Regional Programme Developper

Result of Service Under the direct supervision of the Senior Human Settlement Officer overseeing Western Africa and in close collaboration with the Senior Human Settlement Officer for Brazil, the consultant will be responsible for providing substantive and administrative inputs in the development and implementation of UN-Habitat’s regional portfolio in Francophone Western Africa and Latin America promoting cooperation initiatives within the Regional Office for Africa (ROAf) and the Regional Office for Latin America (ROLAC).

Work Location Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Expected duration 12 months

Duties and Responsibilities The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated to work towards a better urban future. Its mission is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all. In 2021, the UN estimates that Africa is urbanised at 43,9 per cent, Asia at 51,7 per cent, and Latin America and the Caribbean at 81,4 per cent. Urbanization is one of the most important global trends of the 21st century. As recognized in the New Urban Agenda, urbanization can be a transformative power as a driver of sustainable growth and poverty reduction, if properly harnessed, helping local and national governments overcome major development challenges. However, the achievement of this potential is all too often constrained since the different phases of the process that drives sustainable urbanization is poorly functioning. Unavailability and undetailed city data, ineffective systems of urban governance, limited capacities in urban planning, lack of local resources and funding, and poor mechanisms to measure results have been limiting countries and cities to advance in their sustainable development. Cities are also high contributors and the most vulnerable to climate change. On one hand, cities contribute for more than 70% of greenhouse gas emissions. On the other, soil impermeabilization, removal of green cover and canalization of rivers make urban areas less resilient to the impacts of climate change. French-speaking Least Developed Countries (LDCs) – Burkina Faso, Haiti and Senegal - are facing unprecedented urbanization rates and are strongly hit by the socio-economic consequences of the global crisis. They also have limited human and financial resources and skills to manage cities, particularly secondary cities, in a sustainable manner. In this context, there is an opportunity to better share knowledge and tools readily available to implement urban TOR: 23-United Nations Human Settlements Programme-203277-Consultant Page 2 of 4 solutions adapted to the context of LDCs, in French, particularly in view of building resilient, inclusive and greener urban spaces. Finally, the Sahel region has been facing a range of conflicts for nearly a decade, including those related to independence and statehood in Mali that have impacted Burkina Faso and Niger, as well as those caused by Boko Haram in North-East Nigeria, Northern Cameroon, and Western Chad. The crisis is complex and is further compounded by the impacts of climate change, including worsened desertification, food insecurity due to longer dry seasons, and increased flooding due to more intense rainfall events. These climate and environmental challenges have significant impacts on human mobility in the region. UN-Habitat is working to address these challenges and promote sustainable and equitable urban development in the Sahel region. It is currently partnering with UNDP on a Sahel Resilience Project and drafting a Spatial Development Strategy for the Sahel (SDSS). It is on this basis that UN-Habitat would like to set up a regional joint programme on the Sahel with other UN Agencies. With this scenario, UN-Habitat is seeking to recruit a Programme Associate to contribute to the implementation of Regional Projects in West Africa and Latin America, contributing also to the promotion of francophone tools. Under the direct supervision of the Senior Human Settlement Officer overseeing Western Africa and in close collaboration with the Senior Human Settlement Officer for Brazil, the consultant will be responsible for providing substantive and administrative inputs in the development and implementation of UN-Habitat's regional portfolio in Francophone Western Africa and Latin America promoting cooperation initiatives within the Regional Office for Africa (ROAf) and the Regional Office for Latin America (ROLAC).

Specifically, the consultant will be required to:

a) Implement the activities of the Urban Resilience initiative for the Sahel, by developing work plans and recruitment plans, drafting terms of reference, as well as providing technical inputs in documents and reports produced in the scope of the project, and providing minutes of the meetings. b) Contribute to the implementation of the project ''Harnessing urbanization for a more resilient, inclusive and green recovery in French-speaking least developed countries'', (Burkina Faso, Haiti and Senegal) by drafting work and recruitment plans, organizing meetings with the country teams to define the activities to be implemented, review documents produced and elaborate monitoring activities reports. c) Contribute to strengthen South-South Cooperation initiatives between Africa and Brazil, within the scope of the project ''Mainstreaming sustainable urbanization through trilateral southsouth cooperation'', through the draft of concept notes and project documents. d) Provide technical and administrative inputs to the Establishment of a Center of Excellence on Housing for the WAEMU region, providing minutes of the discussion meetings, elaborating TOR: 23-United Nations Human Settlements Programme-203277-Consultant Page 3 of 4 work plans and recruitment plans, drafting partnership agreement as well as project document extension documents. e) Provide technical and administrative inputs to the implementation of the UN-Habitat's portfolio in Western Francophone countries, providing minutes of meetings with country offices, UN agencies, as well as drafting an implementation plan for UN-Habitat's activities in West Africa – mainly for Mali, Niger and Mauritania. f) Facilitate the resource mobilization process activities by drafting concept notes and project documents, reviewing budget and providing guidance for the internal project validation procedure.

Qualifications/special skills Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Urban Planning, Urban Development and International Cooperation or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in urban planning, urban policy and/or related field is required. Knowledge of the UN system and procedures is an asset. Familiarity with the regions is an asset

Languages Fluency in oral and written in French, Portuguese and English is required. Knowledge in Spanish would be 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.