CONSULTANT VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Issued on:

ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION

Climate Change and Urban Environment Section, Global Solutions Division, UN-Habitat

DUTY STATION

Nairobi, Kenya

FUNCTIONAL TITLE

Climate Change and Urban Resilience Consultant

CONTRACT TYPE

Consultant

POST DURATION

1 year, extendable

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT PERIOD

18 February to 23 February 2026

1. 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.

The position supports the transition from the current strategic Plan 2020-2025 towards the implementation of the Environment and Climate Change Impact area of the Strategic Plan (2026-2029). It is located in the Climate Change and Urban Environment Section in the Global Solutions Division. The position falls under the direct supervision of the Programme Coordinator for Climate Change and Urban Environment.

One pillar of the Climate Change and Urban Environment Section is the provision of programme development support for regional and country offices with the ultimate goal to strengthen member states and local governments’ capacity to address climate change, with a particular emphasis on the climate resilience of the urban poor.

An integral part of implementing the 2026-29 Strategic Plan with Housing, Land and Urban Basic Services at the centre, and specifically through advancing efforts for operationalizing Impact Area 3, is UN-Habitat’s adaptation and resilience portfolio. This programme is aimed at increasing the resilience and socio-economic prosperity of urban poor communities in the Global South by 2030. It will achieve this by reducing climate change risk-related disruption to livelihoods and improving basic service provision for a significant proportion of the estimated 600 million climate-vulnerable urban poor. By using climate action as entry point for urban systems resilience and local development, the programme provides national and local governments and communities resources, knowledge, increases institutional capacities, and supports enhancing the needed policy environment to accelerate climate-resilient actions that allow vulnerable communities to transition into resilient, green, and just urban futures.

The Climate Change and Urban Environment Sectionsupports UN-Habitat's engagement in the international climate agenda, particularly through participation in the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP). Building on its coordination of the Ministerial Meeting on Urbanization and Climate Change at COP27 and COP28, and its support in developing and advancing the COP27 Sustainable Urban Resilience for the Next Generation (SURGe) Initiative, the sectioncontinues to strengthen the visibility of urban issues in global climate negotiations. This includes technical contributions to the urban climate resilience agenda, preparation of events and knowledge materials, and support to strategic partnerships in order to elevate the role of cities and local governments in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.

The 2030 Agenda Sub-Fund project strengthens UN-Habitat’s work on climate resilience, data-driven urban analysis, and multilevel action planning. In alignment with the Strategic Plan 2026-2029, the consultant will contribute to a coherent delivery across the agency by delivering technical inputs related to effective project management, reporting, technical backstopping, and global knowledge exchange. Core activities include:

• Supporting the review and consolidation of Multilayered Vulnerability Assessments (MVAs) for the countries participating in the 2030 Agenda Sub-Fund project.
• Supporting the preparation and technical review of Urban Resilience Action Plans (URAPs).
• Preparing donor reporting materials for the 2030 Agenda Sub-Fund project, including progress reports and coordinating inputs from country teams.
• Preparing and delivering organizational components of the Global Workshop on Urban Climate Resilience, including participatory programme development, session materials, logistical preparation, and consolidation of workshop outputs.
• Providing technical inputs as HQ focal point for activities under the 2030 Agenda Sub-Fund project in Sri Lanka, Lao PDR, Madagascar, and South Africa, including organizating regular check-in meetings, providing ad-hoc technical support and facilitating communication and knowledge exchange between teams.
• Supporting the preparation and participation in technical missions, including development of mission materials, delivery of technical sessions on URAP development, action planning, and early-stage project preparation.
• Providing technical and analytical support for UN-Habitat’s engagement in UNFCCC COP processes, including the preparation of negotiation briefs, background analyses, and inputs related to the urban/climate agenda.
• Prepare COP-related materials and deliverables, including conference agenda, briefing packages, and session preparation for UN-Habitat participation in high-level events and One UN engagements.

Objective of the Consultancy

The objective of the consultancy is to produce project materials and provide technical support that contribute to the delivery of the 2030 Agenda Sub-Fund project. The consultant will support the development of MVAs and URAPs, prepare donor reporting deliverables, and produce inputs for flagship activities such as the Global Workshop on Urban Climate Resilience. The consultant will also provide technical and organizational support for in-country workshops, contributing to the implementation of the Strategic Plan 2026–2029.

The consultancy is to provide high-quality analytical and preparatory support for UN-Habitat’s participation in UNFCCC COP31, ensuring the visibility of the urban agenda. The consultant will contribute to the production of COP-related technical materials in alignment with the Climate Change and Urban Environment Section’s global engagement work.

This work will directly contribute to UN-Habitat's broader efforts to strengthen multilevel and multisectoral collaboration and support countries in applying resilience planning tools in line with UN-Habitat’s Strategic Plan 2026-2029 and its focus on housing, land and urban basic services.

1. RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Coordinator Climate Change and Urban Environment and in close collaboration with colleagues from the Climate Change and Urban Environment Section and country offices, the consultant will carry out the following tasks:

Project management support, donor reporting and project documentation

• Prepare periodic donor reporting deliverables for the 2030 Agenda Sub-Fund project, ensuring timely submission, quality assurance, and compliance with donor templates and requirements.
• Compile and synthesize inputs received from colleagues for reporting, missions, workshops, and knowledge products.

Technical backstopping for MVAs and URAPs

• Provide technical review and consolidation support for MVAs for Sri Lanka, Lao PDR, Madagascar, and South Africa, ensuring alignment with UN‑Habitat methodologies.
• Provide technical review and consolidation support for URAPs for Sri Lanka, Lao PDR, Madagascar, and South Africa, ensuring alignment with UN‑Habitat methodologies.
• Organize and document project team meetings and country-specific meetings, including a powerpoint and meeting notes.

Workshop and mission preparation

• Prepare the programme, session contents, and deliver logistical components of the Global Workshop on Urban Climate Resilience, including drafting of agenda, participant materials, logistical support and reporting of outcomes.
• Prepare inputs for and participate in technical missions related to action planning, capacity building, and project preparation.
• Prepare mission logistics, delivery, and post-mission reporting.

COP31

• Prepare analytical and preparatory COP31 materials, including negotiations briefs, side-event materials, and community-of-practice meetings.
• Prepare technical inputs for UN-Habitat’s high-level participation at COP31, including mission agenda, mission packages and talking points.

1. EXPECTED RESULTS/ Ultimate Results

• Donor reports for the 2030 Agenda Sub-Fund project produced and submitted, including (i) consolidated inputs from all participating countries, (ii) a finalized donor report in the required template, and (iii) supporting documentation as required.
• Reviewed and consolidated MVA documents for Sri Lanka, Lao PDR, Madagascar, and South Africa delivered.
• Technical contributions to URAPs for target cities in Sri Lanka, Lao PDR, Madagascar, and South Africa, reflected in reviewed drafts, meeting notes, and consolidated versions of each URAP.
• Complete documentation package for project team meetings and country-specific meetings delivered, including meeting notes and PowerPoint presentations.
• Global Workshop on Urban Climate Resilience prepared and successfully delivered, including workshop programme, session content and participant materials, PowerPoint presentations, logistical documentation, and documented outcomes.
• Technical missions prepared and completed, including mission logistics, technical inputs and presentations prepared, and post-mission reports finalized.
• COP31 technical materials and mission documentation produced, including negotiation briefs on urban-relevant agenda items, side-event materials, and high-level briefing packages, enabling effective engagement of UN-Habitat in the urban/climate agenda.

1. COMPETENCIES

PROFESSIONALISM:

Knowledge of all aspects of the design, development, management, implementation and maintenance of complex web projects using web content management systems and technologies; Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of digital communications strategy, tools, approaches and practices for the creation and maintenance of high-quality communication campaigns; Strong analytical skills and ability to rapidly analyze, strategize and integrate diverse information from various multimedia and digital sources. Shows pride in work and in achievements; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; Remains calm in stressful situations.

PLANNING AND ORGANIZING:

Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

COMMUNICATION:

Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

TEAMWORK: Ability to work with teams, demonstrate leadership, conflict management and consensus facilitation skills; ability to work in a multicultural and multi-ethnic environment, and to respect diversity; sensitivity to the main streaming of vulnerability; willingness and ability to work in difficult environments.

1. QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in urban/territorial planning, environmental management, climate change/adaptation, civil/environmental engineering, geography/geo-informatics, development economics, or related field is required. A first degree with 2 additional years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Work experience

• A minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible experience in climate adaptation, urban resilience, sustainable development, or related fields is required.
• Experience in project management and stakeholder engagement, ideally gained at the international level is required.
• Experience working with climate vulnerability assessments, adaptation planning tools, or related resilience tools is desirable.
• Experience in organising or contributing to international multi-stakeholder events is desirable.
• Experience in developing projects in a participatory manner, as well as contributions to project preparation and resource mobilization is an added advantage.
• Experience working with the United Nations is an added advantage.
• Familiarity with global and national climate policy processes, particularly Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), the Paris Agreement, and international climate policy, is an added advantage.

Language

French and English are the working languages ​​of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in written and oral English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an added advantage.

Payment

The consultant will be paid on a monthly basis, upon the submission of a monthly report against the above mentioned expected results and the clearance of these results, at a level IICA1 Consultant rate.

Applications should include:

• Cover memo (maximum 1 page)
• P11, indicating the following information:
  1. Educational Background (incl. dates)
  2. Professional Experience (assignments, tasks, achievements, duration by years/ months)
  3. Other Experience and Expertise (e.g. Internships/ voluntary work, etc.)

All applications should be submitted to: Bernhard Barth (bernhard.barth@un.org) and cc mailto: Pauline Muthoni (Pauline.Muthoni@un.org) with your name and functional title included in the Subject Line of the email.

Deadline for applications: Posting period 18 February to 23 February 2026

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