Programme and Governance Associate

The consultant's primary responsibility will be to support the activities of the Local2030 Coalition Secretariat, including: (i) providing support to the Local2030 Coalition Steering Committee; (ii) delivering support to the UN Directors Group; and (iii) assisting in the preparation of the Coalition’s reports.

Bilbao

12 months

Background. The position is located in the Local2030 Coalition Secretariat in Bilbao, as part of the Global Solutions Division. The Global Solutions Division (GSD) provides programmatic direction for UN-Habitat and is responsible and accountable for the programmatic delivery of the Strategic Plan. The Division leads the tools and methodology production and the integration of the various substantive competencies towards the effective delivery of the Strategic Plan and the mandate of UN-Habitat. It provides substantive training and supports capacity development of Member States and partners. The Local2030 Coalition is the UN system-wide mechanism to advance the crucial engagement of local stakeholders in a systematic way - a common space to mobilize, engage, and empower every local actor, everywhere – towards achieving the SDGs. The Coalition is underpinned by the recognition that strategic and committed partnerships are key to ensuring coherence and effectiveness. Inside the UN system, the Local2030 Coalition aims to strengthen coordination between the UN entities' efforts and expand and deepen their partnerships with local actors to advance the SDGs. The Coalition is co-chaired by UN-Habitat (as the permanent co-chair) and one other UN entity, which rotates every two years (currently UNECE). UN-Habitat also leads the Secretariat of the Local2030 Coalition. The Coalition is governed by a Steering Committee and supported by a UN Directors’ Group, which includes senior representatives from various UN Agencies, Offices, Funds, and Programmes. The Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG) closely accompanies and supports the work of the Local2030 Coalition. To provide concrete support the Local2030 Coalition builds on existing initiatives and focuses on advocacy to deepen understanding of localization and available resources, action to enable local transitions through technology, capacity building, and financing, and monitoring and reporting on local SDG implementation, including through peer learning, Voluntary Local Reviews, and alignment with national reporting. To support these efforts, the Coalition seeks a consultant to assist the Local2030 Coalition Secretariat by supporting the Steering Committee, implementing the Knowledge and Scientific Network (KSN), the Coalition’s youth engagement strategy, preparing the Coalition’s annual activity report, and providing general Secretariat support Duties and Responsibilities 1. Provide support for the Local2030 Coalition Steering Committee (SC): • Support the development and dissemination of key documents to keep Steering Committee members informed, including meeting minutes, background notes, and organizing bilateral meetings as needed. • Support the organization of the annual Steering Committee meeting, including coordinating with participants, drafting the agenda, talking points, presentations, briefings, managing logistics, drafting minutes, and ensuring the timely circulation of relevant materials. • Assist in the preparation of the SC TFPs meetings, including developing agendas, talking points, presentations, briefings, compiling background materials, drafting minutes, and following up on action points. • Liaise with Steering Committee members to collect and consolidate key information for Local2030 Coalition reports, including the Report of Activities, the HII, and Road to Reports, ensuring timely, accurate, and coherent inputs. • Facilitate synergies and strengthen collaboration among SC members by identifying and advancing opportunities for joint initiatives through the SC Technical Focal Points, including fostering coordination, encouraging co-creation, and supporting the development of concrete, results-oriented outputs. 2. Provide support to the UN Directors Group: • Support the development and dissemination of key documents to keep UN Directors Group members informed, including meeting minutes, background notes, and organizing bilateral meetings as needed. • Support the organization of UN Directors Group and TFPs meetings, including developing agendas, talking points, presentations, briefings, compiling background materials, drafting minutes, and following up on action points. • Assist in the organization of the in-person annual UN Directors Group Retreat, including coordinating with participants, drafting the agenda, talking points, presentations, briefings, managing logistics, drafting minutes, and ensuring the timely circulation of relevant materials. • Liaise with UN Directors Group members to collect and consolidate key information for Local2030 Coalition reports, including the Report of Activities, the HII, and Road to Reports, ensuring timely, accurate, and coherent inputs. • Facilitate synergies and strengthen collaboration among UNDG members by identifying and advancing opportunities for joint initiatives through the UN Directors Group Technical Focal Points, including fostering coordination, encouraging co-creation, and supporting the development of concrete, results-oriented outputs. 3. Assist in the preparation of the Local2030 Coalition’s Reports: • Support the development of the Local2030 Coalition’s Annual Report by working closely with the Secretariat to track progress against the Workplan. This includes a) drafting the report outline; (b) collecting and organizing inputs; and c) drafting the initial version of the report. • Support the development of the High Impact Initiative (HII) Report by working closely with the Secretariat to track progress against the HII targets. This includes: a) drafting the report timeline; b) coordinating with the consultant engaged for the report´s preparation; c) facilitating the collection of inputs from the key partners. Reporting Line The position is located in the Local2030 Coalition Secretariat, as part of the Global Solutions Division. The incumbent will be supervised by the Deputy Head of the Secretariat. The expert will work in close proximity to other members of the Secretariat, the Local2030 Coalition, and key partners.

Academic Qualifications: An advanced university degree in public affairs, political science, social sciences, urban studies, social sciences, communications, development studies, or other relevant areas is required. A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in project/programme management, sustainable development, urban planning, or a related area is required. Experience in local governance, local development, or localization of the Sustainable Development Goals is required. Experience in partnership building and partner mobilization, including donor relations, is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable

Not available.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.