Senior Expert - Urban Heat Resilience (Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh)

Consultant Environment

Overview

Support urban heat resilience initiatives in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.

You have:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in urban planning, environmental science, climate change adaptation, public policy, sustainable development, or related field.
• PhD and professional certifications in climate adaptation or disaster risk reduction are desirable.
• Minimum 10 years of professional experience in urban climate resilience, heat mitigation strategies, or sustainable urban development.
• Proven track record working with city governments and local authorities in developing countries.
• Experience in baseline assessments and vulnerability analyses.
• Experience in South Asian contexts, particularly Bangladesh, and with gender-responsive and disability-inclusive planning approaches, is desirable.
• Expert knowledge of urban heat island effect, heat mitigation strategies, and climate adaptation planning.
• Strong understanding of nature-based solutions in urban contexts.
• Familiarity with GEDSI principles and integration of gender equality and disability inclusion in planning processes.
• Excellent analytical, facilitation, and report writing skills.
• Knowledge of remote sensing, GIS, spatial analysis tools, and participatory planning methodologies is desirable.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English.
• Working knowledge of Bengali or other relevant Bangladeshi languages is desirable.

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Result of Service

Outputs: a. Finalization of baseline assessment report for Cox’s Bazar, including urban heat vulnerability zone mapping, risk parameters, and analysis of heat characteristics using imagery, ground monitoring data, and spatial planning reviews (by 15 May 2027) Deliverables: Baseline assessment report (MS Word/PDF) b. Comprehensive urban heat action plan for Cox’s Bazar – gender-mainstreamed and disability-aware, endorsed by city authorities, with immediate, mid- and long-term interventions (by 30 June 2026) Deliverables: Urban heat action plan (MS Word/PDF) c. Substantive expert inputs to organization and delivery of multi-stakeholder workshop(s) in Cox’s Bazar, and workshop reports and training materials capturing capacity development activities (April - May 2027) Deliverables: Workshop report and presentation materials (PPT) d. Technical guidance and advisory support to Cox’s Bazar city officials on heat action plan implementation, including support for development of Letters of Agreement (LoAs) (throughout contract) Deliverables: Technical guidance notes and advisory documents e. Final summary report documenting project activities, key findings, recommendations, and lessons learned (by 24 July 2026) Deliverables: Final summary report (MS Word/PDF) How are the outputs to be delivered? All deliverables shall be submitted electronically in editable format (MS Word/PDF for reports, PPT for presentations) and meet ESCAP publication standards. Performance indicators for evaluation of outputs based on: (1) Quality of deliverables – scientific rigour, practical applicability, and comprehensive GEDSI integration; (2) Timeliness of all submissions; (3) Effective multi-stakeholder workshop facilitation and meaningful engagement with vulnerable populations; (4) Demonstrated expertise in urban heat resilience, nature-based solutions, and climate adaptation planning; (5) Effective coordination with ESCAP team, SRO-SSW, project partners, and city stakeholders; (6) City endorsement of action plan with clear implementation pathway.

Work Location

Home based

Expected duration

April - July 2026

Duties and Responsibilities

Purpose: This consultancy supports the implementation of the ESCAP project Enabling Urban Action to Enhance Climate Resilience in Asia, funded by the United Kingdom’s CARA Fund (Climate Action for a Resilient Asia). The project aims to enhance urban resilience in South and Southeast Asia through effective emergency response systems and long-term sustainable heat resilience strategies, with priority focus on nature-based solutions, in response to the heightened need to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat in key urban centres. Extreme heat causes nearly 490,000 deaths annually (2000–2019), with 45% occurring in Asia. Roughly 75% of the Asia-Pacific workforce is exposed to extreme heat. Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh faces acute urban heat vulnerability compounded by its geography and rapidly growing urban population. This consultancy focuses on Cox’s Bazar, supporting the city to develop and implement a comprehensive urban heat action plan and policies to mitigate the adverse effects of urban heat and create a more sustainable, resilient urban area. Funded by the United Kingdom’s CARA Fund and embodying a strong commitment to Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) principles, the project ensures interventions prioritize vulnerable populations including women, children, elderly, and persons with disabilities who are disproportionately affected by extreme heat events. Objective: Under the direct supervision of the project manager and general supervision of the Chief, Sustainable Urban Development Section, the consultant will complete the following duties: • Finalize a comprehensive baseline assessment report for Cox’s Bazar, including urban heat vulnerability zone mapping, risk parameters, differentiated impacts on vulnerable populations, and analysis of heat characteristics using available imagery, ground monitoring data, and spatial planning reviews • Lead the development of a comprehensive, gender-mainstreamed and disability-aware urban heat action plan for Cox’s Bazar, incorporating immediate, mid- and long-term interventions including nature-based solutions, green infrastructure, cool roofs and pavements, emergency cooling stations, early warning systems, and climate-responsive urban planning and design • Provide substantive expert inputs to organization and delivery of multi-stakeholder awareness-raising workshops in Cox’s Bazar targeting national and local government officials, civil society organizations, urban planners, health providers, and representatives of vulnerable groups • Provide ongoing technical guidance and advisory support to Cox’s Bazar city officials on action plan implementation, including support for development of Letters of Agreement (LoAs) and integration with existing urban development and climate adaptation frameworks • Ensure meaningful participation of persons with disabilities, women’s organizations, and other vulnerable groups in all project design and implementation activities, in line with GEDSI principles • Coordinate with ESCAP, ESCAP SRO-SSW, UCLG-ASPAC, UNEP, and other project partners

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in urban planning, environmental science, climate change adaptation, public policy, sustainable development, or related field. PhD and professional certifications in climate adaptation or disaster risk reduction are desirable. Minimum 10 years of professional experience in urban climate resilience, heat mitigation strategies, or sustainable urban development. Proven track record working with city governments and local authorities in developing countries. Experience in baseline assessments and vulnerability analyses. Experience in South Asian contexts, particularly Bangladesh, and with gender-responsive and disability-inclusive planning approaches, is desirable. Expert knowledge of urban heat island effect, heat mitigation strategies, and climate adaptation planning. Strong understanding of nature-based solutions in urban contexts. Familiarity with GEDSI principles and integration of gender equality and disability inclusion in planning processes. Excellent analytical, facilitation, and report writing skills. Knowledge of remote sensing, GIS, spatial analysis tools, and participatory planning methodologies is desirable.

Languages

Excellent command of written and spoken English. Working knowledge of Bengali or other relevant Bangladeshi languages is desirable.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.

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Added 4 months ago - Updated 3 months ago - Source: careers.un.org