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CONSULTANCY JOB OPENING
Issued on: 21 September 2015

BACKGROUND

Urbanization is strongly correlated with economic growth and development. Urbanization underpins one of the key drivers of national economic transformations. This however does not happen spontaneously. Cities and urban centres should be well planned and managed so that they become economic power houses that drive national economic development and offer growing opportunities to all citizens, especially young people and women. Economic growth should be steered in a manner that is inclusive and sustainable. Further, innovative revenue sources and financing mechanisms should be developed and applied to support investment in infrastructure and improvement in service delivery.

In many cases, local governments in the rapidly urbanizing world lack the technical capacity to respond to the economic development and financing challenges they face. They lack access to tools, information and knowledge network that would allow them to better understand complex urban systems, innovate and exploit opportunities that urbanization offers them. As the result, in many situation, opportunities of agglomeration economies are missed, local assets are underutilized, enclave economies are created, pushing the e majority to informality, potential revenue sources, such as land value sharing remain untapped, A large and growing population of young people remain unemployed and disfranchised.

UN-Habitat through its Urban Economy Branch seeks to support the effort of local and national governments and their partners in tackling the complex challenges and opportunities of urban economy and municipal finance through a range of ways including advisory services, research and tools development, training and capacity building. These activities constitute Subprogramme 3 of UN-HABITAT's six-year strategic plan 2014-2019, and the Urban Economy Branch is responsible to deliver them. The aim is to strengthen the capacities of cities to realise their full potential as drivers of economic development and wealth and employment creation, with an emphasis on promoting increased participation of both women and men, and enhancing municipal finance and capacity to support sustainable urban development. The branch is seeking the services of an expert on urban economy and finance to support its initial phase of tools and project development work.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the Coordinator of the Urban Economy Branch, the tasks and responsibilities of the expert are as follows:

1. Identify innovative urban economy development approaches and practices and municipal financing mechanisms, assess their efficacy and relevance to the context of different developing countries and cities and develop them into practical application packages and projects.

2. Assist in the formulation of specific programmes, projects and initiatives to implement the urban economy and municipal finance component of the work programme of the Urban Economy Branch

3. Support the work of the Urban Economy Branch in promoting and advising governments on innovative pro-poor public financing tools in partnership with the Global Land Tool Network.

4. Support in managing and backstopping consultancies initiated to support the urban and municipal finance activities of the work programme, including those related to land value sharing.

5. Provide technical advice and support to cities and national governments with respect to urban economy and municipal financing issues including modelling and spatial planning, which may involve taking joint missions with other Branches and regional offices.

6. Support the Achieving Sustainable Urban Development Programme’s economy and finance components, including delivering workshops and providing input to the work of national consultants.

7. Provide support and guidance on development of a set of projects within the Urban Connectivity Lab including spatial-economic projects on transportation, land use, and employment.

8. Assist in the formulation and implementation of pilot trainings on land based finance.

9. Support other relevant activities related to the overall goal of this consultancy

EDUCATION

The successful candidate should have a Master’s degree in economics, urban planning, or a related field and a combination of training and experience related to issues of municipal finance and economic models.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Experience with UN-Habitat’s principles, particularly on the integrated approach within the New Urban Agenda is a significant asset. Background to urban planning is also an asset.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

English and French are the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required; knowledge of French is an advantage. The candidate must have good speaking and writing skills in the English language.

REMUNERATION

Payment will be US$7,500 per month to be effected on monthly basis based on progress report towards the satisfactory completion of the above outputs.

EXPECTED OUTPUTS

The consultant is expected to produce technical notes and papers, project concept notes and proposals, partnership agreements and reports.

REPORTING

The consultant will report to Mr. Gulelat Kebede, Coordinator, Urban Economy Branch.

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