Background: As the lead agency within the United Nations system for coordinating activities in the field of human settlements, UN-Habitat is also the focal point for the implementation of the Habitat Agenda – the global plan of action adopted in June 1996 by the international community at the Habitat II Conference in Istanbul, Turkey.
Its activities contribute to the overall objective of the United Nations system to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development within the context of rapidly urbanizing world.
UN-Habitat is mandated through the Habitat Agenda to take the lead in disaster mitigation, and post-disaster rehabilitation capabilities in human settlements.
At the recent Rio +20 conference, the Heads of State and Government and high level representatives renewed their commitment to achieving sustainable development: this included recognition of and commitment to promoting an integrated approach to planning and building sustainable cities and urban settlements to underpin economically, socially and environmentally sustainable societies.
The urgency of supporting disaster risk reduction, resilience and climate risks in urban planning was underlined while strengthening the UN Habitat Agenda for sustainable urban development.
UN-Habitat launched the City Resilience Profiling Programme (CRPP) in 2012 to develop a comprehensive and integrated urban planning and management approach founded on the principles of ‘resilience’ that dynamically underpin and improve capacity to protect urban citizens and their assets.
‘Urban Resilience’ refers to the ability of any urban system, to withstand and recover quickly from ‘critical events.’
The CRPP will provide forward-looking, multi-sectoral, multi-hazard, multi-stakeholder approach integrating all functional aspects of human settlements to planning and developing urban settlements.
The Programme will be implemented in partnership with primary stakeholders including international agencies, academic and research institutes, private sector actors, NGOs, and representatives from a number of pilot cities.
CRPP has a strategic fit in UN Habitat’s overall mandate for the sustainable development of cities, towns, and other human settlements, specifically, the key pillar for ensuring that cities are able to withstand and recover from catastrophic events.
Responsibilities
Reporting to the Chief of the Urban Risk Reduction Unit under the Risk Reduction and Rehabilitation Branch, the Senior Partnerships, Outreach and Advocacy Advisor will provide substantive professional inputs related to the above-mentioned objective of the Post.
He/She will be expected to carry out the following tasks:
1. Implement a Business Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Plan and Strategy for CRPP building on existing partnership agreements and MoUs, and in line with the new bi-annual work programme (2016-17).
2. Identify new partnership opportunities, including with the Private Sector, foundations, financial institutions, academia, and other stakeholder groups, through research, interviews, and meetings.
3. Prepare targeted Project Proposals to be presented to existing and prospective donors.
4. Monitor and deliver outputs of existing Projects and MoUs (e.g. DFID/ESRC; World Bank/Creditworthiness; Medellin Collaboration for Urban Resilience; Norway; etc.);
5. Oversee the operational delivery of outputs of the Secretariat of the Medellin Collaboration for Urban Resilience (MCUR), including any staff seconded from MCUR partners (pending funding);
6. Develop an Advocacy and Communications Plan and Strategy for the CRPP, including a social media campaign; identification of targeted events/outreach opportunities; development of ‘corporate’ presentations and briefs and speeches, and; dissemination of CRPP/cities’ achievements to wider audiences and to specific stakeholder groups; and liaison with global and national media
7. Provide substantive inputs to global policy frameworks (including the post-2015 framework on Disaster Risk Reduction), with the aim of ensuring resilience and the consideration of local authorities is reflected in relevant international policies.
8. Promote the urban resilience agenda through continued collaboration with city networks, including partners of UNISDR’s Making Cities Resilient Campaign, UCLG, Metropolis, C40, ICLEI and others.
9. Identify opportunities to provide substantive inputs to key external and internal stakeholders on the subject of urban resilience (e.g. National Urban Forums; New Urban Agenda, etc.), and to pursue a common global agenda on urban resilience, including representing the CRPP/UNHabitat in global events and meetings.
10. Ensure substantive and timely reporting to internal and external stakeholders, including donors, on the CRPP’s achievements and delivery of programme outputs.
Contribute to the development of the Urban Resilience Institute through networking and development of academic and research partnerships.
Competencies
The successful candidate should also have the following general competencies and skills:
Excellent research skills;
Excellent organizational and planning skills;
Excellent analytical English writing skills; and,
Ability to work independently and self-motivating.
Qualifications
Education
University degree in a relevant discipline for natural and human-made disasters and/or urban issues, policy, communications, and/or journalism.
Work Experience
At least 10 years of combined professional experience in the private sector,
journalism/communications, and public sector, with relevant knowledge of natural and human made disasters and urban issues;
Proven technical experience in both managing global campaign and initiatives on natural and human-made disasters and coordinating with donors and partners on this topic;
Solid experience in resource mobilization on this topic.
Language: Excellent analytical English writing skills.
Remuneration: Payments will be based on deliverables over the consultancy period. There are set remuneration rates for consultancies. The rate is determined by functions performed and experience of the consultant. The fees will be paid as per agreement.
Applications should include:
Cover memo (maximum 1 page)
CV in the PHP format, accessible through the INSPIRA website (inspira.un.org) Please note, if using INSPIRA for the first time, you need to register in order to activate your account, which will allow you to log in and create a personal History Profile.
The PHP should be attached to the application as a PDF file.
Summary CV (maximum 2 pages), indicating the following information:
Educational Background (incl. dates)
Professional Experience (assignments, tasks, achievements, duration by years/ months)
Other Experience and Expertise (e.g. Internships/ voluntary work, etc.)
Expertise and preferences regarding location of potential assignments
Expectations regarding remuneration
Cover memo (maximum 1 page)
Please also be advised that since April 15th 2010, applicants for consultancies must be part of the UN-HABITAT e-Roster in order for their application to be considered.
You can reach the e-Roster through the following link: http://e-roster.unhabitat.org
All applications should be submitted to:
Ms. Florence Kariuki
UN-HABITAT
P.O. Box 30030, 00100
Nairobi, Kenya
Email address: Florence.kariuki@unhabitat.org
Deadline for applications: 24 August 2015
UN-HABITAT does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. If you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of these offices and requesting the payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unon.org