Urban Resilience Consultant

Result of Service

The consultant contributes to the successful implementation and expansion of the City Resilience Global Programme by providing high-quality technical expertise, analytical support, capacity-building services, and programme development assistance to partner cities, territories, and institutions. The consultant supports the achievement of UN-Habitat's objective of fostering inclusive, sustainable, climate-resilient, and risk-informed urban and territorial development by strengthening the capacity of public institutions, communities, and key stakeholders to understand risks, make informed decisions, mobilize resources, and implement integrated resilience and climate adaptation actions. The expected outcome is enhanced resilience capacity among local and regional governments, improved resilience planning and implementation, stronger multi-level governance mechanisms, increased access to financing opportunities, and the development of actionable strategies that contribute to the objectives of the New Urban Agenda, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Work Location

Homebase

Expected duration

6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the United Nations agency mandated by the General Assembly to promote socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. UN-Habitat works with national and local governments, civil society, academia, development partners, and the private sector to advance sustainable urbanization and improve the quality of life in human settlements worldwide. As the lead UN agency for sustainable urban development and human settlements, UN-Habitat plays a key role in supporting countries and local authorities to address increasing urban challenges, including climate change, disaster risk, environmental degradation, rapid urbanization, inequality, and vulnerability to shocks and stresses. Through its urban resilience programming, UN-Habitat promotes integrated, people-centered, and systems-based approaches that strengthen the capacity of cities and territories to anticipate, absorb, adapt, and transform in the face of current and future challenges. UN-Habitat's resilience work builds on global frameworks including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the New Urban Agenda, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, supporting local and regional governments in translating these commitments into effective action at territorial level. Recognizing that resilience challenges extend beyond administrative boundaries, UN-Habitat supports multi-level governance approaches that strengthen coordination among cities, metropolitan areas, regions, and national institutions. Its resilience interventions combine risk-informed planning, climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, urban regeneration, nature-based solutions, governance strengthening, and inclusive stakeholder engagement to support sustainable territorial development. The programme works closely with local and regional governments, public institutions, civil society organizations, community groups, academia, and development partners to design and implement resilience-building initiatives. Attention is given to vulnerable populations, including women, youth, older persons, displaced populations, and other groups disproportionately affected by climate change, disasters, and socio-economic shocks. Main Responsibilities of the Urban Resilience Consultant: Under the direct supervision of the Head of the City Resilience Global Programme (CRGP), the consultant will provide substantive technical expertise and analytical support to the implementation, development, and expansion of the Programme, contributing to urban and territorial resilience, climate adaptation, risk-informed development, and capacity-building initiatives across partner cities, regions, and institutions. Task 1: Provide Technical Support to Urban and Territorial Resilience Projects and Programmes • Support the adaptation and application of urban and territorial resilience assessment methodologies and analytical frameworks in partner cities, metropolitan areas, and regions. • Contribute to project implementation activities, including data collection, research, stakeholder mapping, spatial analysis, and resilience assessments. • Support the organization and facilitation of workshops, consultations, technical meetings, and stakeholder engagement processes. • Prepare technical reports, assessments, policy briefs, presentations, and knowledge products, including data analysis, mapping, visualization, and report editing. • Contribute to the development of resilience action plans, climate adaptation strategies, and investment roadmaps at city and territorial scales. • Coordinate with technical experts, local counterparts, and institutional partners to ensure timely delivery of project outputs. Task 2: Support Capacity Building, Knowledge Management, and Regional Cooperation Activities • Design, prepare, and deliver training programmes, workshops, webinars, and learning materials on urban resilience, climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable urban development. • Support the development and dissemination of guidance materials, toolkits, case studies, and knowledge products related to resilience-building. • Facilitate peer-learning exchanges, regional consultations, policy dialogues, and communities of practice among local and regional governments. • Contribute to the documentation of lessons learned, good practices, and innovative approaches emerging from programme activities. • Support partnerships with academic institutions, development agencies, local governments, and other stakeholders to strengthen regional resilience initiatives. Task 3: Support Programme Development, Resource Mobilization, and Innovation • Contribute to the formulation of project concepts, technical cooperation proposals, and funding applications for urban resilience and climate adaptation programmes. • Support resource mobilization efforts through research on funding opportunities, partner engagement, and proposal development. • Contribute to the design and delivery of digital learning products, e-learning modules, and capacity-development platforms. • Support the development of innovative approaches related to resilience finance, climate adaptation, nature-based solutions, and risk-informed urban development. • Assist in organizing programme events, expert dialogues, conferences, and knowledge-sharing activities with partner institutions and development partners. Task 4: Monitoring, Reporting and Communication • Support monitoring, evaluation, and reporting activities for programme implementation. • Contribute to the preparation of donor reports, technical progress reports, communication materials, and project documentation. • Maintain project information, databases, and records related to programme activities and outputs. • Support visibility, outreach, and communication efforts by contributing content for publications, websites, social media, and other communication channels. Expected Results 1. Increased political commitment and institutional capacity to advance urban and territorial resilience and climate adaptation at local, metropolitan, and regional levels. 2. Comprehensive urban and territorial resilience assessments conducted to identify risks, vulnerabilities, capacities, and opportunities for resilience-building. 3. Improved integration of climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, environmental sustainability, and resilience principles into urban and territorial planning, governance, and investment processes. 4. Enhanced capacities of local and regional governments, stakeholders, and communities to design, implement, monitor, and evaluate resilience and climate adaptation actions and strategies. 5. Strengthened multi-level governance, stakeholder coordination, and partnerships for resilience-building across cities, regions, and territories. 6. Increased access to technical cooperation, financing opportunities, and investment mechanisms supporting resilience and climate adaptation initiatives. 7. Development and implementation of integrated resilience action plans, climate adaptation strategies, and investment roadmaps that contribute to long-term sustainable urban and territorial development. 8. Improved knowledge sharing, capacity development, and replication of good practices across partner cities, territories, and regions.

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Urban Planning, Regional Planning, Geography, Architecture, Engineering, Development Studies, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction, Public Policy, or a related field. • A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree. A minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience in urban resilience, climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, sustainable urban development, territorial planning, or related fields is required Experience supporting local and regional governments in resilience planning, policy development, strategy formulation, or implementation of urban development programmes is desirable Experience preparing technical reports, conducting research and analysis, facilitating stakeholder consultations, and delivering capacity-building activities is required Experience working with international organizations, development agencies, government institutions, academia, or civil society organizations is an asset Demonstrated experience in proposal development, project formulation, fundraising, or donor engagement is desirable Strong analytical, research, and report-writing skills are required Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Office, spreadsheets and other software packages required Experience with data analysis, visualization, and reporting tools is desirable Familiarity with GIS and spatial analysis tools is desirable Experience working with online collaboration, training, and learning platforms is desirable

Languages

• Fluency in spoken and written English and Arabic is required. • Knowledge of French, or Spanish is highly desirable. • Knowledge of another UN language is an advantage. The consultant should demonstrate: • Strong analytical, research, and report-writing skills. • Ability to work independently and manage multiple assignments under tight deadlines. • Excellent communication, presentation, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills. • Ability to work effectively in multicultural and multidisciplinary teams. • Commitment to gender equality, inclusion, and the empowerment of vulnerable and marginalized groups. • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. • Initiative, adaptability, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. • Commitment to the principles and values of the United Nations.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.