Overview
The Senior Urban Specialist will lead the Cities Alliance Informality Task Force, driving global collaboration, policy dialogue, and strategic initiatives to address urban informality, slum transformation, and adequate housing.
Key Responsibilities
- Assumes overall responsibility for the development and implementation of assigned activities of the Secretariat related to the Informality Task Force.
- Leads strategic planning with key partners on contributions of the Informality Task Force.
- Provides substantial input to Cities Alliance’s programmatic work on inclusive and sustainable urban development.
- Shares best practices and lessons learned for corporate knowledge building and development planning.
- Analyses local urban challenges, ongoing initiatives, and opportunities for engagement.
- Manages and coordinates the contributions of Informality Task Force’s members and external stakeholders in the development of joint initiatives.
- Identifies funding opportunities and oversees the preparation of funding proposals.
- Provides advanced analytical and sector-specific technical inputs in the design and implementation of Cities Alliance programmes and operations.
- Engages with a variety of stakeholders in joint advocacy and outreach efforts.
- Leads drafting of knowledge products, communication, advocacy products, background documents, keynotes, and presentations.
- Coordinates the engagement of key stakeholders at ministerial level.
- Represents the secretariat and the Cities Alliance at conferences, panels, and meetings.
- Engages in preparation, facilitation, and results processing of regular meetings and sporadic events.
- Advises the secretariat on the overall development of a global network of member and partner institutions on Informality.
- Acts as focal point for interested external stakeholders and facilitating outreach to potential partners and inter-institutional cooperation.
- Geographically assumes responsibility to be the focal point for the Latin-American region and other regions and sub-regions as needed.
Required Experience
- Minimum of 7 (seven) years of progressively responsible professional experience in managing multi-stakeholder processes targeting inclusive urban development is required.
- Experience in liaising with civil society groups and local and national governments in developing countries in the participatory design and/or implementation of projects in informal settlements is required.
- Knowledge of global stakeholder processes targeting the transformation of slums and informal settlements and provision of adequate housing is required.
- Strategic partnership building skills and experience of working with actors from different institutional cultures and organisations across sectors is an asset.
- Proven experience in drafting project and programme proposals for international donor agencies is desirable.
- A proven track record of analytical, research and policy work on the relevant topic(s) and demonstrated analytical skills documented through papers, articles, and publications is desirable.
Qualifications
- An advanced University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) preferably in Urban Planning, Urban Studies, International Development Studies, or similar disciplines is required.
- A first level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in any of the above disciplines combined with two additional years of relevant experience may be acceptable in lieu of the advanced degree.
- A PhD in the above mentioned disciplines is an asset.
