WUF Programme Support Consultant

Result of Service

Strengthened partnerships, amplified advocacy, sustained WUF continuity, enhanced stakeholder engagement, and integrated UN-Habitat priorities globally.

Work Location

New York

Expected duration

6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. The World Urban Forum Coordination Office is located within the Global Knowledge and Advocacy Division (GKAD) of UN-Habitat. One of the Division’s key mandates is to promote strategic alliances to support achievement of the goals of adequate shelter for all, and sustainable urbanization and human settlements development. The UN-Habitat New York Liaison Office serves as the Organization’s permanent representation and coordination hub at United Nations Headquarters. Its primary function is to ensure that sustainable urbanization, housing, and human settlements remain central to the UN development agenda, and that UN-Habitat’s strategic priorities are effectively reflected in intergovernmental processes and interagency coordination mechanisms. It represents UN-Habitat in intergovernmental forums of the GA, ECOSOC and HLPF, and other relevant UN meetings and supports Member States and Permanent Missions in promoting coherence and advance policy guidance on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and SDG 11 within global development frameworks. The Office also liaises with North America-based institutions, academia, civil society and other stakeholders. Background The WUF is a non-legislative technical forum convened by the UN-Habitat biannually since 2002. The forum gathers a wide range of experts from every walk of life. Participants of the forum include but are not limited to national, regional and local governments, non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, professional, research institutions and academia, professional, private sector, development finance institutions, foundations, media, United Nations organizations and other international agencies. The WUF is recognized as the foremost global arena for interaction among policymakers, local government leaders, non-governmental organizations and expert practitioners in the field of sustainable urban development and human settlements. The Forum has been identified as a key platform to support implementation of the New Urban Agenda (NUA) adopted at the Habitat III conference. It also provides opportunities for stakeholder organizations of all kinds to come together to share the latest in innovative advances in sustainable urban development and projects showcasing the implementation of the NUA. UN-Habitat is leading the preparation of the WUF, established in 2001 by the UN General Assembly and convened by UN-Habitat, ...