The position is located in UN-Habitat’s SDG Localization and Local Governments Team within the Global Solutions Division (GSD). The Global Solutions Division is responsible for providing programmatic direction for UN-Habitat and is responsible and accountable for the programmatic delivery of the Strategic Plan. The Division leads the tools and methodology production and the integration of the various substantive competencies towards the effective delivery of the Strategic Plan and the mandate of UN-Habitat. It provides substantive training and supports capacity development of Member States and partners. The Global Solutions Division hosts the Local 2030 Coalition’s Secretariat and coordinates UN-Habitat’s work on SDG Localization through the SDG Localization and Local Governments Team
Responsibilities:
The Technical Urban Development Expert/Coordinator will provide technical support to the SDG Localization and Local Governance Section.
The expert will contribute to the development of methodologies, tools, and knowledge products; deliver capacity-building, and offer technical support across all projects of the Section, ensuring technical quality and alignment with UN-Habitat’s strategic objectives and ongoing activities.
Tools Development, Support, and Upkeep.
Design and adapt innovative diagnostic and planning tools to support cities and local governments in SDG localization.
Provide technical support, evaluation, and troubleshooting for existing tools and platforms.
Coordinate with internal teams and external partners for tool maintenance, contracts, and integration into digital platforms and websites.
Promote innovation and integration of emerging technologies (e.g., digital solutions, AI applications) into SDG localization tools.
Lead and contribute to the development, review, and continuous improvement of methodologies for SDG localization, particularly the SDG Cities methodology.
Maintain coherence and consistency across methodologies developed by different teams and initiatives.
Conduct technical review and quality assurance of key documents (e.g., Voluntary Local Reviews, concept notes, project deliverables, policy briefs, and knowledge products).
Provide clear feedback to ensure documents are evidence-based, technically sound, and aligned with organizational standards.
Capacity-building Development Provide technical advice to the development of a capacity-building structure for the Partnership Platform project by mapping existing training materials, gaps, and opportunities to develop new materials.
Support the design of presentations and training products for SDG Localization, including the technical tool offering of the team, including PowerPoint presentations, training agendas and evaluation questionnaires.
Conduct capacity-building through training sessions to partners, country offices, and local governments. Research and Analysis Conduct research on innovative practices, methodologies, and tools to strengthen UN-Habitat’s offer in SDG localization.
Monitor and assess the impact of tools, methodologies, and capacity-building efforts to inform continuous improvement.
Project and Partnership Support Provide technical inputs to project design, workplans, and proposals to ensure feasibility and alignment with UN-Habitat’s strategic approach and in consultation with UN-Habitat’s Regional and Country Offices.
Support the review of project deliverables, agendas, and outputs.
Foster synergies with other UN-Habitat teams, initiatives, and global partners to ensure coherence and maximize impact.
Act as a focal point for coordination between the SDG Localization and Governance Section, other UN-Habitat sections, teams, and iniatiatives, as well as external stakeholders.
Support cross-team collaboration and knowledge sharing within the organization.
Requirements:
A university degree in Urban/Regional Planning, Architecture, Geography, Urban Studies, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Environmental Studies, Public Policy, or another relevant field is required.
At least five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in sustainable urban development, project management, and multi-stakeholder coordination is required.
Demonstrated expertise in participatory planning processes, SDG localization, and the development of methodologies, tools, and knowledge products.
Proven ability to deliver data-driven outputs, technical reports, and awareness-raising materials aligned with the SDGs and related global and national frameworks.
Prior experience with UN-Habitat and/or within the UN system, particularly in advancing the local implementation of the SDGs, will be considered a strong asset.
Fluency in English is required for this specific consultancy. Knowledge of Arabic and French and any other UN official language is an asset.
