National Consultant – Field Coordination

The National Consultant – Field Coordination will support the effective and timely implementation of the South Sudan component of the EU Operational Support to the IGAD Platform in Aweil and surrounding areas. The role involves field coordination, stakeholder engagement, technical support in urban development, spatial planning, housing, land and property rights, and durable solutions, contributing to sustainable urbanization and resilience.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Requirements

• 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.

Skills

• Urban Planning
• Urban Management
• Public Administration
• Local Governance
• Development Studies
• Field Coordination
• Programme Implementation
• Urban Development
• Local Governance Structures
• Displacement Contexts
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Technical Support
• Spatial Planning
• Housing rights
• Land rights
• Property rights
• Durable Solutions
• Sustainable Urbanisation
• Resilience
• Experience with UN System
• Experience with International Organizations

Languages

English, Dinka