Position Information

Title: Community Relations Advocate

Position Number:         

Project: QUDSI-R4R     

Reports to: QUDSI-R4R Project Manager

Direct Reports:  N/A

Position Level: SB3/1

Duty Station: Jerusalem

Duration of Initial Contract: 12 months

Expected Duration of Assignment: 12 months

Job Purpose and Organizational Context:

Governments at the 19th Session of the UN-Habitat Governing Council, adopted by consensus resolution 19/18 calling on UN-Habitat to establish a Special Human Settlements Programme for the Palestinian People (SHSPPP) and a Technical Cooperation Trust Fund (TCTF). The long-term development objective of the SHSPPP is to improve the human settlements conditions of the Palestinian People and in so doing contribute in a modest way to reaching peace, security and stability in the region. During the recent 23rd Governing Council, a new resolution was adopted, requesting UN-Habitat "to further focus its operations on planning, land and housing issues in view of improving the housing and human settlement conditions of Palestinians, addressing the urbanization challenges, supporting the building of a Palestinian State, humanitarian action and peace-building, in the areas where there are acute humanitarian and development needs, identified through technical assessments by UN-Habitat in coordination with all concerned parties". 

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the 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 shelter for all. The post is located in the Special Human Settlements Programme for the Palestinian People.  

UN-Habitat is leading the implementation of a 5.5-year EU funded Project: “Quality Urban Development and Sustainable Interventions – Rehabilitation for Revitalization (QUDSI-R4R)” in partnership with local technical and academic entities. The Project aims to improve socio-economic conditions for Palestinians in the Old City of Jerusalem by rehabilitating towards revitalizing historic sites as a catalyst for Palestinian integrated urban regeneration. The activities of the project focus on strengthening the old city’s Palestinian intergovernmental coordination; Rehabilitation and maintenance as well as business development and sustainability of key areas in the Old City; as well as professional capacity building for individuals who work in the Old City’s regeneration, advancing their professional development in several core competencies capable of unlocking new commercial opportunities in the economic sector. In parallel, the project also includes an interconnected track of Technological Empowerment and Innovation directed to Palestinian youth”

Funded by the European Union, UN-Habitat- is seeking a candidate to fill the position of Community Relations Advocate under the overall guidance and the direct supervision of the Project Manager.  As this position is related to QUDSI-R4R project in the occupied Palestinian territory with an expected duration of five and half years, the Service Contract extension will be conditioned to satisfactory performance evaluation as well as availability of funding under the project.

Functions / Key Results Expected/ Responsibilities:

1)     QUDSI R4R community outreach, including youth, tenants, old city residents, shopkeepers, etc. to:

·       Develop and implement advocacy and proper communication strategies for QUDSI R4R project communities, which includes a relevant mapping of (and outreach to) key actors. Accordingly create, update and maintain QUDSI R4R community engagement plan according to the project’s overall workplan.

·       Provide community related case management and advocacy services to QUDSI communities andmembers.

·       Build and maintain relationships with project’s stakeholders and related organizations that can support the implementation and sustainability of the project.

·       Mobilize QUDSI R4R members and community and attract other national as well as international influencers through innovative community engagement strategies and work.

·       Channeling with gender and youth key player to help promote all components of the project

·       Maintain and document regular contact with old city community members in order to keep in touch with their issues

·       Work with family members, tenants, shopkeepers, old city related members, etc. to ease issues before they arise, and resolve complex issues if they arise.

·       Assist both individual community members and QUDSI R4R staff members and partners in achieving their goals, honoring individual rights, and encouraging self-worth.

·       Manage and implement sustainable strategies to engage community members, including creating a system to disseminate information, surveys and trainings to the community.

·       Facilitate and grow partnerships with local, old city community and entities, including educational organizations, economic entities, religious communities, etc.

2)     Event management and visibility in coordination with the communication specialist to support QUDSI R4R project goals and objectives.

·       Coordinate the planning of community involvement activities such as meetings, workshops, events, etc.

·       Develop and implement together with the media, PR and communication specialist a targeted online communication and social media strategy and campaign.

·       Provide outreach to residents to promote positive communication skills.

·       Initiate collaborative opportunities and facilitate meetings in order to achieve QUDSI objectives.

·       Gather and report on detailed community data in order to assist in the project’s effectiveness and community resources.

·       Create and report on surveys related to the community connected with the project vision, disseminate them and report their results. 

·       Assist the team in the community engagement on decision making and ideas elaboration especially related to renovation and/ or landscape component by taking the lead on preparation and conducting such events in coordination with the team.

·       Assist with the capacity building events in coordination with the team, that includes workshops, meetings, trainings, etc.

·       IF and when needed, assist the communication specialist with story writing, articles and other PR production that is related with the community of QUDSI R4R.

3)     He/she has overall responsibility for community engagement activities related to Dar Al Consul Center, that includes:

·       Assist the communication officer in managing the online content including website and social media platform focusing on the community and their needs.

·       Assist Dar Al Consul team in community engagement in their trainings and activities held by the operation team.

4)     He/she will also support any other project-related activities, needs, duties or outcomes as needed/will arise by the UN-Habitat management.

Impact of Results

1.Support rehabilitation work which continues to be provided to generate local economic development and build resilience, especially to women and youth groups within the targeted the Palestinian communities

2.      Develop a formal structure that can effectively lead community change efforts. 

3.     Promotes learning and data-driven decision making, provides quantifiable results to help the involved parties to learn from project successes and challenges and be more adaptive.

Competencies and Selection Criteria:

Core:

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Level 3: Adapts deliverables to meet client needs

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

Level 3: Proactively seeks and recognizes contributions of others

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 3: Appropriately involves team in different stages of work and decision-making

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 3: Expresses information and views with adaptive reasoning and appreciation for complexity and variation

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Level 3: Takes responsibility for addressing critical situations and delivering core value

Technical /Functional:  

Teamwork

Ability to work in harmony with other team members and provide support where needed, and build consensus for task purpose and direction with team members.

Level 3: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work

Accountability

Ability to take ownership for work and honors commitments and deliver outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time cost and quality standards.

Level 3: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work

Knowledge Management and Learning

Ability to shares knowledge and experience. And actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Level 3: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work

Leadership and Self-Management

Ability to Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback. Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude and remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.

Level 3: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Ability to perform a variety of specialized tasks related to Results Management, including support to design, planning and implementation of programme, managing data, reporting.

Ability to provide input to business processes re-engineering, implementation of new system, including new IT based systems. Good knowledge of Results Management Guide and Toolkit.

Level 3: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work

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Education:

A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in social studies, sociology or any other community-related field.

Experience:

·       Minimum of 3 (three) years working experience on community relations advocate related issues.

·       Human rights issues knowledge and background, specifically relating to advocacy, youth, handicapped and women.

·       Strong knowledge of the Jerusalem context, especially the old city and its sensitivities needs, is a must.

·       Familiarity with UN procedures; and UN-Habitat in particular is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in spoken and written English and Arabic; Hebrew language is an asset.

Other:

·       Highly developed verbal and effective written communications skills.

·       A committed, passionate self-starter with creativity and innovative thinking skills

·       Ability to work in team and meet deadlines.

·       Results-oriented, flexible and problem solving skills

·       Has excellent working knowledge on communicating, reaching out and dealing with unique communities

·       Ability to multi-task, prioritize and to work under pressure.

·       Excellent networking and partnering competencies, resource mobilization and negotiation skills would be advantage.

·       Experience with international organization and familiarity with UN conventions would be an asset.

·       Ability to use information technology as an effective tool and resource.

·       Excellent working knowledge of MS Office-Word, Excel, Power Point.

·       Sound judgment, excellent analytical skills, strong networking and interpersonal skills, ability to plan, organize and coordinate work and to cope with a demanding workload is expected.

·       Valid Jerusalem Driver License is an asset. 

Candidates are requested to apply through following link:

https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=106979