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International Programme Manager, P-4 (Temporary Assignment)

Mongolia - Ulaanbaatar

ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION:UN-HABITAT

DUTY STATION:Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

PROJECT:Community-Led Ger Area Upgrading in Ulaanbaatar City

FUNCTIONAL TITLE:INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME MANAGER

GRADE:P-4 (Temporary Assignment)

POST DURATION:7 months (possibly extended)

CLOSING DATE:14 February 2011

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
1. BACKGROUND

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT, is the United Nations agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable communities, towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. The main documents outlining the mandate of the organization are the Vancouver Declaration on Human Settlements, Habitat Agenda, Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements, the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium, and Resolution 56/206. Its activities contribute to the overall objective of the United Nations to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development within the context and the challenges of a rapidly urbanising world.

By working at all levels and with all relevant stakeholders and partners, UN-HABITAT contributes to linking policy development and capacity-building activities with a view to promoting cohesive and mutually reinforcing social, economic and environmental policies, and countries’ policies and programmes in human settlements in conformity with international practices and covenants.

2. COMMUNITY-LED GER-AREA UPGRADING PROJECT IN ULAANBAATAR
2.1. The project’s goal is to improve the quality of life of approximately 50,000 Ger area residents in Ulaanbaatar city through community-led Ger area upgrading in 5 selected project sites. Through the achievement of this goal, the Project will be able to contribute to Millennium Development Goals 7 Target 11 on “Achieving significant improvement in lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by 2020”.

2.2. The objectives of the Community-Led Ger-area Upgrading Project in Ulaanbaatar project are as follows:

* To empower the Ger area communities through social mobilization and organization;
* To support community-based assessment and prioritisation of local needs for Ger area upgrading;
* To improve the quality of life of selected Ger area communities by improving infrastructure and services by using community-led processes; and
* To document and monitor project implementation progress and improvements in urban governance.

2.3. The project encompasses the following construction projects:

* 15 construction projects (, kindergartens-new and extension, School extension, community service centre, public bathhouse etc.) with an average value of USD180,000, contracted to Mongolian contractors; Design Drawing and estimations completed; 4 projects’ contracts procured and signed; procurement process of second batch of 3 projects on going and rest ready to start.; no physical construction started yet
* Approximately 60 micro-projects (footh paths, road improvement, side drains street lights, foot bridges with an average value of USD10,000 awarded to 47 community development councils (CDCs) in 5 districts, at various states of progress. Design of about 30 projects near completion and that of rest ongoing.
* Water kiosk- trucked and pipeline connected- 4 (to 6) remaining depending upon costs and budgetary provision

2.4 The project has in place the following human resources:

* International Programme Manager, assisted by a national project management team
* National project management team, consisting of 5 social mobilisers, 5 field engineers and supervising engineer, project assistants, admin finance officer etc.

2.5 The project has the following institutional structure in place:

* UN-HABITAT is responsible for project management, administration, finances
* UNDP Mongolia is seconded the tasks of contractor procurement and signs the construction contracts with contractors on behalf of UN-HABITAT
* A project advisory group (PAG) and project coordination team (PCT) with the city of Ulaanbaatar is in place
* Regular reporting the donor (Government of Japan) is done

3. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Appointment on a temporary basis, the International Programme Manager will take over country coordination from a presently stationed CTA and will work with an international engineering consultant as well as with the national team of collaborators to deliver the project described under 2. Moreover, the Manager will also represent UN-HABITAT in Mongolia, provide technical assistance on human settlements issues and engage in project development.

4. RESPONSIBILITIES

Within delegated authority, the International Programme Manager will be responsible for the following duties:

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

* Development, implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/ projects, monitors and analyzes programme/ project development and implementation, reviews relevant documents and reports, identifies problems and issues to be addressed and initiates corrective actions, liaises with relevant parties, ensures follow-up actions.
* Ensuring the effective and efficient execution of projects, within the limit of the allocated resources, by providing appropriate technical support to projects through project design, field visits, training and evaluation, coordination and monitoring activities.

REPRESENTATION AND VISIBILITY

* Carrying out consultations and other activities aimed at development of human settlements policies, strategies and programmes in Mongolia, within the programmes of UN agencies and/or in collaboration with partner government agencies.
* Initiates and coordinates outreach activities; conducts training workshops and seminars, makes presentations on assigned topics/ activities.

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

* Providing technical support in Human Settlements analysis, needs assessments and other activities related to UN-HABITAT’s programme development in Mongolia
* Prepares Participates in ROAP missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries.
* Coordinates activities related to budget funding (programme/ project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements) and prepares related documents/ reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget).

TECHNICAL ADVICE

* Within the framework of the ongoing projects, coordinates policy formulation, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies.
* Organizes and prepares written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies and inputs to publications.
* Providing capacity development support through documentation of knowledge management, tool development and facilitating networking with partners and programmes contributing to the enhancement of the policy dialogues with partners locally and at UN-HABITAT regionally.

Performs other duties as required.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following: Counterparts, officers and technical staff in the relevant government partner agencies, UN specialized agencies, representatives and officials in national and local governments, non-governmental organizations and consultants.

RESULTS EXPECTED
Programmes/projects developed, managed, monitored and evaluated. Effective management of teams. Well reasoned written contributions and innovated approaches for dealing with issues. Effective working relationships through internal and external communications, and strengthened partnerships with relevant parties.

5. COMPETENCIES:

Professional Competencies

* Professionalism: Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of human settlement issues/problems, particularly with regard to participatory slum upgrading and the formulation of urban governance responses to slum upgrading. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Ability to undertake urban governance initiatives, including training and capacity building and to professionally report on their accomplishments and impacts. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. 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.
* 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.
* Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; understands the responsibilities coming with delegated authority; 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.

Managerial Competencies

* Leadership: 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
* Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff.
* Judgment/ 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.

Qualifications:

* Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in architecture, civil engineering, urban and regional planning, sociology or development studies relevant to development and management of human settlements. A first level university degree in combination with relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
* Experience: A minimum of seven years of progressive experience in human settlements projects and programmes at national level. Proven experience in human settlements development fields, projects/ programme design and implementation with the UN or other international agencies is desirable. Knowledge of technical cooperation and development issues is an advantage
* Language: Fluency in English is required; knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage
* Other skills:. Fully proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Email (Lotus Notes) and internet.

Travel Advice/ Requirements:

* The CTA shall abide by all UN security instructions.

Remuneration
See UN website http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances/index.html
How to apply
Applications should comprise:

* Completed UN Personal History Form (P11). Please download the form (MS-Word) from UN-HABITAT/ROAP-vacancy website: www.fukuoka.unhabitat.org
* A Statement of Interest and Competencies for the position.

Applications should be sent to:
UN-HABITAT Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
ACROS Fukuoka, 8th Floor, 1-1-1 Tenjin Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, 810-0001 Japan
habitat.fukuoka@unhabitat.org FAX: (81 92) 724 7124

Please indicate the Post Title: “International Programme Manager” in your e-mail subject.
Please note that applications received after the closing date stated below, will not be given consideration. Only short-listed candidates whose applications respond to the above criteria will be contacted for an interview. The salary will be determined according to the qualifications, skills and relevant experience of the selected candidate.

In line with UN-HABITAT policy on gender equity, applications from female candidates will be particularly welcome.

Deadline for applications: 14 February 2011