Cities and Climate Change Consultant - Multilevel Climate Action and Housing
Organizational Context
UN-Habitat, the UN agency for human settlements, promotes socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. This role supports the Environment and Climate Change Impact area of the Strategic Plan (2026-2029), focusing on housing, land, and urban basic services. The position is within the Climate Change and Urban Environment Section, Global Solutions Division, contributing to its work on climate diplomacy, thought leadership, programme development, and cross-cutting agency functions.
Job Purpose
This consultancy aims to advance UN-Habitat's Climate Change and Urban Environment Section's workplan, with a specific focus on analyzing the urban content of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and their implementation. The role will support the development and application of global and regional tools, and collaborate with country offices to enhance the section's capacity to address requests related to the housing/informal settlements and climate change nexus. Key contributions include leading on the housing elements of the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities, strengthening urban content in NDCs, developing capacity-building initiatives, and fostering resource mobilization and strategic partnerships for housing-climate initiatives. The role also supports the Sustainable Urban Resilience for the Next Generation (SURGe) initiative, translating national climate commitments into local action.
Responsibilities
Lead the analysis of urban content within the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities, translating global findings into actionable policy, programmatic, and country-level applications. Drive the development and country-level application of capacity-building initiatives for NDC implementation, capturing lessons learned to inform UN-Habitat's broader approach. Spearhead the 'Urban Content in NDCs 3.0: Housing and Informal Settlements' spinoff initiative. Develop the Climate Change and Urban Environment Section's housing-climate portfolio through resource mobilization and strategic partnerships. Serve as a focal point for housing-climate initiatives, contributing to programme development with an emphasis on the housing entry point. Support the Sustainable Urban Resilience for the Next Generation (SURGe) initiative by strengthening urban services and housing to translate national climate commitments into local action.
Work Experience
A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in architecture, urban planning and design, project management, and stakeholder engagement, preferably at the international level. Experience in urban climate change mitigation/adaptation, green-buildings solutions, climate-resilient housing and urban design, communicating urban climate change knowledge, and NDC development/implementation is required. Familiarity with capacity development in an international environment is desirable.
Skills
Strong understanding of the housing-climate change nexus; NDC development and implementation strategies; data analysis, communication, and visualization; capacity development tools and training delivery; analytical skills; ability to rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information; leadership, conflict management, and consensus facilitation; ability to work in multicultural environments.