DUTY STATION: Monrovia, Liberia (non-family duty station)
FUNCTIONAL TITLE: Technical Advisor
GRADE:P-4
POST DURATION:12 months (renewable)
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 towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. This post is located in Liberia and under the supervision of the Regional Office for Africa and the Arab States, Regional Technical Cooperation Division.
Unequal access to and ownership of land and other resources are at the core of the profound sense of alienation and exclusion felt by many Liberians – especially in rural communities – that fuelled the civil conflict. The years of conflict exacerbated long-simmering tensions regarding land. In the post-conflict period, the inequalities in access to land and insecurity of tenure – which are systemically acute for women in rural communities – the lack of national land policies, outmoded and often irrelevant laws and regulations, and the lack of coherent and effective land administration and rule of law have fuelled these tensions. A weak judicial system, the lack of clarity regarding the relationship between statutory, customary and ‘informal’ law/institutions and the “culture of impunity” provide an environment in which fraud and disregard for the law and judicial decisions flourish. Local-level disputes involving land have erupted into violence in several areas, threatening peace and security. These disputes, which may erupt along ethnic, class, or factional lines, could escalate and fuel national insecurity and instability. The Government of Liberia clearly recognizes the critical nature of land issues in relation to national security and stability and the urgent need to instigate appropriate reforms that can de-escalate tensions, minimize disputes, and insure secured access to land for all Liberians.To address these issues, the Government of Liberia established an independent Land Commission (LC) in August 2009 with the mandate to “propose, advocate and coordinate reforms of land policy, laws and programs” in Liberia. The Land Commission has developed a five year framework for undertaking land reforms. The framework identifies five broad objectives: (1) Land Commission established and operational, (2) Enabling legal, institutional and policy framework established, (3) Strengthened capacity for land dispute resolution and prevention, (4) Improved land management practices in rural and urban areas, and (5) Improved land records and land administration practices. UN-HABITAT has been a partner of the Land Commission since its establishment and is now planning to renew and strengthen its commitment to the partnership through a project to be funded by the Government of Sweden.
The project includes the following objectives:
Objective 1: Strengthen policy-making capacity of the LC and its Technical Secretariat.
Objective 2: Support to priority interventions identified by the LC.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting to the Regional Office for Africa and Arab States in Nairobi, but working in close collaboration with the Land Commission, the Commission’s national and international partners, and the UN Resident Coordinator and relevant members of the UN Country Team, the Technical Advisor will be responsible for programme implementation, project management and administration and reporting.
The Technical Advisor will have the following duties and responsibilities:
Advisory services: Provide quality advisory services to national institutions by producing appropriate documentation as input to policy dialogue, undertaking technical support and advisory missions, assisting the Land Commission in developing an integrated work plan and reporting system, supporting the Land Commission and the Government in organizing relevant meetings, representing the organization in major development programming exercises at the national level, coordinating the Land Partners Group, support fund-raising for Land Commission activities and advising the Regional Office for Africa and the Arab States on programme development and programme policy.
Project management: Ensure effective and efficient execution of the project by working in close collaboration with the Land Commission and providing appropriate technical and management support through policy advice, advisory services, field visits, design and monitoring of activities, and recruitment and on-the-job training and supervising the performance of assigned local and international staff.
Programme implementation: Support the Land Commission in the development of annual progress and financial reports, work plans, and the identification of emerging priorities in the land sector. Support as needed the implementation of the programme activities, work-programme, budget, operational and resource mobilisation strategies in Liberia by promoting broad-based policy dialogue with relevant partners, co-coordinating activities within the work programme and facilitating the dissemination of information. Ensure effective and efficient functioning of the project in Liberia by liaising with Regional Office for Africa and the Arab States on financial and administrative issues related to project/programme implementation, monitoring progress, and preparing relevant documentation and reports.
More specifically, the Technical Advisor will:
Develop and maintain a close working relationship with the Land Commission.
Develop and maintain close working relationships with the relevant national and international partners in Monrovia and in the field, including with other UN Agencies.
Manage full implementation of UN-HABITAT project/s with the Land Commission preparing all necessary administrative and technical documentation and preparing request to HQ for financial authorisations. Monitor implementation identifying constraints and proposing alternative solutions.
Identify, in agreement with the Land Commission, appropriate institutions that can become implementing partners for the programme and prepare and manage the necessary contracts for such activities.
Undertake scoping and monitoring missions to assess local conditions, possible sites for project activities, establish working relations and monitor progress of activities in the field.
Prepare monthly and quarterly updates on programme activities for UN-Habitat and all relevant partners.
Undertake any other duties specified by UN-HABITAT.
COMPETENCIES
Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to land, with particular focus on post-disaster/conflict expertise. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. 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.
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.
Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
Managerial Competencies
Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; 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; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in a land-related field (geography, anthropology, environmental management, political science or relevant social science discipline).
Work Experience : Seven (7) years working experience in areas related to human settlements, land management, development, including management experience, or others, including at least three (3) years of experience at the international level.
Language
English and French are the official working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required.
Other skills.
Familiarity with UN procedures preferable, and UN-HABITAT in particular.
Be willing to work in a ‘hardship’ environment and able to undertake extensive field visits under difficult physical conditions.
Must be self-starter with excellent demonstrated teamwork skills.
Sound judgment, excellent analytical skills, strong networking and interpersonal skills, ability to plan, organize and coordinate work and to cope with a demanding workload is expected.
Excellent analytical and evaluation skills.
Excellent command of English and demonstrated report writing skills.
Remuneration
See UN website http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances/index.html
How to apply
All applications should be submitted to:
UN-Habitat
P.O. Box 30030
Nairobi, Kenya
Email: Jawed.Sulaiman@unhabitat.org, with copy to: Antonio.Yachan@unhabitat.org
Fax: +254 20 7623904
