Sustainable Settlement Specialist

Position Overview:

The Sustainable Settlement Specialist will contribute to delivering activities under the Settlements Intervention of Action Area: Economies. This role offers an exciting opportunity to work in diverse mountain settlements in rural and peri-urban areas across the HKH region, shaped by their unique geography, culture, and environments varying greatly in size and population, ranging from small villages or hamlets in the high mountains to hill station tourist destinations and emerging towns/cities.

Mountain settlements in the HKH are continually becoming vulnerable due to the challenges posed by haphazard and unplanned urbanisation, coupled with increasing impacts of climate change, disaster incidents, increasing youth aspirations, rural-urban migration, and rapid socioeconomic changes. The specialist is therefore expected to leverage his/her expertise to support the Settlements Intervention, overseeing its two specific components: a) Sustainable and Resilient Buildings, and b) Planned Urbanisation and Circular Economy. The position opens avenues to bridge science policy and practice through evidence-based data generation, knowledge co-creation, and context-specific technologies sharing while fostering collaboration with think tanks, researchers, the private sectors, and other relevant stakeholders to scale viable/proven solutions for a greener, inclusive, and climate-resilient development in the HKH mountains. S/He will have an excellent opportunity to work with a multidisciplinary team at ICIMOD and innovate ideas for holistic and integrated mountain settlement development.

Background

ICIMOD’s Strategic Group (SG): Resilient Economies and Landscapes works to enable the transition from conventional to green, low-carbon economies by enhancing livelihood resilience while protecting biodiversity and environmental health. The SG is comprised of two Action Areas - Economies and Landscapes. The Action Area on Economies focuses on anticipatory adaptation, sustainable livelihoods, enterprise development, sustainable tourism, renewable energy, and sustainable human settlements. Within the Action Area on Economies, the Settlements serves as a dedicated intervention for supporting and promoting resilient and sustainable practices, solutions, and policies for achieving resilience and sustainability in mountain settlements. The proposed Sustainable Settlement Specialist will be positioned within this intervention, contributing technical expertise to advance sustainable settlement solutions that align with the SG's broader goals of economic transformation and environmental sustainability.

Method of application

Applicants are requested to apply online before 12 October 2025 (11:59 PM Nepal Standard Time) through .

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. 

Details: