Consultant for Urban Observatory Maintenance

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is a regional arm of the United Nations that focuses on promoting economic and social development in the Arab region. Established in 1973, ESCWA aims to foster cooperation among its member states and support their efforts towards sustainable development. The organization operates in various countries across the Middle East and North Africa, working on issues such as climate change, water management, and urban planning. ESCWA collaborates with various UN agencies, including UN-Habitat, to implement projects that address pressing regional challenges.

Job Overview:
The consultant will play a crucial role in supporting the sustainability of the urban observatory developed under the Adaptation Fund project, which aims to enhance the resilience of displaced persons and host communities to climate change-related water challenges. The consultant's primary responsibilities will include drafting agreements for data hosting services, creating a comprehensive maintenance manual for the urban observatory, and conducting training sessions for municipal and national planning staff. The position requires a strong background in data management, remote sensing, and GIS, as well as experience in urban planning and capacity building. The consultant will work closely with the Project Coordinator and the Climate Change and Natural Resource Sustainability Cluster Lead to ensure the successful implementation of the project objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant's responsibilities are structured across three distinct phases:

• Identify and procure an appropriate data hosting platform, preparing and finalizing the agreement for data hosting from 2026 to 203
• This includes ensuring that all associated costs are covered under the consultancy budget and that services are provisioned in the name of UN-Habitat Lebanon, with full administrative access granted to UN-Habitat Lebanon.
• Develop a user manual in both English and Arabic that details the processes for updating and maintaining the urban observatory, enabling municipal and national planning staff to effectively manage the data platform.
• Provide training sessions for municipal and national planning ministry focal points on how to update and maintain the urban observatory after the project's conclusion, ensuring that the knowledge is transferred effectively and that the urban observatory remains functional and relevant.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in remote sensing, GIS, engineering (including environmental or agricultural fields), information management, or a related field. A first-level university degree combined with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree. All applicants are required to submit a copy of their educational degree, as incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Additionally, candidates must have a minimum of 10 years of professional experience in data science, data management, remote sensing, and GIS, preferably within urban, territorial, or development contexts. Experience in designing and delivering training materials for data platform management is also required.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), engineering, or information management. A first-level university degree may be accepted if accompanied by sufficient qualifying experience. Candidates must provide documentation of their educational qualifications as part of the application process.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 10 years of professional experience in data science, data management, remote sensing, and GIS, with a preference for experience in urban, territorial, or development contexts. Candidates should have a proven track record in designing and delivering training materials related to data platform management. Additionally, at least 2 years of experience working with international organizations or UN agencies is desirable, along with demonstrated work in urban planning or urban data systems at the municipal or national level. Experience in the design or implementation of urban observatories or indicator-based monitoring frameworks is also highly regarded.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Arabic is required for this position, as these are the primary working languages of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). Knowledge of French is considered desirable. Fluency is defined as a rating of 'fluent' in all four areas: speaking, reading, writing, and understanding.

Additional Notes:
The position is remote and is expected to last for a duration of 2 months. There are no additional notes regarding contract duration, seniority level, or compensation provided in the job description. It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or training.