Senior Migration Expert, Multiple positions

Cities Alliance

The Cities Alliance is the preeminent global partnership for the promotion of cities in poverty reduction and sustainable development. Headquartered in Brussels, it is a unique partnership with diverse members – local authorities, national governments, international non-governmental organisations, foundations and multi-lateral organisations  – which have come together to strengthen both impacts and coherence in urban development.

The Cities Alliance’s overall objectives are to support cities in providing effective local government, an active citizenship and a growing economy characterised by both public and private investment.

Since its establishment in 1999, the Cities Alliance has become a global leader in supporting strategic city planning, slum upgrading strategies and national policies designed to make cities more inclusive and sustainable. Cities Alliance’s activities have helped leverage over US$1.5 billion in additional funding.

The current Medium Term Strategy is focused on Promoting Equity in Cities through equitable economic growth, gender equality and partnerships.

Cities Alliance is hosted by UNOPS.

Cities Alliance is prioritising migration as one of four thematic areas in its 2018-2021 Strategic Plan. To lead this new work on migration which is predicated on a positive view that links migration to development and cities, the Cities Alliance will convene a Joint Work Programme on Migration and Cities. Joint Work Programmes are Cities Alliance Members’ working groups for carrying out analytic and strategic activities designed to tackle major global policy challenges affecting cities and sustainable development. JWPs are multi-year activities and are directly facilitated by the Cities Alliance Secretariat. The JWPs act as a coordination and harmonisation platform among diverse institutions, a knowledge hub to share information and sector experiences, a think tank able to support diagnostics and evidence-based policy recommendations, and to collectively advocate common messages.

The JWP on Migration and Cities is expected to inspire new and reinvigorated global thinking on the role and potential of cities in managing and seizing the opportunities and contributions arising from migration, and how that will interact with, and impact, urban programming over the long-term.

Cities Alliance is seeking some reputed senior experts of international stature to provide strategic advice, technical inputs and quality assurance to the Cities Alliance Joint Work Programme on Migration and Cities. The Senior Expert Advisor will report to the Programme Manager of the JWP.

The assignment covers the following areas:

• AREA 1: Advising on the general substantive and operational directions of the JWP and the engagement of Cities Alliance on the subject;

• AREA 2. Providing substantive support to global policy dialogues on the subject.

• AREA 3: Technical drafting and peer review support of proposals, knowledge products, diagnostic work and other materials on the subject.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

The assignment will include the following tasks:

• As part of a group of experts on the subject, the consultant will provide intellectual and strategic and operational advice of the programmatic engagement of Cities Alliance on the matter and the Joint Work Programme (JWP) specifically. This may include but not limited to: providing inputs to the general programmatic directions of the JWP and its result framework, acting as part of an advisory board/scientific committee to the JWP, providing technical guidance on how to integrate migration into country programming. Experts may also be requested to advise on the general positioning of the Cities Alliance in the field and provide support in resource mobilisation and communications efforts on the subject.

• The consultant will support on the conceptual design, facilitation and documentation of a series of global policy events and dialogues in the context of the JWP and at the corporate level. This may include the drafting of background documents, provide key inputs to the proceedings, such as presentations, and help in the facilitation of sessions or delivery of keynotes.

• The consultant will provide technical input, drafting and peer review support in a variety of materials linked to the JWP and the subject of migration and cities. The work may include technical drafting support for knowledge products, diagnostic work and other materials being produced by the JWP or related to migration. The expert may also provide quality assurance and peer review functions for knowledge products and other materials.
  
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Education

• Advanced university degree in economics, law, demography, or relevant urban, political and development studies is required.
• The consultant needs to show documented knowledge publications, assignments and certificates on the subject of migration and cities.

Work Experience

• At least 10 years of work experience on migration issues is required. Complementary work experience in urban development is an asset.
• Experience in research and policy work on migration and urban issues and/or other related areas;
• Proven experience of applied international development assignments as well as outstanding analytical and advisory work documented through publications.
• Previous field experience in countries in Africa, MENA or Asia will be an advantage.

Language Requirements

• Proficiency in oral and written English is required.

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

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Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

Based in Geneva, the Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR) supports UNOPS offices throughout the region through: management, financial and programmatic oversight of global and country-specific portfolios, clusters and operations centres, including hosting services; fund and management advisory services; project implementation; procuring goods and services; and managing human resources.

ECR ensures that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between business units and projects across the entire region.

ECR operates global portfolios from offices in Geneva, Brussels and New York, and country-specific programmes from its operations and project centres located in Eastern Europe and Central Asian countries.