Digital Rights Consultant

Result of Service The ultimate result of this consultancy is to ensure that the Digital Rights Governance Framework is a balanced and practical guideline for cities, supported by a large group of partners and stakeholders. Ensures the Framework has advanced the capacity building on all included thematic areas and the pilot-phase has been carried out successfully in different locations

Work Location HOMEBASED

Expected duration 12 Months

Duties and Responsibilities BACKGROUND:

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the UN 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 Knowledge & Innovation Branch (K&I) of UN-Habitat has the mandate to promote local capabilities of local governments to develop innovative instruments in a variety of areas to keep pace with the demands of rapid urbanization. For UN-Habitat, innovation means embracing new ideas, up-to-date means, and fresh approaches to our work. It is based on horizontal and collaborative working practices that consider diverse contexts and perspectives. Innovation can be digital or non-digital, and take shape as a process, a practical tool or application or as a culture. The Innovation Unit hosts the United Nations Innovation Technology Accelerator for Cities (UNITAC), leads the agency’s work on digital cooperation, provides technical support to UN-Habitat flagship programme People-Centered Smart Cities and is developing UN-Habitats Innovation Challenges, an approach to urban innovation based on open and challenge-driven innovation that can help cities and human settlements effectively engage with innovators. It also provides innovation support to the Improved Quality of Life in Datacenter Communities project, implemented in collaboration with Microsoft.

UN-Habitat’s Programme Development Branch (PDB) and People-Centered Smart Cities programme: PDB develops new programmes and ensures coherent coordination between normative approaches at HQ and operational work in regional and field offices. It also leads on the development of five global flagship programmes. Flagship programme 2 focuses on people-centered smart cities to act as an umbrella and enabler for mainstreaming the approach across all UN-Habitat work. This programme has a clear mandate to support colleagues in the delivery of their operational and normative work. The programme will be supported by committed and mandated smart city focal points with dedicated resources and time. The objective of this flagship programme is to ensure that the smart cities field is focused on ensuring sustainable development outcomes aligned with human rights, ensuring that no one and no space is left behind, and that cities reduce carbon emissions. PDB is also currently leading the establishment of UNITAC as an outposted office in Hamburg.

Cities Coalition for Digital Rights: The cities coalition network aims to promote, protect and uphold digital rights in cities and communities. Co-founded by the cities of Amsterdam, Barcelona and New York in 2018, it counts on the support of UN-Habitat, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and Eurocities, to support local governments in addressing digital challenges and advancing human rights principles in technology and digital environment of cities. The coalition has over 50 city-members and promotes knowledge-sharing and exchange of local experiences in multiple areas connected to digital inclusion, artificial intelligence, transparency and accountability, and ethics in digital services and standards. As such, the CC4DR represents a network of cities helping each other in the greenfield of digital rights-based policymaking. The Coalition is committed to promoting and defending digital rights in urban context through city action, to resolve common digital challenges and work towards legal, ethical, and operational frameworks to advance human rights in digital environments The consultant will be reporting to the Programme Management Officer, Technology, and Innovation.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the supervision on the Programme Management Officer - Technology and Innovation, the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks: 1. Synchronize the normative and operational work with UN-Habitat and the Cities Coalition for Digital Rights on digital ‘rights’, including research, project management, communications support and stakeholders’ engagement and outreach: 2. Strengthen project management efforts, including technical and, administrative to the core-team of the project, which consists of colleagues from UN-Habitat Innovation Unit and the Cities Coalition for Digital Rights 3. Contribute to the written reporting for each project-phase to justify results, progress, and expenditure 4. Provide technical assistance to the development of the Digital Rights Governance Framework project, including the design and pilot of the Digital Rights Helpdesk and related work 5. Participate in meetings, which includes developing and delivering suitable presentations related to digital rights

Qualifications/special skills Skills: COMPETENCIES

PROFESSIONAL: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to urban planning and design. Strong analysis of urban form, urban systems, underlying social, legal, and financial mechanisms and the political context. Ability to develop strong graphic materials (concept plans, diagrams, street sections) as well as substantive reports. Knowledge of urban development issues. Ability to observe deadlines and achieve set goals. Ability to work and deliver under pressure.

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: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

PLANNING AND ORGANIZATIONAL: 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. Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree) in social sciences, political science, international development, urban planning, architecture, innovation or in a closely related field is required. A first degree with 2 years of qualifying experience will be accepted in lieu of an Advanced degree.

.EXPERIENCE:

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience working in digitization projects, digital policy, and strategy or similar is required.
• Experience and knowledge of digital rights, digital transformation processes, opendata, smart cities or similar is required.
• Experience in writing policy briefs, reports, policy communication and drafting publications is required.
• Experience in project management is required.
• Knowledge in digital development, international development, digital policy in the context of local, regional, and/or national governments is desirable.
• Knowledge of digital platforms, tools, and services is desirable.
• A strong understanding of UN-Habitat and the Cities Coalition for Digital Rights mandates, goals and principles is desirable.

LANGUAGE: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in spoken and written English is required. Experience of other UN languages is an added advantage.

No Fee THE 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.