WUF Programme & Advocacy Consultant

As urbanization is growing across the globe, UN-Habitat is strengthening its engagement with its partners to enhance contributions to regional and global debates on urban issues. One of the key components of the preparations for WUF13 is ensuring robust and effective global advocacy to sensitize and mobilize relevant stakeholders participating in and supporting the Forum. This effort aims to raise awareness about WUF13, its theme, high-level tracks, and outcomes. To achieve this, UN-Habitat seeks a Global Advocacy Consultant to support the World Urban Forum advocacy efforts at global, regional, national and sub-national levels.

Nairobi

12 months

Background, Organizational Setting, and Reporting Relationships: The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities, providing adequate shelter for all. The World Urban Forum Coordination Office is located within the Global Knowledge and Advocacy Division (GKAD) of UN-Habitat. One of the Division’s key mandates is to promote strategic alliances to support achieving adequate shelter for all and sustainable urbanization and human settlement development. The World Urban Forum (WUF) is UN-Habitat’s key stakeholder flagship platform. The World Urban Forum (WUF) is a non-legislative technical forum convened by the UN-Habitat biannually since 2002. The forum gathers a wide range of experts from every walk of life. Participants of the forum include but are not limited to national, regional, and local governments, non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, professionals, research institutions, academia, the private sector, development finance institutions, foundations, media, United Nations organizations, and other international agencies. The WUF is recognized as the foremost global arena for interaction among policymakers, local government leaders, non-governmental organizations, and expert practitioners in sustainable urban development and human settlements. The WUF has been identified as a key platform to support the implementation of the New Urban Agenda adopted at the Habitat III conference. The WUF provides opportunities for stakeholder organizations to come together to share the latest innovative advances in sustainable urban development and projects showcasing the implementation of the NUA. Responsibilities The consultant will conceptualize and implement a global advocacy plan for WUF13. Assignments include the following key areas: Responsibilities: • Develop a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and guidance document for the World Urban Forum, ensuring alignment with UN-Habitat mandates and WUF delivery requirements. o Consolidate institutional knowledge, lessons learned, and best practices from previous WUF sessions, including programme delivery modalities . o Ensure the SOP covers key functional areas, including programme development and management, communications and advocacy, operational planning and delivery, accessibility and inclusion, sustainability, and volunteer mobilization and management. o Design user-friendly guidance materials and tools to support implementation by UN-Habitat teams, host country counterparts, and partners. • Track and analyze key performance indicators, including participation, programme delivery, and stakeholder engagement. o Contribute to the preparation of post-event analytical and outcome reports, including documentation of lessons learned and best practices. o Coordinate with internal teams and partners to collect, validate, and analyze data for reporting purposes. • Lead the development of detailed thematic reports on accessibility, sustainability, and volunteer management for WUF13 o Undertake comprehensive data analysis (quantitative and qualitative) on performance, reach, and impact. o Document processes, methodologies, and implementation approaches adopted before and during the Forum. o Identify good practices, innovations, and replicable models. o Assess challenges, gaps, and mitigation measures applied. o Consolidate actionable lessons learned and strategic recommendations for future WUF sessions and UN-Habitat events. o Integrate stakeholder feedback, including participants, partners, volunteers, and persons with disabilities. • Design a comprehensive advocacy strategy and implementation plan for WUF14, aligned with UN-Habitat priorities and WUF outcomes. o Define advocacy objectives, target audiences, success indicators, and a monitoring framework. o Develop a global, regional, and national advocacy roadmap, leveraging UN-Habitat platforms and engagement mechanisms. o Develop and tailor advocacy messaging and materials for different stakeholder groups. o Identify and leverage key global and regional platforms and events to support WUF14 mobilization. o Coordinate with UN-Habitat teams, regional offices, and partners to implement advocacy activities. o Establish mechanisms to track advocacy performance and prepare reports with recommendations for continuous improvement.

An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in communications, social sciences, monitoring and evaluation, urban planning, or a related field is required. A minimum of 5 years of responsible experience in advocacy, public affairs, strategic communications, or stakeholder mobilization in international development or urban policy is required. Experience in designing and implementing advocacy plans for high-level international forums or campaigns is required. Experience supporting or working with the World Urban Forum or similar UN-led global platforms is required. Familiarity with urban sustainability issues and the role of policy advocacy in advancing SDGs is an asset.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Not available.

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.