Background

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all. For close to forty years, UN-Habitat has been working in human settlements throughout the world, focusing on building a brighter future for villages, towns, and cities of all sizes. UN-Habitat's new strategic plan 2026 – 2029 focuses on housing, land, and basic services as the foundation of addressing challenges related to the global housing crisis, poverty, climate change and humanitarian crises. The means of implementation of the new strategic plan include: • Integrated urban and territorial planning, management, investment and finance • Participatory multi-level governance and localization of the SDGs • Knowledge, data, digitalization, and capacity development • Partnerships, coalitions, advocacy and communication • Effective resource mobilisation

Background to Consultancy

UN-Habitat supports countries in cities to address their development challenges in many ways including (i) technical assistance, (ii) research and capacity building, (iii) advocacy, communication and outreach. As part of its technical assistance and capacity building, the Cities Investment Facility (CIF) programme situated in the Regional Programmes Division emerges as a multi-stakeholder initiative to address the urban infrastructure development gap while ensuring the furtherance of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The programme aims to unlock private investment in urban infrastructure projects within low- and middle-income markets by supporting their processes of ideation, design, financing, and implementation, using a series of partnership-based instruments. CIF received its first round of external funding US $1.6 million from donor Global Fortune Environment Limited with the aim of sourcing and developing sustainable infrastructure projects. Global Fortune Environment, a subsidiary of Shanghai SUS Environment Co. Ltd, is a global leader in environmental and energy services with 70 waste-to-energy (WtE) projects globally processing nearly 110,000 tonnes of waste daily. This funding aims to identify solid waste management (SWM) projects in regions that align with UN-Habitat's geographical footprint and strategic focus. It also aims to strengthen local capacity in preparing SWM projects that are impactful, scalable and aligned with local needs as well as promote these projects to enhance knowledge sharing, and stakeholder engagement.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will work with the Cities Investment Facility and UN-Habitat Regional Offices to deliver the following objectives:

Objective 1: Stakeholder Mapping

Engagement with UN-Habitat country offices in Eastern Europe and Central Asia to conduct detailed desktop research of the region mapping key stakeholders. The consultant is expected to work closely with focal points from country offices in the region as well as government stakeholders to identify, categorize and map stakeholders involved in project conceptualisation, preparation and financing. This will entail mapping of national and local authorities, international financial institutions, relevant private sector partners and other stakeholders involved in the SWM sector.

Objective 2: Identification of high impact SWM projects

Engagement with UN-Habitat country offices in Eastern Europe and Central Asia to identify SWM projects and assess their impact, scale and readiness for the CIF pipeline. The consultant will develop detailed concept notes that include the project's key information including funding requirements, beneficiaries, environmental and social impact and alignment with national priorities as well as SDG alignment. The concept notes will enable the determination of further support required in line with CIF's project preparation process.

This position is located in the Regional Programme Division of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) under the direct supervision of the Program Manager of the Cities Investment Facility.

The consultancy will result in: 1. A detailed analysis of the region including stakeholder mapping 2. Defined selection and evaluation criteria 3. Identification of two SWM projects in the region 4. Detailed action plan for the identified projects

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in sustainable urban planning, management urban governance, engineering, development studies, business administration, geography, management and economics is required. 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.

A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in project development, resource mobilization, urban development, sustainability, finance, or commercial investment, with a proven track record in supporting Eastern Europe and Central Asia urban development initiatives is required.

Relevant knowledge of the current Eastern Europe and Central Asia urban development project landscape is desirable.

Relevant knowledge of sustainable urban development project financing and development is desirable.

A strong understanding of UN-Habitat and the Cities Investment Facility mandates, goals and principles is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. Fluency (both oral and written) in English is required; Fluency in another UN language is desirable.

• Stakeholder Mapping: Engagement with UN-Habitat country offices in Eastern Europe and Central Asia to conduct detailed desktop research of the region mapping key stakeholders
• Work closely with focal points from country offices in the region as well as government stakeholders to identify, categorize and map stakeholders involved in project conceptualisation, preparation and financing
• Mapping of national and local authorities, international financial institutions, relevant private sector partners and other stakeholders involved in the SWM sector
• Identification of high impact SWM projects: Engagement with UN-Habitat country offices in Eastern Europe and Central Asia to identify SWM projects and assess their impact, scale and readiness for the CIF pipeline
• Develop detailed concept notes that include the project's key information including funding requirements, beneficiaries, environmental and social impact and alignment with national priorities as well as SDG alignment
• Enable the determination of further support required in line with CIF's project preparation process
• Produce a detailed analysis of the region including stakeholder mapping
• Define selection and evaluation criteria
• Identify two SWM projects in the region
• Develop detailed action plan for the identified projects

• Project development
• Resource mobilization
• Urban development
• Sustainability
• Finance
• Commercial investment
• Stakeholder mapping
• Desktop research
• Project assessment
• Concept note development

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in sustainable urban planning, management urban governance, engineering, development studies, business administration, geography, management and economics
• 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
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in project development, resource mobilization, urban development, sustainability, finance, or commercial investment
• Proven track record in supporting Eastern Europe and Central Asia urban development initiatives
• Fluency (both oral and written) in English