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The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the agency for human settlements mandated by the General Assembly and working towards a better urban future with a mission of promoting socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all. In line with its mandate, UN-Habitat works to strengthen mechanisms in the country that integrate commitments and actions concerning the provision of adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development into policies, programmes and operations.
Internal displacement in Nigeria is a multi-faceted, complex and protracted crisis that has lasted for over a decade in the North-East and most recently in the North-West with the effects trickling down to the North-Central with increasing complexities and urbanization pressure. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) According to the IOM’s DTM Round 46 report, a total of 2,305,335 people (472,239 households) are recorded as internally displaced across North-East Nigeria, while IOM’s DTM North Central and North-West Displacement Report Round 13 of March 2024, indicates that a total of 1,092,196 individuals are displaced across Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Nasarawa, Plateau, Sokoto, and Zamfara States.
In the North-East, up to 40% (929,453 individuals) of IDPs reside in camps and camp-like settings, while 60% (1,375,882 individuals) reside in host communities. The ongoing insurgency in North-East Nigeria is widely reported as the main driver of displacement, followed by communal clashes, natural disasters (mainly flooding and drought), and farmers-herders conflicts. These clashes involve confrontations between ethnic and religious groups, often triggered by land and border issues, shrinking access to natural resources, and increasing tensions between herder communities and sedentary farmers aside from other drivers.
While the contexts and drivers of population movement - including displacement and urbanisation – differ between the North-East, North-West to the North-Central the challenges faced remain similar. These include lacking resilience and coping capacities, issues with dire poverty and vulnerability status of IDPs, perception of host communities towards IDPs, and gaps in the fulfilment and protection of human rights. Additionally, the coexistence of host communities and IDPs remains contentious, particularly concerning their rights to access land, livelihoods, and basic and social services. In the North-West, displacement is characterised by inter-regional and inter-communal conflict, compounded by the impacts of climate change, limited access to basic services and natural resources, and long-standing tensions between ethnic and religious groups which often result in attacks and banditry.
This position is opened within the framework of the European Union funded Joint Programme called “Sustainable Urban Integration of Displaced Populations in Northern Nigeria (SIDPIN)”, being implemented with IOM and UNHCR in Kano, Adamawa, Yobe and Benue States in the Northern part of Nigeria, to catalyse but also complement ongoing response to the complex crisis, migration and urbanization in the country. The project aims to enable durable solutions through local integration in urban and urbanizing areas by adopting a multi-scale, integrated and area-based territorial approach for displaced communities, with a specific focus on women and children, and fostering conditions for sustainability, replication and scaling-up.
Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships: This position is located within the Regional Office for Africa of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and is coordinated by the West Africa Sub-Regional Hub in Dakar, Senegal. The position reports directly to the UN-Habitat Chief Technical Advisor and Head of Programme in Nigeria (under recruitment), under the overall coordination of the Head of the West Africa Sub-Regional Hub.
The focus of this position is to oversee the delivery of UN-Habitat Outputs in the Benue State through the implementation and monitoring of the joint programme for the Sustainable Urban Integration of Displaced Populations in Northern Nigeria (SIDPIN) project as the Lead Agency as well as to contribute to UN-Habitat’s country operations and support fund raising efforts for programme development.
Responsibilities: Within delegated authority, the Senior Technical Advisor (STA) will be responsible for the following duties:
Work implies frequent interaction with:
Travel Details Applicable
Missions within Nigeria, including Abuja and other parts of the North East and North-West regions. The STA may be required to travel to locations related to the services under these Terms of Reference, subject to authorization and in accordance with United Nations travel regulations.
Results Expected:
Effective leadership and management of the SIDPIN project at the state level, timely delivery of outputs in line with objectives and policies, proactive identification and resolution of issues, strong partnership development, and effective internal and external representation.
Competencies:
Professionalism:
Demonstrated knowledge of relevant theories and concepts; ability to analyze and resolve issues; strong research and data collection skills; sound judgment; effective planning and prioritization; commitment to deadlines and results; resilience under pressure; and commitment to gender equality and inclusion.
Communication:
Clear and effective verbal and written communication; active listening; appropriate audience-focused messaging; openness in sharing information and fostering two-way communication.
Teamwork:
Collaborative approach to achieving organizational goals; respect for diverse perspectives; willingness to learn; prioritization of team objectives; shared responsibility for outcomes.
Accountability:
Ownership of responsibilities; delivery of quality outputs within agreed timelines and standards; compliance with organizational rules; effective oversight of delegated tasks; accountability for personal and team performance.
Qualifications
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in urban planning, programme management or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience and professional competency may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
Experience
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, in the context of urbanization, housing, land management, implementation of durable solutions for displacement-affected populations in humanitarian settings, sustainable reconstruction and recovery, climate change adaptation, among other topics is required. Familiarity with the context of urban development in Western African countries and work experience in the region is desirable.
Language
Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
Method of Application: Click on this link to get detailed information and apply