settlements in two Afghan cities. This action will reduce the threat of eviction and increase women’s safety in the cities of Kabul and Herat where the 2023 Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) shows high HLP and GBV risks, as well as overall humanitarian need. Vulnerable returnee households and drought affected communities living in informal settlements lack basic services that exposes them to protection risks. The need to assist such households has been exacerbated by the worsening security situation, forced return, economic shocks due to recent conflict, and the increased severity of natural disasters. Considering the high cost of shelter repairs, and the already negative net income of households, reconstruction and recovery process comes at a high cost that may not be affordable for most people. These challenges are exacerbated by the limited involvement of female humanitarian works.

Job Summary

The position is located with the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific of the Regional Program Division and based in Kabul, Afghanistan.

The Regional Program Division is responsible for consolidating and enhancing the linkages between UN Habitat’s activities in the field with the Strategic Plan, the 2030 Agenda, and the UN-Habitat’s overall future priorities and to make sure that they are appropriate to the country context.

UN-Habitat’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific manages UN-Habitat’s project portfolio in the Asia and Pacific region. It ensures that country priorities are in alignment with the UN-Habitat’s organizational policies and strategic objectives and brings through its Regional Representative to the attention of the Executive Management Committee (EMC) opportunities and challenges in the region, allowing for timely feedback and responses to urgent demands and requests from the Member States.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Overall project/programme management duties, including planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation as well as helping in the preparation of the Progress Reports and the project work plans.
• Represent UN-Habitat at Housing, Land and Property (HLP) rights TF, Shelter cluster, CCCM-WG, DSWG meetings and maintain close liaison and effective reporting to the project management team on project/programme activities and maintain close linkages with UN-Habitat field offices in all provinces of high return and IDPs and update the international Programme Manager, the HLP program management unit and UN-Habitat on events affecting the works on a weekly basis or earlier as may be required.
• Conduct missions to provinces to oversee projects implementation, assess progress, make reports for Kabul head office and lead in monthly, quarterly, and annual work-planning in line with national workplans and overall, program workplan.
• Conduct orientation/training workshops for new project staff and provide constructive feedback to field office staff on managing the project with specific focus on project documentation at the CDC & GA level.
• Develop and maintain a database of sub project proposals/community agreements recorded and monitor with relevant departments i.e., finance and grant management team members accordingly. Keeping records of Project documents, signed pro.doc, log framework, work plan and sub- contracts (hard & soft copies).
• Identify and clarify conceptual, implementation and policy issues which may arise during
• the course of project implementation and support progrmame staff to safely implement activities and foster an environment of continuous learning.
• Support with identifying new programme and project opportunities and technical assistance needs; and support in the systematic mainstreaming of cross cutting issues of gender, youth, climate change and human rights in both programme activities and the local UN-Habitat office.
• Contributing to the overall programme development and implementation and where necessary undertaking any other assignment that UN-Habitat may allocate and that falls within the competence of the staff member.
• Actively participate in project baseline, midline and end line surveys, data collection of IDP and returnees, and analysis of the data and undertaking frequent backstopping missions to the field to support the Programme Manager, District Engineers, social organizers, and communities to implement the projects/programme.
• Assist the field team (in conducting and facilitating technical training workshops, with a focus on the people process, documentation and provide feedback to field level staff and sharing of “good practices” among the team.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as may be required by the Programme Manage

Results Expected

• Implementation of programmes.
• Lead the Overall HLP team and Programme.
• Coordinate Programmes with stakeholders.
• Assist International Programme Managers in implementation of overall programme components.

Competencies (Select 3 Maximum)

Professionalism:

• Ability to identify and resolve budgetary problems and identify sources for data collection. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

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 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 contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Job Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree with 14 years relevant experience OR 7 Years relevant experience with master’s degree.
• managing complex urban development programming in Afghanistan.
• overseeing and proving quality assurance for civil engineering projects; and
• familiarity with the UN system in Afghanistan.

Language:

• Good written and spoken English and Dari or Pashto languages

Core Competencies:

• Professionalism, leadership, teamwork, communication

Desirable:

•  Knowledge of the Sphere Standards for site planning and shelter; basic water, sanitation, and drainage principles.

Personal Attributes:

•  A strong commitment to human rights, gender sensitivity and pro-poor development work; consultative and empowering working style and willingness to learn from others.

Computer Skills:

• Advanced computer MS Office, Project Management software.

Submission Guideline

Interested Afghan National Candidates should submit the following required documents.

1.      A cover letter that shows how your qualifications and experience meet the VA requirement.

2.      An update CV+P11 form for individual contractor (IC) that contains all your information to the unhvacancies@unhabitat-afg.org  indicating on the SUBJECT line the vacancy number of the position, please note that applications received after the closing date (09 June 2024) will not be given consideration. Only short-listed candidates whose applications respond to the above criteria will be contacted for an interview.

Note: Subject line must be: (2024-05-238) or your application may not be considered.

Submission Email: unhvacancies@unhabitat-afg.org

For more details about UN-HABITAT and UN-HABITAT Afghanistan Country Programme refer Website: www.unhabitat.org and www.unhabitat.af