Result of Service

The objective of the consultancy is to prepare technical and methodological manuals and training material on urban planning and durable solutions for displacement, as well as provide technical input in urban planning activities.

Work Location

home based

Expected duration

12 months

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. In October 2016, at the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development - Habitat III member states signed the New Urban Agenda. This is an action-oriented document which sets global standards of achievement in sustainable urban development, rethinking the way we build, manage, and live in cities. Through drawing together cooperation with committed partners, relevant stakeholders, and urban actors, including at all levels of government as well as the private sector, UN-Habitat is applying its technical expertise, normative work and capacity development to implement the New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 11.

Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia, is the country's sole urban agglomeration and has its owns specifics in the emerging federal system and numerous challenges to integrate internally displaced people which make of 25% of its population. Resolving displacement issues has become crucial, now that 2.6 million Somali are in a situation of internal displacement, and the government has put Durable Solutions on the list of top priorities under the National Development Plan 9 (2020-2024). The National Durable Solutions Strategy is in draft stage currently. It puts not only emphasis on facilitating conditions that enable displaced affected communities to return to their places of origin, but also upon local reintegration. On the other sides, many urban neighborhoods face a tremendous backlog in basic urban service delivery. This affects both hosting and displacement affected communities and underlines the need for combining Durable Solutions with urban regeneration and transformation in an inclusive and participatory way.
Against the backdrop of the specific political, social and economic environment in Somalia, urbanization continues to produce new sources of conflict over scarce resources such as water and urban land and the limited provision of basic services. Local, state and national authorities have very limited capacities to respond adequately to the enormous urban development planning and urbanization challenges to 'make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable (SDG 11).

The UN-Habitat Somalia Programme is seeking support of a qualified and experienced Urban Planning Consultant for Durable Solutions and Urban Regeneration to substantially assist in the implementation of urban planning activities under the Youth and Urban Regeneration in Somalia project (YOURS).

The objective of YOURS is to contribute to reduced spatial urban inequalities by promoting sustainable urban regeneration, youth development and integration of marginalised groups through building resilient communities and government institutions, providing urban services and livelihood opportunities.

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Head of Programmes and in close consultation with the Nairobi based Programme Management Officer, Human Settlements, under YOURS and the national staff team.

She/he will mainly contribute to the implementation of project related activities under Outcome 3 and partially 4 in the thematic areas Urban Development and Durable Solutions for displacement affected communities through technical supervision for a small team and by performing the following tasks:

a) Urban and Regional Planning
- Research on and collection of geo-data that can be used for urban and regional planning in the Somali Region and establish data bank and make it available to Somalia Programme;
- Prepare and edit spatial and socio-economic analyses and coordinate with further programme partners to make the data available;
- Draft, review and finalize spatial development plans incl. preparation of urban regeneration plans;
- Produce and visualize thematic area maps and other socio-economic data to be used for participatory and inclusive planning processes and land management aspects;
- Develop training manuals and conceptualize training for government staff and community groups on participatory and inclusive planning processes with thematic focus upon settlement upgrading, urban regeneration, basic services such as water and housing/shelter, and engaging displacement affected communities;
- Prepare information material for planning exercises at neighbourhood, city and regional level by using various means of communication (online tools, apps, flyers, website, presentations);

b) Settlement planning and community development projects
- Provide substantial inputs to the formulation and review of project proposals and concept notes related to settlement planning and upgrading with regard to Durable Solutions and urban regeneration.
- Prepare and review site maps and update existing maps in the project locations for urban
regeneration projects linked to city-wide development strategies.
- Check technical plans and their compliance with necessary formal and professional requirements (e.g. application of integrated planning standards and principles as per UN-Habitat policies as well as construction projects) in close collaboration with assigned national staff.
- Follow-up construction related projects and coordinate between local authorities, contractors and/or assigned other implementing partners and representatives from the local communities together with assigned national engineers.
- Provide technical advisory to technical and methodological manuals on urban regeneration and reintegration of displaced communities.

c) Monitoring and Supervision
- Provide inputs in production, monitoring and supervision of programme workplans incl. contributions to progress reports and annual reports.
- Identify gaps and risks that hamper timely and high-quality project implementation and consult whenever necessary with other colleagues of the UN-Habitat team to establish and keep a proper risk management running.
- Compile Lessons learned from project implementation for donor reports and Communities of Practice approach within UN-Habitat.

d) Coordination and communication / knowledge exchange
- Refine and implement a drafted concept for promotion of fit-for-purpose innovative housing designs through architectural design competition and pilot testing together with suitable higher learning institutions in Somalia to facilitate application of Durable Solutions for housing/shelter.
- Provide input for preparation of visibility tools related to project activities such as pictures, sketches, video clips, reports and press articles, social media statements.

Master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning, Architecture, or any other relevant field to urban planning, urban management, architecture and/or civil engineering in conjunction with urban planning / urban design is a requirement
At least three years working experience in urban planning, urban management and local governance and community planning matters required.
Previous work experience related to Somalia or another country in post-conflict phase with protracted displacement at scale and/or with international agencies is a major asset.

Languages

Fluency in oral and written English is required

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.

    ..................................................

NAGUSOO BIIR ---  SOMALI JOBS

Telegram: https://t.me/somalijobsinc

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/somali-jobs/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/somalijobs

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/somalijobs

Twitter: https://twitter.com/somalijobs

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/somalijobs/

Application: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tiriig.somalijobs

.................................................