UN-Habitat Adviser, Water and Sanitation Programme

TEMPORARY VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION: Urban Basic Services Branch, UN-Habitat

DUTY STATION: Nairobi

FUNCTIONAL TITLE: Adviser, Water and Sanitation Programme

LEVEL: P6

DURATION: 11 months (Temporary)

CLOSING DATE: 20th May 2013

BACKGROUND 

The Urban Basic Services Branch (UBSB) aims at increasing equitable access to urban basic services such as water, sanitation, solid waste management, mobility and energy, and is one amongst the seven focus areas of UN-Habitat.

UN-Habitat’s water and sanitation programme comprises the Water for Cities Programme funded by the multi-donor supported water and sanitation trust fund which is operational in the Africa, Asia and LAC regions and the special regional initiatives, namely the Mekong and Lake Victoria regional initiatives.

Building on its ongoing programmes and partnerships with countries, donors and the Multilateral Development Banks, UBSB is seeking to further expand its portfolio including in water and sanitation while ensuring excellence in implementation of current initiatives. 

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Within the delegated authority, the Adviser, Water and Sanitation Programme, will:

• provide strategic advice and take the lead in developing new proposals for possible funding by donors including for example leading current discussions and joint project formulation with partners such as the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) with reference to the proposed Lake Tanganyika Regional Water and Sanitation initiative ;
• provide overall oversight of ongoing water and sanitation activities, including the African Development Bank supported Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Initiative and the Water for Cities Programme with a view to ensuring efficiency and high quality and impact of UN-Habitat interventions ;
• Advice UBSB on potential collaboration opportunities including for example with the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), ESCAP and similar other organizations and guide the development of strategic partnerships marinating an overview of international developments in the area of water and sanitation;
• Lead the revision of the current water and sanitation strategy of UN-Habitat, positioning it in the new vision focused on urban planning, economy and legislation ensuring alignment with the “One UN-Habitat” and “One UN approach” and due attention to the cross-cutting issues of Rights, Gender and youth aspects; 
• Guide the development of the Resource Mobilization Strategy for UBSB and contribute to the development of the comprehensive strategy for Urban Basic Services;

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:

Senior staff in UN-Habitat other UN organizations, senior staff of donor agencies and MDBs, senior Government staff and civil society representatives; 

Results Expected

Develops, implements, monitors and evaluates programmes/projects. Provides direction and innovative advice on wide ranging issues, including developing strategies for issues on long-term and large-scale basis to ensure timely, high quality and cost-effective delivery of results ensuring best interests of UN-Habitat and partner organizations; provides policy recommendations 

REPORTING

The Adviser Water and Sanitation Programme will work under the overall supervision of the Coordinator, Urban Basic Services Branch. 

COMPETENCIES

• Professionalism: Ability to advise senior management and other senior officials of approaches and strategies to address highly complex issues. High level of expertise in the area of water and sanitation with demonstrated capacity for intellectual leadership. Ability to undertake conceptual and strategic analysis. Ability to thoroughly analyze and evaluate critical matters pertaining to a broad spectrum of urban basic services issues with a specialized focus on water and sanitation. Ability to demonstrate original and creative thinking. Ability to use independent judgment and discretion in advising on and handling major policy, project and other issues/problems. Strong negotiating skills and ability to influence others to reach agreement on difficult issues. Ability to works under extreme pressure. Excellent knowledge of relevant institutional mandates, policies and guidelines. Seasoned knowledge of the institutions of the UN system. 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.
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• 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.
• Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments; 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

o 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.
• Empowering Others: Delegates responsibility, clarifies expectations, and gives staff autonomy in important areas of their work; encourages others to set challenging goals; holds others accountable for achieving results related to their area of responsibility; genuinely values all staff members’ input and expertise; shows appreciation and rewards achievement and effort; involves others when making decisions that affect them.
• 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; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.
• 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. 

Education Advanced University degree (Masters or Equivalent) in Civil, Water or Environmental Engineering or Economics or Sociology. A relevant first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. 

Experience: A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in the area of water and Environmental sanitation including international experience is required. 

Language: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage. 

Remuneration: See UN website http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances/index.html

All applications should be submitted to:

Ms. Helda Wandera
UN-Habitat
P.O. Box 30030 
Nairobi, Kenya 
Email: helda.wandera@unhabitat.org
Deadline for applications: 20th May 2013