Migration and Sustainable Urbanization Specialist, Multiple positions

CITIES ALLIANCE The Cities Alliance is a global partnership promoting the role of cities in poverty reduction and sustainable development. Since its establishment in 1999, the Cities Alliance has awarded more than 400 grants totalling over $110 m in more than 80 countries. The Cities Alliance is located within the UN system: while it was originally based at the World Bank in Washington DC, since 2013 it has been based in Brussels where it is hosted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). 

The Cities Alliance has established an international reputation for its role in promoting coherence of effort in international development, identifying critical policy and knowledge gaps, convening members and partners, and delivering high-quality programmes. The context of its work is that of rapidly urbanising economies, the growth of cities of all sizes, and the role of the urban poor in general, and women in particular. Adopting a long-term and programmatic approach that recognises the catalytic nature of development assistance, the Cities Alliance seeks to work with and support local expertise and institutions, ensure citywide and nationwide approaches to development, and facilitate follow-up investments and impacts. 

Through its hosting arrangement with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), the Cities Alliance operates according to UNOPS policies and procedures.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Senior Migration Specialist, the experts will provide the following functional responsibilities:

• Provide technical guidance to partner cities for the inclusion of voluntary and forced migration dynamics into urban planning and management approaches for resilient and improved economic and social inclusion of migrants, forcibly displaced and vulnerable urban residents. 

• Provide technical inputs to partner cities in the Horn of Africa to design urban expansion plans, hold negotiations with their respective regional and national government for both mandate and financing of urban expansion plans, and guide the implementation of the plans.

• Enhance monitoring instruments to measure the effectiveness of enhanced urban planning and forecasting instruments and disseminate findings among policymakers and practitioners

• Support the establishment of two knowledge hubs and one practitioner network on enhanced urban planning, forecasting and adaptation for greater inclusion in the Horn of Africa

• Support regional, national, and local policy initiatives and dialogues building institutional capacities of policymakers and local authorities on enhanced urban planning and forecasting

• Prepare Training of Trainers (TOTs) material on urban expansion planning, adapt curriculums to national and local contexts, conduct TOTs, and oversee the certification of trainers

• Provide technical inputs to the Cities Alliance on migration and climate-sensitive urban development approaches for secondary cities in low-income countries

• Support the inclusion of gender-sensitive planning and inclusion approaches, with specific attention to achieve greater empowerment for women and girls

• Support fundraising efforts of Cities Alliance to scale and replicate integration and development approaches for migrants in secondary cities 

• Support and/or conduct field and regional missions of the Secretariat in partner countries and global advocacy events, as required

• A Master’s degree in migration studies, urban development, urban planning, public policy and administration or related fields is required. OR

• A Bachelor’s degree together with 2 years of additional relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master’s degree.

• A minimum of five (5) years with a master’s degree or seven (7) years with a bachelors degree of demonstrated expertise in migration and urban planning in low-income countries

• A minimum of three (3) years of work experience on migration and urban planning in secondary cities in Africa

• Demonstrated partnership skills with local and central government stakeholders

• Applied expertise in working with African cities on urban expansion planning

• Strong knowledge of sustainable urban growth in secondary cities in the Horn of Africa is an asset 

• An in-depth understanding of gender equality and women’s empowerment in the field of migration and urban planning in the Horn of Africa is a distinctive advantage. 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, and ability to translate technical findings to advance policy positions, including engaging with and influencing international policymakers, international media and international stakeholders 

• Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of French, Spanish and/or Amharic would be considered an asset.

[Instructions: Please delete this paragraph and insert relevant information below:

1. Contract type Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA)
2. Contract level : Either International ICA2 or Local ICA 10 depending on the home-base duty station
3. Contract duration: RETAINER, up to 100 working days per calendar year subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.  

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.