Adequate Housing Specialist

Result of Service

The consultant will be responsible for providing support in all the steps of the data management process and preparing evidence-based inputs on urban and housing adequacy, and climate-smart housing, as well as supporting applied research and knowledge management activities. Under the guidance of the UN-Habitat Canada Office team and the Land, Housing and Shelter Section, the consultant will consolidate research outputs and knowledge products that strengthen the office’s housing programme and contribute to the global exchange of Canadian expertise on sustainable and inclusive housing and urban development.

Work Location

Montreal

Expected duration

6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

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. 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 OEWG-H’s deliberations and outputs.

UN-Habitat Canada Office is seeking a motivated, highly skilled, and experienced mid-level professionals to join the team. The position is initially offered as a six-month contract, with the possibility of extension based on a positive performance evaluation.

Reporting line This on-site position is fulltime, and is based in Montreal, Canada. This position reports directly to the Head of Office of the UN-Habitat Canada Office (or a designated supervisor). Applicants must be Canadian residents or citizens or have permission to work in Canada.

Duties and Responsibilities The consultant will carry out the following tasks and responsibilities:

1. Provide technical and analytical support to the Canada Office’s research and knowledge management agenda on adequate housing, with a focus on accessibility.
2. Conduct applied research on housing adequacy elements, including cultural adequacy, and accessibility among others, inclusive housing innovation, and sustainable urban development.
3. Support project management, knowledge management, coordination, and administrative tasks. Develop and maintain knowledge management tools, capacity-building materials, and webinar or policy brief content on housing adequacy, accessibility, and inclusion.
4. Design and implement research methodologies (quantitative and qualitative) and tools for housing data collection, analysis, and visualization, including indicators of accessibility and cultural relevance.
5. Develop innovative formats for communication research findings, such as graphical abstracts, data visualization, interactive figures, and video abstracts.
6. Support the mapping, analysis, and management of housing-related data sources—integrating cultural and accessibility dimensions—across Canadian and international contexts.
7. Organize and facilitate meetings, workshops, and consultations to promote inclusive housing frameworks that respect diverse cultural needs and accessibility standards.
8. Contribute to strategic partnerships and alliances with academic institutions, housing data agencies, Indigenous and community-based organizations, and international partners.
9. Provide inputs to UN-Habitat initiatives advancing Sustainable Development Goal 11 (“Sustainable Cities and Communities”), the New Urban Agenda and UN-Habitat Resolution 2/7: Adequate housing for all (HSP/HA.2/Res.7)with specific attention to cultural adequacy, accessibility, and equity in housing.
10. Support monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on housing research outputs and knowledge products, ensuring that cultural and accessibility considerations are reflected.
11. Contribute to resource mobilization and proposal development efforts related to housing research, innovation, and culturally adequate housing solutions.
12. Prepare regular progress reports, research outputs, and recommendations to inform the Canada Office’s housing programme and global engagement.
13. Support the integration of Canadian innovation and expertise on culturally adequate and accessible housing into global knowledge exchange and policy dialogue platforms.
14. Provide support preparing inputs for major global events, including the World Urban Forum, the High-Level Political Forum, the Mid Term Review of the New Urban Agenda and other key international convenings.
15. Provide support to the Canada Office across general functions, including communications, advocacy, and overall administrative and management activities.

Qualifications/special skills

A Master’s degree in Urban Studies, Housing Policy, Urban Planning, Geography, Economics, International Development, Social Policy, or a related field with a focus on housing, accessibility, or cultural adequacy is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Desirable specializations include housing systems and policy, inclusive and accessible design, Indigenous and culturally responsive housing, or sustainable urban development. A minimum of 2 years of experience in research methodologies, quantitative and qualitative analysis tools, survey design and methods, and documenting and communicating research outputs is required. Demonstrated ability to conduct applied research on housing adequacy — including cultural adequacy, accessibility, and climate-smart housing — and to synthesize and present complex information in formats accessible to policymakers, practitioners, and diverse audiences is required. Experience in analyzing and applying frameworks or standards related to accessible, inclusive, and culturally responsive housing design and policy is desirable. Strong report writing, reviewing, and editorial skills are highly desirable. Progressively responsible work experience at the national or international level in the field of housing systems, sustainable urban development, and knowledge management is desirable. Experience working with Indigenous or community-led housing initiatives, or in culturally diverse contexts, is an asset. Experience working in the United Nations Common System or other international organizations is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the official working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in spoken and written English is required. Proficiency and/or fluency in French is highly desirable, and knowledge of another official UN language is considered an asset.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.