Urban Data/GIS Expert (multiple positions) - UN-HABITAT - International ICA-2 - 6 months with possibility for extension

Background

UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, 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 context is part of UN-Habitat’s mandate and strategic plan. 

In Ukraine, UN-Habitat is supporting national and subnational governments in their recovery efforts, linking short term reconstruction needs to longer term resilience solutions. At national level, UN-Habitat provides support to the government of Ukraine on the development of national policies and instruments that guide regional and local governments’ recovery. The programme also strives to increase Ukrainian urban planning and design capacities, through support to academia, think tanks and practitioners among others. At local level, UN-Habitat provides support to recovery planning efforts of local governments, through its Urban Lab established in Kyiv.

The Urban Planning Lab (Urban Lab) is an entity for UN-Habitat to promptly respond to and support national and local governments in achieving sustainable urban development. 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, including urban recovery processes.

The Urban Lab brings together multidisciplinary teams of local and international urban planners, environmental, data-science, mobility, legal and financial experts, providing holistic and proactive approaches to sustainable urbanization in cities and towns globally. Hence, the Urban Lab embeds the necessary thematic disciplines, experts, actors and stakeholders to respond to requests, also in crisis and post-crisis contexts. 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 applies an integrated approach to systemic and strategic urban planning to deliver transformative change for sustainable urbanization and to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda. 

The Urban Lab addresses the complexity and challenges of cities and regions by translating these global and other development frameworks into concrete actionable solutions in the built environment through development of local strategies and plans for urban transformation, and by bridging the gap between policy and physical implementation (capital investment planning). Informed by evidence-based data analysis, spatial and non-spatial strategic responses and solutions are developed in partnership with stakeholders to ensure sustainable urban development outcomes. 

Rationale and context of the assignment

UN-Habitat has been called upon to support early recovery in Ukraine to promote urban and territorial recovery and regeneration towards a greener, more resilient, healthy and inclusive urban future. The Ukrainian government has a strong ambition to ‘build back better’, where urban recovery planning and design on territorial, town and neighborhood level can play a vital role in making cities and towns more sustainable and resilient. Aspects such as mixed land use, provision of housing and public space, improved access to public and social services and functions will be important, including promotion of local economic development. Similarly, there is a need to revisit and update instruments and frameworks for urban planning and housing, especially their application on local level for reconstruction of the built environment. UN-Habitat’s support will inform progress towards implementation of the SDGs and New Urban Agenda. 

UN-Habitat’s support builds upon three main inter-linked components; 1) support to the national government and ministries for the improvement of regulatory frameworks and instruments for a sustainable urban recovery; 2) support to urban and territorial recovery towards more inclusive, green and healthy urban recovery in selected regions (Oblasts) and municipalities (hromadas); 3) strengthened urban planning capacity among urban stakeholders, and specifically within public institutions. 

For component two, UN-Habitat and the Urban Lab have provided technical support in urban recovery to several hromadas, for the development of urban profiles and the subsequent preparation of urban recovery plans in the short-, medium- and long term development perspective.

UN-Habitat is also supporting the development of digital solutions and tools for enhanced data capacity of national and local governments in Ukraine, for climate resilient recovery planning, the reconstruction of cities and neighborhoods and development towards people-centered smart cities. This workstream is implemented by UNITAC (United Nations Innovation Technology Accelerator for Cities), a collaboration between UN-Habitat, OICT and the HafenCity University in Hamburg. 

UN-Habitat and the Urban Lab are now planning to engage consultants within various thematic fields to support urban recovery planning on territorial, urban area (cities, towns) and neighborhood level. For this position, UN-Habitat and the Urban Lab is seeking expertise on urban data and GIS to primarily engage in the preparations of data platforms and digital tools relevant to urban recovery planning. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent is expected to fulfill the following general duties and responsibilities, as part of the Ukraine Urban Lab in Kyiv: 

• Advise and work collaboratively as part of the designated team to analyze, collect, compile and interpret data to guide and inform the project, specifically on urban profiling and recovery planning; 
• Support and contribute to the development and application of methodologies and guidelines on evidence-based spatial analysis to be implemented in the project; 
• Develop detailed requirements for a data platform that integrates with a digital tool to enable urban profiling and recovery, including identification of datasets, interoperability requirements and mapping specifications; 
• Develop analytical and diagnostic maps, drawings/graphics and related reports to inform urban profiling and recovery planning; 
• Contribute to the development of clear planning proposals, including drawings and related documents for urban recovery planning; 
• Develop critical analysis of existing planning documents and instruments with GIS support; 
• Undertake reviews and assessments of relevant policies and strategies related to urban data and document findings in short briefing notes; 
• Develop capacity gap assessments and corresponding training materials (when needed) for GIS, remote sensing, data analysis, visualization and deliver workshops / training events;
• Liaise, coordinate and collaborate with UNITAC, implementing partners and other stakeholders on tools and methodologies for collection and management of urban data, in particular for the preparation of urban profiling and urban recovery planning outputs; 
• Develop and organize participatory, multi-stakeholder processes tailored for stakeholders within the project; 
• Provide technical backstopping to the Urban Lab in Kyiv on urban profiling and urban recovery planning for select territories and urban areas; 
• Draft concept papers and short progress reports for implementation of urban recovery activities, for documentation, knowledge management, advocacy and outreach. 

  Results Expected

  The ultimate result of this assignment is to provide strategic and technical support to sustainable recovery and urbanization of cities and towns, including the implementation and localization of the SDGs and New Urban Agenda. 

  Reporting requirements

  The Urban Data/GIS Expert will work under the overall supervision of the Head of the Ukraine Office and the direct supervision of the head of Ukraine Urban Lab.  The expert will collaborate closely with UNITAC and other stakeholders.  

  📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

  ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

  Outputs and Expected Deliverables

  The incumbent is required to provide various project outputs as above and submit a monthly report that details the project activities and achievements, ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the assignment.

  Working location and travel 

  The expert is expected to be based in Kyiv, Ukraine and to work from the UN-Habitat office in Kyiv, Ukraine, for the duration of the assignment. Travel to field locations required for site visits, technical missions and engagement with stakeholders and partners will be covered by UN-Habitat.

  Competencies

  Professional: Technological Awareness. Keeps abreast of available technology, understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the office, actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks, shows willingness to learn new technology. 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; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed; Excellent drafting ability and communications skills, both oral and written; proven ability to communicate complex concepts orally; Ability to prepare written reports that are clear, concise and meaningful. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Client orientation:  Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients ” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. Planning and Organizing: Ability to prioritize activities and assignments and to easily switch between different projects.

  Required Skills and Experience

  Education:

  • Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Architecture, Urban Development, Geography, Urban Planning and Design, or a related field. 
  • 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.

    Experience:

    • A minimum of seven years of relevant work experience in the field of urban development and planning and design (and/or related fields) with direct proven experience of programme/project management is required;
    • Direct proven experience of data-driven urban planning projects/processes, in combination with e.g. urban resilience, mobility, project finance, and/or data systems is required; 
    • Proven experience in software for urban planning, e.g. GIS, data analysis, visualization and production of maps is required;
    • Understanding of and experience from managing urban data is required; 
    • Experience working in the public sector, e.g. local governments is considered an asset;
    • Experience from the country or from other urban crisis/post-crisis contexts is an asset;
    • Experience working on social change projects is an asset;
    • Leading, designing and managing capacity building processes 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 in particular the United Nations is an asset.

      Language:

      • Fluency in written and spoken English is required. 

        Special Considerations

        The candidate should be familiar with, and committed to the goals of UN-Habitat, and have: 

        • Clear knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches to urban development, planning and design, particularly in an international development context including crisis and/or post-crisis contexts;
        • Strong analytical skills of urban form, urban systems, underlying social, legal and financial mechanisms and the political context;
        • Excellence in GIS software use, data analysis and maps production.
        • Good analytic and design skills in regional and city-wide planning and design is required.
        • Research and analytical skills is required.
        • Ability to develop strong graphic materials (concept plans, diagrams) as well as substantive reports; 
        • Strong communications skills, including writing, presenting and facilitating workshops; 
        • Ability to work independently and as part of a team in multi-national/ cultural environment and flexibility in understanding and accepting different assignments;
        • Ability to lead and provide technical guidance to an international team; 
        • Ability to work under pressure, prioritize and meet deadlines; work well under time constraints while retaining attention to detail; and
        • Ability to manage data, documents, correspondence and reports information and workflow.

          HOW TO APPLY

          Interested candidates must submit an email quoting in the email subject the post title and the duty station to the UN-Habitat Ukraine Programme, email address: recruitmentunhabitatua@un.org 

          with the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications: 

          1. Cover letter addressing precisely how the applicant meets the qualifications and requirements.
          2. Completion of a CV in P11 Form which can be downloaded at:  https://t.ly/pdZjU
             The CV shall include information on the past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references.
          3. Diplomas and copy of Passport or ID Card 

             Deadline for applications: 9 April 2025

             Please note that applications received after the closing date stated below, will not be given consideration. Only short-listed candidates whose applications respond to the above criteria will be contacted for an interview. 

                      
             Please apply strictly following the UN-HABITAT instructions above. Do not use the 'Apply Now' button.