Green Cities Planning Specialist

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

Organizational Setting

Eswatini still faces a number of Readiness gaps and barriers which limit the potential for climate change adaptation and mitigation particularly in urban and peri urban communities inhibiting the switch to green cities and making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. These gaps include\: Limited availability and applications of baselines and indicators ; The limited role/capacity of Eswatini Local Government Association (ELGA); Limited knowledge on actions/interventions for/on urban agriculture and food systems, infrastructure and technologies; weak capacity, absence of knowledge and guidelines of Eswatini still faces a number of Readiness gaps and barriers which limit the potential for climate change adaptation and mitigation particularly in urban and peri urban communities. Specifically, to prepare Eswatini’s urban and peri-urban communities for public and private investment in sustainable green cities, green spaces and urban agriculture this readiness will\: i) Develop and validate a set and framework of baselines and core indicators to meet relevant sustainable green cities status in Eswatini; ii) Build capacities for observatory, monitoring and evaluation systems; iii) Strengthen the Eswatini Local Government Association (ELGA); iv) Strengthen capacities of advisory and extension services in relevant departments for sustainable agriculture and agribusiness in urban and per-urban spaces; v) develop system wide capacities and raise awareness on opportunities, required investments, innovations and enabling environment; vi) develop a policy and incentive framework for public and private investment in sustainable/green cities/spaces and urban agriculture; vii) develop and validate separate inventories of profiled interventions complete with their environmental and social impacts covering a)ecological (forests, grass lands, wetlands and Bioretention areas); b) technologies, actions or interventions for sustainable food systems (Urban and peri-urban agriculture, food environments, food processing) improved for sustained food security and nutrition; c) technologies, actions or interventions for sustainable infrastructure solutions in urban and peri-urban areas; and, viii) develop and validate concept notes/Project Ideas focused on sustainable/green cities/spaces and urban agriculture and preserving the quality and quantity of urban and peri-urban forests and green spaces. n advisory and extension services; Absence of an updated policy environment and incentive framework; lack of awareness on how to make urban and peri urban spaces more resilient and adapted to climate change.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Eswatini, (FAOR), guidance of the Assistant FAOR Program and the technical guidance of the National Programme Coordinator. The International Consultant will work in close collaboration with FAO officers that will form a project management team task force consisting of the Lead Technical Officer (FAO Sub Regional Office for Southern Africa)

Technical Focus

The incumbent has the main objective of providing technical support and inputs to the development- and testing of core indicators for planning for sustainable cities programme and national components to support urban planning and design in Eswatini.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Undertakes an initial audit of what actions and indicators may already exist;
• Recommends a set of frameworks to be adopted for the development of national green cities core indicators;
• Conducts a situational analysis and literature review to define an initial set and framework of core indicators;
• Consults relevant stakeholders for customization of core indicators into the context of Eswatini;
• Takes stock of existing actions/frameworks/policies/resources and investments at country level aiming at food systems and green spaces in urban and peri-urban areas and collect good practices;
• Develops guidelines/guidance document/training manual to facilitate mainstreaming of core indicators into policy framework, spatial planning, food systems, ecosystems management and physical infrastructure plans;
• Defines data required across the core indicators to inform detailed assessments to be done by national consultants with support of Project Coordinator;
• Reviews and consolidate (analyse) data generated by subject specialists (national Consultants) to inform about national gaps and opportunities;
• Generates a guidance document/training manual on application of core indicators;
• Trains relevant stakeholders on use of guidance document/training manual for generation of comprehensive baselines;
• Develops monitoring and evaluation systems for application of core indicators;
• Assess cities spatial planning, capacities and roles of governances;
• Identifies climate shocks hotspots in cities in the country and assess their vulnerability to shocks and climate change
• Conducts an assessment for green infrastructures and sustainable food systems “hotspots “where urgent action is needed\:
- Biodiversity hotspots and areas with the potential for the restoration of existing urban ecosystems and more efficient use of natural resources;
- Urban and peri-urban ecosystems and production areas (existing and potential) particularly vulnerable to limited access to water and;
- Areas vulnerable to extreme climate change events, including impact of changes in foodsystems and green infrastructure, and with particular adaptation and mitigation needs
• Conducts Geo-lab for Green Cities Observatory system needs assessment in different municipalities to define their capacities, equipment specifications and quality of outputs to inform systems upgrade for national use;
• Generates a guidance document on the hardware and software specifications of the observatory system;
• Maps and profile gaps on legal framework, technical capacities and resources, needs and vulnerabilities to shocks across food systems, policy framework, spatial planning, ecosystems management and physical infrastructure plans in urban and peri-urban spaces;
• Reviews existing national frameworks (climate change policy and plans, land and water use and watershed/basin plans, green action plans, food policy, masterplan, city development strategies, land use plans etc.) and provide recommendations, on the inclusion of urban and peri-urban needs and actions relating to green infrastructure, agriculture and food systems;
• Generates guidelines for continued identification, profiling and monitoring of green cities indicators and suggest policy reforms required to incentivise implementation and compliance with national green cities indicators.

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University Degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Urban/Regional Planning, or related field that is relevant for sustainable urban development.
• At least 8 (Eight) years of urban spatial planning (GIS), of which a significant part directly related to different aspects of urban planning such as settlements, infrastructure, community development, urban geography, cities and climate change, urban greening, urban/regional spatial planning, and urban informality.
• Working knowledge (Level C) of English and limited knowledge (Level B) of one of the other FAO languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Commitment to inclusiveness and gender equality with demonstrated experience in integrating gender and diversity issues
• Be committed to and able to meet the deadline
• Strong facilitation and coaching skills as well as be familiar with participatory approaches

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

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