The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the UN agency for human settlements. It 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. The Urban Economy Branch of UN-Habitat has the mandate to promote local capabilities of local go...

Responsibilities or duties

Within delegated authority, the urban planner will be responsible for the following duties:

Spatial Planning & Framework Development

• Lead the preparation of the Integrated City-Region Spatial Economic Development Framework for the Greater Busia Metro (GBM).
• Support the preparation of spatial development concepts for the cross-border region, including urban growth scenarios and development options.
• Prepare draft land use concepts, zoning proposals, and spatial development strategies that respond to economic and livelihood needs.
• Contribute to the development of a Smart Economic Zone / Investment-oriented Master Plan concept for the GBM.
• Identify strategic urban development corridors, investment nodes, and economic zones relevant to the Northern Corridor context.
• Integrate climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and risk reduction measures into spatial planning outputs.
• Ensure planning proposals incorporate inclusive public space planning, mobility/access, and service delivery improvements.

Experience needed

A minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience in urban planning, spatial planning, regional development planning, or city-region planning, preferably in Africa, is required.

Proven experience working with local governments, informal communities, and cross-sector stakeholders in the preparation of urban development plans, master plans, spatial frameworks, or participatory planning processes is required.

Demonstrated experience integrating inclusive planning approaches, including planning interventions targeting informal settlements, informal traders, women and youth livelihoods, is required.

• Lead the preparation of the Integrated City-Region Spatial Economic Development Framework for the Greater Busia Metro (GBM).
• Support the preparation of spatial development concepts for the cross-border region, including urban growth scenarios and development options.
• Prepare draft land use concepts, zoning proposals, and spatial development strategies that respond to economic and livelihood needs.
• Contribute to the development of a Smart Economic Zone / Investment-oriented Master Plan concept for the GBM.
• Identify strategic urban development corridors, investment nodes, and economic zones relevant to the Northern Corridor context.
• Integrate climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and risk reduction measures into spatial planning outputs.
• Ensure planning proposals incorporate inclusive public space planning, mobility/access, and service delivery improvements.

• Urban planning
• Spatial planning
• Regional development planning
• City-region planning
• Working with local governments
• Working with informal communities
• Cross-sector stakeholder engagement
• Participatory planning processes
• Inclusive planning approaches
• Planning interventions targeting informal settlements
• Planning interventions targeting informal traders
• Planning interventions targeting women and youth livelihoods

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Urban Planning, Regional Planning, Land Administration, Human Settlements, Geography, Geomatics, Architecture, Urban Design, or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in combination with additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.