National Consultant – Field Coordination

Effective and timely implementation of the South Sudan component of the EU Operational Support to the IGAD Platform in Aweil and surrounding areas, supported by coordinated field activities, meaningful stakeholder and community engagement, reliable field data and progress reporting, and strengthened local capacities in spatial planning, housing, land and property rights, and area-based durable solutions.

Aweil

6 months

BACKGROUND The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the United Nations agency mandated by the General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities, with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. In October 2016, at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), Member States adopted the New Urban Agenda, an action-oriented framework that sets global standards for sustainable urban development and guides how cities are planned, managed, and lived in. Through partnerships with governments and other stakeholders, UN-Habitat advances sustainable urbanization, inclusive governance, climate resilience, and access to adequate housing, land, and basic services. UN-Habitat, in partnership with UNHCR, is implementing the EU Operational Support to the IGAD Platform, a regional programme covering Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, and the IGAD region. The programme aims to strengthen the capacity of governments, institutions, and communities to address the challenges associated with forced displacement, return movements, and rapid urbanization, while promoting sustainable development and resilience. South Sudan continues to face complex humanitarian and development challenges driven by protracted displacement, climate-related shocks, rapid urban growth, and limited institutional capacities. In response, the programme supports integrated approaches that strengthen governance systems, advance housing, land and property (HLP) rights, empower local communities, and improve access to climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable services. Within South Sudan, the programme places particular emphasis on supporting displacement-affected communities and host populations in Aweil, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State. Through a long term urban and humanitarian-development nexus approach, the programme seeks to enhance institutional and community capacities to manage displacement and return dynamics while fostering inclusive, climate-resilient, and sustainable urban development. Interventions focus on improving local planning processes, strengthening land governance, promoting durable solutions, and supporting sustainable service delivery that contribute to social cohesion, resilience, and long-term development outcomes. To support the effective implementation of the South Sudan component of the EU Operational Support to the IGAD Platform, UN-Habitat seeks to engage a National Field Officer (Individual Contractor) based in Aweil, South Sudan. Under the guidance of the International Project Manager, the National Field Officer will support field implementation and coordination, provide technical inputs, facilitate stakeholder and community engagement, and support alignment of project activities with area-based durable solutions approaches.. The incumbent will play a key role in ensuring the successful implementation of the South Sudan component of the EU Operational Support to the IGAD Platform in Aweil and surrounding areas. Responsibilities This position is based in Aweil, South Sudan, within the Regional Office for Africa and the Sub-Regional Unit for Horn and Eastern Africa for UN-Habitat. Under the direct supervision of the International Project Manager based in Juba, South Sudan, and with technical guidance from the International Coordinator based in Nairobi, Kenya, the National Field Officer will undertake the following tasks: Field Coordination and Partnerships • Prepare regular field progress reports for the International Project Manager, with inputs to the International Coordinator as required, covering activities completed, progress against planned outputs, implementation challenges, lessons learned and recommended follow-up actions. • Serve as UN-Habitat’s field focal point in Aweil, maintaining regular communication with state and local authorities, communities, implementing partners and the Juba-based programme team. • Maintain effective working relationships with government counterparts, UNHCR, IOM and other partners, and participate in area-based coordination meetings in Aweil and surrounding areas to support coordinated implementation. • Participate in relevant field-level coordination forums, technical meetings and stakeholder consultations, and represent UN-Habitat when designated by the International Project Manager. Programme Implementation and Field Support • Coordinate field activities and support project missions in Aweil and other designated project locations in South Sudan, providing technical, operational and logistical support in collaboration with government counterparts, communities and humanitarian and development partners. • Support the implementation, monitoring, and reporting of project activities related to urban development, spatial planning, HLP, land tenure, and durable solutions. • Coordinate field activities with the Team in Juba and/ or with implementing partners, to ensure timely delivery of outputs. • Coordinate with government counterparts, UN agencies, implementing partners, consultants, and other stakeholders to support effective project implementation and partnership engagement. • Monitor progress against approved workplans and project outputs, provide technical inputs within the scope of the assignment, and report implementation issues requiring action by the International Project Manager, including matters relating to donor requirements and UN-Habitat standards • Organize and facilitate validation workshops, bilateral meetings and coordination sessions with government counterparts, partners and community representatives, and document agreed actions for follow-up. Capacity Building and Data Management • Support and facilitate training and capacity-building activities for local authorities and community stakeholders on spatial planning, HLP rights, land tenure, and participatory planning approaches. • Facilitate gender-responsive community consultations, participatory planning processes and stakeholder engagement, ensuring the meaningful participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities and displacement-affected and host communities. • Ensure that community priorities and feedback are reflected in programme activities and technical outputs • Coordinate data collection, mapping, verification, and validation exercises to support project planning and implementation. • Provide technical support for the preparation and validation of assessments, planning documents, and other project deliverables. • Contribute to the development of guidance materials, tools, and knowledge products that strengthen local institutional capacities. Programme Development Support • Contribute field information, stakeholder feedback and lessons learned to support the development of UN-Habitat’s programmes in South Sudan. • Support the identification of potential funding opportunities and contribute technical inputs to concept notes and funding proposals, under the guidance of the International Project Manager and International Coordinator.

Advanced university degrees (master’s or equivalent) in Urban Planning, Urban Management, Public Administration, Local Governance, Development Studies, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in local governance, field coordination, programme implementation or urban development is required. Experience working with local authorities and communities in South Sudan, including knowledge of local governance structures and the displacement context, is required. Experience working with United Nations agencies, international organizations or multi-partner programmes is desirable. Experience supporting urban development initiatives in humanitarian or displacement settings is desirable.

Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of Dinka is desirable.

Not available.