Responsibilities
BACKGROUND
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the UN 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. The Knowledge & Innovation Branch (K&I) of UN-Habitat has the mandate to promote local capabilities of local governments to develop innovative instruments in a variety of areas to keep pace with the demands of rapid urbanization. For UN-Habitat, innovation means embracing new ideas, up-to-date means, and fresh approaches to our work. It is based on horizontal and collaborative working practices that consider diverse contexts and perspectives. Innovation can be digital or non-digital, and take shape as a process, a practical tool or application or as a culture.
Over the last year, UN-Habitat, the UN agency for cities; and Viable Cities, the Swedish national city innovation programme, have established a strong partnership of more than 15 public and private organizations working closely with the cities of Bogotá, Bristol, Curitiba and Makindye Ssabagabo. The Innovation Unit hosts the Climate Smart Cities Challenge which is an open innovation competition to identify climate smart solutions to reduce the climate impact of Bogotá, Colombia; Bristol, United Kingdom; Curitiba, Brazil; and Makindye Ssabagabo, Uganda, while creating a better future for all. The climate ambitions of these cities are impressive and addressing them will have a powerful impact in shaping how city leaders, innovators and local communities respond to the climate emergency. The competition asked innovators – technologists, SMEs, start-ups, developers, finance experts and more – to submit their best ideas and solutions to one of the unique challenges identified by the four partner cities. We are looking for organizations that can play a role in implementing transformative, real-world projects. The following challenges were selected for each city;
Bogotá – Improve freight mobility and reduce congestion-based greenhouse gas emissions in Bogotá
Bristol – New model for delivering affordable zero carbon homes in Bristol
Curitiba – New solutions for creating zero carbon neighborhoods
Makindye Ssabagabo – Develop zero-carbon, energy efficient affordable homes
The Innovation unit is looking to hire four (4) consultants, one for each city. The consultants will be reporting to the Programme Management Officer, Technology, and Innovation.
APPLICANTS ARE REQUESTED TO QUOTE THE CITY THEY ARE APPLYING FOR IN THEIR COVER LETTER.
Under the supervision on the Programme Management Officer – Technology and Innovation, and in close collaboration with the Climate Smart Cities team and partners, the consultants will be responsible for the following tasks: 1. Serve as the local focal points for their assigned city
Contribute to mobilizing resources (fundraise) for the system demonstration phase
Contribute to orchestrating the planning phase of the system demonstrator, by collaborating with project partners, which may include: (a) Movement building – coordinating internal and external stakeholders and building a shared vision
Systems understanding – providing and / or commissioning additional research to better understand the system dynamics
Delivery planning – supporting innovator teams and other stakeholders to take action on the ground
Strategic learning – facilitating reflection learning sessions and socialising the findings”
Contribute to written reporting for assigned city to validate progress and results
Participate in meetings, which includes developing and delivering appropriate presentations related to city challenges and available resources.
Qualifications/special skills
Competency: Professional: 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: 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.
Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
Planning and Organizational: 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.
Academic Qualifications: University degree in social sciences, political science, international development, urban planning, architecture, innovation, or similar fields deemed relevant to the subject areas covered by the terms of reference. Advanced university degree is an asset.
Experience:
A minimum of 5 years’ experience working in city level projects, fundraising, and policy
Experience and knowledge of urban development issues related to the local city challenge, including housing, mobility, urban basic services, neighborhood planning
Experience in writing policy briefs, reports, policy communication and drafting publications
Experience in project management
Experience in stakeholder management, including facilitating meetings and knowledge of the stakeholder ecosystem in each city
Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in spoken and written English is required.
Apply via :
careers.un.org
