Programme Management Specialist

Functional title: Programme Management Specialist

Duty station of assignment: Istanbul, Türkiye

Contract modality: Local ICA

Grade: LICA-10 equivalent

Duration of assignment: 6 months

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. UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system and works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and communities. It promotes urbanization as a positive, transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination, and poverty.

UN-Habitat Strategic Plan 2026-2029 provides the global framework guiding the organization’s normative and operational engagement in support of sustainable urbanization. At the core of the Strategic Plan is a strong emphasis on housing, including informal settlements, urban infrastructure, and access to basic services, as a central lever for addressing the global housing crisis.

UN-Habitat’s Regional Programme Division (RPD) provides strategic guidance, coordination, and oversight to Regional and Country Offices to ensure coherent programme delivery, effective partnerships, and alignment with UN-Habitat’s Strategic Plan. The Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ROEECA), based in Istanbul, Türkiye, supports national and local governments and other partners in implementing the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 on sustainable, inclusive, and resilient cities and communities.

In line with the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan 2026-2029 and the specific urban dynamics of the EECA region, as well as national development plans and UNSDCFs, UN-Habitat’s regional roadmap for Eastern Europe and Central Asia places strengthening urban governance and local institutions; affordable housing, integrated urban basic services & social inclusion; climate-resilient and sustainable urban infrastructure; post-crisis and post-conflict urban recovery; and multilevel governance and SDG localization at the core of programming.

Within this framework, UN-Habitat, through ROEECA, is implementing regional and country-level initiatives to support sustainable urban development and SDG localization across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. These include the Konya Urban Pulse: Smart and Resilient City project, whose flagship product will be the action-oriented Voluntary Local Review (VLR) for the City of Konya. The VLR is part of the broader UN-Habitat SDG Cities Flagship Programme and draws on the Action-Oriented VLR Methodology jointly developed by UN-Habitat and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).

Purpose of the assignment

To support the Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ROEECA) in programme development, implementation, monitoring and regional coordination. The assignment will include supporting the formulation of new regional initiatives and funding proposals, preparing analytical and technical documents, coordinating with United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs), government counterparts and development partners, and supporting the Regional Director in advancing UN-Habitat's regional priorities.

Duties and main responsibilities

The consultant will be based in the Office of the Regional Director of the Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ROEECA) and will work under the direct supervision of the Regional Director. The incumbent will undertake the following duties:

Programme Implementation and Monitoring

• Support the coordination and implementation of programme activities in the region, including preparation of background materials, concept notes, technical briefs, agendas, talking points, and documentation for meetings and technical consultations with implementing partners, UNCTs, and government counterparts.
• Support compiling materials for project evaluation reports, including consolidation of data, results, lessons learned, and supporting documentation.

Programme Development

• Provide analytical and technical support for the development of new regional initiatives in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, including preparing concise analytical reports mapping UN-Habitat entry points in line with the Strategic Plan 2026-2029 of UN-Habitat, its regional roadmap, and in line with relevant UNSDCFs and UNCTs priorities.
• Support the identification and formulation of project concepts and funding proposals, including drafting concept notes, logical frameworks, and donor-facing materials, and contributing to resource mobilization efforts with regional and headquarters teams.

Regional Coordination

• Coordinate with relevant UNRCOs and UNCTs in the region on relevant themes derived from their respective UNSDCFs.
• Support the Regional Director in preparing strategic missions to and meetings with the programme countries by preparing mission briefs, supporting the coordination with partners, and drafting relevant talking points.
• Lead preparations for events in Türkiye, including logistical coordination, development of briefing packages, and talking points.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Strong programme management and monitoring skills. Good coordination skills, with ability to handle multiple activities concurrently, work under pressure and to tight deadlines. Ability to plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Ability to undertake complex research independently. Communication: Excellent inter-personal communication and networking skills; Planning and Organising: Ability to work independently with a high degree of responsibility, in a flexible manner, and under pressure. Team Work: Ability to participate effectively in teams of various expertise as well as organizations. The candidate should share credit for team accomplishments and accept joint responsibility for team shortcomings, and should have a positive approach to work with consistent energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in urban planning, political science, international development, or a related field is required.

Experience

• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in knowledge management, monitoring, and programme implementation in the areas of sustainable development and evidence-based decision-making, is required.
• Experience working with Turkish government counterparts or within the Turkish urban planning context is a strong advantage.
• Proven ability to gather, organize, and analyze large data sets from multiple sources.

Language

• Fluency in English and Turkish (written and spoken) is required.

Other Skills:

• Strong writing, research, and coordination skills.
• Familiarity with SDG localization and UN processes is an asset.
• Professional experience in urban planning and governance is desirable.