Secretary to the UN-Habitat FSCP Steering Committee at UN-Habitat

RESPONSIBILITIES

This role involves implementation of the Future Saudi Cities Programme (FSCP) with a focus on overall coordination, programme management and critical outputs as part of the coordinating team. The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the HQ Steering Committee Coordinator and in coordination with the Project Leader. The overall supervision will be by the Coordinator, Urban Planning and Design Branch.. S/he will contribute to the implementation of the FSCP activities by performing the following tasks:

Key tasks:

1. Support to Nairobi Coordinator in project management as Secretary of the Steering Committee and as a special assistant
2. Supporting substantive integration across outputs, and quality control, in collaboration with all output leaders and the Programme Leader
3. Supporting the overall programme management by following up on management requests (Riyadh) with Output Leaders, and with Nbi Coordinator
4. Further specific support to city profiles preparation.

Detailed tasks include;

Support to Nairobi Coordinator in Project management

• Preparation of steering committee meetings (preparation/agenda, participate/attend and follow-up/minutes)
• Support to the progress reporting (drafting templates for project management and reporting, follow up and discuss with Activity Coordinators to collect monthly report and issues/challenges);
• Prepare 1 page summary / edited monthly report for Nairobi coordinator from Output coordinators inputs, to submit to UN-Habitat Management Office
• Support to follow-up on Management decisions with HQ offices and coordinator including vertical internal communication following up with pending issues, review workplan inputs/smartsheet, communication facilitation if required.

Support to Outputs Integration and Quality Control

• Support the follow-up of decisions with Activity leaders (for instance discuss review of ToRs/WP)
• Review of Outputs with different Units (CPI, 3 pronged discussions, IG-UTP , gender and youth, tailored training).
• Support to three-pronged approach / substantive discussions between ULLG, UEB, UPDB related to output
• Reviewing selected before submission to Editorial committee
• Contribute to the preparation of Draft report with final recommendations

Support Overall Programme management

• Draft templates/ToCs for project deliverables, in consultation with Outcome Coordinators
• Support to Project Board meetings ( preparation of documents , contribution to Agenda and Action points)
• Review of donor reporting and coordination of HQ inputs in the donors reports
• Support in following up on communication and decisions for Project Coordination effectiveness
• Reviews progress with Project Manager to identify critical points, possible solutions

Additional specific support to deliverables

• Oversees redaction and advises to city profile outputs (integration of results and findings from other Outputs across the project, Identify critical issues at redaction level for the integration of CPI results, gender/youth findings, and scales
• Advice on 3-pronged dimensions at profile level
• Application of 3 pronged approach at activity design phase
• Advice on integration of scales based on on IG-UTP s
• Advises on integration within Output 2 activities of different Outputs’ findings and reports (i.e. evidence (CPI) and stakeholders participation (youth and gender) into field activities for instance).

EXPECTED OUTPUT

The consultancy will focus on 1) helping cities develop practical, feasible approaches to implementing urban planning interventions through direct planning support; 2) assisting national governments to scale up successful local-level approaches through tools development, and 3) build the capacities of planning and facilitating institutions (development control, construction plan scrutiny, etc.)

Activities will be documented regularly through interim reports covering the tasks above and one final report, summarizing the work done and presenting all inputs provided in electronic and hard copy format. Daily presence in UN-Habitat offices is expected.

REMUNERATION AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Payment will be based on satisfactory delivery of agreed tasks and related time and cost implications. There are set remuneration rates for consultancies. The rate is determined by functions performed and fees will be paid as per agreement.

Responsibility

Outputs

Workload

Amount

Steering committee

· Progress Reports to the ED

· Action points of the UN-Habitat steering committee meetings

20%

Quality control

· Meeting agenda for three-pronged discussions

· Policy conclusions of the programme

· Review of Terms of References

30%

Project management

· Review of Programme workplan

· Review of donor reports

20%

Outputs related activities (Profiles)

· Advises at redaction level for integration of CPI results, gender/youth findings, and scales

· Review of consolidated City Profiles

30%

Required skills:

· Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to urban planning and design. Strong analysis of urban development issues in a variety of contexts and underlying social, legal and financial mechanisms and the political context. Ability to develop clear as well as substantive reports. Ability to observe deadlines and achieve set goals. Ability to work and deliver under pressure.

· Communication: Excellent written and oral presentation skills in English. Excellent capacity to produce and manipulate conceptual document. Good presentation skills. Ability to communicate complex interventions in a clear language and convincing narratives. Capabilities to effectively communicate in workshop settings and teams.

· Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve agreed goals.

· Planning and Organizing: Ability to prioritize activities and assignments and to easily switch between different tasks.

· Creativity: Strong conceptual thinking. Is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches, takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”, and offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs. Can easily work with limited information and datasets. Finds ways to extract and combine data and information. Is both able to reduce complexity as well as sensitive to specific urban realities.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Minimum advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in sustainable urban planning, urban governance and law, or related field of urban affairs that is relevant for sustainable urban development and advising on urban planning frameworks and institutions. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience:

Between 2 to 5 years of experience in urban planning and governance with direct proven experience in project management and strong knowledge of issues in sustainable urbanisation. Strong writing and text editing skills in English required.

Work experience in urban context in Arab countries will be an advantage.

Technical Knowledge:

· Urban planning contemporary approaches.

· Excellent writing skills, in English and possibly another UN language are required.

· Research and analytical skills combined with good manipulation of data and ability to synthetize complex concepts and information is required.

· Able to work independently and as part of team and deliver on time under pressure.

Language Skills

For this consultancy, fluency in oral and written English is required. Although not a requirement, knowledge of Arabic or other languages will be an advantage.