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 so that everyone, including people living in informal settlements, slums, and crisis-affected areas, can prosper through access to adequate housing, land, and basic services. It partners with governments, communities, and stakeholders to foster inclusive and equitable prosperity, strengthen resilience to crises, and support environmental management and climate action in urban areas. Guided by the New Strategic Plan 2026-2029, the agency's work centers on advancing integrated urban planning and finance, promoting inclusive governance and gender equality, generating data-driven and innovative solutions, building strong partnerships, and mobilizing resources to deliver and scale up impact. In Africa, rapid urbanization and insufficient operational and financial capacity drive poor waste management practices: average waste collection rate in Africa is 52%, and more than 80% of municipal waste generated in Sub-Saharan Africa is not managed in controlled facilities. Lack of proper waste management and widespread open dumping cause air, soil, and water pollution, public health threats and imminent public safety risks at mismanaged landfill sites. The matter requires urgent attention, as waste generated in Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to nearly triple by 2050. UN-Habitat has been supporting national and local governments in Africa in tackling growing challenge of waste management and promoting circular economy. Notably, UN-Habitat has been supporting the application of an SDG 11.6.1 monitoring methodology (Waste Wise Cities tool), capacity-building and knowledge-sharing through the African Clean Cities Platform (ACCP). It has also been implementing operational projects that strengthen institutional capacity, provide policy advice, and offer technical guidance on innovative solutions, including semi-aerobic landfilling (Fukuoka method), while promoting a just transition that protects the rights of informal waste workers and marginalized communities. Investment mobilization, however, remains as a critical challenge. In 2025, the project entitled “Project Development Facilitation for Better Waste Management in Africa”, has started that is aimed at accelerating investment mobilization for waste management, by facilitating technical assistance for undertaking preliminary feasibility studies in developing investment-ready project proposals. The project is developing partnership with bilateral and multilateral development agencies, International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and donors.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of UN-Habitat project focal point in ROAF, the expert will be responsible for the following:

Technical oversight and quality control

• Provide technical oversight and guidance to the project as necessary, providing technical advice to the project decision making and ensuring technical quality control across all project components.

Project management and coordination

• Assist in leading the key project implementation steps, including: procurement, team setup and onboarding of technical consultancy firms; supervision of consultancy firms, inception of preliminary feasibility studies; undertaking of in-country missions including organization of kick-off meetings; and consultation of the findings and review of draft reports, in close collaboration with UN-Habitat country offices and development partners.
• Assist in coordination of project implementation at the regional level, ensuring harmonization of approaches across country activities and facilitating communication between regional and country offices.
• Technically supervise project personnel in country project offices for the implementation of project activities at the country level, including work planning, activity coordination, quality control and trouble shooting, among others.
• Oversee procurement, budget and financial management, recruitment and onboarding of project staff and consultants.
• Coordinate project monitoring and project reporting.

Establish country-level government coordination mechanisms in partner countries/cities

• Map relevant stakeholders in coordination with the government counterpart.
• Assist in the establishment of country-level coordination committees with government ministries, local departments, Universities, Civil Society Organizations and other stakeholders
• Provide technical support to the facilitation and functioning of the country-level coordination committees

Partnership building

• Assist in partnership building and liaison with development partners at the regional level.
• Develop and maintain partnership with development partners, relevant UN agencies and other stakeholders (e.g. academic communities, civil society, …) at the country level in coordination with UN-Habitat project focal point in ROAF.
• Assist in the participation of UN-Habitat in conferences, workshops and meetings, including preparation of talking points, presentations and other necessary materials.
• Coordinate with UN-Habitat HQ branches and other regional offices as required.

Knowledge sharing

• Coordinate compilation of lessons learned of the project implementation at the country level.
• Assist in the organization of national, regional and interregional knowledge sharing workshops and events, leveraging existing events such as World Urban Forum, African Urban Forum, and national urban forums.
• Assist in the development of visibility and communication materials in support of knowledge sharing nationally, regionally and internationally.

Other

• Perform any other related duties as assigned by UN-Habitat project focal point in ROAF.

QUALIFICATIONS/SPECIAL SKILLS

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Environmental/Civil Engineering/Waste Management, Environmental Sciences or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in waste management and related areas is required.
• Experience in implementing development programmes/projects, particularly in Africa, is desirable.
• Experience working with the Unit

• Provide technical oversight and guidance to the project as necessary, providing technical advice to the project decision making and ensuring technical quality control across all project components.
• Assist in leading the key project implementation steps, including: procurement, team setup and onboarding of technical consultancy firms; supervision of consultancy firms, inception of preliminary feasibility studies; undertaking of in-country missions including organization of kick-off meetings; and consultation of the findings and review of draft reports, in close collaboration with UN-Habitat country offices and development partners.
• Assist in coordination of project implementation at the regional level, ensuring harmonization of approaches across country activities and facilitating communication between regional and country offices.
• Technically supervise project personnel in country project offices for the implementation of project activities at the country level, including work planning, activity coordination, quality control and trouble shooting, among others.
• Oversee procurement, budget and financial management, recruitment and onboarding of project staff and consultants.
• Coordinate project monitoring and project reporting.
• Map relevant stakeholders in coordination with the government counterpart.
• Assist in the establishment of country-level coordination committees with government ministries, local departments, Universities, Civil Society Organizations and other stakeholders
• Provide technical support to the facilitation and functioning of the country-level coordination committees
• Assist in partnership building and liaison with development partners at the regional level.
• Develop and maintain partnership with development partners, relevant UN agencies and other stakeholders (e.g. academic communities, civil society, …) at the country level in coordination with UN-Habitat project focal point in ROAF.
• Assist in the participation of UN-Habitat in conferences, workshops and meetings, including preparation of talking points, presentations and other necessary materials.
• Coordinate with UN-Habitat HQ branches and other regional offices as required.
• Coordinate compilation of lessons learned of the project implementation at the country level.
• Assist in the organization of national, regional and interregional knowledge sharing workshops and events, leveraging existing events such as World Urban Forum, African Urban Forum, and national urban forums.
• Assist in the development of visibility and communication materials in support of knowledge sharing nationally, regionally and internationally.
• Perform any other related duties as assigned by UN-Habitat project focal point in ROAF.

• Technical leadership
• Quality assurance
• Project implementation
• Feasibility studies
• Capacity building
• Bankable project proposals
• Investment mobilization
• Procurement
• Team setup
• Onboarding of technical consultancy firms
• Supervision of consultancy firms
• Inception of preliminary feasibility studies
• In-country missions
• Organization of kick-off meetings
• Consultation of findings
• Review of draft reports
• Coordination of project implementation
• Harmonization of approaches
• Facilitating communication
• Technical supervision of project personnel
• Work planning
• Activity coordination
• Trouble shooting
• Budget management
• Financial management
• Recruitment
• Mapping relevant stakeholders
• Establishment of country-level coordination committees
• Partnership building
• Liaison with development partners
• Development of visibility and communication materials

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Environmental/Civil Engineering/Waste Management, Environmental Sciences or related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in waste management and related areas is required.
• Experience in implementing development programmes/projects, particularly in Africa, is desirable.
• Experience working with the Unit