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Urban Planning and GIS Assistant at UN-Habitat
UN-Habitat
September 07, 2026
Full-time
On-site
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager and in close collaboration with the Ethiopia Programme team, the consultant will undertake the following:
GIS Database Development and Management
Compile, organize and consolidate spatial and non-spatial datasets from government agencies, development partners and project sources.
Develop and maintain a geospatial database covering settlements, infrastructure, services, environmental features and hazards.
Prepare metadata and apply data management procedures to ensure consistency, traceability and accessibility of datasets.
Maintain backup copies and version control, and support appropriate data sharing and knowledge management.
Spatial Data Collection and Validation
Conduct field verification, GPS surveys and geospatial data collection in project target areas.
Verify settlement boundaries, infrastructure locations and environmental features.
Support community consultations and participatory mapping exercises.
Document field observations, validate collected spatial information and integrate findings into the GIS database.
Climate-Smart Suitability Mapping
Support the development of settlement suitability assessment criteria and undertake multi-criteria spatial analysis using agreed methodologies. • Analyse infrastructure accessibility, service coverage, and environmental and climate-related constraints.
Prepare suitability maps and settlement development scenarios to inform planning and investment decisions.
Contribute maps, spatial analysis and explanatory notes to the Regional GIS Planning Atlas.
Hazard and Climate Risk Mapping
Support the preparation of flood, heat stress and other relevant environmental hazard maps using available data and agreed methodologies. • Analyse the exposure of settlements and infrastructure to identified hazards, incorporating available climate projections where appropriate. • Contribute spatial evidence to climate-resilient planning recommendations.
Prepare clear maps and other visual products for consultations, validation and decision-making.
Settlement Planning Support
Assist with settlement profiling and urban and territorial planning assessments.
Provide geospatial inputs for infrastructure planning, service delivery assessments and settlement growth scenarios.
Contribute to planning reports and technical recommendations informed by spatial analysis and field findings.
Support the application of durable solutions planning approaches that reflect the needs of displacement-affected communities. F. Capacity Development and Training Support
Support GIS capacity development activities for local authorities, including the preparation of training materials and technical presentations. • Demonstrate GIS applications and explain mapping outputs during workshops and training sessions.
Prepare maps and planning evidence to support City Leaders Training activities.
Assist with peer-learning and knowledge-sharing activities on the use of spatial information in planning.
Coordination, Reporting and Knowledge Management
Liaise with regional bureaus, municipalities, woredas and partner institutions to obtain data, validate findings and coordinate assigned activities. • Participate in technical meetings, workshops and field missions relevant to the assignment.
Prepare technical reports, maps, presentations and progress updates on assigned activities.
Maintain geospatial repositories and supporting documentation, and document lessons learned and good practices.
Qualifications/special skills
A high school diploma or equivalent is required. Additional training in urban planning, regional planning, human settlements, territorial planning, urban development, architecture or a related field is desirable.
A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in GIS, spatial planning, geomatics, remote sensing or a related field is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced by two years for candidates who possess a first-level university degree.
Experience in developing and managing spatial databases is required.
Experience in field-based geospatial data collection and GPS surveys is required.
Experience in suitability analysis, hazard mapping and geospatial modelling is required.
Experience supporting development, humanitarian, displacement, resilience or local government programmes is desirable.
Deadline : Sep 14, 2026
Under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager and in close collaboration with the Ethiopia Programme team, the consultant will undertake the following:
GIS Database Development and Management
Compile, organize and consolidate spatial and non-spatial datasets from government agencies, development partners and project sources.
Develop and maintain a geospatial database covering settlements, infrastructure, services, environmental features and hazards.
Prepare metadata and apply data management procedures to ensure consistency, traceability and accessibility of datasets.
Maintain backup copies and version control, and support appropriate data sharing and knowledge management.
Spatial Data Collection and Validation
Conduct field verification, GPS surveys and geospatial data collection in project target areas.
Verify settlement boundaries, infrastructure locations and environmental features.
Support community consultations and participatory mapping exercises.
Document field observations, validate collected spatial information and integrate findings into the GIS database.
Climate-Smart Suitability Mapping
Support the development of settlement suitability assessment criteria and undertake multi-criteria spatial analysis using agreed methodologies. • Analyse infrastructure accessibility, service coverage, and environmental and climate-related constraints.
Prepare suitability maps and settlement development scenarios to inform planning and investment decisions.
Contribute maps, spatial analysis and explanatory notes to the Regional GIS Planning Atlas.
Hazard and Climate Risk Mapping
Support the preparation of flood, heat stress and other relevant environmental hazard maps using available data and agreed methodologies. • Analyse the exposure of settlements and infrastructure to identified hazards, incorporating available climate projections where appropriate. • Contribute spatial evidence to climate-resilient planning recommendations.
Prepare clear maps and other visual products for consultations, validation and decision-making.
Settlement Planning Support
Assist with settlement profiling and urban and territorial planning assessments.
Provide geospatial inputs for infrastructure planning, service delivery assessments and settlement growth scenarios.
Contribute to planning reports and technical recommendations informed by spatial analysis and field findings.
Support the application of durable solutions planning approaches that reflect the needs of displacement-affected communities. F. Capacity Development and Training Support
Support GIS capacity development activities for local authorities, including the preparation of training materials and technical presentations. • Demonstrate GIS applications and explain mapping outputs during workshops and training sessions.
Prepare maps and planning evidence to support City Leaders Training activities.
Assist with peer-learning and knowledge-sharing activities on the use of spatial information in planning.
Coordination, Reporting and Knowledge Management
Liaise with regional bureaus, municipalities, woredas and partner institutions to obtain data, validate findings and coordinate assigned activities. • Participate in technical meetings, workshops and field missions relevant to the assignment.
Prepare technical reports, maps, presentations and progress updates on assigned activities.
Maintain geospatial repositories and supporting documentation, and document lessons learned and good practices.
Qualifications/special skills
A high school diploma or equivalent is required. Additional training in urban planning, regional planning, human settlements, territorial planning, urban development, architecture or a related field is desirable.
A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in GIS, spatial planning, geomatics, remote sensing or a related field is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced by two years for candidates who possess a first-level university degree.
Experience in developing and managing spatial databases is required.
Experience in field-based geospatial data collection and GPS surveys is required.
Experience in suitability analysis, hazard mapping and geospatial modelling is required.
Experience supporting development, humanitarian, displacement, resilience or local government programmes is desirable.
Deadline : Sep 14, 2026