Chief Technical Advisor, Urban Resilience – N’Djamena

United Nations Children's Fund

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JOB DESCRIPTION

Background
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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.
“Projet Intégré de Lutte contre les Inondations et le renforcement de la Résilience” (“PILIER”) follows on from the floods of 2022, which caused considerable damage to infrastructure in towns and villages, to irrigated areas along the Logone and Chari rivers, and extensive damage in 18 of the country’s 23 provinces, including N’Djamena, where it was estimated that by midNovember 2022, 110 square kilometers of N’Djamena and its immediate surroundings were under water. The floods affected 1,426,948 people nationwide in 237,317 households, destroying 149,900 homes, disrupting water sources and submerging 325,184 hectares of agricultural land (MATHU, 2022). An assessment of postflood recovery needs carried out with UNDP support estimated the cost of flood damage and losses at over 231,913,000,000 FCFA, or around 387,000,000 USD.

Thus, the Government of Chad has obtained a grant of 150,000,000 USD from the World Bank to finance the PILIER, aimed at reducing the vulnerability of populations exposed to the risk of flooding through an integrated multisectoral approach targeting as a priority the areas most affected by the 2022 floods, while taking into account the imperatives of community development and capacity building of governance structures at both central and local levels.

More specifically, PILIER aims to (mitigate the negative impacts of flooding through green and grey infrastructure to protect vulnerable areas of N’Djamena from recurrent fluvial and pluvial flooding, and (iimprove urban planning and management while taking flood risks into account by promoting climateresilient community interventions and strengthening certain floodrelated services.

PILLER comprises four components:

  • Component 1Drainage and flood protection infrastructure focuses on mitigating the negative impacts of flooding through green and grey infrastructure to protect vulnerable areas of N’Djamena from recurrent fluvial and pluvial flooding.
  • Component 2Urban Planning, Resilient Community Services and Intervention focuses on improving riskinformed urban planning and management, promoting climateresilient community interventions and strengthening selected floodrelated services.
  • Component 3Project Management.
  • Component 4Contingent Emergency Response (CER.

Component 2 includes a subcomponent 2 dedicated to strengthening floodrelated urban services, with an emphasis on local community involvement. This subcomponent encompasses two components: firstly, smallscale urban interventions targeting participatory flood protection at neighbourhoods’ level, and secondly, strengthening disaster preparedness and response mechanisms at city level.

Subcomponent 2 of community interventions has been designed using a progressive approach and targeting the following interventions:

  • The construction of climateresilient basic infrastructure and urban services at community level to significantly reduce exposure to risk and vulnerability to disasters and climate change in urban areas.
  • The implementation of a program of community interventions in support of a preestablished list of interventions.

These interventions will be selected using a participatory approach based on a prioritization protocol and geographic targeting criteria to be developed and agreed with the Government. All N’Djamena neighbourhoods will be eligible for these interventions, with a particular focus on lowincome and climatevulnerable areas.

The Government of Chad, through the Ministry of Land Management, Housing and Urban Planning (MATH, has signed a partnership agreement with the UNDP office in Chad to implement the activities of this subcomponent 2 over a provisional period of 48 months.

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As part of the implementation of PILIER’s subcomponent 2, a management unit is to be set up to coordinate the implementation of activities over the four years, provide technical support and establish synergies with other projects, programmes and activities aimed at strengthening resilience at community level.

On the basis of the partnership agreement signed with MATHU, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDoffice in Chad is recruiting a (01) a CTA, Urban Resilience to coordinate the subcomponent 2 of PILIER.

Position Purpose

Under the direct supervision of the UNDP DRR/P at the Chad CO, the CTA will be responsible for the overall management of PILIER’s subcomponent 2, and the supervision of project staff, consultants and subcontractors. He/she will liaise between PILIER and UNDP as well as other national technical structures, municipalities councils, NGOs and project partners, and maintain close collaboration between subcomponent 2 and the PILIER’s PMU. He/She will provide high quality and timely strategic advice to the UNDP Resident Representative on UNDP’s strategic engagement and partnerships with government and development partners to accompany the urban resilience building process in Chad with the following specific duties and responsibilities:

  • Project Management 
  • Administrative and financial management
  • Strategic engagement

As needed, based on country level experience, provide inputs for the formulation of UNDP policy, guidelines and practice notes on disaster risk reduction and recovery. Report on key trends in UNDP programme portfolio at the country level and its policy implications.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across  interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions,  teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities
Provide strategic leadership for effective project planning, implementation and overall management 
  • Conceptualize, design and support implementation of the subcomponent to accompany the urban resilience building processes in NDjamena, notably in support to the strengthening of the communities of Ndjamena.
  • Ensure the overall management and planification of all project activities;
  • Ensure the operational management of the project in accordance with the project document and UNDP policies and procedures;
  • Monitor ongoing subprojects substantively through discussing project work plans, progress and performance; conduct evaluation missions and write TORs for consultants/subcontractors; propose direction and solutions to PILIER PMU for steering committee meetings, visit subproject sites to monitor and assess implementation; resolve problems in execution and implementation streamlining relations between communities and executing structures. Seek complementarities and integration with ongoing projects in other programmes or projects;
  • Oversee the preparation and updates of the project work plan, formally submit updates to UNDP and report on the progress of the work plan to the PILIER PMU and UNDP as requested but at least quarterly;
  • Coordinate the planning and design of all project activities, through the quarterly planning process and the preparation of terms of reference and activity descriptions;
  • Provide leadership and technical input for the design, development, and implementation of UNDP disaster risk reduction and urban resilience initiatives in support of the national governments.
  • Throughout the project, if necessary, provide advice and guidance to subcontractors and other project partners.
  • Support the dissemination of project results, particularly to the relevant government departments and internationally.
  • Oversee the development and implementation of the communication strategy.
  • Oversee the development and implementation of the monitoring and evaluation system.
  • Establish working relationships with national and local partners in the sector.
  • Ensure that the coordination of project activities works with the related work of partners.
Ensure Effective Project Administrative and Financial Management
  • Oversee the recruitment of all consultants and subcontractors for subcomponent
  • Ensuring that appropriate accounting records are maintained, and financial procedures are complied with, and facilitating and cooperating with audit engagements as required;
  • Ensure that all reports are prepared in a consistent and a timely manner.
  • Supervise the finalisation of the terms of reference for the identification and selection of service providers to undertake the various interventions planned under subcomponent
  • Supervise project staff, consultants and service providers assigned to subcomponent
  • Contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice on project activities.
Build and maintain UNDP’s strategic partnerships and resource mobilization
  • Advocate, promote awareness and understanding of the links and mutually supportive goals and objectives of urban resilience, sustainable development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
  • As appropriate, on behalf of UNDP, provide policy level advice to the national government in the development of institutional, legislative and policy frameworks for disaster risk reduction.
  • Support resource mobilization efforts and project development
Monitor and report on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the targets set
  • Provide leadership and technical advice to the project in developing baselines and indicators for project monitoring and evaluation and coordinate the finalization of detailed results framework.
  • Ensure strategies, processes, systems, and mechanisms are in place to effectively fulfill programme and financial monitoring, evaluation, quality assurance and reporting requirements.
  •  Lead implementation of the monitoring, evaluation, and results framework to identify plan deviations, underperformance, and other problems. Support diagnosing problems and ensure accountability for corrective actions within agreed upon tolerances to achieve results.
  • Conduct field visits as required to verify project activities relative to stated targets and provide regular field updates to UNDP/CO management.
  •  Proactively perform risk assessments to identify and document risks related to the project, including operational, financial, legal, contractual, social, environmental, reputation and safety risks.
  • Design mitigation measures and keep appropriate project governing bodies informed.
  • Develop and complete regular reviews of risk management matrix for the project.
  • Coordinate the preparation of corporate, donor and government reports in line with the reporting schedule and UNDP and donor requirements.
  • Ensure provision of ad hoc reports and information requested by relevant entities.
  • Ensure proper operational and financial closure of the project.
Lead knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic area( 
  • Identify capacity building needs and opportunities. Ensure appropriate training and other
  • relevant capacity building activities are organized and implemented in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia. Lead workshops with senior level officials and stakeholders.
  • Proactively identify and pursue opportunities for the documentation and communication of best practices, programme results, and lessons learned under the project.
  • Actively participate in and make substantive contributions to external networks and communities of practice to promote advocacy for UNDP’s work and opportunities for collaboration in addressing development trends. Represent UNDP in relevant technical meetings and working groups under the direction of CO management.
  • Support establishment of knowledge platforms and innovative mechanisms for capturing and disseminating knowledge from the project; and ensure development of knowledge resources

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization

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Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Manage and Supervise Project Personnel
Competencies
  • Core Competencies:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion interagency collaboration

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Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

  • CrossFunctional & Technical competencies: 
Business ManagementPortfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of businessasusual, while optimizing return on investment
Business Direction and StrategySystem Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Business ManagementPartnerships management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
Business ManagementProject Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
Partnership ManagementRelationship Management : Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding
Business ManagementCommunication: Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and unambiguously, both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
  • Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalenin Agronomic Sciences, Environment and/or Natural Resources Management, Civil Engineering, Urban planning, Social Sciences or discipline relevant to Disaster Reduction, Development Studies or other relevant fields is required. OR
  • A firstlevel university degree (bachelor’s degrein the areas statedabove in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
  • Minimum of 10 years (with master’s degreor 12 years (with bachelor’s degreof progressively responsible experience working in an advisory capacity on Civil Engineering, Urban planning or Disaster Risk Reduction and recovery issues, including relevant field experience, especially in strengthening resilience to the effects of climate change is required.
  • Proven records of drafting strategic and policy papers are desired.
  • Extensive experience and knowledge of several policy areas, including in urban planning/DRR and urban resilience programme formulation is an asset.
  • At least 5 years of demonstrated exposure to natural disaster or postdisaster and recovery management processes is desired.
  • Proven experience in interacting with senior stakeholders including government officials, national institutions, and donors is desired.
  • Proven experience and knowledge of Chad and knowledge of municipal and provincial dynamics is an asset.

Language:

  • Proficiency in oral and written French is required.
  • Proficiency in oral and written English is an asset.
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Disclaimer
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Nondiscrimination
UNDP has a zerotolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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