Programme Coordination Expert

Result of Service

The objective of the consultancy is to provide substantial support to sound project management, financial and administrative management of the implementation and monitoring of core activities across all Durable Solutions Programmes and Project to contribute to further profiling of the Durable Solutions Portfolio within the Somalia Programme.

Work Location

Nairobi

Expected duration

12 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the United Nations 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 housing and shelter for all. As the United Nations focal point on human settlements, UN-Habitat will lead advocacy efforts to raise awareness of sustainable urbanization issues; provide evidence-based policy advice; build capacities; develop tools, norms and standards based on best practices; work on demonstration projects and aid national and subnational governments, local authorities, and other public institutions responsible for urban issues. To enable it to respond to the challenges and opportunities of 21st Century cities and human settlement in a more holistic way, and to address one of the most significant areas of need in developing countries; With its Strategic Plan for the period 2026-2029, UN-Habitat introduces a strategic focus on access to adequate housing, land and basic services for all, including the urgent transformation of informal settlements and slums. It includes a more cohesive response to displacement and addresses access to adequate housing, land and basic services for a more integrated response with all actors involved, to localize and enable solutions for migrants, refugees and internally displaced people. using urban and territorial planning and multilevel governance. Somalia is at a critical juncture with an estimated number of 3.9 million internally displaced persons (IDPs); also, with a confluence of both new and protracted displacement adversely impacting the humanitarian, development and peacebuilding goals of the country. Between 2022 and 2024, Somalia was one of the pilot countries of the Secretary General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement and its push for government-led, development-anchored and development-financed solutions. In November 2024, the Federal Government of Somalia launched the National Solutions Pathways Action Plan (2024 – 2029) to provide durable solutions to approximately one million internally displaced persons (IDPs) across 33 key districts and with a projected budget of USD 2.09 billion. The plan focuses on six priority areas (pathways) and accompanied by an M&E framework. The need for long-term investment in the Pathways Action Plan has also been emphasized in the country’s new five-year National Transformation Plan launched in March 2025. In early 2025, a new National Centre for Rural Development and Durable Solutions (NCRDS) was established under the Ministry of the Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation (MoIFAR). The IDP Bill has been passed by Parliament. The principal relationship between NCRDS and the National Commission for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRI) has been clarified by MoIFAR with NCRDS advocating, coordinating and overseeing durable solutions programmes and leading technical working group discussions. Federal Member States (FMS) have active Durable Solutions Working Groups in place. The IDP Progress Survey has been introduced by the government as a monitoring and evaluating tool to measure area-based progress on solutions pathways as outlined in the National Solutions Pathways Action Plan. Somalia has also been heavily impacted by the sharp decrease in humanitarian and traditional donor funding despite continued humanitarian needs. An Area-Based Coordination (ABC) operational coordination platform was put in place in January 2025 as part of the Humanitarian Reset Agenda. A draft UN operational framework upon Durable Solutions was developed in 2025. The revised architecture reflects upon the importance of decentralized coordination and localization, especially in operational coordination at the lowest administrative level. Through these efforts, the Somalia Programme aims to support displacement-affected communities and local authorities in advancing durable solutions through inclusive governance, improved access to basic services, strengthened livelihoods, solutions for adequate housing and sustainable urban development interventions. To support the effective implementation of the Somalia Country Programme and the delivery of integrated durable solutions programming, UN-Habitat is seeking a qualified and experienced Programme Coordination Expert to contribute to aligned programme design, coordination, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of Durable Solutions for Displacement Affected Communities across all programmes and projects in Somalia. The Programme Coordination Expert will work under the direct supervision of the Head of Programmes, Somalia Programme, and will closely collaborates with the respective project team members working on Durable Solutions programmes and projects. Responsibilities: Under the contractual assignments, the Individual Contractor will be responsible for the following duties: - Support and lead on the overall coordination and day-to-day management of Durable Solutions Programmes and project activities, ensuring smooth implementation of workplans and timely alignment of tasks among partners and stakeholders. - Closely coordinate with responsible project leads from UN partners in joint Durable Solutions Programmes/projects; similar with the assigned Durable Solutions and Community Engagement Expert of the Somalia Programme to ensure a coherent and streamlined strong UN-Habitat approach in partnerships and networking. - Monitor progress, analyze implementation challenges, and propose corrective actions. Ensure timely follow-up with relevant stakeholders. - Assist in the coordination and management of Agreements of Corporation with UN-Habitat’s implementing partners, supporting the preparation/drafting, execution, review and follow-up of documentation in collaboration with the assigned counterparts and programme/project team members. - Contribute to the planning, execution and reconciliation of direct implementation activities in close coordination with assigned field teams and finance/administration team. - Provide advice and support to resolve operational issues as they arise. - Support coordination of planning, budgeting, and reporting processes by compiling inputs from partners and programme/project teams, tracking implementation progress, and assisting in the preparation of programme documents and updates for regular meetings and for timely preparation of required reporting documents at programme and project levels. - Facilitate coordination among implementing partners, technical teams, and government actors to support coherent delivery of durable solutions activities and ensure alignment with agreed priorities and frameworks. - Provide support to drafting of ToR for external consultants and follow ups for contractual documentation. - Undertake field missions to durable solutions project locations, providing guidance to external consultants, government officials, and other stakeholders while preparing mission reports and summaries. - Assist in and coordinate budget-related activities, including programme/project funding proposals, work planning, and preparation of key budget-related documents in close collaboration with Programme Management Unit and Programme Coordination Unit. - Provide substantial support for cordial coordination and communication with donors and government counterparts; for example, in preparation and documentation of Project Steering Committee sessions. - Provide technical support for Durable Solutions Programming, for example in drafting concept notes and profiling project documentation. - Provide advice on and support visibility and communication activities to promote Durable Solutions in close coordination with the assigned Communications Expert at the Sub-Regional Unit Horn and Eastern Africa. - Perform any other duties under the Durable Solutions portfolio when required.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in International Studies, Development Studies, or social sciences relevant to development and management of human settlements or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with additional two years of relevant qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in project coordination or related field is required. Experience in project management including coordination of complex multi-partner and multi-sector projects, preferably in the field of migration, durable solutions for displacement affected communities, crises response, preparedness and resilience in urban management is required. Prior experience working in Somalia with UN agencies or similar multilateral institutions is desirable. Experience working with government counterparts, local authorities, and multi-stakeholder coordination mechanisms is desirable.

Languages

Strong written and oral skills in English is a required. Fluency in Somali language is desirable

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.