Deadline

TERMS OF REFERENCE for CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

ORGANIZATION

Regional office for Africa and Policy, Legislation and Governance Section (PLGS), Urban Practices Branch (UPB)

LOCATION

Beni - Democratic Republic of Congo

FUNCTION

Team of technical experts

DURATION

06 Months

START DATE

As soon as possible
  1. CONTEXT AND ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote socially and ecologically sustainable cities with the aim of providing adequate housing for all.

Within UN Habitat, the urban practices branch supports governments and local authorities with tested approaches, guidelines and tools to plan the growth of cities in an inclusive, sustainable and future-proof manner, in harmony with social, cultural, economic and environmental aspects. The  Branch has five closely related areas of work: (1) Policy, legislation and governance, (2) Urban Basic Services, (3) Land, Housing and Shelter, (4) Planning, Finance and Economic Development, and (5) Human Rights and Social Inclusion.

The work of the Policy, Legislation and Governance Section (PLGS) is done in a broader context at different scales (metropolitan, regional, national and transnational). The Section plays a key role in implementing the Agency's strategic plan with flagship programs, relevant sustainable development goals and the New Urban Agenda (NUA). The Section works in collaboration with other units, sections and branches of the Agency both at Headquarters and on the ground to support national and local governments as well as other partners. The Section encourages high-impact initiatives, programs and projects that draw on its world-class expertise and knowledge to provide timely, responsive and targeted solutions. The Section serves as the Agency's focal point and centre of excellence for global urban policy, legislative and governance solutions. The Section conducts capacity building, tool and framework development, political dialogue and advisory services.

UN-Habitat and the Andalusian Agency for International Development Cooperation (AACID) share the goal of contributing to population development through cooperation in the areas of mutual interest that include the implementation of the New Programme for Cities as well as the sustainable development goals. Concerned by the challenges faced by the Democratic Republic of Congo, these two partners have come together to build the capacity of local governments and stakeholders to better respond to urbanization opportunities in order to transform cities into inclusive centers of social, economic and sustainable development.

The project will support the implementation of the New Urban Agenda through local urban policies. Based on identified development priorities, the project aims to improve the development and implementation of urban policies at the national and local levels through urban-rural linkage strengthening tools. This will enable stakeholders to respond to the identified challenges under the frameworks of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda.

 

  1. OBJECTIVE

The objective is to coordinate and support the work of the project team, as well as build capacities of local authorities and other stakeholders in (among other things) the use and principles of geospatial information systems and in-situ planning, carry out urban policy drafting activities in the province of North Kivu, integrating the urban-rural linkages in a post-conflict/conflict/migration zone context.

 

  1. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The work will be carried out through various tasks:

  1. Capacity building of local authorities and other stakeholders:
  • Organization of a workshop of at least 50 participants including municipal institutions, political decision-makers, local economic actors, civil society, technical and financial partners and students to build capacities on the key concepts, principles, use and potential of geographical information systems (GIS);
  • Organization of training on Urban Policy, the integration of URL, land tenure and natural resources (possibly remotely, given the situation of COVID-19);
  • Organization of participatory awareness and sensibilization workshops with local community with a focus on vulnerable groups (women, youth, IDPs, people with disabilities); with the objectives of 1) creating inhabitants’ spoke groups, and 2) analyzing communities’ living environments with a focus on the inhabitants’ experiences.
  • Organization of a joint structured discussion about the programming, planning, prioritization, and budgeting of the new Urban Planning Strategy of Beni, including a costs analysis and mapping out of funding mechanisms.

 

  1. Coordination of project activities:
  • Framework/strategy document for the implementation of the New Urban Agenda (NUA) and Agenda 2030 in North Kivu; 
  • General coordination related to project activities, including (but not limited to) stakeholder management, knowledge management and dissemination, scheduling, communication with UN-Habitat HQ and UN-Habitat Goma Coordination Office;
  • Production of a case study of the Democratic Republic of Congo for the Guide to strengthen urban-rural linkages for integrated development in a post-conflict/ conflict/migration context.
  • Evaluation and implementation of urban-rural linkages around the city of Beni; 
  • With the support of other team members, production of a concept note to formulate urban development strategies in other secondary cities in Eastern DRC, including a compilation of lessons learnt and suggestions of cities to be selected

 

  1. Technical support to team members:
  • General technical support to team members related to project activities, including (but not limited to) substantial inputs and comments to deliverables, supervision and review of deliverables, joint planning, reporting, quality insurance and support to the organization of workshops and discussions.
  • Support to the province of KIVU in the establishment of a Provincial Urban Forum (PUF), including training on Urban Policy, the integration of URL, land tenure and natural resources (possibly remotely, given the situation of COVID-19);
  • Support to the organizing of awareness/training workshops on urban-rural linkages, the New Urban Agenda (NUA) and Urban Policy;
  • Being the interface between the project, UCBC, local and provincial authorities.

 

  1. MANAGEMENT AND REPORTING ARRANGEMENTS

The consultant will report to the head of the Policy, Legislation and Governance Section and the head of the Urban Practices Branch in consultation with the Senior Adviser at the Regional Office for Africa responsible for the Democratic Republic of Congo.

 

  1. TERMS OF SERVICE

The duration of the mission is six (06) months. This period can be extended by a few months. The work will be carried out mainly in Beni, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo.

 

  1. DISTRIBTION OF ACTIVITIES (06 months)

The activities will be ongoing and will last for 6 months. The progress reports will be used to supplement other deliverables, if needed.

Nof

Activities/Deliverables

M1

M2

M3

M4

M5

M6
  1.  

GIS workshop

 

 

Y

 

 

 
  1.  

Framework/strategy document for the implementation of the New Urban Agenda (NUA) and Agenda 2030 in North Kivu

 

 

Y

 

 

 
  1.  

Participatory community workshops

 

 

 

Y

 

 
  1.  

Organization of training on Urban Policy, the integration of URL, land tenure and natural resources (possibly remotely, given the situation of COVID-19);

 

 

 

Y

 

 
  1.  

Structured discussion about the programming, prioritization, and budgeting of the new Urban Planning Strategy

 

 

 

 

Y

 
  1.  

Organizing of awareness/training workshops on urban-rural linkages, the New Urban Agenda (NUA) and Urban Policy

 

 

 

 

Y

 
  1.  

Formulation of concept note

 

 

 

 

 

Y
  1.  

General coordination and technical support for project activities.

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

 

  1. EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

The EOI should contain, but is not limited to the following:

  • Overall experience of the organization in the area of interest;
  • A short conceptual proposal on how the organization plans to develop and implement this project;
  • A certified true copy of the original Audited Account Statement for the last two years and latest annual report; and
  • Governance and organizational structure; experience and qualifications of key professional staff and infrastructure facilities of the organization.

 

  1. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES

Expression of Interest must be delivered in electronic format no later than 24th of May 2021 to the email address given below: hanna.kuivalainen@un.org

 

  1. CONTACT INFORMATION

Hanna Kuivalainen

Hanna.kuivalainen@un.org

35 Av. Tulipier. Q. Les Volcans. Goma/Nord-Kivu/RDC

+243 827 449 352

 

  1. BUDGET

UN-Habitat will contribute financial resources towards Agreement of Cooperation of up to USD 20,000

 

  1. OTHER

Please note that this EOI notice does not constitute a solicitation. UN-Habitat reserves the right to change or cancel this requirement at any time in the Expressions of Interest/or solicitation process.

Submitting a reply to an EOI does not guarantee that a Cooperation Partner will be considered for receipt of the solicitation when issued and only Cooperation Partners who are deemed qualified by UN-Habitat upon completion of evaluation of submission, will receive the final solicitation document.