VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Issued on 7 February 2025 

Functional Title:National Public Participation and Stakeholder Engagement Expert on Project Implementation in Kragujevac, Serbia

Duty Station of Assignment: Kragujevac and Home office

Type of Contract: Individual Contract (Consultancy Assignment)

Duration of Assignment: 45 working days over the period February 2025-March 2026

Closing date for applications: 20 February 2025

BACKGROUND

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is mandated by the UN-General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. UN-Habitat works with varied partners including cities, central governments, local authorities, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in particular, Goal 11 of “Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”.

As cities around the world rapidly urbanising, they are increasingly facing urban mobility challenges key among them traffic congestion, pollution and road traffic crashes. The transport sector also significantly contributes to global energy related carbon emissions. Public transport comprising efficient bus systems, trams, metros and non-motorised mobility such as walking, and cycling are emerging an ideal mix to curb the growing urban transport challenges and meet the transport needs of citizens. UN-Habitat collaborates with governments at city, regional and national levels on development and implementation of policy, guides and tools for sustainable urban mobility; provides technical support for development of effective transport systems and supports knowledge, advocacy and capacity building.

UN-Habitat is the lead implementing agency for the Project on: “Building back safe, sustainable and resilient transport and urban mobility systems in Western Balkan and Central Asian landlocked developing regions”. This initiative is funded by the 15th tranche of the United Nations Development Account with the primary objective to strengthen the capacity of local and national governments within the Western Balkan, Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regions in sustainable urban mobility planning. The focus is on establishing durable, long-term investment strategies that improve accessibility and connectivity for all while concurrently addressing climate emissions and reducing road fatalities. Specifically, this project aims to support three cities in Western Balkans and Eastern Europe – Chisinau in Moldova, Kragujevac in Serbia, Vushtrri in Kosovo^[1] – and two cities in Central Asia – Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan and Almaty in Kazakhstan – the focus is on establishing durable, long-term investment strategies that improve accessibility and connectivity for all while concurrently addressing climate emissions and reducing road fatalities.

Along with UN-Habitat, this project is co-implemented with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

[1] References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999).

GENERAL SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT 

The National Transport Planning Expert will work under the overall supervision of the Programme Management Officer, Urban Mobility of UN-Habitat. The National Transport Planning Expert will work in close collaboration with the International Experts – Sustainable Urban Plan Expert (SUMP Expert) and Transport Data and Planning (Transport Data Expert) – and the National Expert – public participation and stakeholder engagement  – to coordinate and implement the project and engage in day-to-day communication with the local stakeholders for the project to support the City of Kragujevac in developing a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP). This would include undertaking activities regarding capacity building and training activities, data gathering and analytic works, providing technical advice on stakeholder engagements through Workshops, drafting of reports and documents under guidance of UN-Habitat members and International Experts and collaboration with local stakeholders, taking into account the following parameters:

1. On capacity building and training activities
   • Assessing the level of skills and experiences for collecting and utilising transport data, and urban mobility planning in the relevant team in the City of Kragujevac;
   • Plan and implement capacity building and training activities according to the identified future human resources requirements while ensuring alignment to the City’s priorities;
2. On data gathering and analysis
   • Gathering information/data and reviewing/analysing the current mobility situation of motorized (private vehicles, freight, and public transport) and non-motorized (pedestrian and cycling) transport network, physical condition, accessibility, efficiency, safety, and congestion;
   • Reviewing the legal framework (central and local strategies, plans etc.) and make sure that these are taken into account for implementing an efficient mobility strategy at study area level;
   • Assess the transport data gaps through literature review and consultation with the key stakeholders.
   • Provide technical guidance for the transport data collection and analysis through a co-development approach, where city officials would work alongside the International and National Experts in the data collection;
3. On technical support to stakeholder engagements through Workshops
   • Provide technical inputs to the development of urban mobility future vision and strategy, and identify priority measures and actions through participatory process, engaging with key stakeholders at the local and national level;
   • Consulting the final proposal for development of the concept of the urban mobility plan with the groups of interest;
   • Support in identifying key decision-makers, private sector, investors and various transport operators to explore opportunities on collaboration for the planning process and operationalization of the plan.
4. On drafting of reports and documents
   • Documenting the data gathering and analytic works, capacity building and training activities to develop and propose a mobility plan for the City of Kragujevac that integrates findings from transport data gathering and analysis, co-developed and consulted goals and objectives, priority actions and plan of activities with proposed budgeting and investment, and monitoring frameworks.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 

The objective of the assignment is to support the efforts of UN-Habitat under the above-mentioned project to strengthen local and national capacity on long-term, sustainable urban mobility planning and robust investment decisions towards public transport, walking and cycling, with co-benefits in terms of improved urban air quality and resilience. This would be achieved through the following two Outcomes.

Outcome 1 – Strengthened capacity of local governments to plan for sustainable, resilient and low carbon mobility systems based on evidence- and data-based planning approaches and in alignment with international best practice methodologies.

Outcome 2 – Improved planning frameworks for informing investment decisions for urban land-use and mobility planning.

The two Outcomes shall be achieved through 4 activity components described in the tables. For more information in the tables, click here.

METHODOLOGY

The methodology of conducting the four activities regarding capacity building and training activities, data gathering and analytic works, facilitating stakeholder engagements through Workshops and co-development of sustainable urban mobility plan are as outlined below:

1-1) Training and Capacity Building

• Capacity assessment: Under guidance from the International Experts, conduct surveys and provide inputs for Training Needs Assessment.

• Implementation of online and in-person training series: Coordinating with the UN-Habitat team and International Experts, organise and facilitate the online and/or in-person trainings.

1-2) Data Gathering and analysis

• Survey Design: With consultation with the stakeholders in the City, identify key transport data gaps to be covered with the field survey, consult with the National Transport Planning Expert and the stakeholders in the City to co-develop a detailed survey plans and refine a survey form according to contextual relevance and unique needs of the City, including the translation of the survey form.
• Team Formation and Survey Management: In collaboration with UN-Habitat team and under the guidance of International Experts, coordinate the survey teams with defined roles, and manage the implementation of data collection survey at the field.

2-1) Co-development of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan through participatory process

• Detailed work plan for the project implementation: Under the guidance of UN-Habitat and International Experts, create the detailed workplan outlining the project scope, activities and timeline to be implemented for developing mobility plan under close collaboration with the City.
• Future vision co-development: Under the guidance of UN-Habitat and International Experts, organise a participatory exercise to co-develop a long-term vision for transport, infrastructure, and mobility service development for the entire functional urban area, covering all modes and forms of transport. Specific attention to include the voices of those in vulnerable situations such as women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons
• Priority measure identification: Under the guidance of UN-Habitat and SUMP Expert, facilitate a participatory exercise for citizens and stakeholders to discuss priority measures and actions.
• Propose Budget and Finance Plan: Facilitate the discussion with the City in developing a budget plan for the proposed measures in the SUMP with financial requirements and timelines.

2-2) Support for the operationalisation of the Plan

• Coordination mechanism set up: In collaboration with the SUMP Expert, facilitate the discussion on establishment of coordination mechanisms that would facilitate multidisciplinary coordination between transport and land-use planning, environmental protection, social inclusion, gender equity, economic development, safety, health, education, and information technologies.

• Operationalisation and monitoring: In collaboration with the SUMP Expert, propose and consult with the cities the institutional framework illustrating respective responsibilities of the different agencies involved in implementing the Plan and methodologies for monitoring the progress, especially on ensuring the participatory process is embedded in the operationalisation and implementation of the plan.

Collaboration with the National Expert on Transport Planning and roles

The National Public Participation and Stakeholder Engagement Expert will work in close collaboration with the National Expert – Transport Planning Expert on the above mentioned activities. For more information on the expected roles and responsibilities, click at the following link.

NATIONAL PUBLIC PARTICIPATION & STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT EXPERT TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Duration: The start of the consultancy is scheduled for February 2025 and the last deliverable must be submitted by 15 March 2026.

Reporting: The National Public Participation Expert will work under the overall supervision of the Programme Management Officer, Urban Mobility of UN-Habitat.

Duty Station: The National Public Participation Expert shall provide service from Kragujevac and home office.

Coordination: The National Transport Expert will work in close collaboration with the International Experts – Sustainable Urban Plan Expert (SUMP Expert) and Transport Data and Planning (Transport Data Expert).

Workplan/Activities- Tentative Implementation Schedule for the International Expert for Transport Data and Planning

This consultancy should include but not be limited to the following list of activities. For more information on the activities list, click the following link.

During the assignment, the consultant will deliver the following documents. Click at the following link for more details.

FINAL DELIVERABLES 

During the assignment, the consultant will deliver the following documents. Click at the following link for more details.

The exact timing of the deliveries will be determined during the course of the assignments.

DUTY STATION 

The work shall be performed from on field in Kragujevac and home office.

PROGRESS CONTROLS AND PAYMENT INSTALLMENTS

The fees will be paid in two installments upon completion and acceptance of the outputs as specified below, in line with the Final Deliverables. Click at the following link , for more details on the Final Deliverables.

COMPETENCIES

• Professionalism: Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Good research, analytical and problem-solving skills. Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.
• Communication: Excellent and effective written and oral skills; ability to persuade people with varying points of view and to present information in a concise and accurate manner, ability to clearly communicate links between the organizations. Promotes a learning and knowledge shared environment. Excellent mentoring and training skills.
• Planning and Organizing: Proven ability to plan, coordinate and monitor own work and that of others. Ability to work under pressure and uses time efficiently. Identifies priority activities and assignments, adjust priorities as required.
• Management and coordination: Skills for co-implementing the activities with National and International consultants, counterpart organisations, or other entities such as NGOs, academic institutions, and Community-Based Organisations.
• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by valuing others ideas and expertise and is willing to learn from others.
• Functional Competencies: Preferably a minimum of five years’ experience in the field of participatory planning, urban, transport planning, community development, or an urban-sector discipline, particularly in SUMP development. Proven experience in stakeholder engagement and public participation.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

• Advanced University degree (Masters or Equivalent) in Transportation Planning or Engineering, International Development, Sociology, Economics, Urban or Regional Planning, or related fields with knowledge on sustainable urban transportation and mobility issues or a first degree with the relevant combination of professional and academic qualifications is required;
• At least 5 years of practical working experience in the fields of transport or urban planning, mobility, sustainable development, participatory planning combined with demonstrated knowledge and experience of conducting transport demand analysis working with national and local governments is required;
• Substantial experience in participatory planning in urban development or transport planning and knowledge and fluency in participatory planning tools is desirable;
• Demonstrated ability to design, tailor, and facilitate workshops, focus group meetings, and training sessions.
• Ability to work in a team and to undertake initiative to ensure smooth relations and open communication within the team and with partners;
• Experience of working in the relevant cities in Serbia or countries of Western Balkans is an advantage;
• Excellent analytical and communication skills.
• Good interpersonal skills, previous exposure to cross cultural environments is advantageous
• Knowledge of and ability to apply Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) principles in planning and decision-making processes.
• It is essential that the candidate be able to meet deadlines for reporting and all project work

 LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Excellent proficiency in spoken and written English; knowledge of local languages will be considered an advantage.
• Fluency (reading, writing and speaking) in Serbian is required.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

• Knowledge of UN policies and procedures is an advantage;
• Express enthusiasm and willingness to share experiences and transfer knowledge
• Take responsibility and make sure tasks are fully completed
• Be sensitive to gender issues and issues of concern to vulnerable groups
• Be flexible and prepared to pursue goals through teamwork
• The incumbent should be available for the suggested schedule

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates must submit an email quoting the post title and the duty station to the email address: recruitment@unhabitat-kosovo.org

with the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:
1. Cover letter explaining why they are the most suitable for the work
2. Completion of a CV in P11 Form which can be downloaded at:

https://bit.ly/4adZ5ot

The CV shall include information on past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references.

3. Financial Proposal. The form for the financial proposal can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/42eReoM

Deadline for applications: 20 February 2025, 17:00 hrs CET

UN-Habitat does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. If you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of these offices and requesting the payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unon.org