The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the UN agency dedicated to sustainable human settlements and adequate shelter for all, is actively working towards a more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable urban future.
Established by the UN General Assembly, UN-Habitat supports nations in building socially and environmentally sustainable communities where everyone can thrive.
In Nigeria, UN-Habitat’s efforts align with its global mission by working closely with local mechanisms, governments, and development partners to integrate sustainable housing and urban development into national policies, programmes, and operations.
Displacement and Urbanization in Nigeria
Nigeria faces one of the most complex internal displacement crises in Africa. For over a decade, conflict in the North-East has led to massive population displacement.
In more recent years, insecurity and climate pressures in the North-West and North-Central regions have further exacerbated the situation.
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According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM):
- In the North-East, 2,305,335 individuals across 472,239 households are internally displaced (DTM Round 46).
- In the North-Central and North-West, an additional 1,092,196 people are displaced (DTM Round 13, March 2024), across Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Nasarawa, Plateau, Sokoto, and Zamfara States.
In the North-East alone, about 40% of IDPs reside in camps or camp-like settings, while the remaining 60% are hosted within local communities.
The main drivers of displacement include armed insurgency, intercommunal violence, natural disasters such as flooding and drought, and tensions between farming and herding communities.
These conflicts are often tied to deeper issues such as land disputes, shrinking natural resources, and ethnic/religious tensions.
Despite regional differences, the challenges faced by displaced populations across the North are largely similar: limited access to basic services, poverty, social exclusion, vulnerability, and challenges around land use, livelihoods, and rights to services.
In the North-West, this crisis is made worse by environmental stress, climate change, and recurring violence—particularly involving inter-communal and inter-regional disputes.
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The SIDPIN Initiative: A Joint Response to a Complex Crisis
To help address these challenges, UN-Habitat, in collaboration with IOM and UNHCR, has launched the “Sustainable Urban Integration of Displaced Populations in Northern Nigeria (SIDPIN)” programme. Funded by the European Commission, this joint initiative is being implemented in Kano, Adamawa, and Yobe States.
SIDPIN aims to deliver durable, local solutions for displaced populations through urban integration, focusing especially on women and children.
The programme takes a multi-scale, area-based planning approach that prioritizes local ownership, inclusivity, and sustainability, ensuring that the results can be replicated and scaled across Nigeria and beyond.
About the Role: Programme Associate – SIDPIN Project
To support implementation efforts at the state level, UN-Habitat is recruiting a Programme Associate to work under the SIDPIN programme in Damaturu (Yobe State) and Yola (Adamawa State).
Organizational Context
This role is part of the UN-Habitat Regional Office for Africa, coordinated through the West Africa Sub-Regional Hub in Dakar, Senegal.
The Programme Associate will report directly to the Senior Technical Advisor (STA) based in Yola or Damaturu, with additional coordination support from Kano and technical guidance from Abuja.
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Key Responsibilities
As a Programme Associate, you will play a vital role in ensuring the smooth implementation of the SIDPIN project at the state level. Your duties will include:
- Supporting the field-level execution and monitoring of UN-Habitat project outputs under SIDPIN.
- Coordinating technical support, stakeholder engagement, and capacity-building activities among local authorities and partners.
- Supporting awareness and dissemination of the EU programme objectives and the Spatial Development Strategy for the Sahel (SDSS).
- Assisting with project evaluations, data collection, and field surveys.
- Preparing materials for workshops, presentations, and official meetings with national stakeholders and technical committees.
- Supporting the HAPSO Nigeria team in project development and resource mobilization efforts by engaging with government and development partners.
- Participating in field missions, training workshops, community meetings, and collaborative activities.
- Assisting in planning, reporting, budgeting, and documentation for project-related initiatives.
- Contributing to knowledge-sharing and outreach through reports, presentations, and engagement with civil society.
- Carrying out other related duties as needed.
What We’re Looking For
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree (B.Sc.) in Urban and Regional Planning, Urban Design, Geography, or a related field.
- Relevant professional certification or affiliation (e.g. NITP, TOPREC, NREP) is an advantage.
Experience
- Minimum of six months of relevant experience in urban planning, WASH, or related development projects.
- Proven experience working with cross-sectoral teams and community-based initiatives.
- Familiarity with the New Urban Agenda, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UN-Habitat’s core mandates.
- Skills in data collection, analysis, and reporting for project monitoring.
- Experience supporting government relations, technical workshops, and field coordination.
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Why Join Us?
By joining UN-Habitat’s SIDPIN programme, you’ll be contributing to one of the most meaningful causes in Nigeria—helping displaced individuals find dignity, security, and opportunity in urban spaces.
You’ll be part of a dynamic international team committed to sustainability, innovation, and inclusive development.
Apply here
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