Urban Planner

Relevant authorities in Amhara Region have improved access to practical training, settlement assessments and spatial evidence to inform inclusive, climate-resilient and displacement-responsive planning. The assignment contributes to better-informed settlement development and investment decisions that incorporate durable solutions, land governance and tenure security considerations.

Bahir Dar, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

12 months

Background The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the agency for human settlements 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. UN-Habitat works with governments, local authorities, development partners, civil society and communities to advance sustainable urbanization and inclusive development. The position is located within the UN-Habitat Ethiopia Country Programme under the Regional Office for Africa. UN-Habitat Ethiopia is implementing the European Union-funded Regional Programme on Operational Support to the IGAD Platform to strengthen institutional capacities, support durable solutions for displacement-affected populations, improve settlement management systems, strengthen land governance and promote climate-resilient urban development. Within Ethiopia, the programme focuses on Amhara and Benishangul-Gumuz Regions through leadership development, climate-smart settlement planning, tenure security systems and environmental service delivery interventions. Under Output 1.3.4, UN-Habitat is implementing the City Leaders Training Programme on Durable Solutions, Area-Based Approaches and Settlement Management. Under Output 1.5.1, the programme supports climate-smart suitability and hazard mapping to guide planning and investment decisions in displacement-affected areas. To support these activities, UN-Habitat seeks to recruit an Urban Planner Consultant based in Amhara Region. Duties and Responsibilities Under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager and in close collaboration with the UN-Habitat Ethiopia Programme team, the consultant will undertake the following duties and responsibilities: A. Capacity Development and Institutional Assessment • Support training needs assessments for relevant federal, regional, city and woreda authorities. • Conduct institutional mapping and stakeholder assessments to identify planning and governance capacity gaps related to displacement management. • Contribute to the preparation of training curricula and learning materials on durable solutions, area-based approaches and settlement management. • Facilitate leadership training sessions and peer-learning activities, and document participant feedback and recommendations for follow-up support. B. Settlement Planning and Durable Solutions • Undertake settlement assessments and urban diagnostics to identify spatial development challenges, service gaps and the needs of displacement-affected communities. • Prepare settlement development and upgrading recommendations informed by assessment findings and stakeholder consultations. • Support the integration of durable solutions principles into local development and spatial planning processes. • Provide technical support to municipalities in applying displacement-responsive planning approaches. C. Climate-Smart Planning and Spatial Analysis • Support the collection, validation and analysis of GIS and other relevant data for settlement planning. • Contribute to suitability and hazard mapping to inform planning and investment decisions. • Analyse settlement growth trends, environmental risks and access to basic services. • Prepare climate-resilient planning recommendations based on spatial analysis and assessment findings. D. Land Governance and Tenure Security • Contribute to housing, land and property assessments relevant to settlement planning and durable solutions. • Support the development of tenure security tools and local land governance systems relevant to the programme’s settlement planning interventions. • Incorporate land governance and tenure security considerations into intervention site identification and prioritization. • Provide technical support during stakeholder consultations and validation workshops. E. Coordination, Reporting and Knowledge Management • Liaise with regional bureaus, municipalities, land agencies and development partners to obtain technical inputs and coordinate activities related to the assignment. • Prepare technical reports, consultation records and project documentation associated with the agreed deliverables. • Provide monitoring, evaluation and reporting inputs on assigned activities. • Document lessons learned and good practices to inform subsequent training and settlement planning interventions.

A high school diploma or equivalent is required. Additional training in urban planning, regional planning, human settlements, territorial planning, urban development, architecture or a related field is desirable. A minimum of seven (7) years of relevant professional experience in urban planning, settlement development or a related field is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced by two years for candidates who possess a first-level university degree. Experience using GIS and spatial planning tools for settlement assessments and analysis is required. Experience in displacement, refugee response, recovery or durable solutions programmes is desirable. Experience in capacity development, including preparing training materials and delivering training, is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of Amharic is an advantage.

Not available.