TERMS OF REFERENCE

Role:                                            Road Safety and Sustainable Mobility Consultant, UN-Habitat

Duration of Assignment:          12 months

Starting date:                             July 2025

Duty Station:                              Home Based

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 urbanizing, 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.

The consultancy position is in the Urban Mobility team under the Urban Basic Services Section of UN-Habitat. The consultant will provide technical advice and policy support to cities on sustainable and innovative mobility; coordinate project activities on road safety, undertake research on emerging urban mobility issues, and support the development of project proposals to expand the portfolio. 

Under the UN Road Safety Fund (UNRSF) supported project “Global Alliance of Cities for Road Safety (ACROS)”, which aims to establish to provide capacity building and technical assistance on all five pillars of the Safe Systems approach, the consultant will support the secretariat’s activities and well as innovation challenges and the implementation of pilot initiatives.

UN-Habitat is furthermore supporting the implementation of the Pan-African Action Plan for Active Mobility and its roll-out in five African Countries. The consultant will coordinate capacity building activities and city exchanges planned under the UN Development Account Funded projects.

UN-Habitat is also working on a project called “ACCESS – Accelerating Access to Low Carbon Urban Mobility Solutions through digitalization” with the aim to measurably reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector in urban areas in six Latin American countries. The consultant will support its implementation in Ecuador and Argentina.

Objectives of Assignment

The objective of the assignment is to support efforts of UN-Habitat under the above mentioned projects to promote sustainable mobility, resulting in improved policies and investment decisions by partner cities.  

Supervision and Reporting

The Consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Coordinator of the Urban Basic Services Section, and in close collaboration with the thematic team on mobility - reporting to the Programme Management Officer, Lead, Urban Mobility.

Responsibilities and Tasks

The consultant will support the work of the Urban Mobility Team in the Urban Basic Services Section by providing the following:

Under the UNRSF projects:

• Activity 1.1: Support implementation of the UNRSF projects on road safety
• Activity 1.2: Support capacity building activities and city exchanges under the Alliance of Cities for Road Safety
• Activity 1.3: Support the preparation of the Innovation Challenge on road safety under the ACROS project;
• Activity 1.4: Support the development of investment and funding proposals on road safety in ACROS partner cities and in collaboration with Regional and Country Offices

Under the UNDA projects:

• Activity 2.1: Support PAAPAM implementation in the 5 African countries
• Activity 2.2: Develop capacity building activities and city exchanges
• Activity 2.3: Assist by providing technical assistance on street design

Under the ACCESS project:

• Activity 3.1: Support the implementation of pilot projects with a particular focus on Ecuador and Argentina;
• Activity 3.2: Support the review and development of sub-national policies and plans in the ACCESS partner countries and cities;

Activity 3.3: Support the development of national policy frameworks that promote sustainable urban mobility planning and evidence-based public policy using digital platforms and data collection.

Time and Cost Implications

Time and cost implications of this assignment are presented below:

In addition to the reports indicated above, the consultant is required to submit brief monthly reports on progress and updates as requested (time requirements are included in the table above) 

Total input:  264 Days

Total Cost: USD 62,400

Payments

The Consultant will prepare an inception report within one week of contract signing. This will outline a broad plan of activities over the period of the assignment. Payments will be made based on reports and milestones below:

Qualifications

• First-Level University degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) in Urban Planning, Transport Planning, Engineering, Geography, or a related field;
• At least 3 years working experience in Urban or Transport Planning;
• A good understanding of transport planning, urban planning, urban development, urban policy and legislation and sustainable urbanisation is an asset;
• Excellent analytical and communication skills.
• Good interpersonal skills, previous exposure to cross cultural environments is advantageous.
• Knowledge of International Organisations, including working experience in urban projects is an asset;
• Fluency in English, written and verbal, is required. Spanish language skills are an asset.

Duration of the Assignment

Twelve (12) months: The consultant will be contracted for a period of 12 months starting 15 July 2025 to 14 July 2026.

Kindly send your applications with either CV or PHP to Ms. Rose Mureithi on email:  rose.mureithi@un.org.