Result of Service

Per Deliverable noting that the deliverables are: • A presentation summarizing recommendations tailored for policymakers and stakeholders. • A report documenting the legal and governance review of good practices in integrating national urban policies into national planning or local administrative laws, including key findings, proposed amendments, and integration guidelines for the JNUP. • A draft Planning Law incorporating the JNUP, with proposed amendments and a defined governance mechanism for its implementation.

Work Location

Remotely

Expected duration

6 Months

Duties and Responsibilities

Background UNESCWA plays a key role in advancing urban development across the Arab region by fostering sustainable urbanization and addressing critical challenges such as rapid urbanization, resource scarcity, and climate change. A central aspect of its work is the promotion of National Urban Policies (NUPs). As part of a regional project on developing National Urban Policies in the Arab Region, UN-Habitat, in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Administration, supported the Government of Jordan in formulating the first National Urban Policy for Jordan (JNUP). The policy was endorsed by the cabinet in January 2024. Following its endorsement, which marks a significant step in shaping the country’s urban future, UNESCWA and UN-Habitat will support the Ministry of Local Administration to implement the policy. The JNUP aims to create a sustainable, inclusive urban development model in Jordan, focusing on economic resilience, social equity, and environmental sustainability. It emphasizes enhancing urban governance, improving infrastructure, and promoting balanced regional development with an emphasis on sustainable practices and efficient land use. To ensure its effective implementation, the JNUP needs to be integrated into national legal frameworks. This consultancy focuses on mainstreaming the JNUP into Jordan’s Planning Law, ensuring that the policy becomes legally binding. This will contribute to enhancing the coherence and effectiveness of urban planning in Jordan, ensuring that the goals and principles of the JNUP are fully realized through actionable, binding policies. The consultant is expected to: • Conduct legal and governance review and analyses and capture good practices in mainstreaming national urban policies in planning laws and the building blocks of an exemplary local administrative law • Review the JNUP and the draft of the new Planning Law which will replace the Provisional Law No. (79) of 1966: Law of Planning Cities, Towns, Villages, and Buildings and identify entry points for mainstreaming the JNUP into the Planning Law for the JNUP to become legally binding. • Develop recommendations to integrate JNUP goals and implementation mechanisms into the revised Law of Planning Cities, Towns, Villages, and Buildings as part of the current review process and draft specific amendments to ensure alignment with JNUP principles and promote inter-sectoral coordination. • Lead consultations with key stakeholders (policymakers, urban planners, legal experts) to validate findings, insights on the integration of the JNUP into the legal framework and recommendations. • Coordinate and collaborate with the Ministry of Local Administration (MoLA), UN-Habitat, and UNESCWA to ensure alignment on the integration of the JNUP in the revised planning law. • Participate and substantively contribute to the national consultation/launch on the integration of the JNUP into the Planning Law by presenting insights on the findings and recommendations during the launch event, highlighting the importance of aligning the updated law with JNUP objectives and ensuring sectoral consistency.

Qualifications/special skills

A masters degree in urban development / planning or a related field is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. 4 years of experience in urban planning/development is required. Experience in training workshops and stakeholders engagement is required. Experience in developing urban policies and regulations is required.

Languages

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in English and Arabic is required. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.

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.