To provide technical inputs on urban planning and design and to contribute to the development of a new generation of transformative projects in partner cities.
Work LocationConakry
Expected duration7 months
Duties and Responsibilities
BACKGROUND
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 with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. UN-Habitat is playing a key role in implementing Goal 11 of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted in September 2015 as well as the New Urban Agenda adopted in Quito, Ecuador in October 2016.
The Planning, Finance and Economy Section (PFES) of UN-Habitat supports countries in developing urban planning methods and systems that address current urbanization challenges. It promotes urban planning approaches to address urban regeneration, expansion and transformation.
The Go Blue Project: Hola and Kilifi LPDPs
The project, implemented jointly by UN-Habitat and UNEP, intends to develop an integrated, ecosystem-based land-sea planning framework that guides all other spatial planning and management activities for sustainable use and conservation of the blue economy in Kenya’s 6 coastal counties - Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, Taita Taveta and Tana River - under the coast regional economic block (JKP). The project also aims at enhancing technical and human capacity for integrated, ecosystem-based land-sea planning and management through capacity building interventions and the implementation of pilot activities in selected urban areas and communities of the six counties. Through these activities, the Project lays the basis of and contributes to a sustainable blue economy in Kenya.
The Project is implemented under the overall coordination of the JKP secretariat, the economic bloc of the Kenyan coastal counties, together with technical and professional experts drawn from the six County Governments and national government ministries, departments and agencies such as the State Department of Physical Planning, State Department of Housing and Urban Development, Kenya Marine Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Kenya Forest Services (KFS) and National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). In addition to these are the three coastal universities and private sector partners. Additional implementing partners are supporting in the implementation of individual project activities.
For the specific of this consultancy, the Go Blue activities related are: drafting of Hola Local Physical Development Plan.
Moyale LPDP Plan
Since independence, Kenya has grappled with a myriad of problems and challenges such as rapid and unregulated urbanization and skewed/unbalanced development due to implementation of policies in favor of high potential areas. Marsabit County as well as other frontier counties of northern Kenya has suffered the scourge of underdeveloped, interethnic conflicts brought about by high levels of poverty and scramble for scarce resources, poor infrastructure, lack of basic education and in recent years the impact of climate change that has resulted in high illiteracy levels, youth unemployment, and gender inequality.
In view of the above, there is an urgent need to develop Integrated Urban Development Plans in the County especially for the large towns of Marsabit and Moyale that will direct land use, infrastructure development while protecting the fragile environment. The Local Physical Development Plan will also be key instruments for identifying investment opportunities to enhance economic efficiency and raises the competitiveness of the County in the region given its proximity to both Ethiopia and Somalia and location and size in the country. UN-Habitat has over the years supported Governments at the local, regional and national levels to improve policies, plans, and designs for more compact, socially inclusive, and better integrated and connected cities and regions that promote sustainable urban development and are resilient to climate change.
The project will use a highly participatory approach involving residents and other stakeholders to develop the Local Physical Development Plan. The development of the plans will be evidence based. It will therefore be preceded by a thorough background study on diverse aspects relevant to the development of the plans. The process will be supported by a pool of experts from UN-Habitat in urban planning; County Government Officials especially in urban planning; representatives of national government from the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning; Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure and Urban Development; Local NGOs, Civil society, academia, non-state actors and donor community. This will not only comply with the Constitution of Kenya 2010 but also to the National Spatial Plan 2015 – 2045, an integrated spatial plan for balanced and sustainable national development developed by the Department of Physical Planning, Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning. The project will also build capacity required for the implementation of the spatial plan and development control. The County will oversee the overall development of the spatial plans.
Conakry SANITA Sustainable Cities Project
This project entitled "Urban Development and Sanitation Programme in Guinea (SANITA) - Sustainable Cities" aims to achieve the first specific objective, namely the strengthening of urban governance at local and national level. Given the need to strengthen its planning capacity, a consultant is required to provide technical support to the project in Conakry
Responsibilities:
Under the supervision of the Project Manager from Planning Finance and Economy Section and the Project Manager of the SANITA Project, the incumbent of the post will perform the following duties and responsibilities:
1. Analyze, collect, compile and interpret data (following UN-Habitat methodologies) and on the preparation of a diagnostic, scenarios, concept and strategic plan for the Go Blue Project;
2. Prepare materials (presentations, maps, drawings) for workshops with city and county officials and technical staff in Kenya;
3. Draft, revise and complete GIS data materials for spatial analysis and strategic vision for the Hola, and Moyale LPD Plans;
4. Finalize of SDU and PAD reports and their vulgarization with MUHAT officials at the central and local level, and with the public (capacity strengthening sessions and video).
A first-level university degree in Urban Planning, or related field that is relevant for sustainable urban development is required.
A minimum of 2 years of experience in urban planning and design with direct proven experience in drawing and preparing plan graphical material using computer-assisted design tools is required.
Experience in regional and territorial scale planning will be considered an advantage.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English and French is required. Fluency in other United Nations language is an advantage.
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.