Innovation & Investment Partnerships Specialist Consultant for the Climate Smart Cities Challenge (CSCC)

Result of Service The development of Climate Smart City system demonstrators for successful implementation and fundraising in partnering cities.

Work Location Hamburg

Expected duration 12 months

Duties and Responsibilities About UN-Habitat:

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.

UN-Habitat’s Strategic Plan for the years 2020 – 2023 reinforces UN-Habitat’s position as the global center of excellence on sustainable urban development, offering solutions that help seize the opportunities presented by urbanization while bringing about transformational change for the benefit of millions of people, ensuring that no one and no place is left behind. The Strategic Plan lays out a recalibrated vision and mission, and a sharpened focus. UN-Habitat proposes to serve Member States, sub-national and local governments, and other key urban actors in the pursuit of four mutually reinforcing and integrated domains of change: 1. Reduced poverty and spatial inequality in urban and rural communities; 2. Enhanced shared prosperity of cities and regions; 3. Strengthened climate action and improved urban environment; and 4. Effective urban crisis prevention and response.

Outcome 2.3 of the Strategic Plan is “expanded deployment of frontier technologies and innovations for urban development”. Frontier technologies are influencing the emergence of smart cities, how we build and manage our cities and human settlements, and how urban managers take more informed decisions. The New Urban Agenda calls for technology and communication networks to be strengthened and for smart-city approaches that use digitalization, clean energy, and technologies to boost economic growth and improve service delivery, while promoting broad-based inclusion, including of persons with disabilities.

The consultant will support UN-Habitat’s work on the Climate Smart Cities Challenge as part of the People-Centered Smart Cities flagship programme.

The Innovation Section: The External Relations, Strategy, Knowledge and Innovation Division is responsible for strategic planning, programmatic direction and operationalization of UN-Habitat's focal point role for the New Urban Agenda in the UN system; knowledge management, data and reporting; innovation; resource mobilization; and strategic partnerships. The Knowledge and Innovation Branch is responsible to generate data and analysis which feeds into high-level global reporting on substantive findings as well as identifying emerging innovations and solutions which are scalable, expanding and leveraging greater impact of the UN-Habitat work programme and strategy. The Innovation Section promotes an innovation culture for improved sustainable urbanization outcomes. Acts as an enabler and broker for new ideas and partnerships for inclusive and at scale impacts. Develops knowledge and tools to strengthen innovation. Promotes innovation in project and programme design and implementation by providing advice on tools, methodologies, technologies and partnerships.

Climate Smart Cities Challenge: Over the last three years, UN-Habitat and Viable Cities, the Swedish national city innovation programme, have established a strong partnership of more than 15 public and private organizations working closely with the cities of Bogotá, Bristol, Curitiba and Makindye Ssabagabo. The Climate Smart Cities Challenge is an open innovation competition to identify climate smart solutions to reduce the climate impact of Bogotá, Colombia; Bristol, United Kingdom; Curitiba, Brazil; and Makindye Ssabagabo, Uganda, while creating a better future for all. The climate ambitions of these cities are impressive and addressing them will have a powerful impact in shaping how city leaders, innovators and local communities respond to the climate emergency. The competition asked innovators – technologists, SMEs, start-ups, developers, finance experts and more – to submit their best ideas and solutions to one of the unique challenges identified by the four partner cities.

People-centered Smart Cities Flagship Programme: Flagship Programme 2 focuses on people-centered smart cities to act as an umbrella and enabler for mainstreaming people-centered smart cities across all of UN-Habitat work. 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, including ensuring that no one and no space is left behind, and that cities reduce carbon emissions.

Supervision: The Consultant will be under the overall leadership of ERSKI and report to the Lead, People-Centered Smart Cities Flagship Programme, UN-Habitat.

Responsibilities: The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks: 1. Develop guidance on the concept and design of system demonstrator based on Makindye Ssabagabo, as a case for investment, with the purpose to setting standards of presenting other system demonstrators including in Sweden 2. Identify digital infrastructure, platforms, tools, and technologies that support the concept and design of climate focused system demonstrators and people-centered smart cities 3. Support the development and implementation of a fundraising strategy for the Climate Smart Cities Challenge, including exploring establishing a financing advisory group 4. Mobilize partners across diverse organizations including bilateral and multilateral donors, global digital initiatives, academic institutions, and others in relation to implementing and fundraising for system demonstrators 5. Promote learning exchanges between cities participating in the Climate Smart Cities Challenge, especially Makindye Ssabagabo and Swedish cities focused on system demonstrators, digital technologies for climate action and academic knowledge creation 6. Coordinate closely with the Municipal Council of Makindye Ssabagabo and the winning team of the Climate Smart Cities Challenge 7. Advise future-focused branding and communications for the Climate Smart Cities Challenge 8. Attend meetings and events promoted by UN-Habitat partners to strengthen Climate Smart Cities Challenge position and presence. 9. Be responsible for maintaining an organized and accessible information file. 10. Participate in missions if requested

The consultant will be responsible for completing all courses or training activities that are indicated to him/her by his/her supervisor. The security course BSAFE is required to be accredited during the first month of employment.

The consultant will be responsible for his/her own security, so the person should get familiarized with United Nations security mechanisms and comply with them according to the Framework of Accountability for the United Nations Security Management System.

Qualifications/special skills University degree in public policy and management, social sciences connected to the fields of creativity and innovation; international development, urban studies and related fields, or relevant work experience is required. At least five (5) years’ experience of working in the field of innovation/creativity in the area of sustainable development in general, science relating to the same, and/or promoting urban climate action in particular is required; At least five (5) years’ experience of programme development and fundraising in an international context is required; Experience and knowledge of innovation processes and methodology, including challenge-driven innovation, design thinking, user research, product design and systems demonstrators is desirable; Good general knowledge of the issues of sustainable development is desirable; Proven experience in the development of programmes/strategies on and for innovation is desirable; Excellent research skills are desirable; Professional and academic experience on themes related to urban policy and development, public policy, social inclusion, open/digital government, innovation or open data is required; Experience of policy communication, including writing policy briefs, reports and producing publications is desirable; Experience in facilitating workshops and public speaking is desirable; Previous experience within the UN System is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of other languages relevant to the project including Spanish, Portuguese and Swedish is an asset.

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.