Consultor/a en Participación y Gobernanza Local
Organizational Context
ONU-Habitat, the UN Human Settlements Programme, promotes sustainable urban development globally. Its Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC) supports this mission, with sub-regional offices in Mexico, Cuba, and Central America. This role supports projects focused on local solutions for disaster risk reduction and integrated risk management in coastal urban areas.
Job Purpose
This consultancy aims to establish the methodological and governance foundations for participatory processes within Integrated Urban Operations (OUI) for two key projects: 'Local Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction in Latin America and the Caribbean' (COSUDE) and 'UrbanCoast Mesoamerica: Integrated Risk Management and Resilience' (AECID). The consultant will provide technical leadership in citizen participation, territorial governance, and local capacity building, ensuring these principles are integrated into project design and implementation. The role is crucial for fostering sustainable urban development and enhancing resilience in the face of urbanization and climate change challenges.
Responsibilities
The consultant will be responsible for delivering key project outputs, including a work plan, document review, stakeholder mapping, a methodological proposal for participatory processes, and a governance framework with a participation plan. Key duties involve designing and implementing citizen participation and local governance strategies, particularly for neighborhood-level Integrated Urban Operations (OUI). This includes leading the design and execution of participatory governance strategies for each OUI, facilitating dialogue spaces with local communities and authorities, and ensuring community voices are integrated into urban intervention planning. The role also involves contributing to regulatory and financial instruments from a local governance perspective, supporting capacity-building activities, and documenting lessons learned for urban solutions.
Work Experience
A minimum of 6 years of progressive professional experience is required in designing, facilitating, and systematizing multi-actor participatory and governance processes, participatory urban and territorial planning, and community development. Proven experience with participatory methodologies for urban projects or neighborhood-level interventions, and capacity-building processes for national, municipal, and community counterparts is essential. Experience with gender, intersectionality, human rights, the 2030 Agenda, the New Urban Agenda, and the Sendai Framework is valued, as is experience in international cooperation, preferably with the UN system.
Skills
Excellent oral and written Spanish and English skills. Technical ability to draft and review specialized reports and documents on citizen participation, urban governance, and participatory planning. Knowledge of other UN official languages is a plus. Experience in designing and facilitating participatory processes, multi-actor governance, urban planning, community development, and capacity building.