Cities and Climate Change Consultant – Data, Monitoring, Reporting

Result of Service

The consultancy will deliver:

1. Spatial Analysis under the RISE UP Project and the Spatial Strategy of the Section:
   • The Urban Vulnerability Atlas, StoryMap and Hub are complete for all RISE UP cities, with live data, charts and cleared documents, approved by the Atlas GIS Lead and ready for launch.
   • A functional and populated Hub document repository, with uploaded URAPs, NDCs, and training-of-trainer materials.
   • Draft text on NDC, NAP and NBSAP integration for draft URAP reports where the URAP has not yet been published.
   • A short concept note presenting options for spatially visualizing CCUE-S impacts, recommendations for potential new spatial data layers for the Atlas, and a functional ArcGIS Online prototype demonstrating preferred spatial visualization option.
   • A complete handover package comprising user guides, a data dictionary and data credits and permissions register, training materials and documentation for Atlas users. Trainings delivered.
   • The Atlas application (Experience Builder) has been tested for accessibility, translations, and mobile/browser performance, and test report developed.
   • Consolidated overview of project proposal development across the nine SubFund cities; completed reviews of project proposals linked to urban heat if applicable.
2. Subprogramme 3 (Strategic Plan 2020-2025) and Subprogramme 1 (Strategic Plan 2026-29) monitoring and reporting
   • Develop a summary report on climate action plans developed under SP3 (2021-2026).
   • Develop a summary report on lessons learned from UN-Habitat’s support to climate action planning.
   • Develop Monitoring framework for indicator 3 (SP1) - (urban contents of NDCs, impacted population, development of implementation strategies) and collect data from regional and country offices.
3. NDC data analysis
   • Country Faction Sheets: Manage and produce country fact sheets using a packaged AI workflow.
   • Develop improved template for country fact sheets
   • Thematic Fact sheets: Build a reusable template and workflow for thematic briefs that mirrors the fact-sheet design.
   • Develop summary report on how NDCs, NBSAPs and NAPs differ and relate including metadata and indicators that connect them beyond country-level metadata. Work out how to move to document-specific analysis.

Work Location

Nairobi

Expected duration

5 Months

Duties and Responsibilities

1. BACKGROUND TO UN HABITAT

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (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 position supports the implementation of the Environment and Climate Change Impact area of the Strategic Plan (2026-2029) which places Access to Housing Land and Urban Basic Services at its centre. This position is located in the Climate Change and Urban Environment Section, Global Solutions Division. The Climate Change and Urban Environment Section’s workplan has four pillars:

• a) Climate Change and Biodiversity Diplomacy and Multilevel Action Strongly position the New Urban Agenda within urban climate change, urban environment and urban biodiversity diplomacy, multilevel governance and multilevel action, discourse and networks. Facilitate the participation of Housing and Urban Development Ministries as well as local and subnational governments in global / international climate change and biodiversity diplomacy. Strengthen urban content in NDCs and NBSABs and support implementation of urban action.
• b) Thought Leadership and Innovation Provide climate change-, biodiversity- and urban environment-related thought leadership and associated plat-forms. This includes support to the development of the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities, its dissemination and the Innovate4Cities conference as well as the development of emerging urban climate change topics.
• c) Programme Development and Project Incubation Incubate and pilot innovative and cross-cutting projects; coordinate and implement urban climate change and biodiversity core projects; including the Resilient Settlements for the Urban Poor programme, support Branches/Sections, ROs and COs (in close collaboration with RPD) in programme development — with em-phasis on (i) Housing, Land and Urban Basic Services and (ii) regional and country-level roll-out.
• d) Agency Cross-Cutting — ESG, Partnerships, Data, Capacities, Communication Strengthen internal, UN-Habitat-wide cross-cutting functions including reporting and monitoring, facilitation of Environmental and Social Governance, internal capacities (including through Communities of Practice) and communication support.

In response to the growing urgency for climate-resilient urban development, UN-Habitat launched the Sustainable Urban Resilience for the Next Generation (SURGe) initiative in partnership with the COP27 Presidency and ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability.

The Sustainable Urban Resilience for the Next Generation (SURGe) Initiative, is a flagship initiative that helps countries translate national climate commitments into local action by strengthening urban services and housing. It supports integrated implementation of national climate plans (including NDCs), focusing on six key entry points: housing and buildings, urban energy, mobility, waste and consumption, water, and biodiversity. It connects pillars 1 to 3 of the workplan (above).

2. BACKGROUND TO CONSULTANCY

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Coordinator Climate Change and Urban Environment and in close collaboration with colleagues from the Climate Change and Urban Environment Section and climate focal points across the agency, the incumbent will be required to perform the following functions:

1. Spatial Analysis under the RISE UP Project and Support the Spatial Strategy of the Section:
   • Finalise the StoryMap city stories for all 17 cities, developing the text co-created with country teams, replacing placeholders with live data and charts and adding photos, captions, credits, links and alt text.
   • Build the Hub document repository, including integrating the existing training-of-trainer materials, loading and linking URAPs, NDCs, profiles and studies with metadata recorded.
   • Draft text on NDC, NAP and NBSAP integration in draft URAP reports when these are not published yet.
   • Develop a short concept note with options for the spatial visualisation of CCUE-S impact, as well as potential new layers for the Atlas (e.g., using worldwide urban heat data), and a working ArcGIS Online prototype of the preferred option.
   • Test the Atlas application (Experience Builder) for accessibility, translations and mobile/browser performance, and develop a test report with an issues log of fixes made.
   • Develop a handover pack (user guides, data dictionary, credits/permissions log) and support user training sessions and their recordings.
   • Develop an overview of the status of project proposal development, including past, ongoing and planned submissions, for the nine SubFund cities; review and support project proposal development when linked to urban heat.
2. Subprogramme 3 (Strategic Plan 2020-2025) and Subprogramme 1 (Strategic Plan 2026-29) monitoring and reporting
   • Lead the results reporting on the development of climate action plans (SP3) by end January 2027
   • Facilitate output reporting on SP3 – final report of the WP2026 and SP3 by end January 2027
   • Develop Monitoring framework for indicator 3 (SP1) - (urban contents of NDCs, impacted popula-tion, development of implementation strategies) and collect data from regional and country offices.
   • Collect output reporting of climate impact area under Subprogramme 1 with emphasis on CCUE-S but also ensuring agency-wide climate reporting.
   • Develop knowledge products related to the above, in particular to the results under SP3 and SP1
3. NDC data analysis
   • Country Fact Sheets: Manage and produce country fact sheets using a packaged AI workflow. Im-prove the template and process over time.
   • Thematic Fact sheets: Build a reusable template and workflow for thematic briefs that mirrors the fact-sheet design. Test the design on an existing brief
   • Methodology: Explore how NDCs, NBSAPs and NAPs differ and relate. Identify metadata and indi-cators that connect them beyond country-level metadata. Work out how to move to document-specific analysis.
4. OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTANCY

The consultancy will advance the Climate Change and Urban Environment Section's Workplan with a particu-lar emphasis on the analysis of urban content of NDCs, spatial analysis and utilizing data and analytic tools to advance the sections monitoring and reporting. Specific deliverables are listed below:

Qualifications/special skills

Minimum advanced university degree (M.Sc. or equivalent) in Urban planning, Architecture, environmental management, public policy or relevant field is required. A first degree with 2 additional years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. 2 years of experience in architecture and urban planning and design, project management and stake-holder engagement, GIS and data management, ideally gained at the international level, including working on urban climate change mitigation and/or adaptation is required Proven experience in urban planning or urban design is desirable Proven experience in communicating and visualizing urban climate change knowledge is required. Proven experience with GIS, data analysis and data visualization is required. Familiarity with capacity development in an international environment is desirable.

Languages

French and English are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in written and oral English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an added advantage.

Additional Information

COMPETENCIES

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of GIS, data systems and management, monitoring and reporting. ; Strong analytical skills and ability to rapidly analyze, strategize and integrate diverse information from various multimedia and digital sources. Shows pride in work and in achievements; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; Remains calm in stressful situation

COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

TEAMWORK: Ability to work with teams, demonstrate leadership, conflict management and consensus facilitation skills; ability to work in a multicultural and multi-ethnic environment, and to respect diversity; sensitivity to the main streaming of vulnerability; willingness and ability to work in difficult environments.

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.