UN Volunteer - Urban Design & Technical Support

Job Posting Organization:
UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) is the UN agency dedicated to sustainable urban development. Established to address the pressing global challenges of urbanization, UN-Habitat works towards creating socially and environmentally sound cities with adequate shelter for all. The organization operates in over 90 countries, focusing on issues such as housing crises, slum development, and climate impacts. Its mission is guided by the New Urban Agenda, which aims to improve the quality of life through sustainable urbanization. UN-Habitat has been active in Sierra Leone for over a decade, contributing to various initiatives aimed at urban policy development and informal settlement upgrades.

Job Overview:
The UN Volunteer position is situated within the Regional Office for Africa of UN-Habitat, specifically coordinated by the West Africa Sub-Regional Hub in Dakar, Senegal, and the UN-Habitat Country Programme in Freetown. The role involves working closely with local government institutions, project partners, community representatives, and other stakeholders involved in the City-to-City Cooperation (C2CC) project. The volunteer will be responsible for providing urban design and technical support, contributing to the development of public space improvements, and enhancing urban infrastructure. This position is crucial in addressing the rapid urbanization challenges faced by Freetown, particularly in improving living conditions and promoting sustainable urban practices.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The UN Volunteer will undertake a variety of tasks, including:

• Urban Design & Technical Support: Contributing to the design development for public space improvements, enhancing walkability, street layout, drainage, and signage. Supporting the documentation of walkthroughs with stakeholders such as EDSA, GUMA, and SierraTel. Developing diagrams, sketches, and reports for design proposals.
• Stakeholder Coordination: Organizing technical site visits, consultations, and community meetings. Following up with utilities and partners on coordination issues, including poles, pipes, manholes, and rights-of-way. Facilitating communication between Freetown City Council (FCC) departments and UN-Habitat.
• General Administration: Preparing minutes, briefs, presentations, and monitoring updates for FCC, UN-Habitat, and partners. Supporting the development of knowledge products, including maps, before/after visuals, and project documentation.
• Other Tasks: Assisting with logistics for fieldwork, training sessions, and project events. Contributing to visibility, storytelling, and communications regarding project progress.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates should possess strong competencies in accountability, adaptability, creativity, judgment, decision-making, planning, organizing, professionalism, and self-management. These skills are essential for effectively navigating the complexities of urban development projects and collaborating with various stakeholders.

Educational Background:
A background in urban planning, architecture, civil engineering, or a related field is preferred. Candidates should have a solid understanding of urban design principles and practices, as well as familiarity with sustainable development concepts.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have relevant experience in urban design, project management, or community engagement. Experience working in developing countries or in similar urban contexts is highly desirable, as it provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities present in rapidly urbanizing environments.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, as it is the working language of UN-Habitat and the primary language for communication in Sierra Leone. Knowledge of local languages or French would be considered an asset, enhancing communication with diverse community stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position is a volunteer role, and while it may not offer a traditional salary, it provides valuable experience in international development and urban planning. The volunteer will be based in Freetown, where housing is readily available, and access to basic commodities, safe drinking water, sanitation, and medical facilities is accessible. The role is full-time, and the volunteer will be expected to engage actively with local communities and stakeholders to support the C2CC project.