UN-Habitat Local Programme Review Committee Secretariat Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is dedicated to promoting sustainable urban development and ensuring adequate housing for all. Established to address the challenges of urbanization, UN-Habitat works with various stakeholders, including governments, civil society, and the private sector, to implement the Habitat Agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The organization operates through regional offices, including the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC), which is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ROLAC focuses on supporting national and municipal governments in formulating participative and sustainable urban policies, and it has strengthened collaboration with local governments to promote integrated approaches to urban development. UN-Habitat's mission is to transform cities into safer, more inclusive, and resilient places, ensuring that everyone can live with dignity.

Job Overview:
The consultancy position is designed to provide specialized technical advisory and quality-assurance services to strengthen the Programme Review Committee Local Working Group (PRC-LWG) for the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC). The consultant will work on enhancing the project review processes, ensuring that projects align with UN-Habitat's strategic objectives and global standards. This role involves conducting quality assurance analyses, providing recommendations, and developing tools that will enable UN officials to improve the consistency and quality of project reviews. The consultant will not have decision-making authority but will support the PRC-LWG in its mission to ensure effective project management and alignment with organizational goals. The consultancy is home-based and part-time, requiring a commitment of 50% of full-time hours over a fixed period of six months.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for a variety of tasks under the supervision of the Regional Director for ROLAC. Key duties include:

• Project Review Support: Contributing to project review processes by examining project documentation, identifying areas for improvement, preparing meeting materials, and assessing project submissions for completeness.
• Coordination Support: Facilitating communication among stakeholders, documenting inputs, and maintaining records of project review processes.
• Monitoring, Reporting, and Documentation Support: Reviewing project submissions, preparing summary reports, and contributing to knowledge products for institutional learning.
• Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing: Delivering guidance sessions on project formulation and PRC procedures, and developing standard reference materials to support compliance with established procedures. The consultant will deliver measurable outputs, including inception reports, project quality-assurance reviews, process improvement analyses, and knowledge-transfer materials.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in fields such as Urban Development, Social Sciences, Economics, Public Administration, or International Development. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted. A minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in areas such as programme support, project management, and results-based management is required. Experience within the United Nations system or other international organizations is desirable, particularly in project review processes and knowledge product preparation. Familiarity with Results-Based Management concepts and project-cycle management is also beneficial.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in relevant fields such as Urban Development, Social Sciences, Economics, Public Administration, or International Development. Candidates with a first-level university degree and additional qualifying experience may also be considered. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of urban development and project management within the context of UN-Habitat's mission.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in programme support, project management, or related areas. Candidates should have experience in supporting project review processes, preparing reports, and coordinating activities within the United Nations or similar international organizations. Desirable experience includes facilitating meetings, compiling technical inputs, and preparing documentation or knowledge products. This level of experience is crucial for effectively contributing to the PRC-LWG's objectives and ensuring high-quality project reviews.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this consultancy, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Proficiency in other UN languages, particularly Spanish or Portuguese, is considered an asset. Strong verbal and written communication skills in English are essential for conveying complex information clearly and concisely to diverse audiences.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is part-time, requiring a commitment of 50% of full-time hours over a period of six months. The consultant will report directly to the Regional Director for ROLAC and will submit monthly activity reports summarizing their contributions and progress. Payments will be made in three equal monthly installments, contingent upon satisfactory performance and submission of required reports. The United Nations does not charge any fees during the recruitment process, and there are no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in this opportunity.