Housing Economist, Montreal

Result of Service

The consultant will be responsible for providing support in all the steps of the data management process and preparing evidence-based inputs on housing and land policy and finance markets, as well as supporting applied research and knowledge management activities. Under the guidance of the UN-Habitat Canada Office team, the consultant will consolidate research outputs and knowledge products that strengthen the office’s housing programme in Montreal and contribute to the global exchange of Canadian expertise on sustainable and inclusive housing and urban development.

Work Location

Montreal

Expected duration

4 months

Duties and Responsibilities

UN-Habitat is the agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. The Canada Office of UN-Habitat strengthens the organization’s mission by serving as a focal point for partnerships, applied research, and policy engagement in Canada and across North America for the implementation of UN-Habitat’s 2026-2029 Strategic Plan. Operating from the City of Montreal, the Canada Office plays a central role in four domains: partner engagement and resource mobilization; research-policy-action interface; advocacy and communication; and the advancement of sustainable urbanization agendas within the Canadian and North American context. The Canada Office places particular emphasis on knowledge and innovation with a view to accelerating housing solutions that are affordable, adequate, resilient, and compatible with national and global commitments. In alignment with its housing and urban development priorities, the Canada Office also contributes to UN-Habitat’s global efforts to strengthen intergovernmental dialogue and cooperation on housing. This includes supporting the work of the Open-Ended Intergovernmental Expert Working Group on Adequate Housing for All (OWEG-H), which aims to advance a shared understanding and actionable recommendations for realizing the right to adequate housing within the framework of the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Through evidence-based research, policy engagement, and partnership-building, the Canada Office helps ensure that global innovations and lessons inform and enrich the OEWG-H’s deliberations and outputs.

UN-Habitat Canada Office is seeking motivated, highly skilled, and experienced professionals to join the team. The position is initially offered as a four-month contract, with the possibility of extension based on a positive performance evaluation.

Reporting line

This on-site position is fulltime, and is based in Montreal, Canada. This position is under the overall guidance of the Head of Office of the UN-Habitat Canada Office and report directly to the Programme Management Officer, Human Settlements. Applicants must be Canadian residents or citizens or have permission to work in Canada.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will carry out the following tasks and responsibilities:

1. Conduct applied research on housing markets, supply-demand dynamics, affordability trends, and economic drivers in OECD and selected global contexts.
2. Assess housing finance systems, including mortgage markets, credit access, public and private investment flows, and fiscal mechanisms.
3. Evaluate innovative financing mechanisms for affordable, inclusive, and climate-smart housing.
4. 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.
5. Provide recommendations for regulatory and fiscal reforms to support sustainable housing markets.
6. Assess how housing, land policies and market mechanisms impact vulnerable populations.
7. Develop research outputs, technical notes, policy briefs, and digital tools documenting housing and land finance models, housing market indicators, and comparative insights.
8. 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.
9. Identify lessons learned and best practices to inform Canadian and UN-Habitat economic and financing strategies for advancing affordable and adequate housing.
10. 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.
11. Engage with government, private sector, financial institutions, academic partners and other relevant entities to validate research and promote evidence-based policy solutions.
12. Support workshops, consultations, and intergovernmental dialogues on housing finance and economic policy.
13. Contribute to monitoring project progress, evaluating outcomes, and documenting lessons learned.
14. 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.
15. Provide support preparing inputs for major global events such as the World Urban Forum, the High-Level Political Forum, and other key international convenings.
16. 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.
17. Provide support to the Canada Office across general functions, including communications, advocacy, and overall administrative and management activities

Qualifications/special skills

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, including mortgage systems, credit access, and innovative financing mechanisms for affordable and inclusive housing; Housing systems and policy analysis, covering supply, governance, regulatory frameworks, and multi-level coordination; Comparative and applied research methods (quantitative and qualitative) for economic and policy evaluation of housing markets and finance mechanisms; Policy innovation, intergovernmental coordination, and knowledge product development for national and international housing strategies.

A minimum of 2 years of professional experience in applied economic, econometrics and financial research, housing market analysis, or policy evaluation, including designing and implementing quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, survey design, and documenting and communicating research outputs is required. Demonstrated ability to conduct comparative and applied research on housing finance, supply, affordability, and market dynamics; synthesize complex economic and policy information; and present findings in formats accessible to policymakers, practitioners, and diverse audiences is required. Experience analyzing and/or applying housing finance and policy frameworks, market interventions, and regulatory standards in OECD and selected global contexts is required. Proven experience drafting analytical papers, technical notes, policy briefs, and case studies on housing finance, investment mechanisms, and market reforms, with strong report writing, reviewing, and editorial skills is required. Experience contributing to national or international projects on housing finance, market development, or supply systems is desirable. Experience working within the United Nations Common System or other international organizations is desirable. Experience integrating equity, accessibility, and culturally responsive approaches (including Indigenous-led housing models) into housing finance and market analyses is an asset.

Languages

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

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.