Index Development Project Consultant

Result of Service The Shanghai adapted index and framework

Work Location Homebased

Expected duration 6 months

Duties and Responsibilities The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially, economically and environmentally sustainable cities, towns and other human settlements. It is the focal point for urbanization and human settlements matters within the UN system.

UN-Habitat, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of China, and Shanghai Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and Management have agreed to work together to conduct feasibility studies on establishing two main activities including(1) conducting feasibility studies on setting up “Global Sustainable Development Award for Cities” (“Shanghai Award”), (2) conducting research on developing the “Global Urban Monitoring Framework – Shanghai Adapted Index” (working title, hereinafter referred to as “Shanghai Adapted Index”). It is also envisioned to strengthen the platform with practical monitoring tools that are based on GUMF as well as knowledge sharing opportunities and products.

Shanghai Adapted Index aims to help cities to apply the universal framework, GUMF, to measure their overall sustainability in specific contexts and their level of sustainability in various thematic areas. The index thus provides a tool for cities to identify their gaps in implementing SDGs and the NUA. Moreover, the application of Shanghai Adapted Index will provide evidence for Shanghai Award, making the award more evidence-based and support a progressive approach to sustainable urban development and measurements. Shanghai Adapted Index is also expected to provide some reference for the case selection for Shanghai Manual. Partners based in Shanghai China will work together with UN-Habitat to propose the approach of developing the framework of Integrated and Themed Shanghai Adapted Index. The Integrated Shanghai Adapted Index shall serve as a valuable data tool for cities to measure and quantify their overall sustainability level. The framework of this Integrated index will clarify the matrix of the index that is extracted from the GUMF and adapted to the typology of cities, the availability and comparability of data across different cities while the Themed Shanghai Adapted Index would be developed based on the Integrated Index.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The “Global Urban Monitoring Framework – Shanghai Adapted Index” will be based on the UMF structure, but provide nuanced application by increasing its applicability by taking into consideration the typology of cities, data availability, usability and variations across different types of cities and contexts. The consultant based in the Data and Analytics Unit will support development of an Integrated Index and Themed Index, which will facilitate measurement of the overall sustainability of a city and the intra-sustainability of a city in specific area respectively. The GUMF-Shanghai Adapted index might be used by cities to diagnose the gaps in their capacity of achieving SDGs in particular thematic areas.

The consultant will work with the UN-Habitat GUMF-Shanghai Adapted Index team, together with external experts from China, on the implementation of agreed activities that will lead towards developing the integrated SH Adapted Index and the themed SH Adapted Index (including the key methodology of calculating the Index, the adapted structure, selection pilot cities, coordinating data collection, facilitating the testing of the draft SAI, drafting related reports, the application principles etc. The consultant will also be responsible for the coordination between the Data and Analytics Unit, the data experts and related internal UN-Habitat stakeholders and external donors and partners. In addition, it is also the responsibility of this consultant to responsibility of this consultant to organize relevant workshops, experts group meetings, technical exchange as well as communications and publicity event.

Within delegated authority, the consultant will be responsible for the following duties: - Implement workplan 2022 and draft the work plan 2023 of the UMF – Shanghai Adapted Index and facilitate the implementation of the work plan according to the proposed timeline. - Advice (Guide) the development of the draft UMF – Shanghai Adapted Index framework, including conducting research and analyses on and for the Index, providing inputs to the technical discussions and assisting with the drafting of the technical documents. - Work together with the data experts to collect data, process and test the UMF – Shanghai Adapted Index in selected pilot cities. - Facilitate the technical exchange between the UN-Habitat team on UMF – Shanghai Adapted Index and the Chinese partners team, Organise relevant technical workshops, seminar, expert group meetings to enhance programme promoting. - Provide guidance on the collaboration between the UN-Habitat team and other internal and external stakeholders, including UN-Habitat Regional Programme Division and the Chinese counterparts. - Implement the research on the potential interlinked activities between UMF – Shanghai Adapted Index and Shanghai Award and SDG Cities Flagship Programme, etc. - Advise on SAI relevant workshops, knowledge exchange, promotion and publicity events related to UMF – Shanghai Adapted Index, not limited to the releasing outcome on WCD 2022. - Contribute to the connection of the work of the Data and Analytics Unit with the timely implementation of the UMF- Shanghai Adapted Index. - Jointing and contribution to drafting and finalizing the Research report.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: A master's degree in urban studies, statistics, mathematics, demography, economics, actuarial sciences, environmental sciences, monitoring and evaluation, or any other closely related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with 2 additional years of qualifying experience in the fields of report writing, scientific writing, data management, quantitative research or monitoring may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Experience: - A minimum of 3 years of progressive work experience in data analytics, indices, development of methodologies for measurement frameworks, research on a broad range of urban and human settlements issues or any closely related area is required. - Good interpersonal skills and ability to foster communication among teams is required. - Familiarity of the UN system, including experience working in international settings is desirable. - Some level of knowledge of and experience working with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or the New Urban Agenda is highly desirable. - Previous work experience in organising technical workshops or publicity events is desirable. - Proven experience in working in teams, creativity, taking responsibility for project completion, delivering under tight deadlines is desirable. Language: Fluency in oral and written English is required for this position. Fluency in Chinese Mandarin is strongly preferred. Although not a requirement, knowledge of any other UN language will be an 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.