Result of Service

The ultimate result of this assignment is to provide strategic and technical support to sustainable post-conflict recovery and urbanization of settlements in Azerbaijan, including the implementation and localization of the SDG’s and New Urban Agenda.

Work Location

Baku, Azerbaijan

Expected duration

6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING About UN-Habitat: The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable and resilient towns and cities. It is the focal point agency for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. UN-Habitat envisions well-planned, well-governed and efficient cities and towns, with adequate housing, infrastructure and universal access to employment and basic services such as water, energy, and sanitation. Responding to crisis and post-crisis context is part of UN-Habitat’s mandate and Strategic Plan 2026-2029. UN-Habitat in Azerbaijan: UN-Habitat is supporting the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan by providing technical advisory services to national counterparts, aimed at promoting inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable urban development. This technical assistance includes normative and planning activities, the development of national policies, urban reconstruction and rehabilitation in conflict-affected areas, climate adaptation and capacity-building through the exchange of innovative practices that foster sustainable urban communities. UN-Habitat’s Country Office collaborates closely with the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture (SCUPA) to support its National Urban Forums in Azerbaijan (NUFAs) and engagements in global initiatives. UN-Habitat’s engagement is aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2026-2030, including implementation of the SDGs and the New Urban Agenda. The Regional Programme Division (RPD) is the operational arm of UN-Habitat supporting regional and country-level implementation, ensuring coherent, demand-driven and coordinated assistance across Member States. It brings together the Urban Lab programme, the Regular Programme of Technical Cooperation (RPTC), and the Inter-Regional Advisors to enhance collaboration with field offices and improve the effectiveness of technical cooperation and programme delivery. The Regional Advisory & Projects Support Section is responsible for providing cross-cutting technical assistance, quality assurance and operational support to Regional and Country Offices through the development and delivery of climate and environment-related projects, the formulation of proposals and engagement with vertical funds, with particular emphasis on supporting Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to strengthen access to expertise, financing and capacity for sustainable urban development and climate resilience. The Urban Lab is the integrative facility of the Agency where innovative processes and partnerships are translated into tangible and transformative solutions to complex urban challenges. Throughout, the Urban Lab acts as a neutral broker, managing knowledge in complex stakeholder settings to resolve multi-sectoral, multi-scalar and multi-stakeholder challenges. The Urban Lab brings together a multidisciplinary team of urban planners, environmental, data-science, mobility, legal and financial experts, providing a holistic and proactive approach to sustainable urbanization. In this context, the Urban Lab applies an integrated approach to systemic and strategic planning to deliver transformative change for sustainable urbanization and to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda. The Lab is currently working on concrete projects joining international and local expertise in more than 60 countries and 80 cities in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia. The Urban Lab serves as the cornerstone of the Global Network of Planning and Design Labs, an initiative supported by member states during the 25th Governing Council of UN-Habitat. Rationale and context to the consultancy The Government of Azerbaijan’s State Programme on the Great Return to the Liberated Territories of Azerbaijan outlines the ambitious reconstruction plan of the Garabagh and East Zangezur Economic Regions and the resettlement of over 640,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). UN-Habitat has been called upon to support the recovery of the region through the implementation of strategic and technical interventions promoting a smart, resilient and inclusive reconstruction of human settlements. A Regional Plan of the conflict-affected areas was adopted in mid-2022, outlining the settlement patterns and areas for local planning, including urban and rural settlements, key infrastructure, a phasing strategy etc. The Regional Plan assesses the area’s main economic, geographical and environmental development potential, as well as the needs for key infrastructure such as roads, airports, energy and water supply. It provides guidance for the drafting of subsequent Master Plans for all cities, towns and villages and their interrelation. The Regional plan also outlines an approach for a smart, resilient and inclusive recovery and development including high ambitions for socio-economic development, environmental considerations, climate change adaptation and mitigation. The Regional Plan provides the framework for a prosperous and economic rejuvenation of the region. The State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture (SCUPA) and the respective Special Representatives of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan have been entrusted with the implementation of the Regional Plan. Within this context, UN-Habitat through its Country Office and the Urban Lab will support SCUPA in the preparation of urban plans and designs for settlements in the region with the objectives of: 1) guiding an accelerated post-conflict development towards sustainable, resilient, smart and inclusive urban areas; 2) demonstrating how international and national planning frameworks, principles and goals can be localized and translated into the built environment; 3) strengthening institutional capacities and enhancing participatory and inclusive planning processes for long-term socio-economic sustainability; 4) increasing technical capacities of the local/regional government officials to plan and implement sustainable, resilient, smart and inclusive urban development, and; 5) capturing and disseminating lessons learnt from planning processes toward a refined vision for the future sustainable urban development in Azerbaijan, and specifically its reconstructed areas. The project builds upon three inter-linked areas of work and deliverables, namely: A) development of master plans for two settlements, including data collection and diagnostic assessments to inform the preparation of plans, and with supporting sectoral and detailed plans and design solutions; B) knowledge generation and exchange, and; C) building capacity among urban actors in Azerbaijan. UN-Habitat’s Country Office and the Urban Lab is thus planning to engage a Urban Planning Expert (National Position) to support the delivery and implementation of the agreed interventions, in close collaboration with UN-Habitat’s Urban Lab team based in UN-Habitat’s Headquarters (HQ) and the local authorities. The consultant must have a solid urban planning background with specialist expertise within e.g. urban resilience, environment/climate, mobility, GIS, land and properties, social/socio-economy or other related area, and preferably experience in recovery and reconstruction contexts. The consultant will form part of the project planning team which will be composed of experts from the Urban Lab working remotely and undertaking missions to Azerbaijan at key milestones of the project. In addition, a local expert will be appointed to technically support the village plans, designs, and housing typologies. Further, a local partner for the localization of plans and the preparation of executive drawings will be appointed. Reporting and Communication: The consultant will be hired and based in Baku under the overall supervision of the Head of UN-Habitat’s Country Programme in Baku, Azerbaijan and the Head of the Urban Lab, Nairobi, Kenya., The consultant will work in close collaboration with the Department on Project Management in the Liberated Areas in SCUPA, the UN-Habitat team and other partners of the project. The consultant will report on regular basis to the technical lead of the Urban Lab team. Duties and Responsibilities: The consultant will represent UN-Habitat and interact with all the stakeholders of the project. Therefore, he/she will be appointed on the basis of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. The consultant will work closely and on daily basis with the wider urban planning team, the designated technical lead. The expert will work in close coordination with the Department on Project Management in the Liberated Areas of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture (SCUPA) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the State Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan for Affairs of Refugees and IDPs, and the office of the Special Representative of the President of East Zangezur Economic Region. The incumbent is expected to fulfill the following general duties and responsibilities:

Undertake reviews and assessments on relevant policies, strategies and norms and standards related to urban planning in general and specifically the reconstruction of the Garabagh and East Zangezur Economic regions, and document findings in short briefing reports to inform the urban planning activities;
Support the technical urban planning team in the preparation of planning and design proposals for needed housing units, public facilities, services, commerce and basic infrastructure in the selected territories and areas, including provision of socio-economic and user-needs inputs;
Liaise, coordinate and collaborate with SCUPA’s Department on Project Management in the Liberated Areas, institutional counterparts, local partners, and community stakeholders, thematic experts, and others in preparation of urban plans for select territories and areas;
Ensure the smooth coordination with and between international and local experts as needed, including the facilitation of in country missions, meetings, consultations and site visits, including supporting language facilition and translation;
Advise and work collaboratively in analyzing, collecting, compiling and interpreting data to guide the development of contextually-specific, culturally appropriate, socio-economically and environmentally sustainable strategies, plans and interventions in line with the national Urban Planning and Construction Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan;
Research socio-economic aspects, including through surveys, to understand local needs and available assets, and identify livelihood opportunities in the return areas for men, women, youth, older persons and other priority groups;
Support quality assurance of draft and final project outputs, and contribute to the assessment tool for assessing and assuring the quality of urban plans;
Support organization and delivery of multi-stakeholder processes and participatory planning and design workshops tailored for stakeholders, communities, and in particular, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), within the project;
Draft concept papers, presentations / slides and short progress reports on implementation of urban planning activities, documentation, knowledge management, advocacy and outreach.
Develop visually enticing graphics and visuals to support analysis, diagnosis, proposals and presentations, such as maps, infographics, diagrams, participatory visuals.
Contribute to the planning and delivery of capacity building interventions to be integrated in the urban planning process; deliver visual presentations where required.
Contribute to monitoring, evaluation and learning of the project.
Draft social media posts and visual materials for dissemination

Qualifications/special skills

High School Diploma is required. Supplemental training in Urban Development, Urban Planning and Design, Human Geography, Sociology, Economics or a related field is required. At least 4 years of relevant work experience in the field of urban development and planning and design (and/or related fields) with direct proven experience in supporting project management and coordination processes in Azerbaijan is required. Direct proven experience of urban planning on a territorial and/or local level, in combination with e.g. housing, urban resilience, IDPs relocation, project implementation, is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced by two (2) years for candidates who possess a first level University degree. Proven experience of software use for urban planning, (e.g. AutoCAD, GIS), for reporting (Microsoft Office tools), visualization and production of maps (e.g. Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop) is required. Experience in working in socially sensitive contexts, participatory facilitation, and on social impact projects is required. Proven experience in socio-economic aspects of urban planning is required. Understanding of and experience in managing spatial and non-spatial disaggregated urban data and statistics is an asset. Experience on conducting qualitative and quantitative analysis in urban planning contexts is an asset. Experience working with public sector institutions, e.g. local governments in Azerbaijan is considered a strong asset. Work experience in Garabagh and/or East Zangezur is an asset. Experience in coordinating implementing partners / private sector companies is an asset. Designing and delivering capacity building processes is an asset. Working knowledge and understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (and their monitoring/ evaluation) and of the New Urban Agenda is an asset. Working experience with international development agencies and in particular the United Nations is an asset.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this advertised position fluency in English and Azerbaijani, written and verbal, is required. Working proficiency in Russian is considered an asset.

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.

National Urban Planning Assistant- Social Economic Analysis and Community Engagement