Result of Service

To provide technical expertise on urban planning and design, especially on water, climate and urban resilience and stakeholders engagement to the the Urban Lab.

Work Location

Nairobi

Expected duration

5 MONTHS

Duties and Responsibilities

About UN-Habitat The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all. 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. 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. The Network of the Urban Labs promotes the collaboration between international and local partners in different countries to propose and prepare implementable projects and plans. To enhance country operationalisation and expand support globally, the Urban Lab is establishing integrated urban labs within country and multi-country offices and in close collaboration with governments and ensures close cooperation with its headquarters. Further integration of urban labs at country level is also required to address gaps in local and city-level capacities and entails increased efforts to enhance policy influencing on the national and local level whilst aligning with partner’s strategic ambitions. Reporting and Communication The Junior Urban Planner Consultant will be hired to work with the Urban Lab. The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Urban Lab Coordinators and the overall supervision of the Chief, Regional Advisory & Projects Support Section Section. 2. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The Consultant will represent UN-Habitat and interacts with all the stakeholders of the projects; therefore he/she will be appointed based on securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. As a UN representative, he/she is expected to exhibit and adhere to the highest standards of ethical conduct. The Consultant will perform the following duties and responsibilities;

Undertake reviews, desk research, data gathering and assessments on relevant policies and strategies related to urban planning and water, climate and urban resilience, stakeholders engagement and document findings in short briefing reports.
Provide technical and sectoral support on the coordination of activities for the development for different projects of the Urban Lab.
Provide technical expertise in relation to water, climate and urban resilience for Urban Lab projects.
Provide technical expertise in relation to stakeholder engagement for Urban Lab projects.
Provide technical expertise in relation to the normative production of the Urban Lab.
Develop and support the preparation of presentations, training material and capacity reinforcement activities and deliver workshops/training in relation to the project deliverables and applied methodologies.
Support in the development and organisation of participatory, multi-stakeholder processes tailor-made for the projects in a specific context.
Provide input to Urban Lab documents and publications.
Support the technical development of country proposals and development frameworks.
Support to development of fundraising strategies and proposals.
Contribute to the development of the Urban Lab project portfolio.

Qualifications/special skills

Academic Qualification: Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Urban Development and Planning, and Environmental Management or a related field. A first-level university degree, in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Work Experience:

At least 2 year of relevant work experience in the field of sustainable urban development, urban planning, or related fields, with a focus on integrating water, climate resilience, and urban systems, is required;
Experience in organising and facilitating workshops, training sessions, or stakeholder meetings, including the preparation of supporting materials, is required;
Proven experience supporting coordination and management of multi-stakeholder projects, particularly those involving local authorities, urban practitioners, and international organisations, is desirable;
Familiarity with participatory processes and stakeholder engagement methodologies in urban development, 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 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 is required.

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.

Junior Urban Resilience and Stakeholder Engagement Consultant