Senior Urban Planning Expert

Consultant

Overview

Provide expert urban planning and design consultancy to support sustainable urban developments.

You have:

• Minimum advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Urban Planning and Design, or related field that is relevant for sustainable urban development
• Minimum 7-year experience in urban planning and design.
• At least 4 years' experience in urban development processes and project management in an international development context
• At least 5 years of direct experience in Urban Planning and Design in relation to the project outputs
• Fluency in spoken and written English

Contract

This is a International Consultant contract. More about International Consultant contracts.

Background

Project Title: Urban Planning and Design Lab (Urban Lab)

Project Description

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 is playing a key role in implementing Goal 11 of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted in September 2015 as well as the New Urban Agenda adopted in Quito, Ecuador in October 2016. The Planning, Finance and Economy Section (PFES) of UN-Habitat supports countries in developing urban planning methods and systems that address current urbanization challenges. It promotes urban planning approaches to address sustainable urban development, expansion and transformation.

The Urban Planning and Design Lab (Urban Lab) is a UN-Habitat initiative to promptly respond to the requests from national and local governments to support sustainable urban development. The Urban Lab is an integrative facility within the agency where innovative processes and partnerships are translated into tangible and transformative solutions to address complex urban challenges. Throughout the process, the Urban Lab acts as a neutral broker, managing knowledge in complex environments to resolve multi-sectoral, multi-scalar and multi-stakeholder challenges. The Urban Lab brings together a multidisciplinary team of urban planners, environmental, data-science, mobility, legal and financial experts, providing a holistic and proactive approach to sustainable urbanization. Hence, the Lab captures the necessary thematic disciplines, experts, actors, and stakeholders. In this context, the Urban Lab applies an integrated approach to systemic and strategic planning to deliver transformative change for sustainable urbanization and to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in alignment with the New Urban Agenda.

Khorog, Tajikistan

The World Bank in 2010 commissioned a report listing Tajikistan as most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change induced natural disasters in Central and Eurasia and with the second to least coping capacity in the region. At an elevation of nearly 2,200 meters, Khorog remains one of the highest peri-urban settlements in Central Asia. At the confluence of the Gunt and Pyanj rivers in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO), Khorog serves as the administrative hub for the oblast and as the cultural centre for its nearly 240,000 residents.

As a result of poor planning, land scarcity and overextended infrastructure, the expanding population base in Khorog has continued to encroach on habitats that are at significant risk from natural hazards with limited access to municipal services. This has led to ad hoc interventions in water supply, sewerage and access to energy which has further deteriorated the environment. This, alongside increasing frequency of natural hazards resulting from climate change, has led to increasing challenges in the maintenance of social stability in the state and civil society.

The overall objective of the project developed in partnership with Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is to develop an Urban Resilience Plan for Khorog that creates economic opportunities and builds social stability for future growth scenarios. The project aims to improve resilience for existing communities and accommodate the increasing population in Khorog. More specifically, the project aims to provide environmental, legal, economic, spatial and infrastructure policies and projections, resilient infrastructure plans, implementation mechanisms for transformative projects, and planning and technical capacity building for stakeholders. The role of UN-Habitat’s Urban Lab is to provide planning expertise, drawing on existing methodologies, toolkits and best practices in a collaborative and integrated way, to support the preparation of the Urban Resilience Plan for Khorog

Partnerships from the international community for the Khorog Resilience Investment Programme include investments from the European Union for resilient infrastructure, the Government of Japan for Resiliency in education and health initiatives along with capacity building and engagement from the IFC and World Bank for demographic and social stabilization projects. For the Planning and Proof of Concept Initiatives the primary partnership will be with the agencies of the AKDN and the Government of Tajikistan in setting the foundation for the larger programme of works. UN-Habitat aims to support the Revised Town Planning process to support the alignment of the town plan to UNDRR resiliency principles through best practices.

Global Future Cities Programme

The Global Future Cities Programme (GFCP) under the UK Foreign and Commonwealth’s Prosperity Fund (UK FCO) aims to deliver targeted interventions in 19 cities across 10 countries to encourage sustainable development, increase prosperity whilst alleviating high levels of urban poverty. The programme will also create significant short and long-term business opportunities in growing markets forecast to be regional growth hubs. In addition, the programme will make a significant contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and implementation of the New Urban Agenda (NUA). The Global Future Cities Programme includes cities in Brazil, South Africa, Nigeria, Turkey, Burma/Myanmar, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

The programme builds upon three integrated pillars, that collectively will address key barriers to prosperity, in selected cities:

• Urban planning – technical assistance for spatial restructuring (city strategies, urban renewal, regeneration, master planning and planning frameworks)
• Transportation – technical assistance to support cities to develop integrated multi-modal public transport systems
• Resilience – technical assistance to develop strategies to address the impact of climate change (e.g. flooding) and ensure development is sustainable

ASEAN

The UN-Habitat Regional Office for the Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) is responsible for implementing the “Accelerating the Implementation of the ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Strategy” project (hereby “the ASUS project”), in collaboration with the ASEAN Connectivity Division and through support from the ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program, Phase II (AADCP II). ROAP will engage the Urban Lab to produce a series of city diagnostic reports and associated outputs under the ASUS project.

The Urban Lab will produce 8 City Diagnostic Reports, one for each city under the scope of theASUS project (Kep City, Cambodia; General Santos, Philippines; Mandalay, Myanmar; Tomohon, Indonesia; Shah Alam, Malaysia; Hat Yai, Thailand; Kaysone, Lao PDR; and Sapa, Viet Nam).

The Consultant be collaborating, engaging and liaising with stakeholders of the different projects, therefore he/she will be appointed based on securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. As a UN representative, he/she is expected to exhibit and adhere to the highest standards of ethical conduct. Some of the key responsibilities of the Consultant are as follows:

Khorog

• Lead the technical team and provide expert advice as part of programme delivery.
• Prepare narrative and progress reports as part of the program management activities.
• Build up a technical team and carry out the recruitment of experts.
• Develop critical analysis of existing planning documents and instruments.
• Provide technical input to prepare sustainable urban plans.
• Adapt and develop methodologies and approaches for sustainable urbanization and resilience planning.
• Facilitate the communication between stakeholders and overcome potential barriers.
• Ensure alignment of UN-Habitat’s and AKDNs activities.
• Support city authorities with policy recommendations.
• Safeguard the cross-cutting issues of the programme that are considered in each project: Climate Change, Gender Equality, Human Rights, Youth, Children and Elderly Persons, and Disability.

Global Future Cities Programme

• Technically review deliverables (urban plans, strategies, systems, policies, etc.) and provide recommendations on projects in one country of the Global Future Cities Programme, eventually adapted into roadmaps/ strategies to sustain the interventions beyond the programme period (considering financial strategies, legal frameworks, local capacity, governance, etc.);
• Coordinate Project assessment sessions for projects in one country of the of the Global Future Cities Programme together with the UK FCDO Country Programme Managers and UN-Habitat's local presence;

Provide technical and policy advice on urban planning to build capacity of city authorities;

• Align project recommendations to the SDGs and New Urban Agenda and safeguard UN-Habitat's cross-cutting issues on Climate Change, Gender Equality, Human Rights, and Youth.
• Provide advice on the main thematic areas for the city-to-city knowledge exchange as a result of the Theory of Change review and SDG Project Assessment Sessions;
• Apply the SDG Project Assessment Tool (in collaboration with City authorities and Delivery Partners) on projects in one country of the Global Future Cities Programme to assess milestone deliverables (urban plans, strategies, systems, policies, etc.) to help capacitate city authorities in assessing the development of the urban projects, and to provide recommendations to enhance their quality, effectiveness, viability, and sustainability beyond the Programme’s timeframe.
• Identify other global, regional, and country programmes, initiatives and explore synergies with the Global Future Cities Programme to strengthen peer-to-peer learning, and to build a wider network to support implementation, replication, and bankability of urban projects.

ASEAN

• Review of diagnostic reports for 2 cities (Philippines, Malaysia)
• Final round editing of reports for 2 cities (Philippines, Malaysia)

Institutional Arrangement

The consultant will directly report to the head of the Urban Lab with the overall supervision of the Leader of the Planning, Finance and Economy Section within the Global Solutions Division, UN-Habitat, Nairobi.

Outputs production will be documented through interim reports on progress produced for every task and submitted every month (for interim payments). Final report to be submitted at the end of consultancy, summarizing the work done, presenting all outputs in InDesign or PDF format as required by the project manager.

The consultant will liaise and interact with:

• Section managers and senior professionals in other branches of the agency
• Senior professionals of regional offices and UN-Habitat Programme Managers at the country level
• Staffs within work sections/branch
• Officials in national, local government and private sector
• Academia, universities, and research institutions-
• Other UN agencies
• Donors, development organizations, development banks

Duration of the Work

The Consultant will be engaged for 132 person-days spread over 6 months

Duty Station

The Consultant will be based in Nairobi, Kenya, UN-Habitat Headquarters.

Scope of Price Proposal

• The Contractor should send the financial proposal based on a lump-sum amount for the delivery of the outputs identified. The total amount quoted shall be “all-inclusive” (daily professional fees X number of working days, insurance, communications, transportation, insurance, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor should be factored into the final amount submitted in the proposal.
• Medical/health insurance must be purchased by the individual at his/her own expense, and upon award of contract, the Contractor must be ready to submit proof of insurance valid during the contract duration
• The contract price will be a fixed output-based price. Payments will be done upon satisfactory completion of the delivery by target due dates as identified above.

Duties and Responsibilities

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

The deliverables and outputs will be reviewed and approved by the Head of Urban Lab and the project manager.

No

Activity

Estimated Duration to Complete

% of payment

Target Due Dates

1

Technical input and reviews of the project deliverables, including the inception report, city profile, spatial strategy and plan, and capacity gaps and needs assessment reports.

4 weeks

16%

Dec 2020

Feb. 2021

Apr. 2021

2

Detailed monthly workplan document to carry out UN-Habitat activities and outputs including the timeline and deadlines for deliverables along the project implementation.

4 weeks

17%

beginning of every month (6 months)

3

Bi-monthly progress reports (3) on the project activities and outputs capturing the project deliverables, participatory workshops, and technical trainings.

4 weeks

17%

Dec. 2020

Feb. 2021

Apr. 2021

4

A narrative report as a closure of phase 1 activities of the project, accompanied by the financial statement to submit to the donor and partners.

4 weeks

17%

Apr 2021

May 2021

5

SDG Project Assessment Recommendation Report resulting from the first SDG Project Assessment Sessions of one country in the Global Future Cities Programme

3 weeks

14%

Jan 2021

Feb 2021

6

Workplan document for the second SDG Project Assessment Sessions of the SDG Project Assessment Tool for one country in the Global Future Cities Programme

3 weeks

15%

Mar 2021

Apr 2021

May 2021

7

Reviewing of diagnostic reports for 2 cities (Philippines, Malaysia)

1 week

2%

Dec 2020

8

Final round editing of reports for 2 cities (Philippines, Malaysia)

1 week

2%

Jan 2021

TOTAL

6 months (full time)

100%

Competencies

• Professionalism: 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: Excellent written and oral presentation skills in English. Excellent capacity to produce and manipulate graphic documents and drawings. Good presentation skills. Ability to communicate complex interventions in a clear language and convincing narratives. Sketching capabilities to effectively communicate in workshop settings and teams.
• Planning and Organizing: Ability to prioritize activities and assignments and to easily switch between different projects.
• Creativity: Strong conceptual thinking. Is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches, takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks "outside the box", and offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs.

Required Skills and Experience

Candidates will be evaluated based on the Combined Rating methodology:

• Technical qualifications = 70%
• Financial Proposal = 30%

For the evaluation of the Technical Proposal, the selection of the successful consultant must be based on the following qualifications (with the appropriate obtainable points):

Qualifications

Points Obtainable

(100 points)

Minimum advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Urban Planning and Design, or related field that is relevant for sustainable urban development

(21 points for advanced university degree; 25 points for additional degree; 30 points for Ph.D)

30

Minimum 7-year experience in urban planning and design.

(8 points for 7 years’ experience, 12 points for 8-9 years’ experience, 15 points for 10 years and above)

15

At least 4 years’ experience in urban development processes and project management in an international development context

(8 points for 4 years’ experience, 12 points for 5-6 years. 15 points for 7 years above)

15

At least 5 years of direct experience in Urban Planning and Design in relation to the project outputs

(28 points for 5 years’ experience, 32 points for 6-7 years; 36 points for 8-9 years; 40 points for 10 years and above)

40

Fluency in spoken and written English (must be indicated in CV)

Pass/Fail

TOTAL

100

Applicants who will only receive 70 points from the assessment of the CV will be qualified for the assessment of the Financial Proposal.

Recommended Presentation of Offer

Interested applicants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document as the application only allows to upload maximum one document.

1. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references; and
2. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP; Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided. If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

Interested applicants to note that personal Medical/health insurance (to be purchased by the individual at his/her own expense) is mandatory for the issuance of contracts. Upon award of the contract, the consultant must be ready to submit proof of insurance valid during the contract duration.

The following templates / Annexes and IC General Terms & Conditions can be downloaded from http://gofile.me/6xdJm/bE9TCw8fU:

• General Terms and Conditions for Individual Contract
• Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability
• P-11 form

In view of the volume of applications, UNDP receives, only shortlisted offerors will be notified.

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Potential interview questions

Added 5 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: jobs.undp.org