Urban Resilience Specialist

Result of Service The expected results are:

1. Increased commitments to build local-level resilience. 2. Local Resilience and investments measured. 3. Key issues and challenges identified in linking early interventions in crisis-prone cities to long-term sustainable development inputs. 4. Capacity is built in cities and local governments to develop and implement integrated local climate and disaster resilience action plans. 5. Crisis-prone cities have enhanced capacity to develop and implement plans to increase their resiliency.

Work Location Homebase

Expected duration Contract for six (6) months, home-based, starting 1 June to 30 November 2022.

Duties and Responsibilities BACKGROUND

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the agency for human settlements mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. UN-Habitat helps the urban poor by transforming cities into safer and healthier places with better opportunities. It works with organizations at every level, including all spheres of government, civil society and the private sector.

As the main UN Agency responsible for ensuring the sustainable development of cities, towns, and other human settlements, UN-Habitat is strategically placed to coordinate the humanitarian and development efforts of multiple actors and policy makers at all levels in the common pursuit of urban resilience. UN- Habitat’s approach to strengthening urban resilience as a key determinant for ensuring the effectiveness of response interventions during times of crises, and subsequent sustainable development, is embodied in its City Resilience Global Programme (CRGP).

The CRGP goes beyond conventional approaches to ‘risk reduction’, delivering a forward-looking, multi- sectoral, multihazard, multi-stakeholder model for building resilience that recognizes the complexities and unique value of cities, and the inherent interdependencies of each part of an urban system.

Fast growing cities and urban areas of the world are engines of growth and wealth accumulation. This growth can have positive social, cultural and educational impacts. On the other hand, evidence demonstrates that fast economic growth, combined with rapid sprawling population expansion in urban areas, also increases disaster vulnerability and exposure. The level of urbanization is far higher in the developed world; however, the annual ‘urbanization rate ’ is much faster in the developing world. The primary urban agglomerations with the highest concentrations of people and economic activity mostly overlap with the areas of extreme or high risk related to disasters such as coastal areas, along rivers and in flood plains.

This joint initiative with UNDRR (UN Office on Disaster Risk Reduction), UN-Habitat and the European Commission aims at improving understanding of, and capacity to, address disaster risk at the local level in crisis-prone cities. UN-Habitat will focus on supporting local capacities from crisis-prone cities, and humanitarian partners, in measuring their resilience status and have an action plan in order to build resilience.

The action builds on the achievements of the Hyogo Framework for Action – Building the Resilience of Nations 2005-2015 and paves the way toward the implementation of the Sendai Framework for DRR (Disaster Risk Reduction) 2015-2030 at the local level and the New Urban Agenda adopted at Habitat III in Quito, Ecuador October 2016. The Action will also contribute to the European Commission’s Action Plan for Resilience in Crisis Prone Countries 2013-2020 and The EU Approach to Resilience: Learning from Food Security Crises.

The project will work with local government institutions, to plan, coordinate, implement and support the various outlined activities. The primary and most direct beneficiaries will be local stakeholders, city authorities and civil society. Women, children and other at-risk groups, often disproportionately affected by crises situations, will be engaged and receive additional attention.

MAIN OBJECTIVE

The overall objective of this project is to build more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient cities, by strengthening the capacity of key public, private and civil society stakeholders to measure, make decisions, plan and develop actions for building resilience to ensure that public and private investments are risk-informed and that early interventions in crisis-prone cities are linked to longer-term development goals in line with the actions of the New Urban Agenda. This joint initiative aims at improving local government and stakeholder understanding of, and capacity for, developing and implementing resilience action plans.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE URBAN RESILIENCE CONSULTANT

Under the direct supervision of Head of the City Resilience Global Programme (CRGP), the consultant will provide substantive professional support to the Programme and will undertake the following tasks:

• Task 1: In the implementation in the city of Tunis data collection, training and validation workshops, translation of materials into French and/or Spanish, and/or Catalan, and data quality assessment

• Task 2: With alignment of GIS data and visual materials generate new and align existing GIS data and visual materials in the implementation in the city of Tunis

• Task 3: With report production support with layouting, proofreading reports, and coordinate with graphic designers to ensure visual identity consistency in the implementation in the city of Tunis

• Task 4: Technical support (CRPT tool calibration, visioning and training workshops, translation of materials into Catalan and/or Spanish) in the implementation in the region Terres de l’Ebre, Catalonia

• Task 5: Support with data collection, analysis and data quality assessment with data collection in the implementation in the region Terres de l’Ebre, Catalonia

• Task 6: Support with GIS data collection, analysis and visualization with GIS data collection and visualization in the implementation in the region Terres de l’Ebre, Catalonia

  Qualifications/special skills Competency: Professional: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to donor relations, public-private partnerships and private sector fundraising. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual, analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and the use of a variety of research sources. Ability to organize seminars, consultations, training workshops and special events. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

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.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect. Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems. Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects. Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

OTHER SKILLS - Ability to work co-operatively with other staff and share experience. - Ability to work with minimal supervision and with good sense of initiative to keep the supervisor regularly informed of progress. - Ability to work effectively under pressure. - Good communications, reporting and representation skills - Good teamwork and drive for results. - Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Office, spreadsheets and other software packages required. - Familiar with and committed to the goals of international organizations. - Willing to take responsibility, act professionally at all times, and make sure tasks are fully completed - Sensitive to gender issues and issues of concern to vulnerable groups - Able to meet deadlines for reporting and all project work - Express enthusiasm and willingness to continue learning new skills and share experiences with other members of the team.

Academic Qualifications: - Advanced university degree is required in Urban or Regional Planning, Architecture, Development Studies, Engineering, or similar fields. - A 1st level university degree with two qualified year of experience will be accepted in lieu of the advance degree.

Experience: - A minimum of 2 years of experience is required in developing strategies, guidelines, toolkits or policies for effective urban environments, and in liaising with private and governmental authorities, other national/international institutions and NGOs and in working within fragile urban environments.

Language: - Fluency in spoken and written English is required. - Knowledge of other languages (Spanish, Catalan and/or French) would be an additional 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.