Urban Planner

Role Overview\n\nThe United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the UN agency for human settlements, mandated to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. The Urban Economy Branch of UN-Habitat is seeking an Urban Planner to promote local capabilities. This role involves a phased scope of work focused on the development and planning of Muhoroni Township in Kisumu County.\n\n### Responsibilities and Duties\n\nPhase 1: Inception and Mobilization\n* Project Kick-off Meeting: Engage with the County Government of Kisumu and relevant agencies to confirm scope, expectations, and roles.\n* Inception Report Preparation: Outline methodology, work plan, stakeholder engagement strategy, risk management approach, and validation of the Terms of Reference.\n* Site Reconnaissance: Conduct initial field visits to understand the physical, social, and economic dynamics of the township.\n\nPhase 2: Desk Review and Legal Audit\n* Review of Documentation: Assess previous plans, policies, sectoral reports, census data, maps, and investment frameworks relevant to Muhoroni.\n* Policy and Legal Framework Audit: Ensure alignment with the Physical and Land Use Planning Act (2019), Vision 2030, County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP), SDGs, and other statutory frameworks.\n\nPhase 3: Community and Stakeholder Engagement\n* Stakeholder Mapping: Identify and categorize key actors including residents, industries, farmers, youth, women’s groups, county departments, and private sector stakeholders.\n* Engagement Mechanisms: Facilitate public forums, barazas, focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs), surveys, and participatory mapping.\n\nPhase 4: Visioning Workshop\n* Co-creation: Lead the co-creation of a shared long-term development vision for Muhoroni Township.\n\n### Qualifications and Experience\n\n* Education: An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Urban Planning, Regional Planning, or a related field. A first-level university degree combined with additional relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.\n* Experience: Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in Urban or Regional Planning.\n* Specialized Knowledge: Direct experience in city-wide planning, informal settlements upgrading, urban extension plans, urban regeneration/renewal, land management, or public space design.\n* Engagement Skills: Experience in organizing participatory planning activities and conducting capacity development activities.\n* Partnership Management: Proven experience in interacting and managing partnerships with high-level government officials and development partners.\n* Assets: Previous experience within the UN system is an asset. Registration/License by the Physical Planners Registration Board in Kenya is highly desirable.\n\n### How to Apply\n\nInterested and qualified candidates should apply online through the official UN careers portal. Visit the application link at https://www.myjobmag.co.ke/apply-now/1194942 which redirects to the careers.un.org portal.