Consultant for Urban Resilience and Climate Action

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is a global initiative established by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. Founded in 1978, UN-Habitat operates with a mission to improve the quality of life in urban areas by addressing issues related to urbanization and human settlements. The organization is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, and has regional offices, including the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the Mesoamerica office in Mexico City. UN-Habitat collaborates with various partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and communities, aiming to reduce inequality, discrimination, and poverty through urbanization. The organization is guided by several key principles and declarations, including the Vancouver Declaration, the Istanbul Declaration, and the New Urban Agenda, and is currently implementing projects aimed at enhancing urban resilience and climate action in vulnerable regions, including the Caribbean and Africa.

Job Overview:
The consultant will provide specialized technical advice to the UN-Habitat Mesoamerica Office, focusing on the project 'Accelerating urban resilience and pro-poor climate action in landlocked developing countries and small island developing States in the Caribbean and Africa.' This role involves ensuring the timely delivery of project products and requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including local governments and urban professionals. The consultant will be responsible for generating technical inputs, preparing reports, and completing mandatory training courses. The position emphasizes the importance of safety, compliance with UN principles, and the exclusive use of generated materials for UN-Habitat. The consultant will also engage in stakeholder mapping, capacity needs assessments, workshop facilitation, technical content development, and monitoring and evaluation of project outputs, all aimed at strengthening urban resilience and climate adaptation practices in Belize.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant's duties include working under the supervision of the Program Implementation Coordinator, coordinating activities with the Mesoamerica office, and ensuring effective communication with project stakeholders. Responsibilities encompass generating technical inputs, preparing reports, completing required training, maintaining organized documentation, and ensuring compliance with UN principles. Specific activities involve stakeholder mapping, conducting capacity needs assessments, facilitating workshops, developing technical content, coordinating training programs, and monitoring project outputs. The consultant will also document stakeholder inputs, compile case studies, and prepare implementation reports, ensuring that all activities align with national priorities and frameworks. The expected deliverables include a Stakeholder Mapping Report and a Capacity Needs Assessment and Competency-based Training Program.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced Bachelor's degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in fields related to territorial and urban planning, urbanism, geography, urban design, or related areas. Additional training in climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, or capacity building is advantageous. A minimum of six years of progressive professional experience in urban development, urban planning, or climate change adaptation is required, with demonstrated expertise in working with government institutions, particularly at the local level. Proven ability in stakeholder engagement and coordination of multi-stakeholder processes is essential, alongside experience in capacity building and training coordination. Familiarity with international organizations, especially UN agencies, and knowledge of Belize’s urban development context is highly desirable.

Educational Background:
The position requires an advanced Bachelor's degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in relevant fields such as territorial and urban planning, urbanism, geography, urban design, or related areas. Candidates with published bibliographic material on these topics will be considered favorably. Additional training in climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, or capacity building will be viewed as an asset.

Experience:
The consultant must have a minimum of six years of progressive professional experience in urban development, urban planning, climate change adaptation, or related fields. This experience should include demonstrated expertise in working with government institutions, particularly at the local level, and a proven ability in stakeholder engagement and coordination of multi-stakeholder processes. Experience in capacity building, training coordination, or educational program development is essential, as is familiarity with international organizations, especially UN agencies.

Languages:
Excellent oral and written skills in Spanish are mandatory, along with the technical ability to prepare and write technical reports. Proficiency in oral and written English is also required, as the consultant will need to communicate effectively in both languages throughout the project.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to last for three months, with specific deliverables outlined for each month. The position is not associated with any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, as the United Nations does not charge applicants for applications, interviews, or training. The consultant is expected to comply with UN security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security mechanisms and ensure their own safety while fulfilling their responsibilities.