Strategy and Framework Consultant, Nairobi

• Organization: UN-Habitat - United Nations Human Settlements Programme
• Country: Kenya
• City: Nairobi, Kenya
• Office: UN-Habitat - United Nations Human Settlements Programme in Nairobi
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Closing date: Tuesday, 19 December 2017

By Leon Osong on 12/11/2017

CONSULTANT VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Issued on 11 December 2017

ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION:

UN-Habitat

DUTY STATION:

Nairobi, Kenya

FUNCTIONAL TITLE:

Strategy and Framework Consultant

DURATION

9.5 Months

CLOSING DATE:

19 December 2017

BACKGROUND

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the agency for human settlements, mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities and adequate shelter for all. This consultancy is located in UN-Habitat's Urban Planning and Design Branch (UPDB). The UPDB supports national and sub-national governments, local authorities and civil society partners with tested approaches, guidelines, and tools to plan the growth of cities in an inclusive, sustainable, and future-proof way, in tune with social, cultural, economic, and environmental concerns and particularities. The UPDB focuses on making cities more liveable, productive, and inclusive through proper planning and design. This includes optimizing the population and economic density of urban settlements and promoting mixed land use, diversity, and better connectivity. It also encompasses social inclusion and gender balance, as well as ensuring that planning and design contribute to the development of more efficient, greener, and cleaner cities able to cope with the consequences of climate change.

The New Urban Agenda was adopted on 21 October 2016 by UN Member States at the Habitat III Conference in Quito, Ecuador, setting a new global standard for sustainable urban development and rethinking how we plan, manage and live in cities. The New Urban Agenda establishes strategies and best practices to guide positive urban development and to prevent the need for reactionary policies, and it tasks UN-Habitat with coordinating its implementation, follow up, and review. "Planning and managing urban spatial development" is highlighted as one of the three pillars of effective implementation of the New Urban Agenda and central to realizing its transformative commitments. As the center of planning expertise within UN-Habitat, the work and outcomes of the UPDB are vital to achieving this.

Furthermore, the New Urban Agenda encourages UN-Habitat and others "to generate evidence-based and practical guidance for [its] implementation and the urban dimension of the Sustainable Development Goals, in close collaboration with Member States, local authorities, major groups and other relevant stakeholders, as well as through the mobilization of experts." (NUA para 128) It also calls upon UN-Habitat to coordinate the preparation of a quadrennial report on the New Urban Agenda, which "will provide a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the progress made in the implementation of the new Urban Agenda and internationally agreed goals and targets relevant to sustainable urbanization and human settlements." (NUA para 167). UN-Habitat’s Action Framework for the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda (AFINUA) sets out the essential ingredients for the implementation of the New Urban Agenda.

Thus, in the context of the approach of the first of the quadrennial reports on the New Urban Agenda — to be delivered in July 2018, the AFINUA, as well as the UN-Habitat nearing the end of its current Strategic Plan for 2014-2019, there is a need for concise reporting on the UPDB's impacts in line with a well-articulated monitoring framework.

RESPONSIBILITES

Under the supervision of the Coordinator of the Urban Planning and Design Branch (UPDB), the consultant will deliver the following services for Branch:

• Monitor ongoing discussions around the indicators formulated for tracking urban dimensions of the SDGs, especially SDG11, and its relationship with the New Urban Agenda;
• Research and analyse effective monitoring frameworks, including best practices and lessons learned, from other relevant international agendas and agreements;
• Develop a monitoring framework for the New Urban Agenda implementation within the UPDB, including special consideration for the work and themes of its sub-units: Regional and Metropolitan Planning, City Planning, extension, and Design, and Climate Change Planning;
• Work closely with the Research and Capacity Building Branch on integration of the UPDB monitoring and reporting framework with the larger Agency-wide framework for reporting on implementation of the New Urban Agenda;
• Identify strategic opportunities for efficient integration of monitoring among projects, programmes and units;
• Develop a timeline for the UPDB and its inputs in line with the quadrennial reports on the New Urban Agenda;
• Collate inputs from UPDB external partners on monitoring priorities from meetings on implementation, including outcomes from the World Urban Forum in February 2018 and other relevant events; analyse and revise monitoring strategy and framework as needed;
• Liaise and engage as needed to ensure that the necessary sub-units, programmes, initiatives, and networks are consulted and that their inputs and feedback are considered and incorporated to develop consensus on the framework; and
• Develop documents related to the framework: leverage lessons learned, best practices, programme data, evaluations, and other information to generate parts of reports, communication and proposal pieces, and other high-quality, results-based documentation as needed.
• Collate and develop results, outcomes and lessons learned from 2017 and 2018 with consideration of the Focus Areas and the Indicators of Achievement as laid out in the 2014-2019 Strategic Plan, particularly with a view to providing inputs to the Strategic Plan 2020-25.

Deliverables:

• Analysis of monitoring frameworks for related United Nations agendas and goals, with identification of overlap and opportunities;
• Strategy for the meaningful integration of key UPDB partnerships in the context of NUA monitoring;
• Monitoring framework for the New Urban Agenda for the UPDB;
• Strategy, set of Guidelines, and Timeline for the UPDB to guide future reporting and inputs to the monitoring framework;
• Report on results, impacts and lessons learned from 2017 and 2018 in relation to the Strategic Plan ending in 2019, also as an input into preparations for forthcoming Strategic Plan 2020-25; and
• Report components, documentation, and communications materials related to these undertakings as needed.

COMPETENCIES

Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of the New Urban Agenda and its implementation, follow up, and review process. Experience developing strategies and reports at the international level. Knowledge of urban planning and/ or sustainable urban development issues. Ability to observe deadlines and achieve set goals. Ability to work and deliver under pressure. Knowledge of internal policies, processes, and procedures. Ability to identify and independently assess situations and formulate recommendations. Demonstrated ability to work proactively and tactfully in a diverse and multinational setting.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Exhibits excellent report writing and communication skills in English. Able to communicate complex interventions in a clear language and to effectively listen and seek feedback and clarification where necessary.

Teamwork: Ability to both work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve agreed goals and improve collaborative work and to work and meet deadlines independently. Conducts team work in a respectful and professional manner.

Planning and Organizing: Ability to prioritize activities and assignments. Considers potential problems and considers alternatives and contingencies when planning. Able to meet deadlines under pressure.

EDUCATION

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in urban planning, international development, law, public policy, public administration, finance, natural resources management, engineering, social sciences, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

QUALIFICATION

Knowledge of international urban development issues is required. Excellent organizational and communication skills. Excellent writing skills (English). The consultant should demonstrate the United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, and Respect for Diversity. The consultant should be familiar with the mission and work of UN-Habitat and have a strong understanding of the New Urban Agenda and its implementation.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Fluency in English. Knowledge of additional UN languages are an advantage.

Applications should include:

• Cover memo (maximum 1 page)
• CV in the PHP format, accessible through the INSPIRA website (inspira.un.org) Please note, if using INSPIRA for the first time, you need to register in order to activate your account, which will allow you to log in and create a personal History Profile.
• The PHP should be attached to the application as a PDF file.
• Summary CV (maximum 2 pages), indicating the following information:
• Educational Background (incl. dates)
• Professional Experience (assignments, tasks, achievements, duration by years/ months)
• Other Experience and Expertise (e.g. Internships/ voluntary work, etc.)
• Expertise and preferences regarding location of potential assignments
• Expectations regarding remuneration
• Cover memo (maximum 1 page)

Please also be advised that since April 15th 2010, applicants for consultancies must be part of the

UN-HABITAT e-Roster in order for their application to be considered. You can reach the e-Roster

through the following link: http://e-roster.unhabitat.org

All applications should be submitted to:

Stella Mungai

Email; Stella.Mungai@un.org

UN-HABITAT

P.O. Box 30030, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya

Deadline for applications: 19 December 2017

UN-HABITAT does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. If you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of these offices and requesting the payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unon.org