Consultant for Project Review Coordination

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is dedicated to promoting sustainable development of human settlements and policies that ensure adequate housing for all. Established to support various stakeholders, including national and local governments, civil society, and the private sector, UN-Habitat aims to implement the Habitat Agenda, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the New Urban Agenda. The organization focuses on transforming cities into safer, more inclusive, and resilient places, ensuring that everyone can live with dignity. UN-Habitat operates through regional offices, including the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC), which is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ROLAC plays a crucial role in developing and implementing projects in the region, emphasizing support for national and municipal governments in formulating participative and sustainable urban policies. Over the years, ROLAC has strengthened its collaboration with local governments and stakeholders to promote integrated approaches to urban development, resource mobilization, and policy implementation. The organization has a significant presence in various countries, working to address local needs and challenges in urban development.

Job Overview:
The consultancy position is designed to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of UN-Habitat’s project design, approval, and implementation processes. The consultant will work on a part-time basis, either home-based or in Nairobi, for a duration of six months. The primary objective is to ensure that projects are technically sound, strategically aligned, and well-monitored, contributing to the organization’s objectives under the Strategic Plan. The consultant will support the Secretariat functions for the Programme Review Committee (PRC) Local Working Group (LWG) related to project review coordination and approval processes. This role is critical in enabling faster decision-making and project approvals at the local level while maintaining oversight and strategic alignment through headquarters-based mechanisms. The consultant will collaborate with various stakeholders to ensure that projects comply with UN-Habitat’s standards and integrate cross-cutting themes such as gender equity and environmental sustainability.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will have a comprehensive set of duties and responsibilities, including:

• Project Review and Approval Support: a. Coordinate project review processes under the PRC and PRC LWG. b. Review project submissions for quality, compliance, technical soundness, and alignment with UN-Habitat’s Strategic Plan. c. Ensure the inclusion of gender equality, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and risk mitigation in project designs. d. Organize and document PRC meetings, including tracking follow-up actions and recommendations. e. Clear final documents for IPMR submission.
• Liaison and Coordination: a. Facilitate collaboration between headquarters, regional offices, and technical experts. b. Ensure regional perspectives and cross-cutting issues are integrated into projects.
• Monitoring, Reporting, and Technical Support: a. Track the submission of approved projects into IPMR and approve draft projects for final approval. b. Monitor progress through internal tracking reporting systems, identifying gaps, and recommending corrective actions. c. Maintain project documentation and databases. d. Contribute to knowledge products and repositories for organizational learning.
• Capacity Building: a. Provide assistance on project formulation, PRC processes, and Results-Based Management (RBM). b. Coach and mentor staff to improve project quality and compliance.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Urban Development, Social Sciences, Economic Development, or other relevant fields. Additionally, candidates should possess a minimum of 5 years of relevant international experience in project management, urban policy development, or related areas. Experience working with the United Nations or other international organizations is desirable. Familiarity with UN policies, particularly those related to procurement, recruitment, and results-based management, is also beneficial. Proficiency in project management tools, including logical frameworks, is expected.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in fields such as Urban Development, Social Sciences, Economic Development, or other relevant disciplines. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of urban development and project management.

Experience:
A minimum of 5 years of relevant international experience is required for this consultancy position. This experience should be in project management, urban policy development, or related areas. Candidates with experience working with the United Nations or other international organizations will have an advantage, as they will be familiar with the operational and procedural frameworks of such entities.

Languages:
Fluency in oral and written English is mandatory for this position, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Additionally, fluency in other UN languages, particularly Spanish or Portuguese, is considered an asset, enhancing communication and collaboration within diverse teams.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy will be part-time, with an expected workload of two days per week, totaling approximately eight daily rates per month. The contract duration is six months, and the consultant will be compensated at a daily rate of USD 260, with a total expected amount of USD 15,708 for the entire consultancy period. Payment will be made in instalments based on the submission and approval of monthly outputs. It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, ensuring a fair and transparent hiring process.