Nairobi is the headquarters duty station for the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) the United Nations agency mandated with ensuring better urban future by promoting socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement sustainable development goal 11 (SDG 11). Although the mandate of UN-Habitat is global, the agency has placed special emphasis on working for the benefit of the host country through contributing to Kenya’s development priorities in a variety of ways. UN-Habitat Regional Office in Africa (ROAf) located in Nairobi, Kenya, is supporting priorities of member states and governments to achieve sustainable urban development. Implementation of Kenya programmes is carried out within the ROAf.
Result of Service
The walkability consultant will be responsible for developing studies and proposals related to walkability to support the development of the Municipal Urban Mobility Plan. The walkability consultant shall be paid upon presentation and approval by the National Officer for Brazil of activities’ report related to below mentioned products. The walkability consultant will work in close collaboration with the Urban mobility consultant, the Technical Coordinator, the General Coordinator, the operational and technical teams of UN-Habitat offices in Rio de Janeiro, as well as with the local project team, staff of other UN Agencies, Government officials, media, multilateral and bilateral donors and civil society.
Work Location
Congonhas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Expected duration
Four (4) months upon the signature of the contract.
Duties and Responsibilities
Background The main mandate of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is to promote sustainable development of human settlements and policies conducive to adequate housing for all. Within this framework, UN-Habitat supports central and state governments, as well as local authorities and other partners for the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, the 2030 Agenda with the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda. UN-Habitat helps the urban poor by transforming cities into safer, more inclusive, compact, integrated, resilient and connected places with better opportunities where everyone can live with dignity. It works with organizations at every level, including all spheres of government, civil society and the private sector to help build, manage, plan and finance sustainable urban development. UN-Habitat is starting a project with the municipality of Congonhas, Minas Gerais, in cooperation with the Municipal Planning and Management Department. This project aims to revise the Master Plan and develop the city’s Municipal Urban Mobility Plan. To achieve the proposed objective, the “Congonhas 2030+2” project is designed to strengthen public capacity and promote a culture of transparent decision-making based on data and information. This will be achieved through diagnostics, analysis, training and the drafting of plans. The Master Plan and the Municipal Urban Mobility Plan will be drawn up with the participation of society, configuring them as social pacts that take into account its interpretation of the strengths, potential and challenges of the city’s spaces, seeking to improve the population’s quality of life. In order to properly implement the project, as well as UN-Habitat’s mandate in Brazil, UN-Habitat is looking for a walkability consultant to support de preparation of the Municipal Urban Mobility Plan. Report to UN-Habitat Manager The walkability consultant reports to the National Officer for Brazil with the support of the Technical Coordinator who will evaluate him/her. Responsibilities Under the overall supervision of the National Officer for Brazil, the General Coordinator, the Technical Coordinator and the project team, the walkability consultant will be responsible for delivering the five (5) following products in the expected delivery date: Product 1: “Study of the distribution of land use in relation to transport infrastructure and referential facilities that generate traffic flow” The following activities will be carried out: Survey of land use information. Identification of the areas with the highest concentration of mixed, commercial and residential uses. Survey of pedestrian infrastructure. Identification of the public transport network and the municipal road network. Calculating the distances for pedestrian displacement from residences/businesses and other referential facilities. Critical analysis of the information. Expected products: Thematic map with information on land use and the transport network and a report containing a critical analysis of the results. 15 days after contract signature Product 2: “Study of critical areas with high rates of traffic accidents involving pedestrians” The following activities will be performed: Survey of traffic accident data involving pedestrians. Spatialization of the data on the road network. Using the Kernel method to identify the areas with the most cases. Identification of walkways, pedestrian crossings and other infrastructures that help pedestrians to cross, such as central medians. Spatialization of the data and combination with the accident information to create the final thematic map. Expected products: Thematic map with critical accident areas, critical analysis and booklet containing guidelines and reference experiences. 15 days after delivery of Product 1 Product 3: “Calculation of the Walkability Index in selected territories” The following activities will be performed: Selection of Walkability Indices suitable for the study areas. Definition of segments for analysis (generally segments of up to 100 or 150 meters). Preparation of technical sheets. Application of the indices on site. Tabulating the data. Calculation of scores by segment, category and overall. Calculating basic statistics (mean, mode and median of scores/classifications). Spatializing the results and drawing up thematic maps. Formulating guidelines. Expected products: Booklet containing the results of the analyses, thematic maps and identification of priority territories for walkability interventions 30 days after delivery of Product 2 Product 4: “Study of pedestrian flow and permanence” The following activities will be performed: Observation of urban design and city dynamics to identify peak hours. Selection of survey points for counting within the defined study area. Video recording of the flow. Counting pedestrians, recording the type and direction of flow. Measuring the total, effective and obstructed width of the pavements. Calculation of the flow quotient. Cross-checking the results with aspects of walkability and critical analysis of the results. Expected products: Booklet containing the results of the analyses, diagnoses, thematic maps and directional map. 30 days after delivery of Product 3 Product 5: “Development of a Walking Mobility Action Plan” The following activities will be performed: Proposing measures to upgrade the walking mobility network, taking into account accessibility, connectivity, environmental comfort, safety, legibility, points of attraction, among other aspects. Proposing guidelines for the application of accessibility and universal design in the active mobility (walking and cycling) and motorized mobility network. Expected products: Consolidation of a guide containing strategic actions to improve walkability in the Municipality of Congonhas and guidelines and references for the project and design of public spaces involving pedestrian. 30 days after delivery of Product 4 Other Consultants’ responsibilities comprise: a) Be available for a minimum of one (1) weekly virtual meeting with the Technical Coordinator, aiming at: I. sharing partial results of each deliverable. II. being readily available to incorporate revisions pointed out by the UN-Habitat team in the ongoing activities; III. supporting project planning. b) Consider that achieving the completion of each Product on the expected delivery date depends on the Consultant’s ability and commitment to present partial results, following a detailed timeline to be validated with the Technical Coordinator in the first week after signing the contract. Overall, the Consultant shall guarantee the execution of its activities accordingly to the main project schedule, being responsible for the deliverables according to deadlines. c) Be available to participating in public events related to the participatory process of developing the urban mobility plan. d) Reports must be developed using the project template that the UN-Habitat team will provide in the .ppt and .indd formats. e) Maintain an orderly and accessible information file system on the information and data produced. f) Ensure that the technical activities are aligned with the quality expectations of UN-Habitat and the project counterpart. g) The Consultant will be responsible for completing all courses and training activities that are indicated to him/her by his/her supervisor. The security course BSAFE is required to be accredited during the first month of employment. h) The Consultant will be responsible for his/her own security, so the person should get familiarized with United Nations security mechanisms and comply with them according to the Framework of Accountability for the United Nations Security Management System. Outputs/Work Assignment The walkability consultant shall deliver the above-mentioned products according to the responsibilities indicated above and in close contact with the Technical Coordinator.
Qualifications/special skills
Academic Qualifications: ● Required: Postgraduate degree in Architecture and Urban Planning, Geography or Engineering, or additional 4 years of relevant technical experience to the post, beyond the requirement. Experience: ● A minimum of 5 (five) years developing studies and projects related to walkability and sustainable urban mobility. ● Academic knowledge on themes related to sustainable urban mobility, public transport, road infrastructure, initiatives focused on prioritizing active transport for pedestrians. ● Professional experience developing studies and projects related to walkability and sustainable urban mobility in municipalities with characteristics similar to Congonhas. ● Previous experience within the UN System would be an asset. Skills: ● Excellent writing and proof-reading skills in Portuguese is required; ● Good computer skills in Windows, as Microsoft Office, Outlook, Microsoft Teams, and Web search engines is required. ● Good command of geographical information systems (GIS) software, such as QGIS, MapInfo and ArcGIS, is desirable. Knowledge Management → The person must know the processes, procedures and norms of UN-Habitat, in order to guarantee an adequate quality of the activities described above, following the standards of the organization. → The person will propose formats and procedures that allow the efficient implementation of the activities related to the project development. → The person must know the file of the Office, work with it and ensure its proper maintenance, accessibility for all staff and due updating. → The person will prepare databases related to the project running. → The person will make sure that all relevant technical information will be adequately shared with the correspondent staff. → The person will ensure that all produced material will be fit-for-purpose and delivered, in an organized way, for posterior consultation and use of the Agency. Competencies Professionalism: Experience working in an inter-institutional environment, project management, monitoring-evaluation; approaches and strategies with regard to good urban governance and local and regional development. Planning and organization: Professional approach to work, strong sense of responsibility, operate with minimal supervision; proven organizational skills and ability to manage a workload efficiently and within set deadlines. Communication: Ability to write clearly and effectively; listen to others, interpret messages correctly and respond appropriately; show openness in information sharing and keep everyone informed; solid abstract reasoning skills together with a proven capacity to write documents for diverse audiences. Teamwork: Ability to work with teams, demonstrate leadership, conflict management and consensus facilitation skills; ability to work in a multicultural and multi-ethnic environment, and to respect diversity; sensitivity to the main streaming of vulnerability; willingness and ability to work in difficult environments.
Languages
Languages: ● Fluency in Portuguese is required; ● Good command in oral and written Spanish is desired. ● Good command in oral and written English is desired.
Additional Information
Travel details The walkability consultant must be available to travel to the City of Congonhas. The Consultant will be responsible for travel expenses and logistics. Remuneration SB-4/2 (UNDP Brazil Salary Scale, part time, 94,5%) The consultant will receive an amount of BRL 50.000, to be paid in five (5) instalments, upon the presentation and approval by supervisor of the following products: ● Payment 1 (15,22%): Upon delivery and approval of Product 1 (BRL 7.608,70). ● Payment 2 (15,22%): Upon delivery and approval of Product 2 (BRL 7.608,70). ● Payment 3 (21,74%): Upon delivery and approval of Product 3 (BRL 10.869,57). ● Payment 4 (32,61%): Upon delivery and approval of Product 4 (BRL 16.304,35). ● Payment 5 (15,22%): Upon delivery and approval of Product 5 (BRL 7.608,70). Notes Appointment against this post is on local basis and only nationals from Brazil or external candidates who hold a permanent visa in Brazil may apply. It is required for all the curricular information to be inserted in the system, which may take a few hours. Only complete applications in English will be considered. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. Due to the volume of applications received, receipt of applications cannot be acknowledged individually. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Applications should be submitted through INSPIRA and must include all documents required at the system, please be ready to include the following information at the “Candidate Profile” (CP) at Inspira: 1. Cover memo (maximum 1 page) 2. Educational Background (incl. dates) 3. Professional Experience (assignments, tasks, achievements, duration by years/ months) 4. Expertise and preferences regarding location of potential assignments 5. Other Experience and Expertise (e.g. Internships/ voluntary work, etc.)* * Please note that Internships, self-employment and part-time count as 50%. In addition to it, note experience not relevant to the position will not be considered. All applications should be submitted to: Inspira Deadline for applications: UN-HABITAT does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. If you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of these offices and requesting the payment of a fee, please contact:
[email protected]
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.