Field Coordinator

Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the United Nations programme working towards a better urban future. Its mission is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all. This post is with the Egypt country programme, located in Damietta City, Egypt. Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Urban Governance, Policies and Legislation Programme Manager.

BACKGROUND

UN Habitat in Egypt

Established in 2005, UN-Habitat Egypt Programme has been providing technical support to national counterparts on a wide range of urban issues. Adopting an integrated approach, UN-Habitat Egypt has supported reforming and improving urban planning and management through three main sub-programmes, namely; urban planning and design; urban policies, legislation and governance; and urban basic services and mobility.

Local Development and Urban Policies Economy Programme

The Local Development and Urban Policies Economy Programme in Egypt works towards to tackling the multi-dimensional urbanization context with a special attention to urban management, urban planning, urban economy where all stakeholders are empowered and enabled to engage and play their expected role(s).

Hayenna – Integrated Urban Development Project

In 2018, the Ministry of Housing, Utilities, Urban Communities (MoHUUC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the General Organization for Physical Planning (GOPP), the UN-Habitat and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Cooperation (SECO) signed three different agreements (the project agreement, the separate agreement, and the contract) governing the Hayenna- Integrated Urban Development Project. The project aims at developing a more transparent land management, as well as implementing better-planned and financially sustainable basic infrastructure services that offer an attractive and inclusive alternative to informal settlements and promoting local economic facilities in two pilot Governorates. Qena was selected as the first pilot Governorate. The second pilot governorate will follow benefiting from the lessons learned from the first pilot. The project thereby intervenes in three dimensions: urban planning and design, public finance management and land-based financing, and support to urban legislation and regulation. Project’ interventions take place in two sites in Qena City, al-Humydat and al-Ma’ana and one site in Damietta City, Alshoaara.

In parallel, the Field Coordinator will also support the implementation of a joint UN-Habitat – FAO agreement in Assiut Governorate focused on modernizing irrigation systems, maximizing productivity, and strengthening smallholder tenure capacities. The role will involve community mobilization, coordination of Rural Communities Field Schools, support the topographical survey at the governorate, participate in land consolidation efforts, training facilitation, and value chain development.

Under the supervision of the Local Development and Urban Policies Economy Programme Manager the field coordinator shall play the role of facilitating and coordinating the project activities in addition to supporting the engagement of community members in the relevant project activities on the governorate and local levels. By focusing on relevant participation techniques, approaches and tools, the field coordinator shall liaise between the local community, public officials and UN Habitat team and other stakeholders.

Duties and responsibilities  

The candidate will fulfil the following tasks:

Stakeholders’ identification, orientation and raising awareness on urban and local economic development

1. Support in identifying and suggesting relevant stakeholders based on a clear understanding of the local context, community, and power dynamics in the selected areas.

2. Support in suggesting and defining entry points within the community and with the agreed upon stakeholders. 

3. Organize orientation sessions for respective officials and governmental counterparts mainly local executive councils to ensure common understanding of planning city extensions and inner-city areas.

4. Support in promoting the inclusion of CSOs, private sector and community members, (particularly women and youth) and conduct briefings on the project goal and objective.

5. Assist the associated and relevant stakeholders\ consultants to identify different sources of resources and local resources needed for mobilization.

Enhance the capacity of local officials on urban development, citizen engagement and structural policy dialogue 

1. Participate in the preparation and implementation of the Community Engagement Strategic Framework and its relevant activities 

2. Support the conduction of capacity assessments for local executive councils and NGOs.  

3. Support in preparing and delivering capacity building activities for local administration: including capacity needs assessment, capacity building action plan, shadowing plan and training materials.

4. Link local actors with other local and national experts on issues related to city extensions/inner city areas planning and budgeting.

5. Assist consultants in identifying technical needs and appropriate points of intervention. 

6. Support on undertaking all logistics related to organizing and executing the workshops at local level.

Community Engagement and Smallholder Tenure Mobilization

1. Support in conducting focus group discussions in target villages in Assiut governorate to raise awareness of collective lands, irrigation efficiency, and land use consolidation benefits.

2. Support mobilizing smallholder tenure into inclusive groups, ensuring gender-balanced participation.

3. Support in facilitating exposure visits to successful models of land consolidation and modern irrigation systems.

4. Support in coordinating with local leaders, Water User Associations, Assiut University, and cooperatives to build trust and encourage active participation.

5. Assist in promoting social cohesion and cooperation among beneficiaries to support long-term sustainability.

6. Assist in identifying and selecting eligible smallholder beneficiaries in coordination with local stakeholders.

7. Provide support in organizing tenure into groups for consolidated cropping and shared irrigation systems.

Rural Communities Field Schools (RCFSs) coordination and technical support

1. Support the establishment of RCFSs across targeted communities, ensuring coverage of all selected sites in Assiut governorate.

2. Support in coordinating field-level technical training sessions led by master trainers, extension staff, and ministry of irrigation staff.

3. Follow up on the implementation of GAP, CSR, climate-smart methods, and modern irrigation techniques.

4. Facilitate the documentation of field experiences and support exchange visits among tenure groups.

5. Assist in distributing training materials and reinforcing knowledge through field demonstrations.

Technical Training on Modern Irrigation

1. Assist in organizing and facilitating training sessions on modern irrigation techniques, including drip systems, pressurized irrigation, and/or moisture sensors.

2. Support in coordinating the installation and use of pilot irrigation systems in selected plots for field demonstrations.

3. Gather and report feedback from tenure to improve technology uptake and practical relevance.

4. Support in promoting safe handling, operation, and maintenance of distributed tools and technologies.

Monitoring and Evaluation

1. Following up on different formal correspondence and admin procedures relevant to the project

2. Document and share case studies, anecdotes and lessons learned that are related to project experiences.

3. Provide progress reports on current activities, documenting and analyzing successes and areas of improvement. 

4. Support in monitoring and evaluating the impact of the project interventions, including, and not limited to trainings, and share main lessons learned. 

5. Support in ensuring local media coverage of the project activities 

6. Maintain an up-to-date filing system for documentation related to the planning process at the community level.

• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

• Planning& Organizing:  Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

• Communication:  Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors’ language, tone, style, and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

• Teamwork:  Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Education:

Secondary School certificate or A first level university degree in social studies, political science, business administration, commerce or a development related field is required. 

Experience: 

• Five (5) years of previous experience in the field of development is required or one (1) year for first degree holders. 
• Previous work experience in capacity building/institutional strengthening schemes in the context of development programmes is desirable. 
• Ability to understand, apply and adapt community development concepts and approaches 

• Familiarity in working with local administration units and local communities is an asset.

Language:

Fluency in oral and written Arabic is required. Basic working knowledge of English is required. 

1. Contract type: ICA
2. Contract level: Local ICA Support, level 5
3. Contract duration: 12 months - Fulltime (Renewable according to budget availability and performance satisfactory)

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete)  in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.