Programme Officer, Partnerships

Org. Setting and ReportingThe United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty. The position is located in UN-Habitat’s SDG Localization and Local Governments Team within the Global Solutions Division (GSD). The Global Solutions Division is responsible for providing programmatic directions for UN-Habitat and is responsible and accountable for the programmatic delivery of the Strategic Plan. The Division leads tools and methodology production and the integration of the various substantive competencies towards the effective delivery of the Strategic Plan and the mandate of UN-Habitat. It provides substantive training and supports capacity development of Member States and partners. The Global Solutions Division hosts the Local 2030 Coalition’s Secretariat and coordinates UN-Habitat’s work on SDG Localization through the SDG Localization and Local Governments Team. UN-Habitat’s SDG Localization and Local Governments Team coordinates UN-Habitat’s corporate offering and global portfolio on SDG Localization, including the SDG Cities Global Initiative (Flagship 5). It coordinates its activities and delivery with the Local 2030 Coalition – the UN-wide platform on Localizing the SDGs. Building on the Agency’s operational capacities and technical leadership, the SDG Localization and Local Governments Team coordinates UN-Habitat’s delivery across three levels: 1) advancing city-level transformation through SDG Cities; 2) supporting national governments to develop SDG Localization Country Frameworks, through the Partnership Platform on Localizing the SDGs; 3) advancing the global dialogue on SDG Localization through the SDG Cities Global Community and direct engagement within the main UN fora. UN-Habitat's global portfolio on SDG localization exceeds 30 countries, and it is delivered in coordination between UN-Habitat HQ, Regional and Country Offices, and the UNRCOs/CTs. Under the direct supervision of Director of the Global Solutions Division and the Head of the Local 2030 Coalition, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties: Responsibilities• Coordinates UN-Habitat’s corporate approach and global portfolio on SDG Localization, including the SDG Cities Flagship, contributing to advancing the 2026-2029 Strategic Plan’s MoI on Participatory Multilevel Governance and SDG Localization. • Coordinates reporting on the progress of Resolution 2.6 on Localizing the SDGs and acts as UN-Habitat technical focal point to the Local 2030 Coalition. • Coordinates the work of the SDG Localization and Local Governments Team, including HR management, finance and budgets, and operational activities such as technical cooperation with country and city partners, global advocacy, knowledge development, and capacity building. • Coordinates work with UN-Habitat teams and offices at HQ, Regional, and Country levels, promoting the mainstreaming of SDG Localization and SDG Cities across the work of UN-Habitat. • In line with UN Habitat policies and processes, supports all necessary financial resource mobilization activities including through liaising with donor agencies, international and regional development banks, private sector partners, foundations and philanthropies, and other relevant actors to maintain and expand UN-Habitat’s global portfolio on SDG Localization and Multilevel Governance. • Supports UN-Habitat’s institutional and political engagement with the Local and Regional Governments’ constituency, including on occasions of high-level events and relevant UN mechanisms. • Prepares and analyses budgets and financial reports; provides assistance in the interpretation of budget guidelines, including the revision and coordination of submissions of programme proposals and budget estimates, ensuring that requisite information is included and justified in terms of proposed activities; proposing adjustments as necessary; and preparing reports. • Guides survey initiatives and design of data collection instruments; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses; identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions. • Organizes and prepares various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc. • Provides substantive backstopping to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc. • Initiates and coordinates outreach activities; designs and conducts training workshops, seminars, etc., makes presentations on assigned topics/activities. • Ensures a strong presence of UN-Habitat in key high-level international and regional fora, coordinating the preparation of events and actively participating in such fora. • Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc. • Provides support to activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and ensures preparation of related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.). • Coordinates the development of SDG Localization and Multilevel Governance related knowledge management products, reviews the assessments of issues and trends, guides preparation of evaluations or research activities and studies; Ensures that the quality of all the Secretariat products and activities is up to the UN-Habitat standards. • Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • May perform other duties as required. Competencies• PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment; Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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. • 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. • 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. EducationAdvanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international development, governance, public administration, urban and regional planning, economics, law, management or a related field is required. A first-level university degree, in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in one or more of the fields of sustainable development, local governance, global network establishment and support, and a proven track record in financial resource mobilization is required. Experience of developing partnership strategies with Member States and governmental organizations is required. Experience in general (substantive and financial) project/programme management is desirable. Experience in project/programme management and monitoring at the managerial level is desirable. Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official languages in desirable. NOTE: \"fluency equals a rating of \"fluent\" in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and \"Knowledge of\" equals a rating of \"confident\" in two of the four areas. AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview. Special NoticeAppointment against this position is for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension. 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United Nations ConsiderationsAccording to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. 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