Mission and objectives

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the UN agency for human settlements, mandated by the General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of ensuring adequate shelter for all. UN-Habitat Iraq has operated since 1996, supporting the Government of Iraq at all levels to advance sustainable urban development, reduce spatial inequality, share knowledge, improve governance, and strengthen urban crisis prevention and response. The programme focuses on enabling prosperity and building a better urban future. Key priorities include developing affordable housing solutions and basic services while securing tenure rights for vulnerable populations. Climate adaptation efforts address water security and urban heat management, integrating green building standards across construction activities. Digital transformation initiatives aim to modernise Iraq’s paper-based land registry through GIS-based Land Information Systems and standardised cadastral mapping to prevent fraud and improve transparency. UN-Habitat also supports economic development by providing technical assistance to local authorities and creating urban infrastructure through blended finance mechanisms. Through these efforts, UN-Habitat aims to position Iraq as a regional leader in sustainable urban development, fostering resilient communities that can withstand environmental and social challenges while ensuring equitable opportunities for all residents.

Context

UN-Habitat Iraq has developed a comprehensive publication titled “Iraq Green and Affordable Housing Legislative and Regulatory Assessment.” This report provides an in-depth analysis of Iraq’s existing housing-related laws, policies, and regulatory frameworks, identifying gaps and opportunities to advance environmentally sustainable and affordable housing solutions. The publication is intended for government stakeholders, policymakers, development partners, and technical experts, and will serve as a key reference to inform future housing strategies and reforms in Iraq. To maximize its impact and usability, the report requires a clear, professional, and publication-ready design that enhances readability, supports bilingual presentation (English and Arabic), and communicates complex policy content in an accessible way. Through this assignment, the Online Volunteer will play a critical role in transforming a technical document into a high-quality flagship publication that can influence policy dialogue and decision-making in Iraq. Expected Impact of the Assignment: - The Online Volunteer’s contribution will directly support the production of a high-quality policy publication that informs housing reforms and promotes sustainable urban development in Iraq. - By improving the accessibility and visual clarity of the report, the volunteer will help ensure that key findings and recommendations are effectively communicated to decision-makers and stakeholders. - This assignment also provides the volunteer with an opportunity to contribute to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, while gaining experience working on a real UN flagship publication with policy impact.

Task Description

The two Online Volunteers will support the design and layout of a policy publication to ensure it is visually coherent, reader-friendly, and aligned with UN-Habitat branding standards. Working under the supervision of the UN-Habitat Iraq communication focal point, the volunteer will: - Design and format a ~90-page bilingual (English–Arabic) publication for both digital and print use - Establish and apply a clear visual hierarchy (headings, subheadings, body text, captions, footnotes) - Apply consistent typography, spacing, and formatting styles across the document - Integrate structured visual elements such as tables, text boxes, section dividers, and callouts - Ensure proper handling of right-to-left (Arabic) and left-to-right (English) layout alignment - Apply UN-Habitat branding guidelines throughout the document - Revise the design based on feedback and finalize the publication for dissemination Expected Deliverables (Specific and Measurable) The Online Volunteer is expected to design a layout of the full report (~90 pages)

Competencies and values

Living conditions and remarks