Architect/Urban Designer

UNOPS NPL organization mission TBD

This UNV assignment is a part of UNOPS project – “Cities 4 Women: Inclusive and Climate Resilient Urbanization in Nepal”. The project objective is to integrate inclusive and resilient urban planning and design in municipal infrastructure planning and implementation processes, focusing on public open spaces.The project is jointly implemented by UNOPS with UN-Habitat and Cities Alliance and supported by European Commission, USAID and the Government of Finland.

Cities in Nepal are growing rapidly, with a significant population moving to urban areas in search of better opportunities. This growth and the increasing climate vulnerability are leading to significant challenges, including the need for inclusive and resilient public infrastructures and urban services. The project assists in addressing these challenges by raising the demand for gender responsive, climate resilient public space, piloting public urban infrastructure, and enhancing the urban planning and design capacity of the selected municipalities. Through 4 main Outcomes, the project will increase the demand for gender-responsive climate-resilient public space, generate proof of concept for participatory public space projects, enhance the urban planning and design capacity of municipalities, review the legal framework to provide recommendations for policy review, and facilitate joint participation of municipalities and national knowledge institutions in the generation and exchange of knowledge related to participatory processes, urban planning, gender, and climate-related initiatives.

Under the direct supervision of Project Manager and in close coordination with the Architect/ Urban Planner, the National UN Youth Volunteer will:

● Support in desk review of the existing Municipal planning documents including Periodic Plans, Sectoral Plans, Annual Plans, Integrated Urban Development Plan (IUDP), Landuse Plans, and GESI, DRR and Climate Resilience related plans;
● Support to organize participatory and women-focused workshops, community mappings and data collections;
● Support to co-design gender sensitive and climate responsive urban interventions at ward level;
● Support the project team in developing technical project proposals, visualizing data, visualizing architecture and urban design projects - related to the ongoing Cities 4 Women: Inclusive and Climate Resilient Urbanization in Nepal project;
● Translate community based designs into technical drawings at scale;
● Contribute the UNOPS technical team to approve the developed proof of concept projects to be financed through the Challenge Fund to be implemented by the municipalities;
● Support in other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

● Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
● Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
● Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
● Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
● Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
● Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.
● Municipal urban planning related documents are improved;
● Seven Step Planning Process strengthened by ensuring active participation of women;
● Ward level gender sensitive and climate resilient spatial projects co-designed;
● Proof of concept projects prepared, and approved;
● Monthly progress reports submitted.