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Senior Urban Advisor – Inclusive, Climate-Resilient, and Migration-Responsive Urban Development (Retainer)
Job role insights
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Date posted
May 27, 2025
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Closing date
May 27, 2025
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Hiring location
Homebased
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Qualification
Degree
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Experience
2-3 Year
Description
Job description
Background Information - Job-specific
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.
Cities Alliance, which is hosted by UNOPS, is a global partnership promoting the role of cities in poverty reduction and sustainable development. Managed by a Secretariat with hubs in Brussels, Nairobi, and Bangkok, it is a unique partnership with a diverse membership which has come together to strengthen both impacts and coherence in urban development. Cities Alliance is a global leader with a strong track record in grant-making, which supports strategic city planning, slum upgrading strategies and national policies designed to make cities more inclusive and sustainable. Through UNOPS, the Cities Alliance operates a Multi-Donor Fund supported by an efficient, flexible grant-making mechanism with global reach.
Cities Alliance is a global partnership that advances inclusive, climate-resilient, and sustainable cities as a pathway to poverty reduction and sustainable development. With a strong focus on the urban poor and secondary cities, Cities Alliance works across Asia and Africa through multi-stakeholder partnerships and strategic funding to support cities in delivering inclusive development that addresses social, economic, and climate-related vulnerabilities.
Core thematic areas of Cities Alliance include:
- Urban migration and displacement: Supporting cities to plan for and manage the inclusion of migrants and forcibly displaced populations
- Gender equality and social inclusion: Promoting gender-responsive and transformative urban governance, inclusive service delivery and livelihoods, particularly in informal settlements.
- Informal settlements: Enabling integrated upgrading approaches that improve tenure, basic services, and climate adaptation in vulnerable communities.
- Climate resilience: Embedding climate adaptation, low-carbon development, and nature-based solutions into all aspects of urban planning and governance.
Cities Alliance is looking for Senior Urban Advisor on Inclusive, Climate-Resilient, and Sustainable Urban Development to provide technical expertise to the implementation of its programme.
Under the direct supervision of the Head of Strategy and Results, the Senior Urban Advisor will provide strategic, technical, and advisory inputs to strengthen Cities Alliance’s programming, knowledge, and advocacy around inclusive, climate-resilient urban development. The advisor will support cross-regional initiatives with a focus on mainstreaming climate action and gender into urban planning and migration, informality and livelihoods, and service delivery strategies.
Key responsibilities include:
- Deliver high-level technical advisory services and rigorous peer review for complex urban development programmes, ensuring the systematic integration of climate resilience, human mobility, informality, and gender-responsive approaches across multiple geographies, particularly in Asia.
- Provide cross-sectoral expertise to enhance programme coherence, local ownership, and long-term sustainability.
- Lead the end-to-end development of flagship knowledge products and policy guidance materials, including thematic policy briefs, urban diagnostics, regional programme strategies, and climate-sensitive city action plans.
- Collaborate with regional teams, technical experts, and partners to ensure outputs are data-driven, contextually relevant, and strategically aligned with global urban agendas (e.g., SDGs, Paris Agreement, Global Compacts).
- Define and refine Cities Alliance’s strategic approach to climate adaptation, migration, and urban resilience, offering thought support to position the organization as a trusted convener and policy influencer.
- Design and oversee the implementation of robust impact monitoring frameworks that integrate climate adaptation and mitigation indicators, gender-responsive metrics, and resilience-building benchmarks.
- Ensure alignment with donor reporting requirements and promote the use of evidence in adaptive management and investment prioritization, particularly in informal and underserved urban areas.
- Conceptualize, facilitate, and moderate high-level regional and international peer learning exchanges, technical dialogues, and policy workshops on inclusive urban resilience.
- Curate content, identify strategic partners and speakers, and guide outcomes toward actionable recommendations.
- Promote cross-country learning on issues such as climate-smart infrastructure, local governance, gender mainstreaming, and migration-sensitive urban planning.
- Formulation of strategic fundraising initiatives and partnership-building efforts, with a focus on mobilizing resources for climate-responsive urban development and migration governance.
- Develop high-quality concept notes, funding proposals, and donor engagement strategies in collaboration with cross-functional teams and external partners.
- Ensure the integration of gender and climate considerations as cross-cutting pillars in all programmatic interventions, policy tools, and city-level initiatives.
- Provide technical oversight and capacity-building support to internal teams and local stakeholders to institutionalize inclusive and climate-responsive planning processes.
- Steer the quality assurance and strategic alignment of programme deliverables, applying peer review protocols, providing actionable feedback, and ensuring technical soundness, policy relevance, and value addition to local and regional stakeholders.
Monitoring and Progress Control :
The performance will be assessed based on the below points :
- Timely delivery of high-quality outputs incorporating climate, urban planning, migration, and gender dimensions.
- Contributions to Cities Alliance’s programmatic and policy positioning on inclusive, climate-resilient, and sustainable urban development.
- Effective support for events, sessions and dialogues.
- Strengthened capacity across Cities Alliance teams and partners to integrate climate, migration, and gender dimensions into urban planning and implementation.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Skills and qualifications
Education
- An Advanced university degree (Master`s degree or equivalent) preferably in urban planning and governance, environmental and development studies, economics, law, demography, or relevant urban, political and development studies is required.
- A first level university degree (Bachelor degree or equivalent) in the related fields with an additional two (2) years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
Experience
- A minimum of 10 years of work experience on migration issues, inclusive, climate-resilient or sustainable urban development in the context of low-income countries is required.
- Experience in research and policy work on migration, sustainable and inclusive urban development in low-income countries is an asset.
- Proven experience of applied international development assignments as well as outstanding analytical and advisory work documented through publications is required.
- Previous held experience working in countries in Asia is required.
Languages
- Fluency en English is required. Knowledge of French, Somali, Arabic, Amharic, Lao, Khmer, Thai, Burmese is considered an asset.
Competencies
Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above)
Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.
Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.
Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.
How to apply
Contract type, level and duration
- Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement
- Contract level: IICA 3/ ICS 12
- Contract duration : 1 Year, renewable subject to satisfactory performance, availability of funds and continued business needs.
For more details about United Nations ICA contracts, please follow this link.
Additional Information
- Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
- Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
- Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
- UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
- Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
- We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
Terms and Conditions
- All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
- It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.
Overview
UNOPS helps the UN and its partners provide peace and security, humanitarian and development solutions
Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development
We are focused on implementation, with a commitment to UN values and private sector efficiency. UNOPS is a service provider, a technical advisor and an implementer of projects
We help the UN and other partners provide peace and security, humanitarian and development solutions. Our mission Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development
Our vision Our vision is a world where people can live full lives supported by appropriate, sustainable and resilient infrastructure and by the efficient, transparent use of public resources in procurement and project management. Our purpose We help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development. We bring to this task the values and principles of the United Nations and the innovation, boldness, speed and efficiency of a self-financed institution
We bring the highest international standards to what we do, while respecting local contexts
We do this as our contribution to tackling the huge challenges of the 21st century. We provide practical solutions to assist our partners to save lives, protect people and their rights, and to build a better world
We aspire to be a leader in the efforts to channel private sector investments for social and environmental impact while addressing the immense needs for sustainable development
What drives us is a passion to fight inequalities and to provide opportunities to those most vulnerable
This means we often work in the most challenging environments, building foundations for communities to function and people to live with dignity and respect
We are passionate about quality: In our people and in what we do
We earn the trust of those we work with by caring about what they value, and by delivering on our promise to always act in the service of people in need. Work at UNOPS At UNOPS, our people are the strength behind our success
With over 4,000 people working across 80 countries, our workforce is rich in diversity and culture
We are always looking for creative, results-oriented candidates with a variety of skillsets, ranging from project management and procurement to finance and human resources. UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of professional and personal growth
We strive to maintain a gender and culturally sensitive work environment, and respect the dignity of all our colleagues, regardless of sex and gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnicity, marital status, sexual orientation, age, physical disability or political conviction. We expect all UNOPS personnel to adhere to UN values and respect the UN code of conduct and code of ethics
Career development is important to us and we offer a range of opportunities for continued learning and growth
We also understand the importance of balancing professional and personal demands
To help achieve a positive work-life balance, we provide flexible working options to everyone from interns to senior managers across the globe. We help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.Joining UNOPS means being a part of a dedicated and diverse team committed to building a better, more sustainable world. WHAT WE VALUE UNOPS adheres to the values of the United Nations – regardless of contract type, location or job title. Career development UNOPS supports professional development and builds teams that strive to achieve the highest standards of performance
We provide a range of opportunities for continued career development, professional growth and continued learning
This includes leadership development and external certifications run by partners such as the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply and PRINCE2. Work-life harmonization We value our people and recognize the importance of balancing professional and personal demands
UNOPS has a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offers flexible working options
This applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types across the globe. Diversity UNOPS strives to maintain a gender and culturally sensitive work environment, and respects the dignity of all colleagues regardless of sex and gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnicity, marital status, sexual orientation, age, physical disability or political conviction. We also expect all UNOPS personnel to adhere to UN values and respect the UN code of conduct and code of ethics.
Categories
Company size
1001-5000
Founded in
2010