Administrative Coordinator & Legal Drafter

Result of ServiceBy successfully completing this assignment, UN-Habitat will significantly contribute to the restoration of the 10,000 m2 of the Mar Mikhael train station for valorising the industrial heritage identity of the site while providing safe, green, multi-functional, sustainable and equally accessible public indoor and outdoor spaces. Furthermore, the assignment will contribute to the sustainability of the project and to safeguard the initial function of the site. Work LocationBeirut, Lebanon Expected duration3 months (part-time) Duties and ResponsibilitiesOrganizational setting The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all. For nearly forty years, UN-Habitat has been working in human settlements worldwide, focusing on building a brighter future for villages, towns, and cities of all sizes. Background UN-Habitat Lebanon has been working effectively with partners and urban planning actors at the community, national and international levels for the past 17 years to develop and implement programmes and interventions that contribute to the achievement of the urban dimensions of the 2015–2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in line with the country needs and humanitarian frameworks. On 4 August 2020, a massive explosion at the Port of Beirut (PoB) devastated the city, killing at least 200 people, wounding more than 6,000 and displacing around 300,000 individuals. The explosion caused widespread destruction to homes, businesses, and infrastructure, and disrupted economic activity. In the immediate aftermath of the blast, a Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) was undertaken to estimate the impact of the disaster on the population, changes in economic flows, physical assets, infrastructure, and service delivery in Beirut. Total damage was estimated between USD 3.8–4.6 billion, while losses amounted to USD 2.9–3.5 billion, with the housing and culture sectors being the most severely affected. About 50 per cent of the damaged municipal infrastructure was related to access and mobility – such as roads, bridges, and related assets – which are critical for the community living conditions and livelihoods. On 7 January 2021, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Directorate General of Antiquities (DGA) and Directorate General of Railways and Public Transport (DGRPT) where both parties committed to join efforts to mobilize resources to rehabilitate 10,000 sqm of the Mar Mikhael train station. In the context of this background, AICS has subsequently signed two agreements to implement two projects in the aforementioned train station. One with UN-Habitat in August 2022 – “Ensuring safe public spaces and adequate housing in Beirut City”, and another with UNESCO in 2023. The two projects will be implemented in the same geographic space, with complementary and interlinked components. To that end, the implementation of interventions has been carefully coordinated between the two agencies, involving similar stakeholders and official counterparts. In addition, and under the first outcome of the project, UN-Habitat in agreement with AICS is planning to intervene through an integrated urban recovery approach at the neighbourhood level to upgrade the landscape and community assets all along the old railway path in the Badawi neighbourhood-Mar Mikhael Beirut. The railway path in Badawi holds significant historical value, having been inaugurated on August 3, 1895 – nearly 125 years before the Beirut Port Explosion – and hosting the first train journey from Beirut to Damascus. This 600-meter length railway path is currently in a state of neglect, with numerous encroachments and underutilization. The possibility of creating a soft connection between the intervention on the Train station and the abandoned Badawi railway path provides a great opportunity to connect the inner neighbourhoods and their communities to the station park through a green corridor. To support this initiative, UN-Habitat intends to recruit an administrative coordinator to support DGRPT in the legal, administrative and coordination aspects of the project under its both components in order to facilitate the implementation of the project and contribute to its overall sustainability. Reporting line The Individual Contractor (Administrative Coordinator & Legal Drafter) will work under the supervision of UN-Habitat Area Coordinator for Beirut and Mount Lebanon. Duties and responsibilities The selected IC will support the Directorate General of Railways and Public Transport (DGRPT) for a period of 3 months in the following key area: Task 1: Provide full legal, administrative, and coordination support for the project through: • Advise on legal and administrative procedures/documents required for the project. • Support in ensuring smooth coordination between the project key stakeholders: AICS, UN-Habitat, DGA, UNESCO, DGRPT, and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MoPWT). • Propose admin procedures to ensure that project activities/investments comply with national laws and regulations. • Provide legal and administrative advice to the Director General of RPT. • Propose institutional improvements to manage the new projects. • Streamline approval processes within the DGRPT or any other public entity. • Support in developing the required templates to expedite the approvals within the public institutions. • Ensure to keep within DGRPT records copies of the minutes of meetings and any other project-related documents that could be used/requested by DGRPT or by the MoPWT. • Attend coordination, technical, and TAC meetings with different project actors. Qualifications/special skillsA high school diploma with supplementary training in business administration, or any related field is required. - Minimum of five (5) years of proven progressive experience in the public sector in Lebanon focusing the institutional laws and regulations is required. - Experience within the development and/or humanitarian sector, particularly with the United Nations System is desirable. - Experience and good knowledge in drafting legal texts is required. - Experience working within national and local institutions is desirable. LanguagesFluency in oral and written Arabic is required. Knowledge of basic English is required. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.