Spatial Data Expert, (Nairobi), Deadline: 7 September 2018
CONSULTANT VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Issued on 28 August 2018
ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION: | UNITED NATIONS, GIGIRI |
DUTY STATION: | NAIROBI |
FUNCTIONAL TITLE: | SPATIAL DATA EXPERT |
DURATION: | SIX MONTHS |
CLOSING DATE: | 7 September 2018 |
BACKGROUND
UN- Habitat established the Global Urban Observatory (GUO) unit under the Research, Capacity Building and Development branch of UN-Habitat as a specialized statistical unit in charge of global monitoring of the Habitat Agenda and other agendas with an urban linkage. GUO is already responding with efficiency to the challenges that the monitoring and reporting of the New Urban Agenda (NUA) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) requires. GUO has more than 20 years’ experience in the collection, analysis and production of urban data at the world level and in specific cities. GUO is working to a) Improve the capacity of countries and cities to access relevant information, setting global standards in the design analysis and collection of urban data, and supports the translation of data/information into policy formulation; b) Guide methodological developments of the urban related indicators and targets used by the international development community to monitor global progress towards implementation of the NUA and the SDG on human settlements; c) Improve worldwide urban knowledge base by supporting governments, local authorities and civil societies in the development and application of policy-oriented urban indicators, statistics and other urban information. These functions mainly served through the Cities Prosperity Initiative and the Global Urban Observatory Network (GUO net).
As part of UN-Habitat’s efforts to provide technical support to countries worldwide for efficient monitoring and reporting on urban development agendas, GUO is currently supporting the implementation of two main projects as follows:
- The first project called “SDG 11: Monitoring and reporting on human settlements indicators in Africa and Latin America” aims to strengthen the capacities of national governments to: a) create a multilevel coordination of national/local monitoring and reporting; b) reinforce inter-linkages of SDG 11 indicators and other SDG indicators with an urban component, adopting a city-wide approach to monitoring urban development; c) facilitate a systematic disaggregation of information along key dimensions of urban development; d) assist in the aggregation of locally produced city indicators for regional and global monitoring and reporting. In this project, UN-HABITAT, ECA and ECLAC will work with a sample of 4 countries from Africa and Latin America (Botswana, Tunisia, Colombia, Ecuador), to explore and test the concept of working with a national sample of cities to report on performance on all SDGs indicators in a holistic manner. It will document the possibilities, opportunities and challenges or lessons learnt and later develop guiding tools, manual and materials for scale up to other countries.
- In response to the urban challenges arising from the rapid growth and to support the urban strategy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to achieve balanced development among the regions and its cities, the Kingdom has issued a Royal Decree No. 28119 in 2013/06/02 for the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs in cooperation with UN-Habitat, to implement the “Future Saudi Cities Programme (FSCP) ” in order to achieve sustainable urbanization through: a) Providing a better urban environment in seventeen Saudi Cities in accordance with the standards of city prosperity and well-being; b) Reducing the phenomenon of urban sprawl and spread and address urbanization based on thoughtful and appropriate manner; c) Finding institutional sustainable solutions and coordination between the ministries and partners for development in urban sector; d) Raising the institutional and technical capacity level in the field of planning urbanization processes and their management in a sustainable manner; e) Involvement of all segments of the population taking into account their needs, especially the needs of women and youth, upon development of urban plans and their implementation.
The FSCP is being implemented in close cooperation with AMANAHs of 17 major cities. These cities have been selected based on their different population sizes and a range of capacities and economic potentials to create a more balanced urban development among these 17 cities of Saudi Arabia which include: Riyadh, Makkah, Jeddah, Taif, Madinah, Tabuk, Dammam, Qatif, Al Ahsa, Abha, Najran, Jizan, Hail Arar, Baha, Buraidah and Sakaka.
Implementation of these two projects demands rich spatial data and information. A spatial analysis expert/ consultant is required to provide technical and logistical support to the Research and Capacity Development Branch, taking part in the work of the two projects and their field activities, under the direct supervision of the project manager and the Chief of the Global Urban Observatory Unit.
RESPONSIBILITES:
The objective of this consultancy is to provide technical expertise in the field of spatial analysis, particularly on the application of geographic information systems and remote sensing techniques to extract data at various levels. The specific duties of the consultant will include:
- Support GUO in developing and testing methodologies that can be globally applied for monitoring of SDG 11 spatial indicators. Specific duties under this objective will be to:
- Conceptualize and design globally applicable, accurate and easy to adopt methodologies for collecting and reporting on SDG 11 spatial indicators. This should be based on collation of existing methodologies, filling existing gaps and proposing new approaches.
- Pilot and refine the methodologies, including their direct application for collection of data in at least 10 cities, and spearheading formation of collaborations with institutions that can support local level data collection
- Contribute to developing manuals and training manuals for SDG 11 spatial indicators
- Train national statistical officers and local authorities on the application of developed methodologies to collect accurate spatial data. This will include developing easy to understand training materials that can be deployed independently to any city/country
- Provide consistent technical support to countries for generation of data, and helping them to package it appropriately for national and global reporting
- Develop guidelines and information sheets for countries articulating key elements of SDG 11 spatial indicators, the relevance of their measurement and alternatives to undertaking such measurement
- Compile a database containing all available open source resources that can be applied by countries and cities to generate data relevant to monitoring spatial SDG 11 indicators; including testing the quality of their information with regard to accuracy for local and national level reporting
- Represent GUO in expert group meetings requiring spatial input and presenting ongoing work
- Provide technical advice and support to the Future Saudi Cities Programme, particularly on the spatial components. Specific duties will include:
- Review work undertaken by other entities who directly report to GUO and check accuracy of spatial information provided
- Advise on alternative spatial analysis models for various project components
When required, provide GIS data support, reviews and development of appropriate strategies for ground truthing and validation of the results in the 17 Saudi cities.
Actively participate in workshops and meetings with colleagues to align expectations of FSCP with other GUO activities such as the CPI
- Support the Global Urban Observatory in all other spatial data related aspects, including, but not limited to:
- Compare existing spatially applicable definitions of cities, and advise on the most appropriate and globally applicable options
- Support the Unit’s normative work through relevant research and writing of scientific and policy relevant articles
- Analyze the Urban Expansion data for scientific publications
- Provide support in any other duty as may be requested by the supervisors
Main deliverables
The following deliverables will be required from the consultant:
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- Conceptual and technical documents detailing developed methodologies for spatial indicator computation, which will be validated at global level expert group meetings
- Well compiled, easy to understand training manuals (modules) on the application of GIS and remote sensing technologies to calculate SDG 11 spatial indicators
- Pilot data for at least 10 cities generated using developed methodologies, with a focus on spatial indicators for which off-site data is available
- Database of existing open source spatial resources available to countries for SDG 11 monitoring, including the quality of their data
- All regular workshop meetings attended, and relevant input and feedback provided
- At least 2 papers developed and submitted for publications
The consultant will be hired for an initial period of 6 months. All written deliverables will be prepared according to the format agreed upon with the consultant.
COMPETENCIES
- Professionalism: Proven contribution to scientific knowledge on the subjects through publications and conference presentations will be an added advantage
- Communication: Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform
- Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve agreed goals
- Planning and Organizing: Proven experience on the development of spatial analysis methodologies and their application to generate urban data at the local and global levels is highly desirable.
EDUCATION
Minimum advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Urban Planning, Geography, and Statistics, economics or any other related fields. High proficiency Geographic Information Systems and remote sensing softwares (ArcGIS, QGIS, or ErdasImagine) is required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
WORK EXPERIENCE
A minimum of 5 years of experience in spatial data analysis, and research on urban, social, economic or development issues.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Fluency in oral and written English is required. Although not a requirement, knowledge of any other UN language will be an advantage.
OTHER SKILLS
Basic data management skills.
Applications should include:
All applications should be submitted to: [email protected] Deadline for applications: 7 September 2018 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: [email protected] |