Job Openings at UN-Habitat

Project-Specific Responsibilities (RISE UP Initiative):

• Oversee the daily management of all RISE UP project activities, ensuring compliance with project deliverables and UN-Habitat’s best practices.
• Develop urban community selection criteria based on climate change risks, local vulnerabilities, and the capacity to support project implementation.
• Facilitate consultations with city administrations to identify urban poor communities highly vulnerable to climate change impacts in EThekwini Municipality, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, and Port St Johns.
• Coordinate with the GIS Expert and local government partners to collect and analyze data on past climate impacts, urban socio-economic issues, biodiversity trends, and climate projections.
• Conduct policy reviews to assess national and local urban development strategies, climate change policies, and governance frameworks.
• Support vulnerability assessments and spatial mapping efforts, ensuring the integration of climate risk analysis into urban planning processes.
• Organize capacity-building workshops, Training-of-Trainers (ToT) sessions, and knowledge exchange forums for national and local government officials and urban stakeholders.
• Develop training materials and facilitate knowledge-sharing sessions on urban resilience, climate risk management, and nature-based solutions.
• Lead the documentation and dissemination of project outcomes, ensuring lessons learned are integrated into broader urban policies and strategies.
• Prepare regular project progress reports, communicate findings with stakeholders, and ensure compliance with UN-Habitat reporting guidelines.
• Travel to project sites as required to monitor implementation, engage with stakeholders, and provide technical support.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the UN-Habitat RISE UP Coordinator and Southern Africa Hub Manager.

Qualifications/special skills

• For MA/MSC degree in relevant field, minimum 2 years of relevant work experience in environmental impact assessment and planning are required.
• For BA/BSC degree in a relevant field, minimum 4 years of relevant work experience in environmental impact assessment and planning are required.
• Proven experiences in social inclusion such as gender, disability, conflict, and fragility in planning context, setting up and implementing integrated strategic planning approaches and participatory mechanisms for multiple stakeholders are required.
• Substantial knowledge in environmental assessment and planning, climate change and vulnerabilities in urban areas, environmental and social impact assessment, and environmental and social safeguarding, is an asset.
• Recognized experience and knowledge on consultation/participation methodologies is an asset. Training development and facilitation including experience in drafting and encouraging the implementation of policy/strategic guidance and developing practical tools and resources is an asset.

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Specifically, the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Social media management
• Create, launch, and maintain new social media channels, including developing a strategy for growth, audience engagement, and regular content updates.
• Identify key opportunities and elaborate content to include the Partnership Platform on Localizing the SDGs in the social media strategy.
• Design and implement strategies to enhance engagement and expand the reach of the team's digital channels, with measurable goals and metrics.
• Engage with relevant social media influencers and thought leaders in the team’s geographical and thematic areas, establishing formal partnerships and agreements for content creation and amplification.
• Act as a social media focal point for liaising with UN-Habitat teams and Regional offices and their communication focal points, other UN agencies, partner organizations including global, regional, national and local governments, the private sector, regional organizations and civil societies on all matters pertaining to communications of the team.
• Visibility enhancement
• Provide technical expertise on planned campaigns to increase visibility.
• Develop a plan and implement steps to engage international media channels to collaborate on the sharing of the team video content on their channels.
• Produce a plan to increase the visibility of the SDG Cities Global Community and the Partnership Platform on Localizing the SDGs in line with the planned campaigns and in coordination with communications colleagues.
• Provide technical expertise to tailor and refine content submitted by partners and team members, ensuring it is clear, engaging, and communication-friendly. *You may be required to participate in an interview, which may include a practical test to assess your expertise and skills.

Qualifications/special skills

• University Degree in communications; marketing, journalism and international affairs or other relevant area is required.
• A minimum of two (2) years of relevant working experience on issues related to sustainable development, urban planning, local development and project management is required.
• Proven experience in digital communications and social media management, including planning, execution, and analytics.
• Strong knowledge of content creation tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, video editing software) and social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) is desired.
• Proficiency in social media analytics and the ability to measure and report on engagement, conversions, and campaign effectiveness. Creative mindset with the ability to innovate and adapt content to suit different platforms and campaigns.