Posting Title:
Habitat III Major Groups & Stakeholder Engagement Strategy Consultant
Job Code Title:
Department/ Office:
United Nations Human Settlements Programme
Duty Station:
NAIROBI; NEW YORK
Posting Period:
13 August 2015-21 August 2015
Job Opening number:
15--UNHABITAT-46529-C-MULTIPLE D/S
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
OUTPUTS:
- A report on analysis of past partnership engagement in UN conferences, including Habitat I and Habitat II; (2 months)
- A stakeholder engagement strategy document (to include: internal and external analysis, strategic priorities, and a strategic plan including a timeline); (2 months)
- A set of Guidelines for stakeholders to become involved in the Habitat III process; (1 month)
- A Strategy for developing and strengthening partnerships in the U.S.; (2 months)
- In consultation with major groups and UN agencies, produce any needed proposals for new projects or collaborative arrangements for stakeholder engagement towards Habitat III; (2 months)
- Produce reports on stakeholders’ developments toward the Habitat III conference. (Note: The frequency and details of these reports will depend upon the partnership strategies adopted by the Secretariat over the coming months.) (3 months)
Work Location
New York
Expected duration
Duration of the contract is 12 months, starting ASAP.
Duties and Responsibilities
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the United Nations 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 United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) is to take place in 2016. In resolution 66/207 and in line with the bi-decennial cycle (1976, 1996 and 2016), the United Nations General Assembly decided to convene the Habitat III Conference in order to reinvigorate the global commitment to sustainable urbanization, to focus on the implementation of a “New Urban Agenda”, with building on the Habitat Agenda of Istanbul in 1996.
The objective of the Conference is to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable urban development, assess accomplishments to date, address poverty and identify and address new and emerging challenges. The conference will result in a concise, focused, forward-looking and action-oriented outcome document.
Habitat III will be one of the first UN global summits after the adoption of the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda. It offers a unique opportunity to discuss the important challenge of how cities, towns and villages are planned and managed, in order to fulfill their role as drivers of sustainable development, and hence shape the implementation of new global development and climate change goals.
The Consultant will support the process under the Habitat III Secretariat in liaison with relevant stakeholders. The Consultant is required to ensure the mobilization and engagement of relevant stakeholders towards Habitat III.
Under the overall supervision of the Habitat III Secretariat Coordinator, the consultant will provide the following technical services:
The United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) is to take place in 2016. In resolution 66/207 and in line with the bi-decennial cycle (1976, 1996 and 2016), the United Nations General Assembly decided to convene the Habitat III Conference in order to reinvigorate the global commitment to sustainable urbanization, to focus on the implementation of a “New Urban Agenda”, with building on the Habitat Agenda of Istanbul in 1996.
The objective of the Conference is to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable urban development, assess accomplishments to date, address poverty and identify and address new and emerging challenges. The conference will result in a concise, focused, forward-looking and action-oriented outcome document.
Habitat III will be one of the first UN global summits after the adoption of the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda. It offers a unique opportunity to discuss the important challenge of how cities, towns and villages are planned and managed, in order to fulfill their role as drivers of sustainable development, and hence shape the implementation of new global development and climate change goals.
The Consultant will support the process under the Habitat III Secretariat in liaison with relevant stakeholders. The Consultant is required to ensure the mobilization and engagement of relevant stakeholders towards Habitat III.
Under the overall supervision of the Habitat III Secretariat Coordinator, the consultant will provide the following technical services:
- Create procedures to ensure an efficient flow of information between the stakeholders, relevant UN agencies, and the Habitat III Secretariat, taking into account existing partnership platforms, systems, and preferences of the major groups and constituents.
- Research and analyse previous stakeholders’ engagement strategies and outcomes, conferring with and interviewing UN staff and partners involved in the Habitat I and Habitat II Conference, and using findings to produce a comprehensive report; draft the corresponding stakeholders engagement strategy.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to establish relevant support, especially with the General Assembly of Partners for Habitat III.
- Mobilize and engage new stakeholders to take part in the Habitat III engagement strategy, taking into account thematic and regional balances.
- Develop an engagement strategy for U.S. based stakeholders.
- Plan and coordinate substantive goals and outcomes of engagement-related events and meetings; manage and prepare relevant outcome materials (reports, notes to partners, press releases, etc)
- Liaise and consult with stakeholders’ representatives to promote their lobbying efforts, meetings, and engagement strategies.
- Liaise with UN agencies on non-governmental stakeholders engagement issues; Ensure that all relevant UN agencies are consulted and that their key stakeholders are included in the engagement strategy.
- Produce reports for internal and external purposes on partnership meetings towards Habitat III. Coordinating the key inputs from different constituency groups and negotiating and developing and combining policy input documents, in close collaboration with stakeholders
- Regularly updating the Habitat III Coordinator on partnership and consensus development.
- Supplying the Habitat III media team with updates on partnership developments -- including news stories and media releases on the partnership platforms for the Habitat III website and other media outlets -- and providing inputs to the team to enhance the internal flow of information and communication pertaining to the partnership strategies.
Qualifications/special skills
Skills: Knowledge of urban issues is required. Excellent organizational and communication skills. Excellent writing skills (English).
Academic Qualifications: Advanced degree in political science, business administration, urban planning or related fields. A first level university degree in combination with qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience: The consultant should have at least 5 years of relevant professional work experience in diverse and varied settings, in a similar field. Experience with communication and coordination involving different types of partners, as well as research, drafting, and editing experience needed. Experience with UN systems preferred.
Language: English and French are the official working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, the consultant must have excellent written and oral skills in English. Knowledge of French or Spanish will be an asset.
Academic Qualifications: Advanced degree in political science, business administration, urban planning or related fields. A first level university degree in combination with qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience: The consultant should have at least 5 years of relevant professional work experience in diverse and varied settings, in a similar field. Experience with communication and coordination involving different types of partners, as well as research, drafting, and editing experience needed. Experience with UN systems preferred.
Language: English and French are the official working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, the consultant must have excellent written and oral skills in English. Knowledge of French or Spanish will be an asset.
Additional Information
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.
HOW TO APPLY:
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