UNDP Jobs - 23360- Urban Management Analyst (Sudanese only)

Urban Management Analyst (Sudanese only)

Location :

Kuajok, SUDAN

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

26-May-11 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SC-6

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year

Languages Required :

Arabic English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement 2005 (CPA) ended more than two decades of civil war in Southern Sudan. It brought about peace, created environment for building democratic governance, initiating recovery programmes and planning for the development of South Sudan. The CPA provides an overall vision and broad strategies to guide governance and development processes in post-conflict Southern Sudan. The CPA also recognizes the political and administrative autonomy of Southern Sudan, meaning that federalism and decentralization provide the framework for governance.
In this regard, working in close collaboration with key actors of the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS), the State authorities and other relevant partners, UNDP, through the Support to the States Programme focuses, inter alia, on providing technical assistance and capacity development support to the 10 state governments in order for them to become effective units of governance.
The GOSS recognizes the immense challenges associated with implementing the CPA and the role states need to play through improved planning and service delivery so that people can enjoy the “peace dividend”. Therefore, it considers institutionalization of democratic, accountable and participatory good governance at all levels as the most appropriate way to address the challenges. However, institutionalization of democratic good governance must evolve through a process. Among others, it must ensure that state administrations are fully established with appropriate policies and management and service delivery systems. It is in this context that UNDP seeks to support the capacity building of the States through the Support to the State Programme.
The Urban Management (UM) forms one of the components of the UNDP Support to the States Programme (SSP), which has been running since 2006. The SSP provides support at both GOSS and State levels, with the specific aim of strengthening the operations of State administrations in strategic planning, financial management, urban management and the implementation of physical infrastructure.
Teams of specialists in different backgrounds have been assigned to each state to provide technical assistance across range of technical disciplines. Development Planning Specialists, Public Sector Reform Specialists, Finance Management Specialists, Statisticians, including urban management specialists.
The UM component evolved from the UNDP Urban Appraisal Study, carried out April-August 2005 by a team from the Development Planning Unit, University College London. The study was prompted by concern on the part of both the embryonic Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) and the international development agencies about the ability of the urban administrations to cope with the expected large scale influx of IDPs/returnees to the main towns to provide effective centers for the devolution of Government services and administration.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Urban Management Analyst will be responsible for the following key tasks:

Preparation of State and County Master Plans;
Design and implementation for development layouts (residential and commercial);
Facilitate upgrading of underserved formal and informal settlements;
Promotiion of community participation in development planning;
Planning of basic infrastructure (especially water supply and sanitation);
Promotion of transparent and equitable land management mechanisms;
Routine technical coordination with other State Ministries;
Supporting Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) liaison with technical consultants;
Supporting budget preparation exercise;
Supporting MPI inputs to the State Strategic Planning exercise;
Coordination with other UN development agencies;
Formulating training and skills development for counterpart staff (both informal on-the-job and formal activities).

Other tasks will be undertaken as required, in accordance with locally determined priorities. These will include encouraging the use of systematic procedures and promoting good technical and administrative practice in MPI Operations.

Competencies

Strong skills in the development of master plans;
Experience in upgrading formal and informal settlements;
Strong skills in negotiation, facilitation and training, mentoring, community mobilization and sensitivity to cross cultural issues and interpersonal relations;
Coordination with stakeholders, partners and other development actors;
Good analytical skills and ability to interpret complex socio-cultural backgrounds as well as quickly obtain an overview of a variety of activities and approaches of national and international actors;
High level of proficiency in English with the ability to write analytical, succinct and clear reports in English a must;
Willingness to live and work under difficult conditions.

Required Skills and Experience

Masters Degree in Urban/Town Planning, Civil Engineering, Environmental Studies, Social Development or other related Field;
At least 2 years of relevant experience at national or international level;
Significant practical experience of integrated Urban Development Projects in developing Countries, preferably in the Central/East African Region;
Good understanding of the techniques required to meet the development needs of low- income Urban Households;
Good analytical skills and ability to interprete complex socio-cultural backgrounds as well as quickly obtain an overview of a variety of activities and approaches of national and international actors;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) including web-based management systems.