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 and PFES.

Work Location

Nairobi

Expected duration

6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

1. BACKGROUND 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 Urban Practices Branch (UPB) is the tools and methodology production centre of the UN- Habitat that develops normative guidance and cutting-edge tools through communities of urban practices and is the operational level responsible to undertake technical cooperation projects, such as the construction of water and sanitation facilities, shelter and other work. The Planning, Finance & Economy Section (PFES) is responsible to support urban and territorial planning at all scales including through the development of planning policy, norms and guidelines, urban design and public space design, urban finance (municipal finance and urban development/projects finance), and local economic development. 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 collaborate closely with the Urban Lab of PFES. The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Urban Lab Coordinator and the overall supervision of the Chief, Planning, Finance and Economy 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 and document findings in short briefing reports. • Provide technical and sectoral support on the coordination of activities for the development of the WaL MCA programme. • 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 and PFES documents and publications. • Support the technical development of country proposals and development frameworks. • Contribute to the development of the Urban Lab and PFES project portfolio on urban planning and design.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Architecture, Urban Development and Planning, or a related field is required. 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. • At least two years of work experience in urban planning and design, with a focus on water, climate, and urban resilience is required. • Ability to conduct desk research, data gathering, and assessments on relevant policies and strategies related to urban planning, urban health, and water, climate, and urban resilience, and stakeholder engagement is desirable. • Ability to develop concept notes, training materials, and presentations for capacity-building activities and advocacy purposes is desirable. • Strong communication skills, including report writing, presenting, and workshop facilitation is desirable. • Clear knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches to urban development, planning, and design, particularly in an international development context is desirable; • Ability to manage data, documents, correspondence and reports information and workflow is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this advertised position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.

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.