SENIOR RELATIONS AND LIAISON ASSISTANT, Nairobi, Kenya

## SENIOR RELATIONS AND LIAISON ASSISTANT, Nairobi, Kenya - Organization:UN-Habitat - United Nations Human Settlements Programme - Office:UN-Habitat Nairobi Organizational Setting and Reporting The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty. UN-Habitat’s Global Knowledge and Advocacy Division (GKAD) is responsible for strategic planning, programmatic direction and operationalization of UN-Habitat's focal point role for the New Urban Agenda in the UN system; knowledge management; data and reporting; innovation; resource mobilization; and strategic partnerships. This position is located in the Events Unit, Communications and Media Section, of the Global Knowledge and Advocacy Division (GKAD) at the Nairobi duty station and provides support across the organization. The Section communicates UN-Habitat’s key messages to stakeholders and partners, creates awareness on urban issues and promotes UN-Habitat’s work and knowledge globally. The post aligns with the broader strategy to make UN-Habitat more effective in convening governments, cities, UN agencies, and partners through high-level events that advance sustainable urban development. It supports meaningful stakeholder engagement, clear communication, and the coordination of event agendas in line with key priorities such as the SDG 11, while also facilitating dialogue, partnerships, and follow-up actions that help translate global urban policy commitments into practical implementation. Within delegated authority, the Senior Relations and Liaison Assistant will be responsible for the following duties: - Assists the Head of Office in establishing and maintaining constructive, cooperative working relationships with host country authorities, government ministries, diplomatic missions, and UN Secretariat departments, agencies, funds, and programmes relevant to UN-Habitat's mandate on sustainable urbanization and human settlements. - Facilitates UN-Habitat's compliance with Host Country Agreements, Memoranda of Understanding, and applicable diplomatic protocols; supports senior management in addressing provisions relating to organizational entitlements and UN staff privileges and immunities. - Maintains primary contacts with national, regional, and local government officials; coordinates follow-up on pending policy, regulatory, and operational matters that may affect UN-Habitat's programme delivery and host country relations. - Collects, registers, and maintains up-to-date information on government, local authority, and international developments including urban policy reforms, national housing strategies, land governance changes, and UN reform processes that may have a political or operational impact on the office's relationship with the host government. - Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with civil society organizations, NGOs, private sector partners, educational institutions, professional associations, and media entities; projects and fosters the image and mandate of UN-Habitat at national, regional, and local levels. - Liaises directly with government partners and implementing counterparts to provide requested information, share programme updates, and ensure timely follow-up on pending issues related to urban development, housing, and human settlements programming. - Prepares a broad range of diplomatic, protocol, and official correspondence including Notes Verbales, official letters, aide-mémoires, and briefing notes for submission to or receipt from host country authorities and UN counterparts. - Drafts institutional speeches, press releases, meeting talking points, and meeting reports for senior UN-Habitat officials; incorporates data analysis and visualization tools such as dashboards, charts, and summary analytics to support reporting and informed decision-making. - Supports the organization of high-level visits, bilateral meetings, outreach programmes, and institutional events; coordinates logistics, briefing materials, and protocol arrangements for delegations, government counterparts, and UN dignitaries. - Manages external queries and information flows by identifying and anticipating required action; ensures timely and accurate responses to requests from government partners, diplomatic missions, UN entities, and the public. - Assists the supervisor in the preparation and facilitation of workshops, training sessions, seminars, and other meetings related to UN-Habitat's thematic areas, including urban resilience, affordable housing, land rights, and municipal governance. - Supervises and manages assigned team members, providing guidance, oversight, and quality control of work outputs; mentors junior staff in protocol, liaison practices, and stakeholder engagement. - Drafts routine correspondence and reports, prepares tables, background material, and documentation for use in discussions, briefing sessions, inter-agency coordination meetings, and donor engagements. - Assists with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making. - Assists with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures. - Performs other duties as assigned. PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to perform a broad range of administrative functions, e.g., budget/work programme, human resources, database management, etc.; ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial and human resources rules and regulations in work situations; ability to perform analysis, modelling and interpretation of data in support of decision-making; shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. 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. 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. Completion of high school diploma or equivalent is required. Supplementary training in International Relations, Law, Public Administration, Diplomacy, Foreign Affairs, Business Administration or a related field is desirable. Job - Specific Qualification A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in liaison, protocol, external relations, public affairs, communication or related fields supporting senior management within an international organization, diplomatic mission, or similar institution