Result of Service

Outputs: 1. Support to Cambodia's National Smart City Strategy (NSCS) (throughout contract) Deliverables: Provide technical and project management support to the finalization and government endorsement of the National Smart City Strategy (NSCS), including consolidation of revisions, preparation of strategic presentation materials, and coordination of consultations and meetings in close collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, UN-Habitat and the in-country consultant. 2. Support to Development Account 18 (DA18) – Inclusive Smart Cities: Empowering Gender-Responsive Digital Urban Transformation (throughout contract) Deliverables: Provide technical and project management support to ESCAP’s implementation responsibilities under DA187, in collaboration with UN-Habitat as the lead entity, including coordination and engagement with partners, preparation of strategic documentation, presentations and knowledge outputs, and support to the planning and delivery of project activities, technical workshops and knowledge exchange initiatives. 3. Support to 2026 / 2027 Asia-Pacific Mayors Academy (throughout contract) Deliverables: Provide technical and project management support to ESCAP’s implementation responsibilities under the 2026 / 2027 Asia-Pacific Mayors Academy, in collaboration with UN-Habitat, including coordination and engagement with partners as it relates to module delivery, mayors’ initiatives and graduation ceremony, including breakout group and/or ad-hoc module support, preparation of initiative posters, planning and organizing graduation ceremony together with UN-Habitat. 4. Support to Urban Resilience (Section 23) (throughout contract) Deliverables:Provide technical and project management support to the implementation of the Urban Resilience component of Section 23, including coordination and engagement with partners, preparation of strategic documentation, presentations and knowledge outputs, and support the planning and delivery of project activities, knowledge exchange initiatives and in-country technical workshops and consultations. 5. Ad-hoc support to Environment and Development Division (throughout contract) Deliverables: Provide ad-hoc support including logistical coordination for meetings, webinars, and workshops (virtual/hybrid/in-person) related to the projects’ topics, including outside of project delivery; support coordination with partners, speakers, and participants; as well as assist in managing invitations, attendance tracking, and follow-ups How are the outputs to be delivered?

All outputs are to be delivered to the project manager by email in PDF, MS word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint to produce technical documents. Raw files for data in respective format should also be made available

Work Location

work in-person

Expected duration

20 July 26-30 Apr 27

Duties and Responsibilities

Purpose: The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) serves as the most inclusive intergovernmental platform in the region, supporting 53 member States and 9 associate members in advancing inclusive and sustainable development. ESCAP fulfils this mandate by convening regional dialogue, facilitating cooperation, delivering technical assistance and capacity-building, and generating knowledge products that inform evidence-based policymaking. Through its Environment and Development Division, ESCAP supports member States in addressing complex and interconnected urban, environmental and governance challenges while accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. Within this framework, the Sustainable Urban Development Section is implementing an integrated portfolio of initiatives focused on resilient, inclusive and digitally enabled urban development. ESCAP continues to provide technical support to the Ministry of Interior of Cambodia to advance the finalization and implementation of Cambodia's National Smart City Strategy. Building on earlier support provided through the Section 23 Smart Cities initiative, these efforts are being carried forward through the 18th tranche Development Account project, Inclusive Smart Cities: Empowering Gender-Responsive Digital Urban Transformation, which ESCAP is implementing in collaboration with UN-Habitat. Through this initiative, ESCAP works with national and local government partners in Cambodia to strengthen the integration of gender equality, digital inclusion and participatory governance within the National Smart City Strategy and its implementation framework, while advancing a national approach to integrated, technology-enabled, climate-resilient and inclusive urban development at the subnational level. Beyond Cambodia, the project also supports national and local governments in Bangladesh and Lao PDR to integrate gender equality, digital inclusion and participatory governance into smart city planning and implementation frameworks. Moreover, ESCAP is supporting the delivery of the 2026 / 2027 class of Asia-Pacific Mayors Academy, delivering online learning modules to a cohort of mayors with an expected completion in September 2026 in collaboration with UN-Habitat. ESCAP will be responsible for coordinating the mayors' initiatives, supporting delivery of selected learning modules and organizing the graduation ceremony. ESCAP is also advancing a regional urban resilience agenda to strengthen the capacity of national and local governments to anticipate, withstand and adapt to climate, environmental and disaster-related risks. Through policy development, technical assistance, knowledge exchange and capacity-building activities, these efforts support more resilient, inclusive and sustainable urban development pathways across the Asia-Pacific region. The purpose of this assignment is to provide technical, analytical and coordination support across these interlinked workstreams to ensure coherent implementation, effective stakeholder engagement, high-quality knowledge outputs and timely delivery of results. The Individual Contractor will support research, documentation, workshop coordination, partner engagement and interagency collaboration to advance the objectives of the Sustainable Urban Development Section. Additional tasks may be assigned as required to ensure effective and timely delivery of programme outputs. Objective: Under the direct supervision of the Project Lead and the overall guidance of the Chief of the Sustainable Urban Development Section (SUDS), the Individual Contractor will provide technical, analytical and coordination support to ESCAP’s portfolio of resilient and sustainable urban development initiatives. The assignment will contribute to the effective implementation of projects focused on smart city development, digital inclusion, urban resilience, local government capacity-building and regional knowledge exchange. The contractor will support research, stakeholder coordination, workshop delivery, documentation, monitoring and the preparation of technical and policy-oriented knowledge products across multiple interlinked workstreams. The role is intended to strengthen coherence, quality assurance and timely delivery of outputs under the Section 23 Smart Cities initiative, Development Account 18 on Inclusive Smart Cities, the Asia-Pacific Mayors Academy and the Urban Resilience programme.

Qualifications/special skills

Master’s degree in urban planning, environment, public policy, geography, sustainable development, social sciences, or related discipline. Experience in sustainable urban development, such as smart cities development, or a similar field, including supporting research, developing communications product such as branding, infographics, and flyers, coordinating workshops, or webinars, and contributing to knowledge products. Good command of design software such as Canva, Adobe Suite and other design tools.

Languages

Fluent in English, in both writing and speaking.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Individual Contractor for Sustainable Urban Development