Consultant for Urban Resilience and Climate Adaptation

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is an agency established by the UN General Assembly to promote sustainable urbanization and improve living conditions in cities and towns worldwide. Founded in 1978, UN-Habitat operates in over 90 countries and employs thousands of professionals dedicated to addressing urban challenges and fostering sustainable development. The organization focuses on various aspects of human settlements, including housing, urban planning, and environmental sustainability, with a mission to create socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities.

Job Overview:
The consultant will play a crucial role in supporting the territorial analysis of Greater Abidjan in partnership with the UN-Habitat country office team in Ivory Coast and ENSEA. This position involves developing recommendations and an action plan for Greater Abidjan, addressing the pressing urban challenges faced by the region. The consultant will work remotely and is expected to contribute to various projects aimed at enhancing urban resilience and climate adaptation across West Africa. This includes supporting feasibility studies, resource mobilization, and project proposal development for integrated flood management and resilient recovery initiatives in affected urban centers. The consultant will also engage with stakeholders to ensure alignment with UN-Habitat's broader goals of promoting sustainable urbanization and resilience in the region.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for a range of duties, including:

• Supporting the design and implementation of post-disaster recovery and resilience-building projects in Cabo Verde, identifying opportunities for replication in other coastal contexts.
• Contributing to feasibility studies and resource mobilization for the City Resilience Framework for Action (RFA) in Bargny, Senegal, including identifying strategic funding opportunities.
• Assisting in developing project proposals for integrated flood management and resilient recovery in the Senegal River and Gambia River Basins.
• Providing technical support in drafting project documents focused on flood prevention, urban heat adaptation, and sustainable solid waste management in Ghana.
• Supporting the implementation of the EU Support for Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria and the Ekiti State Sustainable Urban Development Programme, particularly their environmental components.
• Guiding the integration of projects under UN-Habitat’s programmes in West Africa into the Integrated Planning, Management, and Reporting (IPMR) platform.
• Contributing to concept notes and project documents, and assisting with internal project validation and recruitment processes.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s Degree in geography, urban planning, architecture, social sciences, civil engineering, or a related field. Additionally, a minimum of 2 years of working experience in social or urban development, resource mobilization, project management, or international relations is required. Experience in urban resilience and climate change adaptation is also essential. Candidates should demonstrate strong analytical and communication skills, as well as the ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.

Educational Background:
A Master’s Degree in a relevant field such as geography, urban planning, architecture, social sciences, or civil engineering is required for this position. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of urban development and the challenges posed by climate change and urbanization.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 2 years of relevant working experience in areas such as social or urban development, resource mobilization, project management, or international relations. Candidates should have a proven track record of working on urban resilience and climate change adaptation projects, demonstrating their ability to contribute effectively to the goals of UN-Habitat.

Languages:
Fluency in both English and French is required for this position, as these are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Proficiency in these languages is essential for effective communication and collaboration with stakeholders across different regions.

Additional Notes:
This position is home-based and expected to last for 6 months. The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Senior Human Settlement Officer for West Africa and the Programme Associate for West Africa. The United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, ensuring a fair and transparent hiring process.