Job Human Settlements Officer (Demographer), Nairobi

Closing Date: Friday, 18 June 2010

Human Settlements Officer (Demographer), P-4
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS:	18 Jun 2010
DATE OF ISSUANCE:	19 Apr 2010
ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT:	United Nations Human Settlement Programme
DUTY STATION:	Nairobi
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER:	10-PGM-UN-HABITAT-424068-R-NAIROBI (G)

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

Remuneration Depending on professional background, experience and family situation, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered.

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Responsibilities The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT, is the 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. The post is located in the Global Urban Observatory Section (GUO) within the Monitoring and Research Division of UN-Habitat. Under the supervision of the Chief, GUO, the incumbent will perform the following duties:1. Coordinate the production of urban indicators for the monitoring of the Habitat Agenda and the Millennium Development Goals: a) Revise the urban indicators toolkit for the collection of quantitative data and produce guidelines for the collection of urban indicators; b) prepare urban indicators from household surveys and censuses using the guidelines; c) analyze, document and disseminate global data and information on human settlements conditions and trends based on the urban indicators. 2. Participate in the implementation of urban inequities surveys; prepare questionnaires and manuals on human settlement issues; analyze existing information in a selected number of cities to develop further the concept of urban poverty and to analyze urban inequities. 3. Provide technical assistance to countries and cities on the Urban Indicators Programme; pursue the support of operational projects aimed at strengthening in-country capacity for monitoring municipal performance and urban conditions and trends. 4. Coordinate the use of urban data in UN-Habitat flagship and inter-agency reports: a) Coordinate (i) the production of city data for the state of World's Cities Report; (ii) the preparation of the statistical annex of the Global Report on Human Settlements and the Global Report on Water and Sanitation. 5. Management and Coordination functions: a) Provide (i) Managerial supervision to GUO staff, specifically the preparation of their work plans and strategies in order to ensure effective implementation of the Urban Indicators Programme; and (ii) Monitoring services to UN-Habitat divisions, branches and sections and other UN agencies to ensure use of urban indicators in the preparation of their programmes; b) Develop collaborative working relations with Habitat's regional offices in the production and use of urban indicators.

Competencies Professionalism: Ability to develop and apply population and housing concepts, demographic techniques and research methods in the field of human settlements. Demonstrated up-to-date solid knowledge of quantitative methods of monitoring and research; strong capacity to analyze and synthesize data and information; ability to develop tools and instruments for preparation of city and slum indicators; demonstrated ability to work internationally with partners at both macro and micro-levels and proven fund-raising capacity. Communication: Demonstrated ability to work closely with different divisions/branches to promote effective and continuous cooperation in the use of indicators and benchmarks, promotes two-way communication in the development of the indicators and business and marketing plans. Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with the strategies, Medium-Term Strategic and Institutional Plan (MTSIP) objectives and Division’s work programme, identifies priority activities, adjusts priorities as required, foresees risks and allows contingencies when planning and acts proactively to avoid risks, monitors and adjusts plans when necessary. 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. Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education Advanced University degree (Masters degree or equivalent) in demography, statistics, mathematics, economics or relevant field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in quantitative analysis relevant to monitoring of social, housing and economic issues, of which at least five in the field of international cooperation. Experience in the design and use of housing and social indicators using censuses, surveys and administrative records, the development of monitoring capacity building projects, and conducting or coordinating workshops for developing indicators desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in written and oral English is required. Knowledge of French or Spanish desirable.

Other Skills Capacity to use statistical packages such as SPSS, STATA, SAS and prepare reliable indicators.

The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). English and French are the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, TRAINING OR ANY OTHER FEES). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON BANK ACCOUNTS.PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

How to apply All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement. Because applications submitted by United Nations (UN) staff members are considered first, provided the eligibility requirements set out in ST/AI/2006/3 are met and the application is submitted in a timely fashion, staff members should apply within 15-day or 30-day mark. Online applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please go to “My UN” page and check the status of your application by clicking on “View Application History”, and resubmit the application, if necessary. To start the application process, applicants are required to register by opening a "My UN" account. Go to Login, and Register as a User. Fill in the form and choose a User Name and Password. After opening the account, applicants may apply for vacancies using the Personal History Profile (PHP) provided. Once the PHP has been completed for a particular vacancy, it can be saved and used for future applications. The PHP may be up-dated, when necessary, for future applications. In completing the PHP, please note that all fields marked with an asterisk must be completed. UN staff members must submit scanned copies of their two latest Performance Appraisal System (PAS) reports at the time of application to the appropriate Human Resources Office (HRO)/Personnel Office (PO) to the email address below, clearly indicating the vacancy announcement number. In case you have no access to the digitizing equipment, please submit hard copies of the two latest PAS reports to the relevant HRO/PO via fax. E-mail: Recruitment@unon.org, Fax: 254-20-762-4212 Please see the Frequently Asked Questions, if you encounter problems when applying.