Urban Observatory and Data Systems Specialist at UN-Habitat

Duties and responsibilities


The consultant would work under the direct supervision of the project manager and in close collaboration with the Data and Analytics Unit (DAU).


He/She will perform the following duties and responsibilities


Urban observatory framework Design and implement governance (steering committee, host institution, roles, MoUs/data‑sharing agreements) and obtain GUO‑Net certification.
Institutionalize mission, vision, objectives, action plan, including observatory costing and resource mobilization strategies.
Indicator development & data strategy Design a data collection and integration plan, ensuring disaggregation by gender, age, and spatial dimension. Localize the UMF indicator matrix for GBM and define baselines, targets, disaggregation (sex, age, disability, location). Identify and define a core set of indicators aligned with land tenure security, market dynamics, spatial planning, gender equity, and informality and ensure alignments with the Global urban monitoring framework.
Support setting up an online data portal with APIs, open‑data policy, and role‑based access; deploy interactive dashboards and map services.
Data platform development and geospatial analysis Develop or coordinate development of an interactive, GIS-enabled dashboard. Integrate geospatial data with housing, economic, and planning datasets.
Support application of geospatial analysis models such as hotspot mapping, land use change detection, proximity analysis, and spatial clustering to inform evidence-based decision-making.
Produce geo-visualizations that support policy recommendations, market space allocation, and tenure interventions.


Capacity building & stakeholder engagement


Design, Facilitate and deliver trainings (GIS, indicator production, dashboarding, data governance, data use in planning and policy.) for local government and WYITs. Facilitate multi‑stakeholder data collaboratives (government departments, academia, private sector, CSOs) and peer‑to‑peer learning.
Monitoring, evaluation and reporting Develop and embed an M&E framework with KPIs for Observatory use on output and outcome monitoring. Produce monthly technical reports and a final implementation report on the data and analytics process.
Produce an annual State of GBM report (progress toward SDG 11/NUA; policy options; investment priorities).


Qualifications/special skills


Advanced degree in urban planning, geography, statistics, data science, social science or related field.
A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree
Minimum 5 years of experience in urban data systems, statistical observatories, or urban monitoring is required
Proven track record in developing geospatial platforms, urban dashboards, and applying geospatial analysis models is required


Languages


For the position advertised, fluency in English is required