Programme Specialist

**Terms of reference**

Job Opening number: UNOPS IICA-2 (International Individual Contractor Agreement, Level 2)
Job Title: Programme Specialist
General Expertise: Housing, Urban Development
Category: Housing Policy
Department/Office: United Nations Human Settlements Programme
Organizational Unit: UN-Habitat EO NYO Montreal Office
Location: Montreal

**Background**

UN-Habitat is the agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all.

The Canada Office of UN-Habitat strengthens the organization’s mission by serving as a focal point for partnerships, applied research, and policy engagement in Canada and across North America for the implementation of UN-Habitat’s 2026-2029 Strategic Plan. Operating from the City of Montreal, the Canada Office plays a central role in four domains: partner engagement and resource mobilization; research-policy-action interface; advocacy and communication; and the advancement of sustainable urbanization agendas within the Canadian and North American context.

The Canada Office places particular emphasis on knowledge and innovation with a view to accelerating housing solutions that are affordable, adequate, resilient, and compatible with national and global commitments.

In alignment with its housing and urban development priorities, the Canada Office also contributes to UN-Habitat’s global efforts to strengthen intergovernmental dialogue and cooperation on housing in close cooperation with UN-Habitat's Land, Housing and Shelter Section in Nairobi, Kenya, and the UN-Habitat Office at UN Headquarters. This includes supporting the work of the Open-Ended Intergovernmental Expert Working Group on Adequate Housing for All (OWEG-H), which aims to advance a shared understanding and actionable recommendations for realizing the right to adequate housing within the framework of the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Through evidence-based research, policy engagement, and partnership-building, the Canada Office helps ensure that global innovations and lessons inform and enrich the deliberations and outputs of the OEWG-H, General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, as relevant.

UN-Habitat Canada Office is seeking a motivated, highly skilled, and experienced professional to join the team on a full-time basis in their office in Montreal, Canada.

**Reporting line**

This position is under the overall guidance of the Director of the New York Liaison Office (NYLO) and reports directly to the Head of Office, Canada.

**Duties and Responsibilities**

Working closely with the UN-Habitat Canada Office team, the Programme Specialist will provide strategic advisory support to advance the Office’s housing and urban development portfolio, with a focus on resource mobilization, effective project implementation, and strengthening technical cooperation and partnerships.

Specifically, the consultant will:

Provide strategic advice to support the design, implementation, and delivery of housing and urban development initiatives, ensuring alignment with UN-Habitat’s mandate and the Canada Office’s programmatic priorities.

Contribute to the identification and development of opportunities for resource mobilization, including supporting the preparation of concept notes, proposals, and engagement strategies with public, private, and multilateral partners.

Support the effective implementation of ongoing projects by providing technical guidance, quality assurance, and strategic inputs to ensure timely and high-quality delivery of outputs.

Strengthen technical cooperation by facilitating knowledge exchange, promoting the application of international best practices, and supporting the adaptation of global frameworks to national and local contexts.

Contribute to the development and consolidation of partnerships with key stakeholders, including governments, financial institutions, academia, and international organizations, to advance housing and urban development priorities.

Provide high-level technical inputs on housing systems, including housing finance, market dynamics, governance frameworks, and policy instruments, to inform programmatic activities and advisory services.

Support the development of knowledge products, policy briefs, and technical outputs that contribute to evidence-based decision-making and strengthen the visibility of the Canada Office’s work.

Contribute to stakeholder engagement processes, including consultations, expert dialogues, and intergovernmental discussions, to support programme delivery and partnership-building efforts.

Provide strategic insights to strengthen linkages between national-level initiatives and UN-Habitat’s global normative and operational work, including contributions to intergovernmental processes and global knowledge platforms.

Support the Canada Office in positioning itself as a