Urban Specialist – Inclusive, Climate-Resilient, and Migration-Responsive Urban Development (Retainer)

Under the direction supervision of the Senior Urban Specialist - Migration and Climate, the Urban Specialist will contribute technical and analytical support to Cities Alliance’s work on inclusive and climate-resilient urban development. The role will focus on research, diagnostics, operational tools, grant management, and peer learning activities to strengthen implementation across regional and country-level initiatives.

Key responsibilities include:

• Develop and refine knowledge products, technical tools, and city diagnostics that address key thematic areas such as climate adaptation, urban migration, gender equity, and informal settlement upgrading, ensuring outputs are contextually relevant and aligned with strategic programmatic goals.

• Design and implement robust systems for monitoring, documentation, and visualization of programme outcomes, integrating data-driven insights and lessons learned into adaptive management and future program development.

• Spearhead the planning and execution of peer learning initiatives, capacity-building workshops, and technical exchange forums, fostering cross-regional collaboration and knowledge sharing among practitioners and stakeholders.

• Produce high-quality analytical inputs to inform the development of project concept notes, strategic briefs, and operational guidance tools, ensuring alignment with global best practices and emerging policy trends.

• Drive the integration of gender equality and climate resilience considerations into all stages of program design and delivery, applying inclusive methodologies and cross-cutting analytical frameworks to strengthen program impact.

• Implement a structured quality assurance and peer review process for program deliverables, ensuring technical soundness, coherence, and alignment with organizational standards and donor requirements.

• Coordination and oversight of technical and administrative processes related to grant management.

• Provide comprehensive documentation reviews, proactive engagement with grantees, and rigorous tracking of deliverables and disbursement schedules to ensure timely and compliant execution.

Monitoring and Progress Controls : 

Performance will be evaluated based on the below points :

• Timely and high-quality support for documentation, learning, and knowledge production.

• Quality and timeliness of technical and administrative support to grant management, including coordination with implementing partners and tracking of deliverables and disbursements.

• Contribution to cross-cutting integration of migration, climate, and inclusion into programme materials.

• Support for internal coordination and external knowledge exchange events.

• Responsiveness, collaboration, and adaptability in support roles.

• An Advanced university degree (Master`s degree or equivalent) preferably in urban planning, environmental studies, migration, development studies, geography, or related disciplines is required. 

• A first level university degree (Bachelor degree or equivalent) in the related fields with an additional two (2) years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

• A minimum of  five (5) years of professional experience working on inclusive, climate-resilient and/or sustainable urban development in the context of low-income countries is required. 

• Experience in supporting research and policy work on sustainable and inclusive urban development in low-income countries is an asset.

• Familiarity with one or more of the following required: urban migration, informal settlements, climate adaptation, GEDSI integration.

• Previous held experience in countries in Africa or Asia is required.

•  Fluency en English is required. Knowledge of French, Somali, Arabic, Amharic, Lao, Khmer, Thai, Burmese is considered an asset.