Urban Research Associate

Host entity: UN-HABITAT THA

Volunteer type: International

Areas of expertise: Geospatial information systems, Communication, advocacy, public information

Application deadline: 03/11/2026

Mission and objectives

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the agency for human settlements and sustainable urbanization. It 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. Leading efforts to advance UN system-wide coherence for sustainable urbanization, UN-Habitat is playing a key role in implementing the Goal 11 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted in September 2015 as well as the New Urban Agenda (NUA) adopted in Quito, Ecuador in October 2016.  

For over a decade, the UN-Habitat through its established presence together with the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok has served as an integral arm of the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) in Fukuoka, JAPAN assisting to facilitate inter-agency partnerships and collaboration with Bangkok-based regional bodies, institutions, UN, and civil society agencies. 
The UN-Habitat Bangkok Multi-Country Programme Office (MCO) supports projects in South-East Asia while further deepening its presence and cooperation in all of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam. The UN-Habitat Bangkok MCO also leads initiatives on different subjects, including coordination with the national government, collaboration with provincial and local authorities and partnerships with academia, development agencies, NGOs and CSOs across the country. The UN-Habitat Bangkok MCO supports the development of strategic partnerships with key donors and partners of UN-Habitat.

Assignment context

The assignment will support the long-standing cooperation between UN-Habitat and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People's Republic of China (MOHURD). This partnership delivers globally recognized urban initiatives, including World Cities Day, the Global Sustainable Development Award for Cities (Shanghai Award), the Urban Monitoring Framework – Shanghai Adapted Index and the Shanghai Manual, and supports capacity development for developing countries in the region and beyond.
Key counterparts include ESCAP and other UN entities in Bangkok, UN-Habitat headquarters (Nairobi) and country offices in Asia-Pacific, MOHURD and other Chinese partner institutions, city and national governments, and academic and research partners.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of Senior Human Settlements Officer, UN-Habitat Bangkok Multi-Country Programme Office, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, the Urban Research Associate will support research, event coordination, communication, advocacy and partnership development and day-to-day programme implementation. Specifically she/he will undertake the following tasks :


1. Support to urban research and knowledge products

- Support desk research, literature reviews and data collection on sustainable urbanization trends in Asia and the Pacific.
- Assist in compiling, organizing and visualizing urban data, indicators and good-practice case studies for use in reports, policy briefs and presentations.
- As part of a team, contribute to drafting sections of background papers, briefing notes, meeting reports and other knowledge products, and assist with fact-checking, referencing, formatting and quality assurance.

2. Support to event coordination and logistics

- Assist in the logistical and operational preparation of UN-Habitat's participation in key regional and global events.
- Support the co-design and delivery of thematic side events and webinars, including drafting concept notes and agendas, speaker liaison, run-of-show preparation, note-taking and post-event reporting.
- Participate in the mobilization of regional partners and support stakeholder engagement and follow-up before, during and after events.

3. Support to partnerships, programme development and resource mobilization

- Assist in the preparation of project proposals, concept notes and other programme documents for cooperation with Chinese and regional institutions and development partners.
- Support partnership mobilization and coordination with universities, municipal and national governments, and other stakeholders.
- Assist in preparing briefing materials, background documents, talking points and presentations to support engagement with donors, partners and stakeholders.
- Contribute to communication materials and knowledge products such as reports, brochures, fact sheets, etc .
- Support the mapping and tracking of partnership opportunities and funding leads, and help maintain related trackers.

4. Support to programme coordination and implementation

- Support day-to-day coordination and implementation of programme activities.
- Undertake other assignments as appropriate for the development and implementation of the work programme of ROAP and in delivering the strategy of UN-Habitat Bangkok Office.
- As part of a team, support UN system-wide coordination, including collaboration with ESCAP and participation in inter-agency working groups and regional platforms.
- Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Skills and experience

Demonstrated interest and/or experience in :

- Sustainable urban development, human settlements or urban policy, including familiarity with SDG 11, the New Urban Agenda and/or the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; (required)
- Research, data collection and analysis, and the drafting of reports, case studies, briefs or other written products; (required)
- Organization of and support to meetings, conferences, workshops, webinars or other events, including logistical and substantive preparation; (required)
- Project or programme support in an international, intergovernmental, academic, NGO or public-sector setting; (desired)
- International cooperation and partnership engagement; (desired)
- Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded. (desired)

Skills in :

- Strong analytical, research and written drafting skills in English, with attention to detail and accuracy.
- Excellent command of MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and online collaboration/meeting tools (MS Teams, Zoom, SharePoint).
- Data handling, basic quantitative analysis and data visualization; knowledge of GIS, or similar tools is an asset.
- Organizing and coordinating events and meetings, including note-taking, minute-drafting and follow-up.
- Ability to work effectively in a multicultural team, to manage multiple tasks under deadlines, and to communicate clearly with a wide range of stakeholders.

Competencies and values

- Accountability
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Building Trust
- Client Orientation
- Commitment and Motivation
- Commitment to Continuous Learning
- Communication
- Creativity
- Ethics and Values
- Integrity
- Judgement and Decision-making
- Knowledge Sharing
- Planning and Organizing
- Professionalism
- Respect for Diversity
- Working in Teams

Living conditions

Accessing basic living needs in Bangkok including accommodation, banking facilities, medical facilities and telecommunications/internet services are readily available. Most staple foods can be found in the markets, for example, rice, meat, vegetables, fruit, cooking oil, salt, etc. 

Bangkok has different public transportation options, including the BTS Skytrain and MRT, metered taxis, mobile-based ride-hailing services (Grab, All Thai Taxi, etc.), tuk tuks, motorbike taxis, buses and boats. Mobile phones are the most dependable tool to be in touch with colleagues and friends. Internet service is readily available and affordable at most apartment complexes.

Thailand is a unique country, and the Bangkok Office facilitates a dynamic multi-country operation. It provides an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.