Housing Policy, Legislation, and Governance Expert

Result of Service

The Housing Policy, Legislation, and Governance Expert Consultant will support the work of the UN-Habitat team's project to provide ample technical assistance to the Ministry of Construction, Housing, Municipalities and Public Works (MoCHMPW), which is undergoing a comprehensive policy update that reflects more current housing realities in Iraq.

Work Location

Home based

Expected duration

12 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Organizational Setting The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. Background: The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities to provide adequate shelter for all. UN-Habitat has been active in Iraq since 1996 under the Oil for Food Programme. After 2003, UN-Habitat was largely engaged in early recovery efforts, particularly those supporting internally displaced persons through providing shelter and reconstruction solutions. Since 2015, UN-Habitat has supported recovery efforts in war-affected areas by building new core houses in situ, rehabilitating damaged houses, infrastructure, marketplaces, and agricultural water facilities; improving the living conditions of IDPs and returnees; protecting HLP rights and securing tenure rights for vulnerable communities; providing vocational training and creating jobs for the IDPs and returnees. Currently, UN-Habitat continues to support the Government of Iraq in developing lasting and sustainable solutions as the country transitions to a long-term development agenda. Conflict and forced displacement have been a recurrent feature of Iraq’s past 50 years and had a strong impact on the capacity of authorities to manage land efficiently, as well as on citizen’s ability to access affordable land and housing or recover the properties they lost as a result of destruction or occupation during conflict and displacement. At the peak of the displacement crisis, there were 6 million displaced within the country, mostly in urban and peri-urban areas. Once people started to return, many experienced challenges, particularly for tenants or those whose property is occupied or damaged. Reporting Line: The incumbent will work under the supervision of the Head of the UN-Habitat Country Programme and/or Project Manager. Duties and responsibilities: Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Head of the UN-Habitat Country Programme and the Project Manager, the Housing Policy, Legislation, and Governance Expert will be responsible for the following duties: • Work closely with the Ministry of Planning (MoP), the Ministry of Construction, Housing, Municipalities and Public Works (MoCHMPW) to conduct a baseline study on the current housing landscape with particular attention paid to green and affordable housing. • Support the UN-Habitat Team in updating the National Housing Policy (NHP) to better reflect Iraq’s current housing situation and build a cross-sectoral and multi-stakeholder roadmap to effectively address Iraq’s entrenched housing challenges. The updated housing policy must reflect the collective input of a wide range of stakeholders. • Support the Government of Iraq (GoI) in developing and implementing a robust stakeholder engagement plan for the Housing Policy Update. • Develop a comprehensive assessment of the regulatory and legal framework related to green and affordable housing, with the aim to identify the necessary reforms to facilitate government-supported green and affordable housing initiatives. • Build a repository and conduct a thorough examination of the current legal landscape governing green and affordable housing initiatives under the Government of Iraq (GoI). This comprehensive analysis will encompass an assessment of existing laws, regulations, policies, and institutional frameworks to pinpoint areas necessitating modification or enhancement to better facilitate the development and implementation of environmentally sustainable and affordable housing projects. • Set of recommendations for revisions to the regulatory and legal framework in a technical report. • Develop and deliver presentations, meeting materials, and policy briefs, and organize and facilitate meetings and events with stakeholder groups and government counterparts in close coordination with the MoCHPW (Ministry of Construction, Housing & Public Works). • Advice on legal, policy, and regulatory matters related to housing. Stakeholder engagement • The Stakeholder engagement identifies key stakeholders at the national and local levels, including government ministries, municipal authorities, community leaders, construction professionals, and gender focal points. Establish a coordination mechanism to ensure effective collaboration and communication. • Maintain regular communication and develop relationships with stakeholders, including the government counterparts, implementing project partners (ILO, ITC), donors, contractors, and other relevant UN Agencies. • Organize consultation meetings with key national, governorate, and district stakeholders on housing-related issues as required. • Support the GoI of Iraq in building a comprehensive stakeholder engagement plan for the National Housing Policy update.

Qualifications/special skills

• A master’s degree in Housing, Architecture, Urban planning/management/governance, Civil Engineering, Social Sciences, International Development, Public Policy, Economics, or similar is required. • A Bachelor’s degree with two additional years of experience, in lieu of a Master's Degree, is acceptable. • A minimum of seven (5) years of relevant and progressive experience at the international level in areas related to research on law, public policies, policy development and policy design, urban development, urban design, urban planning, housing, social housing, slums upgrade, and similar areas is required. • A demonstrated level of experience in the housing sector or previous consultancies in this area, is required. • Advanced knowledge and expertise in the housing sector, especially in social housing in developing countries, including experience in housing policy formulation and programme management, is required. • Experience leading and coordinating multidisciplinary technical teams of senior national and international experts in the housing sector is required. • Experience elaborating policy and technical guidelines related to the housing sector is required. • Demonstrated experience conducting research and writing reports and assessments, preferably in the housing sector, is required. • Experience in establishing inter-relationships with counterparts and organizations is desirable. • Good interpersonal, networking, and communication skills is desirable. • Willingness to contribute and work as part of a team is desirable. • Experience in Iraq or the Arab States Region is an advantage is desirable. • English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in oral and written English is required for this position, and fluency in Arabic will be an advantage is desirable. • Willingness to travel on Mission to Iraq is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nation Secretariat, for this position fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.