Jobs - 55766- Senior Urban Regional Planner and Social Housing E

Senior Urban Regional Planner and Social Housing Expert.

Location :

Erbil, IRAQ

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-May-2015

Application Deadline :

27-Apr-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

45 days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

45 days

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Please do not send your application through this website and send the complete application to ic1.undp.iq@undp.org (only

Application with complete supporting documents received in ic1.undp.iq@undp.org before or at the closing date will be processed).

In order to sustain the significant gains that the Kurdistan Region has registered in promoting investment and in expanding the supply of basic services and to ensure the continuity of its development strategy, the KRG launched the Regional Development Vision for 2020, which provides a framework for policy development, defines priorities, and outlines a strategy to improve opportunities for the people.

To identify institutional and human capacity gaps and remove barriers hampering private investment and public-private partnerships for development, the Ministry of Planning commissioned the Socio-Economic Infrastructure Needs Assessment (SEINA) that was produced jointly with UNDP Iraq and released in 2012. Since then, progress has been registered in certain sectors whereas public investment in other areas has not attracted private capital as expected, the uneven impact prompting the need for a new assessment of development infrastructure gaps. Consequently, the Ministry of Planning decided to undertake three studies in 2014. These three studies together make-up the KR Sustainable Development Initiative (KR-SDI).

They are:

A revised SEINA II designed to update the gap/solutions analysis conducted in SEINA I, to add some sectors not studied in 2012 (ICT, financial services), and additional analysis of some strategic sectors, also in the light of RDV2020 goals;
The Kurdistan Region Enterprise Census (KREC); and
The Skills Needs Assessment (SNA).

UNDP has launched a Strategy and Global Initiative to guide its work on Extractive Industries for Sustainable Development. The UNDP Global Initiative will provide programme management for SEINA II and the SNA. Consultant will report to the Senior Economist/Team Coordinator with primary responsibility for the carrying-out of SEINA 2014, including the preparation of the task and leadership of the main field mission.

The SEINA 2014 will be a follow-up and update to the SEINA 2012 and include a number of sectors, such as:

Hard infrastructure, Electricity, Water and Wastewater, Natural resources (water, hydrocarbons), Transportation, Telecommunications); and support to the three leading growth sectors of Agriculture, Industry, and Tourism;
Hard infrastructure of the social sectors Health and Education; and
Institutional infrastructure (Financial services, Industrial/Special Economic zones, Environment, Skills).

To ensure consistency in the socio-economic infrastructure needs assessment exercise, SEINA 2014 will employ the same methodology used for the 2012 version (and use largely the same team of experts) while widening the scope of the study to include a series of sectors that are critical to a modern economy, such as ICT and financial services. Data analyses, interviews, scouting missions an studies done by/for others will be used for this study. Innovative financing solutions for the infrastructure investment needs will be sought.

The consultant will travel to Erbil and also to other areas of the Kurdistan Region, visiting relevant institutions, key persons, and urban neighborhoods in order to establish a realistic baseline on project growth and spatial development requirements in urban areas in KRG, as a basis for understanding urban infrastructure needs. The mission is expected to require about three weeks of field work, and an equivalent amount of time for reporting, in total, approximately 40 working days.

Duties and Responsibilities

Acquaint him/herself with the overall situation of urban issues including population growth and movement; economic growth factors; employment; physical, cultural and political geographies; basic resources; housing needs, visioning of key stakeholders etc. at regional, governorate and city levels through a desk review of urban master plans, relevant material, data, and available statistics and through key informant discussions, in order to ascertain a realistic view on projected urban growth and how this will be distributed spatially in Kurdistan Region. Update as necessary the findings and recommendations made under SEINA 2012.

Analyze the effectiveness of current urban masterplans and plans for new satellite towns to accommodate realistic projected growth through SWOT analysis with key stakeholders.

Evaluate evolution of cities in relation to adopted Master Plans, ascertain spatial development requirements on the basis of knowledge gained on urban economic and population growth factors.

Understand priorities for improving existing urban areas and identify urban infill areas and key urban areas where urban densities should be increased.

At the end of the field mission, the consultant will draft a preliminary report for the mission coordinator containing major findings, conclusions and recommendations. Further, the consultant shall present a final report in which a realistic baseline on projected growth and spatial development requirements in urban areas are ascertained and used as a basis for defining urban infrastructure needs. The findings of the report should be discussed with all SIENA consultants and KRG colleagues in the urban/housing field so that it is broadly acceptable to main stakeholders.

Competencies

Ethics & Values:

Demonstrating / Safeguarding Ethics and Integrity;
Demonstrates and promotes the highest standard of integrity, impartiality, fairness and incorruptibility in all matters affecting his/her work and status.

Developing & Empowering People/Coaching and Mentoring:

Self-development, initiative-taking;
Takes appropriate risk in developing new or adapting existing methods and approaches to more effectively perform tasks or to solve problems in new and unique ways.

Working in Teams:

Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
Works collaboratively with colleagues inside UN/UNDP as well as its partners and other stakeholders to pursue common goals.

Communicating Information and Ideas:

Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
Delivers verbal/written information in a timely, clear, organized and easily understood manner;
Excellent oral and written skills to develop knowledge products in relevant areas.

Self-Management & Emotional Intelligence:

Creating synergies through self-control tolerates conditions of stress, uncertainty or ambiguity and continues to maintain a positive outlook and to work productively.

Knowledge Sharing & Continuous Learning:

Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others;
Demonstrates commitment to ongoing professional development and keeps abreast of new developments in his/her professional field.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: (max. points 20 points)

Master and/or equivalent degree in in urban/regional planning 15 points;
For any additional above master degree = 5 degree up to max.. 20 points.

Experience and Skills: (max. points 40 points)

A minimum10 years of experience in in relevant contexts (urban/regional planning and development, social housing) 15 points, for each additional year = 1 point , up to max. 20 Points;
At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in managing development-related projects including direct work experience in country-specific settings, particularly those in crisis-affected, post-crisis and/or fragile situations;
Extensive technical knowledge relevant to the thematic area;
Excellent negotiation and advocacy skills;
Proven and recent experience with technical assistance for project development, implementation, management and/or evaluation;
Excellent drafting and formulation skills; proven record of drafting official reports or papers/studies in the selected area;
UN experience an asset, as is past work experience in KR;
Experience with training and facilitation is an asset..20 points.

Language: (max. points 10 points)

Fluent in English, knowledge of other UN languages, a plus. 10 points.

Brief Methodology : (max. points 30 points):

A brief methodology stipulating how the work will be implemented. 30 points.

Please do not send your application through this website and send the complete application to ic1.undp.iq@undp.org (only

Application with complete supporting documents received in ic1.undp.iq@undp.org before or at the closing date will be processed).