Housing Economist

Job Posting Organization:
UN-Habitat is the agency for human settlements, established by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. The organization aims to provide adequate shelter for all and operates globally, with a focus on partnerships, applied research, and policy engagement. The Canada Office of UN-Habitat, located in Montreal, plays a pivotal role in implementing the UN-Habitat’s 2026-2029 Strategic Plan, emphasizing knowledge and innovation to accelerate housing solutions that are affordable, adequate, and resilient. The office engages in various domains, including partner engagement, research-policy-action interface, advocacy, and communication, contributing to sustainable urbanization agendas in Canada and North America. It also supports intergovernmental dialogue on housing, aligning with global efforts to realize the right to adequate housing within the framework of the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Job Overview:
The Housing Economist position involves providing comprehensive support in the data management process related to housing and land policy and finance markets. The consultant will engage in applied research and knowledge management activities, consolidating research outputs that enhance the housing program in Montreal. The role requires collaboration with the UN-Habitat Canada Office team to contribute to the global exchange of Canadian expertise on sustainable and inclusive housing and urban development. The consultant will be responsible for conducting research on housing markets, assessing housing finance systems, evaluating innovative financing mechanisms, and providing recommendations for regulatory reforms to support sustainable housing markets. The position is full-time and based in Montreal, with an expected duration of four months, potentially extendable based on performance evaluation.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct applied research on housing markets, supply-demand dynamics, affordability trends, and economic drivers in OECD and selected global contexts.
• Assess housing finance systems, including mortgage markets, credit access, public and private investment flows, and fiscal mechanisms.
• Evaluate innovative financing mechanisms for affordable, inclusive, and climate-smart housing.
• Examine the role and effectiveness of multi-level governance, land-use regulation, and policy instruments in shaping market and not-for-profit housing supply and affordability.
• Provide recommendations for regulatory and fiscal reforms to support sustainable housing markets.
• Assess how housing, land policies, and market mechanisms impact vulnerable populations.
• Develop research outputs, technical notes, policy briefs, and digital tools documenting housing and land finance models, housing market indicators, and comparative insights.
• Prepare case studies highlighting innovative housing finance mechanisms, market reforms, and policy coordination in upper-middle- and high-income countries, as well as relevant global contexts.
• Identify lessons learned and best practices to inform Canadian and UN-Habitat economic and financing strategies for advancing affordable and adequate housing. 1
• Contribute to applied research on the impacts of international trade policies, tariffs, and changing global supply chains on housing construction costs, material availability, investment, and housing affordability, including comparative analysis of implications for Canada and other selected countries, and opportunities to strengthen housing supply chain resilience. 1
• Engage with government, private sector, financial institutions, academic partners, and other relevant entities to validate research and promote evidence-based policy solutions. 1
• Support workshops, consultations, and intergovernmental dialogues on housing finance and economic policy. 1
• Contribute to monitoring project progress, evaluating outcomes, and documenting lessons learned. 1
• Prepare briefings and recommendations to support Canada’s housing policy and UN-Habitat’s global agenda on adequate, affordable, and inclusive housing through the Open-Ended Working Group on Intergovernmental Expert Working Group on Adequate Housing for All. 1
• Provide support preparing inputs for major global events such as the World Urban Forum, the High-Level Political Forum, and other key international convenings. 1
• Support resource mobilization for the UN-Habitat Canada Office, including identifying potential funding opportunities, conducting donor and partner mapping, contributing to the preparation of concept notes, project proposals, budgets, and funding submissions, and supporting engagement with government institutions, development partners, foundations, and other prospective funding partners. 1
• Provide support to the Canada Office across general functions, including communications, advocacy, and overall administrative and management activities.

Required Qualifications:
A Master’s degree in Economics, Econometrics, Finance, Urban Studies, Housing Policy, Public Policy, Urban Planning, International Development, or a related field with a focus on housing finance, housing markets, or policy research is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Desirable specializations include housing finance, investment, and market analysis; housing systems and policy analysis; comparative and applied research methods for economic and policy evaluation of housing markets and finance mechanisms; and policy innovation and intergovernmental coordination.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in relevant fields such as Economics, Econometrics, Finance, Urban Studies, Housing Policy, Public Policy, Urban Planning, or International Development, specifically focusing on housing finance, housing markets, or policy research. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
A minimum of 2 years of professional experience in applied economic, econometrics, and financial research, housing market analysis, or policy evaluation is required. This includes designing and implementing quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, survey design, and documenting and communicating research outputs. Experience analyzing and/or applying housing finance and policy frameworks, market interventions, and regulatory standards in OECD and selected global contexts is also required. Proven experience drafting analytical papers, technical notes, policy briefs, and case studies on housing finance and investment mechanisms is essential.

Languages:
Fluency in spoken and written English is required for this position. Proficiency and/or fluency in French is highly desirable, as English and French are the official working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of another official UN language is considered an additional asset.

Additional Notes:
The position is a full-time role based in Montreal, Canada, offered as a four-month contract with the possibility of extension based on performance evaluation. Applicants must be Canadian residents or citizens or have permission to work in Canada. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.