Result of Service

The ultimate service of the consultancy is to contribute to the delivery of multiple written outputs, such as draft technical papers and project proposals, working closely with the CDTU team and project stakeholders.

Work Location

UN-Habitat

Expected duration

5 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Organizational Setting: UN-HABITAT, Global Solutions Division, Urban Practices Branch, Human Rights & Social Inclusion Unit and Capacity Development and Training Unit. Duty Station: Home-based The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable cities, towns and other human settlements. In 2020, UN-Habitat had been restricted and the Programme Development Branch (PDB) has been created under the Global Solutions Division. PDB is responsible for the overall coordination of programme development. It brings together normative and operational expertise supporting high-quality integrated programmes that maximize results across the outcomes and the Domains of Change in the Strategic Plan. As part of the Branch, the Capacity Development and Training Unit (CDTU) is responsible for supporting and monitoring the implementation of UN-Habitat’s Capacity Building strategy. Individuals and institutions responsible for making cities sustainable and safe places to live and work in dignity need to have the skills, competencies, and tools to steer cities towards a path of sustainable and inclusive urbanization. Capacity building addresses these needs, helping city leaders and institutions to accelerate toward the global goals of sustainable urban development. CDTU delivers a wide range of strategies, training, and technical support for the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goal 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities. This includes transforming knowledge into capacity-building products, including practical and problem-solving tools that respond to the needs of governments, cities, partners, technical cadres, urban practitioners, and policy makers alike, as well as carrying out capacity needs assessments. CDTU’s mandates include to manage UN-Habitat Learn, UN-Habitat’s online learning platform; support training development across UN-Habitat, such as to the SDG Cities Programme; and direct management of projects, such as the Global Urban Lectures (GUL). The Unit also coordinates engagement with academic and research institutions, including the global partnership between UN-Habitat and universities worldwide, the Habitat UNI. The partnership promotes universities to become closer partners of cities, closing the gap between academia and practice, and encouraging collaborative learning with emphasis on South-South, North-South knowledge exchange. CDTU manages a number of partnerships with training organisations and centres of excellence around the globe. These partnerships take different forms, but all serve to increase UN-Habitat’s cooperation with training providers and learning institutes to improve the agency’s capacity for knowledge transfer. Objectives The Programme Management and Research Consultant will support CDTU with drafting of technical papers and project proposals, design and analysis of surveys, development of reports, frameworks, and agreements, as well as preparation of webinars. Duties and Responsibilities Under the supervision of Programme Management Officer in CDTU, the deliverables within the contract timeframe are as follows: 1. Drafting of project proposals for fundraising. 2. Writing and editing technical papers. 3. Conduct desk research and literature review, gathering data from various sources, and synthesize information for project planning. 4. Conduct data collection and analysis. 5. Contribute to the creation of detailed reports, strategic frameworks, concept notes, brochures, and agreements with stakeholders. 6. Update the university partnerships database. 7. Attend coordination meetings with project stakeholders.

Qualifications/special skills

A master’s or advanced degree in development studies, urban planning, international relations or related field is required. First degree with two additional years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. 1. A minimum of 1-year relevant professional experience in research and project management is required. 2. Proven experience working within a multi-cultural environment, and capacity to work in a team, to manage projects for specific target audiences from start to end and to deliver concrete products based on tight timelines is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in oral and written English is required. Fluency in other UN languages is an added advantage.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.