Responsibilities

• Developing and implementing UN-HABITAT’s normative activities related to housing policy, with the main focus on slum upgrading and prevention through pro-poor housing delivery mechanisms, and assisting in the design, advice and implementation of relevant strategies and programmes in collaboration with other UN-HABITAT units in line with the Strategic Plan and other relevant frameworks; responsible for research and networking; updating existing knowledge and information sources in the organisation; prepare documentation for the governing bodies of UN-HABITAT, World Urban Forum and other international bodies and conferences and contribute to relevant programmes.
• Designs and co-ordinates normative aspects including research and monitoring activities related to enabling housing policies and strategies with particular focus on slum prevention and upgrading, through:
• In relation to the Strategic Plan and other relevant frameworks, monitoring progress in the development of enabling policies, approaches and tools globally and exploring innovative approaches to address in particular housing targets, including informal and slum housing;
• Reviewing and assessing developments in the shelter field globally and on-going research activities particularly regarding slum upgrading and prevention to develop pro-poor strategies;
• Updating and developing documentation on relevant subjects such as policy and implementation guidelines, standards, tool kits and strategy papers;
• Contributing to the production of the World Cities Report and UN-HABITAT policy statements on topics regarding slum upgrading and housing delivery;
• Updating housing development programmes and projects with particular focus on pro-poor slum upgrading and housing delivery policies, strategies and modalities contributing to the development of database, web-site, tools, media packs and related promotional materials;
• Contributing to relevant campaigns and global programmes on housing and land from the housing side.
• Performs advisory and networking functions, to governments, agencies, organizations, institutions, individuals on issues and operational activities related to pro-poor slum upgrading and housing development, through:
• Organizing and co-ordinating ad-hoc expert-group meetings and other activities such as regional policy consultations, capacity building workshops and seminars on technical exchange of experiences;
• Preparing background material for the meetings;
• Identifying and liaising with consultants, resource persons and other participants;
• Undertaking logistical arrangements for such meetings;
• Representing UN-HABITAT at these meetings by preparing and presenting papers;
• Preparing final reports of the meetings;
• Undertaking technical advisory backstopping missions, augmenting work of UN-HABITAT Regional Offices and strategic partners, with emphasis on policy and institutional development, practical procedural advice and developing tools and guidelines as well as monitoring project execution;
• Promoting initiatives executed by UN-HABITAT Regional Offices and strategic partners for slum upgrading, improving living conditions of slum dwellers including social, economic and environmental aspects;
• Establishing and implementing cooperation agreements, MOUs and grant agreements for governments and strategic partners, monitoring effective use of funds allocation;
• Co-ordinating special initiatives requested by the Executive Director on slum upgrading, housing delivery and activities such as relief operations, programmes and projects for provision of emergency shelters, and disaster management; .

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master degree or equivalent) in architecture, engineering or urban/regional planning, with focus on issues related to shelter development, slum upgrading and enabling housing policies in Developing Countries is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years of experience, including at least six years at the international level, with normative work on low-income slum upgrading and housing policies and programmes is required. Experience in field research in the broad field of housing and urban development, including slums, informal settlements is required.
• Publications –including co-authoring- in one of the following themes: housing and/ or land right, slum upgrading, building materials and technology is desirable.
• Experience in projects on slum upgrading in Asia, Africa or Latin America is desirable.
• Experience making presentations on behalf of an organization at international/national meetings is desirable.
• Experience in developing and/or implementing international sustainable development programmes involving donor community, clients and civil society groups is desirable.
• Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.