Urban Economist

Result of Service
The result of service will be a comprehensive diagnostic analysis of the " Investment Planning and Prioritization Dynamics for Kafr El Bateekh and New Damietta cities."

Work Location
Cairo, Egypt

Expected duration
Part-time for six months

**Responsibilities**:
Organizational Setting:
UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. It is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system.

Background:
UN-Habitat and the New Urban Agenda (NUA)

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the United Nations programme working towards a better urban future. Its mission is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlement development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all.

Mandated by the UN General Assembly in 1978 to address urban growth issues, it is a knowledgeable institution on urban development processes. It understands the aspirations of cities and their residents. For forty years, UN-Habitat has been working in human settlements worldwide, focusing on building a brighter future for villages, towns, and cities of all sizes. Because of these four decades of extensive experience, from the highest levels of policy to a range of specific technical issues, UN-Habitat has gained a unique and universally acknowledged expertise in all things urban. This has placed UN-Habitat in the best position to provide answers and achievable solutions to the current challenges faced by our cities. UN-Habitat is capitalizing on its experience and position to work with partners to formulate the urban vision of tomorrow. It works to ensure that cities become inclusive and affordable drivers of economic growth and social development.

Urbanization is a key driver of development. Hence, sustainable planning and governance of urbanization are crucial to accommodate the rapid population growth, empower cities to optimize the value of urbanization, and ensure even development, inclusion, and equality. Rapid urbanization presents a unique opportunity to lift millions out of poverty when managed sustainably. However, inadequate urbanization management, which doubled with rapid population growth, has adversely affected the quality of life, leading to a lack of adequate housing and increasing inequality. These conditions contribute to diseconomies (e.g., congestion, pollution, displacement) that negatively affect overall city prosperity, efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness over time.

UN-Habitat in Egypt:
Established in 2005, UN-Habitat Egypt Programme has provided technical support to national counterparts on a wide range of urban issues. Adopting an integrated approach, UN-Habitat Egypt has supported reforming and improving urban planning and management through three main sub-programs: urban planning and design; urban policies, legislation, and governance; and urban basic services and mobility.

Urban Policy, Legislation and Governance Programme:
Egypt's Urban Governance, Policies, and Legislation Programme tackle the multi-dimensional urbanization context with special attention to urban management, urban planning, and urban economy. All stakeholders are empowered to engage and play their expected role(s). The Programme is working with all stakeholders and on different levels to find new appropriate, realistic, and context-driven ways of ensuring that the urbanization processes provide acceptable spatial standards and services. The Programme is also working towards enhancing the capacity of relevant actors in reforming the legal and institutional framework governing urban development, promoting the empowerment of local government, enhancing land tenure security, establishing processes for participating and inclusive planning process, enhancing local economic development social entrepreneurs. The Programme provides legislation enhancement and policy development support on the national level to replicate and scale up all of its successful interventions.

Urban Planning and Infrastructure for Migration Contexts Programme:
UN-Habitat is partnering with the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to improve access to reliable services and socio-economic opportunities for migrants and refugees in urban settlements. The Urban Planning and Infrastructure in Migration Contexts (UPIMC) programme will focus on activities that develop a common understanding of the issues affecting cities, towns, and neighborhoods, mapping provisions and gaps in public infrastructure services in coordination with humanitarian interventions.

The Programme will support municipalities hosting displaced populations in Jordan, Egypt, and Cameroon. Cities in these three countries have been selected through full consultation with SECO and UN-Habitat country representatives. The Programme will foster multi-sectoral collaboratio