Result of Service

The ultimate result of this assignment is to provide strategic and technical support to sustainable recovery and urbanization of cities and towns in Azerbaijan, including the implementation and localization of the SDG’s and New Urban Agenda.

Work Location

Baku, Azerbaijan

Expected duration

8 months

Duties and Responsibilities

About UN-Habitat UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable and resilient towns and cities. 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. Responding to crisis and post-crisis context is part of UN-Habitat’s mandate and strategic plan. UN-Habitat in Azerbaijan UN-Habitat is supporting the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan by providing technical advisory services to national counterparts, aimed at promoting inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable urban development. This technical assistance includes normative and planning activities, the development of national policies, urban reconstruction and rehabilitation in conflict-affected areas, and capacity-building through the exchange of innovative practices that foster sustainable urban communities. UN-Habitat’s Country Office collaborates closely with the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture (SCUPA) to support its National Urban Forums (NUFAs) and engagements in global initiatives. UN-Habitat’s engagement is aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2021-2025, including implementation of the SDGs and the New Urban Agenda. UN-Habitat’s Urban Planning Lab The Urban Planning Lab (Urban Lab) has been created to promptly respond to and support national and local governments in achieving sustainable urban development. The Urban Lab is an integrated facility set up within the Agency where innovative processes and partnerships are translated into tangible and transformative solutions to complex urban challenges, including urban recovery processes. The Urban Lab brings together multidisciplinary teams of local and international urban planners, environmental, data-science, mobility, legal and financial experts, providing holistic and proactive approaches to sustainable urbanization in cities and towns globally. Hence, the Urban Lab strives to embed in UN-Habitat’s Country Offices the necessary thematic disciplines, experts, actors and stakeholders to respond to requests, also in crisis and post-crisis contexts. 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 team applies an integrated approach to systemic and strategic urban planning to deliver transformative change for sustainable urbanization and to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda. The Urban Lab addresses the complexity and challenges of cities and regions by translating these global and other development frameworks into concrete actionable solutions into the built environment through the development of local strategies and plans for urban transformation, and by bridging the gap between policy and physical implementation (capital investment planning). Informed by evidence-based data analysis, spatial and non-spatial strategic responses and solutions are developed in partnership with stakeholders to ensure sustainable urban development outcomes. The Urban Lab falls under the Planning, Finance and Economy Section, which is part of the Urban Practices Branch and the Global Solutions Division. Rationale and context to the consultancy The Government of Azerbaijan’s State Programme on the Great Return to the Liberated Territories of Azerbaijan outlines the ambitious reconstruction plan of the Karabakh and East Zangezur Economic Regions and the resettlement of over 640,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). UN-Habitat has been called upon to support the recovery of the region through the implementation of strategic and technical interventions promoting a smart, resilient and inclusive reconstruction of human settlements. A Regional Plan of the conflict-affected areas was adopted in mid-2022, outlining the settlement patterns and areas for local planning, including urban and rural settlements, key infrastructure, a phasing strategy etc. The Regional Plan assesses the area’s main economic, geographical and environmental development potential, as well as the needs for key infrastructure such as roads, airports, energy and water supply. It provides guidance for the drafting of subsequent Master Plans for all cities, towns and villages and their interrelation. The Regional plan also outlines an approach for a smart, resilient and inclusive recovery and development including high ambitions for socio-economic development, environmental considerations, climate change adaptation and mitigation. The Regional Plan provides the framework for a prosperous and economic rejuvenation of the region. The State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture (SCUPA) and the respective Special Representatives of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan have been entrusted with the implementation of the Regional Plan. Within this context, UN-Habitat through its Country Office and the Urban Lab will support SCUPA in the preparation of urban plans and designs for settlements in the region with the objectives of: 1) guiding an accelerated development towards sustainable, resilient, smart and inclusive urban areas; 2) demonstrating how international and national planning frameworks, principles and goals can be localized and translated into the built environment; 3) strengthening institutional capacities and enhancing participatory and inclusive planning processes for long-term socio-economic sustainability; 4) increasing technical capacities of the local/regional government officials to plan and implement sustainable, resilient, smart and inclusive urban development, and; 5) capturing and disseminating lessons learnt from planning processes toward a refined vision for the future sustainable urban development in Azerbaijan, and specifically its reconstructed areas. The project builds upon three inter-linked areas of work and deliverables, namely: 1) development of master plans for two settlements, including data collection and diagnostic assessments to inform the preparation of plans, and with supporting sectoral and detailed plans and design solutions; 2) knowledge generation and exchange, and; 3) building capacity among urban actors in Azerbaijan. UN-Habitat’s Country Office and the Urban Lab is thus planning to engage an International Urban Planning Expert to support the delivery and implementation of the agreed interventions, in close collaboration with UN-Habitat’s Urban Lab team based in UN-Habitat’s Headquarters (HQ) and the local authorities. The consultant must have a solid urban planning background with specialist expertise within e.g. urban resilience, environment/climate, mobility, GIS, land and properties, social/socio-economy or other related area and preferably experience in recovery and reconstruction contexts. The consultant will form part of the project planning team which will be composed of experts from the Urban Lab working remotely and undertaking missions to Azerbaijan at key milestones of the project. In addition, a local expert will be appointed to support engagement with local stakeholders and authorities. Further, a local partner for the preparation of executive drawings will be appointed. Reporting and Communication The consultant will be hired and work under the overall supervision of the Head of the Country Office in Baku, Azerbaijan and the Head of the Urban Lab, Nairobi, Kenya. The incumbent will be based in Baku, Azerbaijan, and work in close collaboration with the urban planning team and other partners of the project. The incumbent will report on regular basis to the technical lead. Duties and Responsibilities The International Urban Planning Expert will represent UN-Habitat and interact with all the stakeholders of the project. Therefore he/she will be appointed on the basis of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the Head of UN-Habitat’s Country Office in Baku, Azerbaijan, and the Head of the Urban Lab, Nairobi, Kenya. Further, the International Urban Planning Expert will work closely and on daily basis with the urban planning team, the designated technical lead, supported by a Coordinator, in close coordination with the urban planning team of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture (SCUPA) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the State Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan for Affairs of Refugees and IDPs, and the local authorities of East Zangezur. The incumbent is expected to fulfill the following general duties and responsibilities: – Undertake reviews and assessments on relevant policies and strategies related to urban planning in general and the reconstruction of the Eastern Zangezur Economic region specifically, and document findings in short briefing reports to inform the urban planning activities; – Lead and coordinate the technical urban planning team in the preparation of urban planning proposals for needed housing units, public facilities, services, commerce and basic infrastructure in the selected territories and areas, including provision of technical/sectoral backstopping; – Liaise, coordinate and collaborate with institutional and community stakeholders, thematic experts, and other partners in preparation of urban plans for select territories and areas; – Advise and work collaboratively in analyzing, collecting, compiling and interpreting data to guide the development of contextually-specific and culturally appropriate strategies, plans and interventions; – Provide quality assurance of draft and final outputs of the project; – Ensure the smooth coordination of implementing partners and local experts as needed; – Draft concept papers, presentations / slides and short progress reports on implementation of urban planning activities, for documentation, knowledge management, advocacy and outreach. – Develop models for assessment and quality assurance of urban plans, as part of knowledge management, dissemination and outreach. – Develop visually enticing graphics to support analysis, diagnosis and proposals, such as maps, diagrams and sketches. – Develop, organize and deliver participatory, multi-stakeholder processes tailored for stakeholders within the project; -Planning and delivery of capacity building interventions to be integrated in the urban planning process; deliver visual presentations where required.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Architecture, Urban Development, Urban Planning and Design. 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 5 years of relevant work experience in the field of urban development and planning and design (and/or related fields) with direct proven experience of programme/project management is required – Direct proven experience of urban planning projects/processes on a territorial and/or local level, in combination with e.g. housing, IDPs, urban resilience, mobility, project finance, and/or data systems is required. – Proven experience in software for urban planning, e.g. AutoCAD, GIS, data analysis, visualization and production of maps is required. – Good hand drawing/sketching is required – Understanding of and experience from managing statistical urban data is an asset; – Experience working in the public sector, e.g. local governments is considered an asset; – Experience from the country or from other urban crisis/post-crisis contexts is an asset; – Experience from coordinating implementing partners / private sector companies is an asset; – Experience working on social change projects is an asset; – Reading, designing and delivering capacity building processes 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 in particular 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, written and verbal, is required. Working proficiency in Azerbaijani and/or Russian is considered an asset.

Additional Information

How to apply? Interested candidates must submit their application via the application portal. Please note that applications received after the closing date will not be given consideration. Only short-listed candidates whose applications respond to the above criteria will be contacted for an interview. The short-listed applicants contacted for an interview may also be requested to submit a portfolio.

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.