Urban Planning Expert

Result of Service

Contribute to the connection of the work of the Data and Analytics Unit with the timely implementation of the UMF- Shanghai Adapted Index.

Work Location

Nairobi

Expected duration

12 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. The main documents outlining the mandate of the organization are the Vancouver Declaration on Human Settlements, the Habitat Agenda, the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements, the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium, and UN General Assembly Resolution A/56/206.

The United Nations Millennium Declaration recognizes the dire circumstances of the world’s urban poor. It articulates the commitment of Member States to improve the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by the year 2020- Millennium Development Goal No. 7, Target 11- which is UN-Habitat’s mandate.

The New Urban Agenda, aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change, is an inclusive, action-oriented, and concise document intended to guide the next 20 years of sustainable and transformative urban development worldwide. It has a strong focus on the inclusion and participation of stakeholder groups, civil society, and grassroots organizations. Sub-national and local governments are supported as strategic and operational partners for implementation, along with national governments.

As our cities and towns grow at unprecedented rates, setting the social, political, cultural and environmental trends of the world, sustainable urbanization is one of the most pressing challenges for the global community in the 21st century. In 1950, one-third of the world’s population lived in cities. Just 50 years later, this proportion has risen to one-half and will continue to grow to two-thirds, or six billion people, by 2050. Cities are now home to half of humankind. They are the hub for much national production and consumption- economic processes that generate wealth and opportunity. But they also create disease, crime, pollution and poverty. In many cities, especially in developing countries, slum dwellers number more than 50% of the population and have little or no access to shelter, water and sanitation. This is where UN-Habitat is mandate to make a difference for the better.

The UN-Habitat ERSKI KIB DAS:
Data and Analytics Unit of Knowledge and Innovation Branch is affiliated with the External Relations, Strategy, Knowledge and Innovation Division (ERSKI) of UN-Habitat in Nairobi.

ERSKI is responsible for strategic planning, programmatic direction and operationalization of UNHabitat's focal point role for the New Urban Agenda in the UN system and for coordination of Emergency Programmes.

The Data and Analytics Unit is working to:
a) Improve the capacity of countries and cities to access relevant information, setting global standards in the design analysis and collection of urban data, and supports the translation of data/information into policy formulation;
b) Guide methodological developments of the urban related indicators and targets used by the international development community to monitor global progress towards implementation of the NUA and the urban SDGs;
c)Improve worldwide urban knowledge base by supporting governments, local authorities and civil societies in the development and application of policy-oriented urban indicators, statistics and other urban information. The unit plays a vital role in developing the Global Urban Monitoring Framework (UMF) with the internal and external experts.

Supervision:
The expert will be under the supervision of ERSKI KIB DAS Unit leader during the 12 months. The expert will report to the Coordinator of the Knowledge and Innovation Branch.


Description of responsibilities:

The main duties of this expert will be the following:
• Implement workplan 2023 of the UMF – Shanghai Adapted Index and facilitate the implementation of the work plan according to the proposed timeline.
• Facilitate the technical exchange between the UN-Habitat team on UMF – Shanghai Adapted Index and the Chinese partners team, Organise relevant technical workshops, seminar, expert group meetings to enhance programme promoting.
• Research on the potential interlinked activities between UMF – Shanghai Adapted Index and Shanghai Award and SDG Cities Flagship Programme, etc.
• Organize SAI relevant workshops, knowledge exchange, promotion and publicity events related to UMF – Shanghai Adapted Index, not limited to the releasing outcome on WCD 2023.
• Contribute to the connection of the work of the Data and Analytics Unit with the timely implementation of the UMF- Shanghai Adapted Index.
• Jointing and contribution to drafting and finalizing the Research report.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced University degree in Architecture or Urban Planning, or related field that is relevant for sustainable urban development and urban planning and design is required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Minimum 2 years experience in urban planning and design with direct proven experience in drawing and preparing plan graphical material using computer assisted design tools; strong graphic representation skills is required.
Good hand drawing / sketching is a desirable.
The candidate has a portfolio of plans and designs of which he/she is the author is desirable.

Languages

For this consultancy, fluency in oral and written English is required. Although not a requirement, knowledge of French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese or Russian will be an advantage.

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.