Result of Service

The national infrastructure specialist will support UNEP’s work under the SIP to raise awareness of infrastructure’s centrality to the 2030 Agenda, develop and share knowledge related to sustainable infrastructure, build country capacity to adopt integrated approaches to sustainable infrastructure, and help countries integrate sustainability into their policy making. This work will ultimately contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals through the adoption and implementation of inclusive green economy (IGE) pathways, policies, and action plans by facilitating interventions on sustained and systematic strategies, policies, and actions at the national government to ensure that infrastructure systems support inclusive, resilient and sustainable infrastructure asset management over their entire lifespan. The consultant will concentrate on strengthening the national enabling environment for IAM and sustainable infrastructure through a technical assessment; as well as build greater government capacity on how to assess, design and implement an EE for effective IAM and sustainable infrastructure through improved national policy, regulatory and legislative frameworks. The ultimate vision is to ensure that infrastructure systems and assets in Costa Rica comply with best global practices on IAM and sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including the International Good Practice Principles for Sustainable Infrastructure, UN Handbook on Infrastructure Asset Management, the Capacity Assessment Tool for Infrastructure (CAT-I) and other relevant global sustainable development agendas and best IAM international practices and manuals.

Work Location

home-based

Expected duration

5.5 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the voice for the environment within the United Nations system. UNEP’s Industry and Economy division plays a leading role in the Green Economy Initiative (GEI), which aims to transition national economies onto a new path, in which jobs and output growth are driven by increased investment in green sectors. Located within the Division, the Resources and Markets Branch (RMB) Branch examines how economics, trade, and finance interact with the environment and contribute to sustainable development. Specifically, the Economic and Trade Policy Unit (ETPU) conducts research, provides capacity building and advisory services to enable the transition to inclusive and green economies. One area of work for the ETPU is sustainable and resilient infrastructure, where UNEP works through the Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership (SIP) to promote and support integrated approaches to sustainable infrastructure planning and development, which recognize the centrality of infrastructure to the 2030 Agenda. To support Costa Rica towards inclusive green economy pathways UNEP has partnered with UNOPS, UNDESA, UNCDF, and GIZ to conduct a rapid assessment that explores the challenges governments face in planning, financing, and delivering sustainable infrastructure; as well as Infrastructure Asset Management (IAM). UNEP is looking for an expert on infrastructure asset management, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, and project management. Under the direction and supervision of the responsible programme officer at UNEP, the consultant is expected to conduct a rapid assessment on IAM and sustainable and resilient infrastructure in Costa Rica that explores the challenges governments face in planning, financing, and delivering sustainable infrastructure; as well as IAM. The findings of this project will also identify specific areas where the UN and its partners could provide future support to build capacity and mobilize financing to help meet infrastructure investment needs. Among other things and as necessary to deliver the following expected outputs: Expected outputs (through electronic submission): 1. Tool Development Process and Desktop Review: • An integrated assessment tool, combining the Capacity Assessment Tool for Infrastructure (CAT-I) and the ENABLE tool, tailored for evaluating Infrastructure Asset Management (IAM) and sustainable, resilient infrastructure based on International Good Practice Principles for Sustainable Infrastructure, the UN Handbook on Infrastructure Asset Management, and other relevant sustainable development agendas. • A translated version of the integrated assessment tool. • A scooping report detailing the review of national regulatory and policy frameworks, including infrastructure policies, strategies, regulations, operating procedures, and manuals, highlighting their alignment with sustainable and resilient infrastructure lifecycle and IAM principles. • Customized questionnaires designed to assess local contexts, leveraging the integrated assessment tool on IAM and sustainable and resilient infrastructure. 2. Stakeholder Consultation: • A detailed mapping of stakeholders involved in the national infrastructure asset lifecycle, outlining their roles, responsibilities, and influence in infrastructure development. • Collected questionnaire responses from targeted stakeholders providing preliminary insights into the national infrastructure development process. • Interview materials and synthesized findings from discussions with government officials and key stakeholders, aimed at validating and enriching the data collected from questionnaires and desktop reviews. This includes insights from various sectors such as ministries, academia, and the private sector. 3. Roadmap development • A draft roadmap designed to strengthen the national enabling environment for Identity and Access Management (IAM) and sustainable, resilient infrastructure. The development of this roadmap will incorporate a phased approach, beginning with data collection through questionnaire responses, stakeholder feedback, desktop reviews, and comprehensive analysis. • A collaborative review process with government representatives, following the initial data collection phase, to ensure alignment on identified gaps and to prioritize actionable recommendations. This iterative process aims to secure later endorsement of the roadmap’s contents and recommendations. The roadmap will address critical areas for development, offering tailored recommendations for both government and stakeholders’ uptake, with a clear focus on achieving consensus and accelerating implementation. 4. Validation workshop and feedback integration: • With the support from UNEP and partner organizations, plan and organize a comprehensive validation workshop, including the selection of a suitable venue, managing logistics, and ensuring all necessary arrangements for a productive session. • Coordination with key partners and stakeholders to facilitate their involvement in delivering essential parts of the workshop, ensuring a collaborative approach. • Presentation of the research findings and the proposed roadmap, aimed at soliciting insightful feedback and engagement from all participants. • A comprehensive summary of feedback collected during the validation workshop, highlighting actionable insights and suggestions from stakeholders. • A revised roadmap, incorporating stakeholder feedback, which outlines strategic directions and specific recommendations for enhancing Identity and Access Management (IAM) and advancing the development of sustainable and resilient infrastructure. This document will detail roles, responsibilities, and timelines to foster a unified approach and commitment among all parties involved. Performance indicators: • Quality of outputs • Timely planning and delivery of outputs • Regular communication of progress and sharing findings with the project stakeholders through presentations and written updates

Qualifications/special skills

Post Graduate Degree (Masters level or above) in civil engineering, architecture, construction management, urban planning, business, administration, economics, public administration, or other infrastructure related subjects is required. A first-level university degree with two additional years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of five years of project/programme management experience related to IAM, sustainable infrastructure, and/or sustainable development is required, including at least two years of experience working with public institutions is required. Strong knowledge of good practices related to sustainable and resilient infrastructure and IAM is required. Demonstrated experience collaborating with national governmental institutions relevant to infrastructure development or asset management, resulting in a robust network of contacts that enhance stakeholder engagement, is required. Experience in coordinating multistakeholder engagement processes is desirable Experience in delivering institutional technical assistance is desirable

Languages

English and French are the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of other UN languages are 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.