Under the guidance and supervision of Human Settlements Officer (SDG localization and local government relations) and the Chief of the Urban Practices Branch, the consultant will contribute to the following objectives: i) knowledge management; ii) project support; iii) monitoring and evaluation within the context of the global activities and projects led by the SDG localization team.
Work LocationNairobi
Expected duration11 months
Duties and Responsibilities
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the United Nations agency for human settlements. Based in Nairobi (Kenya), it 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. UN-Habitat is the lead agency within the UN system for coordinating activities in the field of human settlement development and the UN leading the collaboration with local and regional governments and their networks.
During the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in 2015, 193 Member States, convened at the Global Summit on Sustainable Development to adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are universal and relevant to all Member States, from both the global north and global south. As demonstrated in the past years of implementation, it is widely acknowledged that the local level and local action are critical for the overall success of the 2030 Agenda – the SDGs need to be localized. This particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic that highlighted the critical role of local governments in responding to the immediate health emergency and in planning the long-term recovery. In this context, to complement national SDG review processes including the Voluntary National Reviews, cities have been developing and increasingly using Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) as the main tool to monitor and report on their own SDG progress. The VLR global movement has grown exponentially and VLRs are emerging as critical instruments to accelerate the SDG localization process and to amplify the voice of local governments within international and UN-led fora.
As the UN Agency focal point to work with local and regional governments, UN-Habitat has supported VLRs through different workstreams and by intervening at different levels - local, national, and global: i) UN-Habitat has established strategic partnerships with the main UN and international partners working on VLRs and SDG localization, such as UNDESA, UN Regional Economic Commissions, as well as member states and local and regional governments globally; ii) UN-Habitat technically supports local governments across diverse regions to develop their VLRs; iii) as of knowledge development, UN- Habitat works alongside partners to provide local and regional governments with cutting-edge knowledge and learning opportunities on VLRs and SDG localization; iv) UN-Habitat advocates and builds capacities on sustainable local development and VLRs by organizing international events and peer learning opportunities. Finally, Voluntary Local Reviews are the cornerstone of UN-Habitat's comprehensive approach to SDG localization, anchored on three intertwined pillars on: the Global Urban Monitoring Framework; Voluntary Local Reviews; and SDG Cities Flagship Programme.
Reporting Line
This post is located the Urban Practices Branch of UN-Habitat and specifically within its SDG localization and local governments team. The incumbent will be supervised by the Human Settlements Officer coordinating the work of the team and under direct supervision of the Chief of the Urban Practices Branch. The expert will work in proximity to the other members of the team and as well as other units, sections and offices across the Agency.
Duties and Responsibilities
The consultant's main responsibility will be to deliver on specific activities related to UN-Habitat's SDG localization team projects.
Specifically, the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:
1. Knowledge development
a. Multilevel Governance for SDG Localization
Delivery of the research project on multilevel governance, including development of related knowledge material, digital platform and tools. Provide technical expertise and inputs to support the engagement with partners, the organization of workshop and senior management participation in events and sessions
Responsibilities include:
• Provide technical expertise for the development of spin-off research on multilevel governance
• Expand UN-Habitat’s MLG network
• Continuously update UN-Habitat’s MLG online platform
• Prepare communication material related to the team’s activities on MLG
• Prepare PPTs and Talking Points to support senior management's participation in workshops and events
• Organize technical workshops and meetings on MLG with relevant colleagues and partners
b. Voluntary Local Reviews
Responsibilities include:
• Provide technical expertise in the development of the VLR guidelines review
• Prepare background material for meetings with partners
• Prepare and implement workshops related to the project and the topic of VLRs, and SDG localization
• Provide technical expertise and guidance on the review process of VLRs prepared by city partners
2. Project Support
Providing technical guidance and administrative support for the implementation of the teams’ projects on SDG Localization and Voluntary Local Reviews.
Responsibilities include:
• Prepare implementing partners' coordination meetings, including the preparation of background material (briefings; agendas etc.) as well as reporting (minutes; note taking etc.)
• Prepare operational plans for the implementation of the project at country level
• Prepare projects’ implementation roadmaps and related material such as PPTs
• Plan and organize workshops and events, including provide logistical support to the participation of pilot cities/country representatives
• Prepare of ToRs, AoCs and UNtoUN Agreements in coordination with the team's administrative assistant
3. Monitoring & Evaluation
Provide technical guidance and substantial inputs on the monitoring tools and processes related to monitoring and evaluation of the team’s projects.
Responsibilities include:
• Continuously collect data and information related to the implementation processes of the different processes led by the team
• Analyze donors’ reporting requirements and provide the necessary guidance for the collection of data to the team and implementing partners
• Prepare tools for the collection of data – surveys, online forms etc.
• Prepare the necessary monitoring reports (narrative and financial) for the projects managed by the team
• Prepare and keep updated the monitoring and evaluation database for projects
Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree in Public Affairs, Political Science, Social Sciences, Urban Studies Social Sciences, Communications, Development Studies or other relevant area is required
A minimum of two (2) years of relevant working experience on issues related to sustainable development, urban planning, local development and project management is required. Working experience on the Agenda 2030 and the local implementation of the SDGs will be highly valued.
Language: Fluency in English is mandatory for this specific consultancy. Knowledge of another UN official language, specifically Russian (written and oral), is an asset.
No FeeTHE 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.