Senior Programme Officer, Human Settlements

About the role

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN‑Habitat) is seeking a Senior Programme Officer to lead the Planning & Finance Section within the Global Solutions Division in Nairobi. The incumbent will oversee the development and delivery of normative outputs, coordinate multi‑country projects, and strengthen the team’s expertise in urban finance and local economic development.

Key responsibilities

• Plan, oversee and manage the work programme of the Planning & Finance Section, ensuring timely delivery of activities and coordination with UN‑Habitat units, donors and partners.
• Ensure high‑quality normative outputs are produced in consultation with branches, regional and country offices, and lead the Community of Practice on Planning, Finance and Economy.
• Handle administrative duties including budgeting, performance monitoring, results‑based budgeting inputs, staff recruitment, performance evaluation and capacity building.
• Provide policy guidance on urban and territorial planning, municipal finance and local economic development, and contribute to programme development and implementation.
• Support country and regional offices in designing programmes, partnerships with International Finance Institutions, and preparing position papers for intergovernmental bodies.
• Represent UN‑Habitat at inter‑agency meetings, seminars and international conferences, and lead data collection and analysis for evidence‑based planning.

Required profile

• Demonstrated professionalism with deep knowledge of urban planning, finance and economic development, and ability to produce technical reports and edit others’ work.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to tailor messages to diverse audiences.
• High accountability, taking ownership of responsibilities, meeting deadlines and delivering results under pressure.