Mar 30, UN-HABITAT Landscape Architect/Designer Jobs in Kenya

Brief Background of the Project

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the agency for human settlements mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. UN-Habitat supports the urban poor by contributing to the transformation of cities into safer, healthier, greener places with better opportunities where everyone can live with dignity.

As part of its mandate, the UN-Habitat implements various normative interventions for sustainable urbanization in Kenya. The European Union (EU) Delegation in Kenya promoting EU values and interests, focusing on peace, people, prosperity, the planet and partnership is funding the joint programme, Partnership Implementing the New Urban Agenda – PINUA, in housing designed and to be delivered by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Government of Kenya (GoK). PINUA is designed to address housing supply gaps, through a roadmap for learning, finetuning and piloting that will allow GoK to access success and scale-up.

The increased demand for dwelling places due to rapid urbanisation at 4.3 % p.a. and in the absence of new major streams of housing supply, is mainly driven by rural-urban migration, deepening the housing crisis in urban areas. The situation is exacerbated by the housing sector products which are characterized by inadequate affordable housing, negligible urban housing ownership, widespread shanty dwelling units and squatter settlements.

The Government of Kenya estimates that the investment requirements to meet housing demand over 20 years is up to USD 90 billion. Most households in Kenya cannot afford the rent or mortgage offered by the private sector. Consequently, in 2016, there were only 24,085 mortgage loans in Kenya with an average loan size of Kshs.9.1 million (Central Bank Kenya). The informal sector and individual homeowners generate the bulk of housing units, many funded through cooperatives which are immensely successful in Kenya, owning vast parcels of land and a huge asset base pooled from over 14 million members’ contributions.

Currently, there are over 1,980 housing cooperatives with an asset base of KES 21 billion. The Kenya Vision 2030 blue-print projects that cooperative movements have the capacity to contribute 25% of the housing stock in urban areas within the country. This well-established cooperative landscape is not fully utilised to facilitate private public partnerships and finance solutions for affordable homeowner-led housing and for the improvement of small-medium suppliers.

Limited approaches to blended financing that will support the homeowner-led incremental housing and related green supply chains will be a key area in which PINUA will pilot a socially and economically viable, government endorsed Kenyan model to be anchored on the Affordable Housing Programme and will contribute towards post pandemic recovery through community-led slum upgrading initiatives including participatory and inclusive neighborhood level planning and mainstreaming of Community Managed Funds (CMF) as a pro-poor upgrading approach.

The neighbourhood planning process allows for cooperation between the communities who live in the settlement and the County Government, who have the mandate for physical planning. The ‘negotiated’ plans will set stage for implementation of priority infrastructure projects (drainage, access roads/alleys, water and sanitation reticulation, etc.).

PINUA’s Overall objective is inclusive, green and resilient urbanisation in Kenya while the Strategic objective is upscaling of adequate housing and communities’ eco-co-production unlocked to achieve the following outcomes:

Improved enabling environment for Housing Co-production from the Public Sector

Communities are more resilient and proactive eco co-producers In 2012, UN-Habitat launched its Global Public Space Programme, now active in more than 100 cities across the world, with the objective to promote public spaces as the cornerstone for sustainable cities in order to ensure good quality of life for all.

The Global Public Space Programme adopts a consolidated and integrated approach to public space improvement across UN-Habitat. Over the last seven years, an iterative approach to

public space has been developed that includes a variety of normative and operational tools, methodologies and practices that support local and national governments and other partners to make public spaces safer, more inclusive, accessible and green.

This includes public space assessments, policy guides, strategies and design principles, capacity building, participatory tools, technology and innovation projects and carrying out advocacy work and actual implementation. The Slum Upgrading Department (SUD) in the State Department for Housing and Urban Development (SDHUD) through KISIP identified 23 slums in 12 counties for community led housing development.

PINUA intends to work with the SUD on selected pilot sites in Nairobi and Kisumu Counties suitable to demonstrate attempts to bridge gaps in affordable housing by providing solutions in a way of coordination, monetary capital as well as building human capacities among the local community in delivery of housing in the selected settlements.

Further, PINUA will be promoting inclusive and sustainable access to public utilities and services by training community members in grassroots organizing techniques and mobilizing residents to actively participate in advocacy efforts and community improvement projects.

Purpose of the assignment

This assignment aims to engage a skilled Landscape Architect/Designer for the revitalization of the existing public spaces at the Shauri Yake settlement. The project encompasses public space design, technical drawings, construction, site supervision, and support for contract management. Situated in Muhoroni, a town within Kisumu County, Kenya, with an urban population of approximately 31,148 people, the assignment requires a professional capable of delivering impactful upgrades to the public space.

Under the administrative and programmatic guidance of the Programme Manager, the Landscape Architect/Designer will play a pivotal role in achieving the following objectives:

Engage in public consultations, conducting individual meetings and community sessions to identify and prioritize project interventions based on community needs, available resources, and the potential impacts of proposed interventions.

Design the public space with a focus on community needs aiming for an inclusive, safe and accessible public space.

Develop sketches, sections and plans using computer-aided design programs.

Prepare specifications, project costing, review shop drawings, and provide construction administration support.

Analyze environmental reports, incorporating acquired knowledge into designs and plans.

Understand the implications of proposed designs in for social, economic and environmental impacts at the project level,

Ensuring compliance through formal processes and approvals from relevant authorities.

Coordinate role players, meetings, and procedures, facilitating the integration and dissemination of project information.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Landscape Architecture, Landscape Design, Urban Design, Architecture, Engineering or related field is required.

A first-level university degree in Landscape Architecture, Landscape Design, Urban Design, Architecture, Engineering or related field in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in architecture, construction, public space, and landscape design in the context of human settlement/ urban development sectors is required.

Experience working in an international organization/ non-governmental organization is highly desirable.

Proficiency in CAD, Photoshop, Sketchup and rendering software experience is desirable.

Knowledge of landscape architecture disciplines or practices including the ability to apply appropriate methods, procedures and techniques within a defined context is desirable.

Languages

Fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of the local dialect is highly desirable.

How to Apply

For more information and job application details, see; UN-HABITAT Landscape Architect/Designer Jobs in Kenya

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