UNITED NATIONS HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROGRAMME

TERMS OF REFERENCE

I. Position Information 

Position title:                   Urban Planner

Agency:                            UN-Habitat 
Type of contract:            Individual Contractor (IC)
Level:                               IICA-1
Duty Station:                   Dakar, Senegal

UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable and resilient towns and cities. It is the focal point agency for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. UN-Habitat envisions well-planned, well-governed and efficient cities and towns, with adequate housing, infrastructure and universal access to employment and basic services such as water, energy, and sanitation.

The West Africa Hub, part of the Regional Office for Africa (ROAf), aspires to become a centre of excellence for sustainable urban development by promoting inter-country collaboration, and embedding UN-Habitat’s tools and expertise closer to Member States. Through decentralized operations, the Hub aims to strengthen programme delivery, enhance visibility and partnerships in the sub-region, and catalyse new opportunities for policy influence, capacity-building, and strategic investment across 16 West African countries.

West Africa is one of the fastest urbanizing regions in the world, which presents both opportunities and risks. If well harnessed, urbanization has the potential to boost economic development and expand access to jobs and services. Nevertheless, it can also bring challenges such as uncontrolled urban sprawl or increased pressure on land and ecologically sensitive environments. Managing this urban transition will require proactive and inclusive spatial planning approaches, improved land governance, and equitable provision of infrastructure and services. Urban planning in this subregion is a necessary foundation for economic resilience, climate adaptation, and social equity.

In this context, the West Africa Hub, based in Dakar, and the Urban Lab of the Planning, Finance and Economy Section (PFES) must work in close coordination to deliver transformative planning support. While the Urban Lab brings global technical expertise and planning methodologies, the Hub provides contextual knowledge, strategic partnerships, and operational presence across West Africa. Their collaboration ensures that global tools are adapted to local realities and that UN-Habitat’s normative work translates into tangible urban transformation. The integration of spatial planning with capacity-building, stakeholder engagement, and investment prioritization is key to achieving more inclusive, sustainable and productive urbanization in the region.

III. Functions / Key Results Expected

Summary of key functions

The purpose of the consultancy is to provide technical expertise in strategic and spatial planning across multiple country projects in West Africa coordinated by the West African Hub of the Regional Office for Africa (ROAf), in collaboration with the Planning Finance and Economy Section (PFES) of UN-Habitat. The consultant will support the implementation of urban planning projects in Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Senegal, with a focus on developing urban plans, facilitating participatory workshops, and delivering targeted spatial strategies and diagnostics aligned with UN-Habitat methodologies.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Head of the West African Hub and from the Project Manager from Planning Finance and Economy Section, the incumbent of the post will have to fulfil the following duties and responsibilities:

• Provide technical support for the elaboration of land use and strategic plans, diagnostic reports, and stakeholder engagement materials.
• Lead the design and facilitation of participatory workshops with local authorities and communities.
• Support desktop and field data collection and analysis (e.g. maps, demographic and socio-economic data, environmental assessments, etc.).
• Support the elaboration of urban and community profile studies, portraying their most relevant territorial characteristics and identifying main challenges and potentials.
• Realize field missions and consultations with relevant actors involved in strategic planning.
• Engage with government officials at different levels o an ongoing basis to both ensure project is aligned with their expectations and that their capacity is strengthened via on-the-job training.
• Provide technical insights on other elements associated with project development, such as normative documents related to spatial and strategic planning.
• Ensure coherence of deliverables with UN-Habitat tools and frameworks.
• Support knowledge transfer and capacity-building activities in collaboration with local partners.

Output/Work Assignments

Guinea-Bissau: Nô Misti Disinvolvimentu Local (NMDL)

• Strategic proposals for the cities of Gabú and Buba, including maps of thematic strategies.
• Land use maps and regulations for the Gabú and Buba urban plans.
• Organization and facilitation of participatory planning workshop in Gabú and Buba to validate planning proposals.

Sierra Leone: Zurich–Freetown City-to-City Cooperation (C2CC)

• Situational analysis report for the Area Action Plan of Area 1 of the Central Business District (CBD) of Freetown, including the production of maps and texts.
• Workshop presentations and discussion materials, for participatory planning sessions conducted in collaboration with the Freetown City Council and key stakeholders.
• Draft strategic planning proposals for the Action Area Plan for Area 1 of Freetown’s CBD.

Nigeria: EU Support for Internally Displaced Persons (SIDPIN)

• Collection and analysis of spatial data Spatial Analysis for Adamawa state.
• Situational analysis report for Malkohi (Adamawa State) and integrating needs of displaced populations.
• Draft strategic planning proposals for the Strategic Spatial Action Plan (SSAP) for Adamawa State.

Senegal: Localizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Organisation and facilitation of Stakeholder forums in Pikine, Saint-Louis and Ziguinchor
• Diagnostic report applying the SDG Cities Diagnostic Tool in Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor, and Pikine.
• Drafted Action-Oriented Recommendations as part of the Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) for the three cities, including priority SDG impact areas and projects

V. Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: 
i) Experience in building and maintaining strategic networks with government counterparts, partners, and stakeholders; ii) experience in the management of urban development programmes and planning projects; iii) experience in conducting urban policy reviews and contributing to the preparation of planning-related policy recommendations for decision-makers; iv) strong analytical, drafting, reporting, and presentation skills applied to urban contexts; v) experience in analyzing, summarizing, and presenting spatial and socio-economic datasets using relevant software (e.g., GIS, adobe etc.); vi) experience in coordinating planning-related trainings and stakeholder workshops;

COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors’ language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

PLANNING & ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

VI. Recruitment Qualifications 

Education:

Experience: