CONSULTANT VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Issued on:

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 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 (CCUE) Section in the Global Solutions Division. The position falls under the direct supervision of the Programme Coordinator for Climate Change and Urban Environment.3In close collaboration with the Regional Programme Division, the CCUE Section provides programme development, technical backstopping, and investment-readiness support to regional and country offices. This work aims to strengthen national and local capacities to address climate change, with a particular emphasis on urban climate resilience and the needs of urban poor and vulnerable communities.

UN-Habitat’s adaptation and resilience portfolio is a key vehicle for operationalizing the Strategic Plan 2026-2029, with housing, land, and urban basic services at its centre. The portfolio seeks to reduce climate risk-related disruptions to livelihoods, improve access to basic services, enhance the climate resilience of informal settlements and the urban poor, and strengthen institutional capacity by integrating climate action into urban systems, planning, and investment processes. Core approaches include multilayered vulnerability assessments (MVAs), urban resilience action planning (URAPs), community-based adaptation, nature-based solutions, and the development of bankable climate resilience projects aligned with national and local priorities, including NDCs and NAPs. The 2030 Agenda Sub-Fund-funded and AECID-funded projects strengthen UN-Habitat’s work on climate resilience, data-driven urban analysis, climate-related capacity building, and multilevel climate action.

In alignment with the Strategic Plan 2026-2029, the consultant will contribute to the effective implementation, institutionalization, and scaling of UN-Habitat’s global urban climate resilience portfolio through project management, technical backstopping, capacity development, monitoring and evaluation, and strategic donor engagement. Core activities include:

• Facilitate and manage the AECID-funded urban resilience project across Bolivia, Colombia, Ethiopia, Jordan, and Tunisia, ensuring timely delivery of outputs, effective budget oversight, and alignment with the Strategic Plan 2026-2029.
• Facilitate reporting processes by consolidating technical inputs, ensuring results-based reporting, integrating lessons learned, and contributing to donor engagement and proposal development.
• Facilitate monitoring and evaluation processes, including progress tracking, results synthesis, lessons learned documentation, and contributions to mid-term and final evaluations.
• Facilitate collaboration with UNOSAT, providing oversight for the integration of MVA data into the online platform.
• Design and implement capacity development strategies, including training on climate risk and vulnerability mapping, resilience action planning, GEDSI, climate finance, climate-crisis programming, bankable project development, and policy uptake.
• Facilitate the Climate and Environment Community of Practice, fostering knowledge exchange, peer learning, and institutionalization of resilience planning methodologies.
• Support the preparation, facilitation, and technical support of local workshops, field visits, and in-country missions, including capacity-building sessions, community engagement activities, strategic bilateral meetings with local stakeholders and authorities, and post-mission follow-up.
• Part of a team developing knowledge products, including policy briefs, strategic technical inputs, and contributions to the MVA Handbook, ensuring cross-country knowledge sharing.
• Support global dissemination and policy uptake of project results by contributing to high-level events such as the World Urban Forum (WUF) and COP, including preparation of technical materials and presentations to ensure visibility of project results.
• Facilitate the preparation for the 2nd Global Workshop on Urban Climate Resilience, contributing to session design, technical content, and global dissemination.
• Ensure multilevel coordination across regional and country offices to ensure quality assurance, coherence, and institutionalization of urban resilience planning processes.

Objective of the Consultancy

The objective of the consultancy is to provide technical, programmatic, and organizational support for the implementation, institutionalization, and scaling of UN-Habitat’s global urban climate resilience projects across multiple countries. The consultant will support the delivery of project outputs, including donor reporting, monitoring and evaluation, capacity-building activities, and knowledge products such as policy briefs and contributions to the MVA Handbook. The role also involves preparation and facilitation of local workshops, field visits, and strategic bilateral meetings, as well as support for flagship activities such as the 2nd Global Workshop on Urban Climate Resilience and high-level events including WUF and COP.

This work will contribute to UN-Habitat’s broader efforts to strengthen multilevel and multisectoral collaboration, enhance the institutionalization of resilience planning processes, and assist countries in applying resilience planning tools and methodologies in line with the Strategic Plan 2026-2029.

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, Regional and Country Offices, the consultant will carry out the following tasks:

Project management support, monitoring, and donor reporting

• Facilitate the implementation of the AECID-funded urban resilience project across Bolivia, Colombia, Ethiopia, Jordan, and Tunisia, ensuring timely delivery of outputs, effective budget oversight, and alignment with the Strategic Plan 2026-2029.
• Support the monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities, including progress tracking, results synthesis, documentation of lessons learned, and contributions to mid-term and final evaluations.
• Facilitate donor reporting processes, consolidating technical inputs, ensuring results-based reporting, integrating lessons learned, and contributing to strategic engagement with donors and partners.
• Support multilevel coordination across regional and country offices, contributing to quality assurance, coherence, and institutionalization of urban resilience planning processes.
• Support proposal development and resource mobilization by integrating lessons learned, results frameworks, and institutional strengthening components.

Technical backstopping and project delivery

• Facilitate collaboration with UNOSAT, providing programmatic oversight for the integration of MVA data into the online platform.
• Contribute to technical knowledge products, including policy briefs, strategic inputs, and contributions to the MVA Handbook, ensuring cross-country knowledge sharing and high-quality analytical outputs.
• Provide technical support for in-country workshops, field visits, and missions to ensure effective project delivery, including preparation of training materials, technical guidance, and post-mission follow-up.

Capacity development and knowledge exchange

• Design and support capacity development initiatives, including preparation and delivery of training sessions on climate risk and vulnerability mapping, resilience action planning, GEDSI, climate finance, climate-crisis programming, bankable project development, and policy uptake.
• Facilitate the Climate and Environment Community of Practice, fostering knowledge exchange, peer learning, and institutionalization of resilience planning methodologies.

Workshops, field visits, and global events

• Support the preparation and facilitation of local workshops, field visits, and strategic bilateral meetings, including capacity-building sessions, community engagement activities, and coordination with local stakeholders and authorities.
• Support the preparation for the 2nd Global Workshop on Urban Climate Resilience, including session design, technical content, and contribution to the visibility of project results.

1. EXPECTED RESULTS/ Ultimate Results

At the end of the consultancy, the consultant will have contributed to the successful implementation, institutionalization, and scaling of UN-Habitat’s urban climate resilience portfolio, as evidenced by the following results:

• Timely delivery of project outputs across Bolivia, Colombia, Ethiopia, Jordan, and Tunisia, with effective budget oversight and alignment with the Strategic Plan 2026–2029.
• Donor reporting deliverables prepared and submitted on schedule, including consolidated inputs from all participating countries, results-based reporting, and lessons learned integration.
• Monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities implemented, including progress tracking, results synthesis, documentation of lessons learned, and contributions to mid-term and final evaluations.
• Technical support provided for in-country workshops, field visits, and strategic bilateral meetings, ensuring effective planning, knowledge transfer, and engagement with local stakeholders and authorities.
• Preparation and facilitation of the 2nd Global Workshop on Urban Climate Resilience completed, including session design, technical content, participant materials, and documentation of outcomes.
• Knowledge products delivered, including policy briefs, strategic inputs, and contributions to the MVA Handbook, supporting cross-country learning and institutionalization of resilience planning methodologies.
• Collaboration with UNOSAT ensured, with programmatic oversight for integration of MVA data into the online platform and quality assurance of outputs.

The consultancy will be delivered over a period of twelve months, through the submission of monthly progress reports. Each report will demonstrate the delivery of approximately one-twelfth of the total level of effort under the ToR and progress against the specified outputs. Acceptance of each monthly progress report by UN-Habitat will serve as the basis for assessment and corresponding payment.

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 and/or design, urban climate change/adaptation, geography, or related field is required. A first degree with 2 additional years of experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

Work experience

• A minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible experience in urban and local climate adaptation, urban resilience, sustainable urban development, or closely related fields is required.
• Experience in project management and stakeholder engagement, ideally gained at the international level is required.
• Experience working with urban / local climate vulnerability assessments, adaptation planning tools, or related resilience tools is required.
• Experience in organising or contributing to international multi-stakeholder events is desirable.
• 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/ICS9 Consultant rate.