Senior Urban and Territorial Planner Consultant, Nairobi

Result of Service

To strengthen the delivery and reporting of the WaL MCA Programme and related country initiatives, support resource mobilization, and provide support to cities and communities with Urban Lab knowledge and guidance materials that advance evidence-based urban and territorial planning.

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

3 months

Duties and Responsibilities

ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING About UN-Habitat The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable and resilient towns and cities. It is the focal point agency for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. UN-Habitat envisions well-planned, well-governed and efficient cities and towns, with adequate housing, infrastructure and universal access to employment and basic services such as water, energy and sanitation. Responding to crisis and post-crisis contexts is part of UN-Habitat’s mandate and Strategic Plan 2026–2029. The Regional Programme Division (RPD) is the operational arm of UN-Habitat supporting regional and country-level implementation, ensuring coherent, demand-driven and coordinated assistance across Member States. It brings together the Urban Lab programme, the Regular Programme of Technical Cooperation (RPTC), and the Inter-Regional Advisors to enhance collaboration with field offices and improve the effectiveness of technical cooperation and programme delivery.

The Regional Advisory & Projects Support Section is responsible for providing cross-cutting technical assistance, quality assurance and operational support to Regional and Country Offices through the development and delivery of climate and environment-related projects, the formulation of proposals and engagement with vertical funds, with particular emphasis on supporting Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to strengthen access to expertise, financing and capacity for sustainable urban development and climate resilience.

The Urban Lab is the integrative facility of the Agency where innovative processes and partnerships are translated into tangible and transformative solutions to complex urban challenges Throughout, the Urban Lab acts as a neutral broker, managing knowledge in complex stakeholder settings to resolve multi-sectoral, multi-scalar and multi-stakeholder challenges. The Urban Lab brings together a multidisciplinary team of urban planners, environmental, data-science, mobility, legal and financial experts, providing a holistic and proactive approach to sustainable urbanization. In this context, the Urban Lab applies an integrated approach to systemic and strategic planning to deliver transformative change for sustainable urbanization and to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda. The Lab is currently working on concrete projects joining international and local expertise in more than 60 countries and 80 cities in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia. The Urban Lab serves as the cornerstone of the Global Network of Planning and Design Labs, an initiative supported by member states during the 25th Governing Council of UN-Habitat.

Reporting and communication The consultant will report to the head of the Urban Lab, under the overall supervision of the RPD director. The Urban Planning Expert will work closely and on daily basis with the wider urban lab team. He or she will also collaborate with regional and country offices and other sections of the Regional Programme Division, the Global Solutions Division, and the Global Knowledge and Advocacy Division.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The consultant is expected to uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity and to perform the following duties:

• Coordinate and substantively support the consolidation of the Water as Leverage Multilevel Climate Action Programme and related country initiatives, including India and Kenya.
• Compile, analyse and document programme outputs, implementation experience and lessons learned of the Water as Leverage Multilevel Climate Action Programme and related country initiatives , and prepare draft narrative reports that connect country-level experience with programme-wide learning.
• Develop concept notes, funding proposals and supporting materials for resource mobilization for the WaL MCA Programme and country-specific initiatives, aligning them with donor priorities and UN-Habitat strategic objectives.
• Conduct desk reviews, synthesize evidence and undertake policy and programme analysis on urban and territorial planning, water, climate action and resilience; translate findings into concise analytical products and recommendations.
• Provide technical advice and inputs to urban and territorial profiling, planning, design and strategic investment approaches, including the preparation and review of maps, diagrams, graphics and other planning materials where required.
• Facilitate knowledge management and exchange, including the preparation of presentations, training materials, workshops and other capacity-development activities.
• Contribute technical advice and inputs to portfolio and project development, reports, publications and other institutional products of regional and country offices, Urban Lab and UN-Habitat.
• Draft and organize Urban Lab guidance and knowledge materials on evidence-based urban and territorial planning, integrating strategic investment and relevant thematic areas.
• Ensure that all deliverables are aligned with the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan 2026–2029, the 2030 Agenda and the New Urban Agenda.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Architecture, Urban Development, Urban Planning and Design is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible relevant experience in urban and territorial planning, urban development, climate resilience, water-sensitive planning, programme development, research or related fields, including experience in project/programme coordination.[ Experience preparing reports, analytical products, guidance materials or lessons-learned documentation is required. Experience contributing to concept notes, funding proposals or resource-mobilization materials is required. Experience in organising and facilitating workshops, training sessions, or stakeholder meetings, including the preparation of supporting materials, is required; Proven experience supporting coordination and management of multi-stakeholder projects, particularly those involving local authorities, urban practitioners, and international organisations, is an asset. Familiarity with participatory processes and stakeholder engagement methodologies in urban development, is an asset. Working knowledge and understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (and their monitoring/evaluation) and of the New Urban Agenda is an asset. Working experience with international development agencies and the United Nations is an asset.

Languages

For this advertised position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable. French, Portuguese and Spanish working proficiency will be considered as an advantage.

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.