Project Management Consultant - Digital Transformation and Smart Cities

DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTED OUTPUTS

For this consultancy, UN-Habitat is looking for a Project Management Consultant to assist with the design and implementation of outputs to develop international guidelines on people-centred smart cities. The consultant will work under the supervision of the Chief of Knowledge and Innovation Branch and will work on:

Coordination and technical support in the consultation processes

• Provide technical expertise in designing the implementing consultation activities, coordinate the consultations and collect evidence and insights relevant to the development of international guidelines on people-centred smart cities;
• Organize and facilitate consultation activities including expert group meetings at various levels (global, regional, thematic, stakeholder categories) in collaboration with UN-Habitat, governmental and non-governmental partners, and Member States;
• Propose meetings’ agenda topics, supported by relevant literature and studies and identify meeting participants, ensuring comprehensive and productive discussions;
• Prepare and deliver documents, presentations, and reports pertinent to the consultation process and the development of international guidelines;
• Support the Secretariat in drafting the guidelines ensuring evidence collected through the consultation process are reflected in the draft guidelines;
• Create visualizations and reports utilizing digital design tools to illustrate and document the guidelines development process.
• Coordination and technical support in the global assessment
• Oversee the World Smart Cities Outlook and any other relevant study or publication, ensuring the deliverables respond to quality standards and timeline as detailed in the contractual agreement between UN-Habitat and the provider;
• Engage in global research and data gathering on digital technologies, smart city development, urban policy, data and innovation, and sustainable urban development, providing guidance and feedback to the Study and subject matter expertise as needed;
• Produce various written outputs, including background papers, analyses, reports, and disseminate information across multiple platforms (e.g., UN-Habitat's website, blog posts, social media).
• Ensure that the Study aligns with the consultation process by engaging consistently with relevant stakeholders;

Support to the drafting process

• Engage in continuous research on people-centred smart cities and emerging best practices, ensuring the guidelines are informed by the most recent and relevant data and insights.
• Assist the Secretariat in the development of the international guidelines on people-centred smart cities; working closely with the various experts and ensuring the guidelines build on the consultation process and the global knowledge collected;
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, ensuring their perspectives and needs are considered in the development of guidelines;
• Facilitate ongoing communication and feedback channels with stakeholders throughout the guideline development process;

Advocacy

• Represent UN-Habitat in various forums, presenting the progress and findings related to the people-centred smart cities guidelines development;
• Advocate for people-centred smart city policies, sharing insights and data derived from the guideline development process to various stakeholders.

Project Management

• Reporting on the guideline development and progress towards implementation
• Produce regular reports internally and to donors or other partners
• Revising and reporting on the project budget as needed
• Supporting capacitation of the teamwork

Qualifications/special skills

• Master's degree in social sciences or related field, for example urban development or public policy is required, or a bachelor’s degree plus two years of relevant work experience in lieu of a master’s degree.
• At least 5 years of experience is required in projects related to urban development, digital technology, economics or related areas. Extensive knowledge on urban innovation, digital transformation or smart cities is required.
• Good knowledge of urban data, analysis and interpretation, digitalisation processes, as well as experience in intergovernmental processes and international projects with the public sector is desirable.
• Exposure and experience in organizing global and regional consultations is considered an asset.

Languages

• For this consultancy, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of any other UN language will be an advantage.