Urban Policy and Law Consultant

Result of Service To coordinate the legislation and National Urban Policy related components of the UN-Habitat Guinea, Comoros and DRC projects and to produce legal and policy research and analytical reports on urban development themes such as land, urban planning, public space, build-ability rights, access to basic services, housing and building codes, resilience and land-based financing.

Work Location Home-based

Expected duration The contract is for a duration of twelve (12) months.

Duties and Responsibilities Background and Organizational Setting

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 also the lead agency within the United Nations system for the implementation of the New Urban Agenda. The Policy, Legislation and Governance Section, within the Urban Practices Branch, coordinates the Agency’s substantive, normative and operational work on various dimensions of Policy, Legislation and Governance, fostering high impact initiatives, programmes and projects to deliver timely, fit-for-purpose and targeted solutions in these areas.

In the past six years, UN-Habitat has been active in over 90 countries around the world helping Member States and development partners to transform cities into safer, resilient and healthier places with better opportunities. The Policy, Legislation and Governance Section is currently supporting several countries, for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the implementation of the New Urban Agenda by improving the overall policy, regulatory and institutional frameworks of urban development. Key areas of work include policy, legal and governance analysis of and support to countries in their reforms.

The UN-Habitat Regional Office for Africa (ROAf) is working with the Government of Guinea Conakry for the implementation of SANITA (the Urban Development and Sanitation Program in Guinea) program. Under the National Indicative Program (NIP) of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF), urban sanitation is identified as a priority. The decision to improve the health situation encourages an integrated territorial approach while promoting inclusive and sustainable urban and territorial policies.

UN-Habitat is working with the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the Kinshasa Multisector Development and Urban Resilience Project, known as Kin Elenda, funded by World Bank to strengthen institutional capacity for urban management and improve access to infrastructure and services and socio-economic opportunities in Kinshasa. The project will also support improved urban planning and revenue generation, which, in turn, will contribute to improved services and governance. Moreover, through investments in infrastructure maintenance and social inclusion activities and expanding access to skills training, the project aims to improve the financial resources of vulnerable individuals while boosting growth and productivity in priority sectors.

The UN-Habitat Regional Office for Africa (ROAf) is also working with the Government of Comoros to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Land Management to contribute to the development of a normative, legal and institutional framework to help in the strengthening of the resilience of the Comorian territory in the long term, with the main components related to this assignment being the strengthening of the policy and legal framework, taking into account the resilience to climate change and natural hazards through the themes related to housing, land and property.

Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the Chief, Policy, Legislation and Governance Section and the direct supervision of the Human Settlements Officer (HSO); provide support to staff of the Section, as well as the counterparts in the regional and multi-country offices.

The main objective of this consultancy is to provide the Policy, Legislation and Governance Section outputs in the following areas:

• Legal and policy research and analytical reports on urban development themes such as land, urban planning, public space, build-ability rights, access to basic services, housing and building codes and land-based financing. The regulatory frameworks will be reviewed to assess their effectiveness in supporting sustainable urban development using a selection of indicators from the UN-Habitat legal tools such as the Planning Law Assessment Framework; NUP framework, the Slum Upgrading Legal Assessment Framework and the Law and Climate Change Toolkit;
• Preparation of the baseline map and process analysis of legislative and institutional analysis of legal instruments regulating urban development in Guinea, DRC, and Comoros (Urban Planning and Construction Code (CUC); land management, decentralization processes, etc. The review will map out all processes and mechanisms envisaged by the laws and existing systems (including customary law) and identify all the institutions with responsibilities and capacities in their implementation;
• An analysis of the institutional and governance frameworks, land management and security, urban planning, urban development control mechanisms, construction regulations (private and public buildings), decentralization processes, involuntary displacement and evictions, municipal and land value-based financing, etc. The legal framework will be examined as a whole to assess its effectiveness in supporting sustainable and resilient urban development;
• A diagnostic report for the revision of the CUC and DRC planning law, including an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the current policy legal framework with recommendations for better implementation and enforcement of regulatory frameworks and urban plans;
• A report with proposed amendments to the CUC and relevant legislation, including conclusions of meetings with experts and recommendations, including considerations of the factor of increasing vulnerability of the urban system and habitat in a context of climate change with a high exposure to various natural hazards and low response capacities.

The approval for payments to the consultancy shall be based solely on satisfactory delivery of the outputs specified in the ultimate result of service.

Qualifications/special skills Competency: Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to policy and law and their applications to land-use planning, slum upgrading, development control, urban governance and pro-poor and gender responsive approaches in the urban field. Ability to develop sound substantive reports; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professionalism rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with challenges; remain calm in stressful situations.

Communication: Excellent written and oral presentation skills in English and French. Listen to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; ask questions to clarify and exhibit interest in having two-way communication; tailor’s language, tone, style and format to match the audience; demonstrate openness in sharing information and keeping people informed

Teamwork: Works collaboratively to achieve organisational goals; solicit impact by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; places team agenda above personal agenda; shows credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team's shortcoming.

Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Skills: - Knowledge of the application of the Guinea’s and other francophone countries regulatory systems and sources of law and urban planning practices. - Knowledge of, and ability to apply, policy and legal principles, concepts and procedures and terminology for review, examination, and processing of a range of legal documents. - Knowledge of various policy and legal research sources, including electronic, and ability to conduct research and analyze information on a wide range of urban issues. - Ability to interpret and apply legislative instruments, develop and present results, recommendations, and opinions clearly and concisely.

Academic Qualifications: Advanced University degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law, urban development or related field is required. A first level degree with additional two years of qualifying experience maybe accepted in lieu of Advanced degree.

Experience: - 3 years of professional experience in the field of urban policy and law issues including planning laws, land laws, housing laws, slum upgrading law, human rights-based approaches to development, basic services, building and construction and urban governance or other related field is required.. - Previous experience working in Francophone countries on urban planning, slum upgrading and development control activity is desirable. - Previous experience working with the United Nations will be an added advantage.

Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. For the post advertised, proficiency in spoken and written French is required.

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.