Consultant for Waste Management Infrastructure Projects

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is a global organization established by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development. For nearly forty years, UN-Habitat has been working to improve human settlements worldwide, focusing on creating better living conditions in villages, towns, and cities of all sizes. The organization operates in numerous countries and is dedicated to addressing global challenges such as the housing crisis, poverty, climate change, and humanitarian crises through its strategic plan for 2026-2029, which emphasizes housing, land, and basic services as foundational elements for sustainable development.

Job Overview:
The consultant will play a crucial role in sourcing and identifying two high-potential waste management infrastructure projects in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. This position is part of the Cities Investment Facility (CIF) program, which aims to bridge the urban infrastructure development gap by unlocking private investment in sustainable urban projects. The consultant will engage with UN-Habitat country offices to conduct stakeholder mapping, identify impactful solid waste management (SWM) projects, and prepare detailed concept notes that outline project information, funding requirements, and alignment with national priorities and sustainable development goals (SDGs). The consultancy is expected to last for two months and will be home-based, allowing for flexibility in working hours while ensuring effective collaboration with regional offices and stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for the following duties:

• Conduct stakeholder mapping by engaging with UN-Habitat country offices in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, performing detailed desktop research to identify and categorize key stakeholders involved in project conceptualization, preparation, and financing. This includes mapping national and local authorities, international financial institutions, and relevant private sector partners in the SWM sector.
• Identify high-impact SWM projects by collaborating with country offices to assess their impact, scale, and readiness for inclusion in the CIF pipeline. The consultant will develop detailed concept notes for each identified project, including essential information such as funding requirements, beneficiaries, environmental and social impacts, and alignment with national priorities and SDGs.
• Deliver a comprehensive analysis of the region, including stakeholder mapping, defined selection and evaluation criteria, and identification of two SWM projects along with a detailed action plan for their implementation.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in fields such as sustainable urban planning, urban governance, engineering, development studies, business administration, geography, management, or economics. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Additionally, a minimum of two years of relevant experience in project development, resource mobilization, urban development, sustainability, finance, or commercial investment is required, with a proven track record in supporting urban development initiatives in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Knowledge of the current urban development project landscape in the region and sustainable urban development project financing is desirable, as is a strong understanding of UN-Habitat and the CIF's mandates and goals.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in sustainable urban planning, management, urban governance, engineering, development studies, business administration, geography, management, or economics is required. A first-level university degree may be accepted if accompanied by two additional years of relevant experience.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of two years of relevant experience in areas such as project development, resource mobilization, urban development, sustainability, finance, or commercial investment. Candidates should have a proven track record of supporting urban development initiatives specifically in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, demonstrating familiarity with the region's urban development challenges and opportunities.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required, both oral and written. Fluency in another UN language, such as French, is desirable, as English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is home-based and expected to last for two months. There is no fee associated with the recruitment process, and the United Nations does not charge applicants at any stage, ensuring a transparent and fair recruitment process.