Result of Service
The incumbent will work in close collaboration with programme, operations and project teams to support the achievement of project objectives and organizational priorities.
Work Location
São Paulo (SP), Brazil
Expected duration
Seven (7) months
Duties and Responsibilities
Background The main mandate of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is to promote sustainable development of human settlements and policies conducive to adequate housing for all. Within this framework, UN-Habitat supports central and state governments, as well as local authorities and other partners for the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, the 2030 Agenda with the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda.
UN-Habitat helps the urban poor by transforming cities into safer, more inclusive, compact, integrated, resilient and connected places with better opportunities where everyone can live with dignity. It works with organizations at every level, including all spheres of government, civil society, and the private sector to help build, manage, plan and finance sustainable urban development. The Regional Office for Latin American and the Caribbean
ROLAC – is based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Agency puts emphasis in developing and managing activities in the host country. Indeed, for the past years, UN-Habitat has expanded its portfolio in Brazil by working with the three tiers of government to support the formulation and implementation of more effective, sustainable, participative, and socially fairer urban economic, social, and environmental policies. The city of São Paulo is the largest city in the Americas and one of the largest metropolises in the world.
The municipality has a population of 12 million, of which approximately 3.6 million live in precarious areas or informal settlements, experiencing socioeconomic and climate vulnerability, and with little or no access to green spaces. The Municipality of São Paulo approached UN-Habitat to help address the uneven distribution of public green spaces and social inequality in the city's urban space.
Thus, in September 2022, a Contribution Agreement was signed to improve access, inclusion, and sustainability of public green spaces in the city to improve climate adaptation and resilience in the long term. The project, named Viva o Verde SP, concluded in September 2025. A second phase of Viva o Verde SP was established to implement the main recommendations raised in the first phase and promote inclusive park governance, management and design.
The two phases of Viva o Verde SP aim to support the Secretariat of Green and Environment (SVMA) of São Paulo Municipality in its efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda regarding green public spaces. As part of the second phase, a key expected output is the development of management and financing plans for the ten
(10) parks, which were assessed in the first phase of Viva o Verde SP. The objective is to provide these facilities with a strategic tool for their long-term sustainability. To properly develop the content related to the financing strategies for the ten
(10) park management plans, a Consultant on Financing Green Public Spaces is required. Report to UN-Habitat Manager The Consultant on Financing Green Public Spaces reports to the Head of Brazil Office, who will evaluate him/her. Responsibilities The Consultant on Financing Green Public Spaces will support the implementation of the project, and its activities, with the following responsibilities:
a) Plan the activities of the consultancy, including the methodology, workplan and schedule.
b) Identify good practices of park financing and of economic activities in parks, focusing on experiences applicable to the context of the ten (10) target parks in São Paulo.
c) Assess the opportunities, risks, enabling conditions, barriers and mitigation measures related to the identified financing mechanisms and economic regulations, considering the characteristics of each of the ten (10) parks and their respective action plans.
d) Prepare the methodology, supporting materials, and facilitation plan for participatory workshops.
e) Conduct ten (10) participatory workshops with public officials, civil society representatives and other relevant stakeholders to support the co-development of complementary financing strategies for each park.
f) Systematize the discussions and recommendations resulting from the workshops and consolidate them into the financing strategies tailored to each of the ten (10) target parks.
g) Prepare a roadmap outlining the main steps, enabling conditions and recommendations for the implementation of the proposed financing strategies. The consultant will be responsible for completing all courses and training activities that are indicated to him/her by his/her supervisor. The security course BSAFE, from UNDSS, is required to be accredited during the first month of employment.
The consultant will be responsible for his/her own security, so the person should get familiarized with United Nations security mechanisms and comply with them according to the Framework of Accountability for the United Nations Security Management System. Outputs/Work Assignment The consultant will assist the implementation of the project, according to the stated responsibilities and the delivery of the following products: Product 1
Workplan Description: Product 1 must contain
(i) a detailed workplan outlining the purpose goals, preliminary description, and schedule of activities; and
(ii) a proposed schedule and methodology for conducting workshops in the ten
(10) parks. Expected delivery date: 10 days after signing the contract. Product 2: Case Studies of Park Financing Mechanisms Description: Product 2 must contain
(i) one
(1) report assessing related programs currently in operation or planned for implementation in São Paulo; and
(ii) at least five
(5) additional financing mechanisms and/or case studies from cities where public parks allow economic activities that provide revenue or support to park operation and maintenance, preferably in Latin America, the Caribbean or other Global South contexts. The selected case studies must consider the characteristics of the ten
(10) target parks and their respective Action Plans, particularly their territorial context, socio-environmental vulnerabilities, governance arrangements, and operational needs, in addition to the opportunity to enhance the local economy. The selected experiences must focus on financing mechanisms that can strengthen the operation, maintenance and incremental improvement of parks by complementing existing public funding, rather than replacing the financial responsibilities already undertaken by the municipal administration. The structure of the case studies must be validated by the UN-Habitat technical team prior to their development. Each case study must contain, at minimum:
Technical Fact Sheet: name of the site; location; typology; year of implementation (and last renovation, if applicable); and a brief description of the space and its main facilities and activities.
Context: a brief description of the political, institutional, legal, socioeconomic and environmental conditions that supported the implementation of the financing mechanism.
Financing Mechanisms: a brief description of the financing and economic arrangement, including regulations, governance and resource allocation.
Case Assessment: a summary of the main implementation challenges, enabling factors and lessons learned in the context of the project’s ten (10) parks.
Links to the Park Management and Finance Action Plans: a brief explanation of how the solutions from the case studies are relevant and applicable to the project’s ten
(10) parks. Expected delivery date: 40 days after the signature of the contract. Product 3: Preliminary Proposals of Financing and Economic Solutions for the Ten Parks Description: Product 3 must contain a report with preliminary proposals for allowed economic activities within the ten
(10) municipal parks that can generate revenue, support operation and maintenance, and enhance the local economy, assessing the opportunities, enabling conditions, implementation barriers and risk mitigation measures for their potential application to the ten
(10) target parks. The proposals must consider the specific characteristics of each target park, identifying the institutional, legal, operational, financial, and social aspects that may influence their implementation. The report must also propose practical measures to reduce implementation risks and facilitate the adoption of identified strategies. The report may include, whenever applicable:
Institutional and governance requirements;
Legal or regulatory aspects enabling implementation;
Operational requirements and implementation arrangements;
Information resources and data requirements to support implementation;
Stakeholder mapping and expected roles and responsibilities;
Potential implementation risks and barriers;
Proposed mitigation measures and enabling actions;
Recommendations to support the implementation of the financing strategies within the context of the project. Expected delivery date: 60 days after the signature of the contract. Product 4: Participatory Workshops Description: Product 4 refers to the planning, preparation, facilitation and systematization of participatory workshops with park management and environmental councils, with the participation of other relevant stakeholders, to co-develop the financing strategies for the ten
(10) target parks. The workshops must build upon the findings of Products 2 and 3 by presenting the proposed solutions, their implementation opportunities and barriers, and facilitating discussions on their applicability to each park. Particular attention shall be given to identifying local opportunities, potential implementation barriers and mitigation measures, especially those related to governance arrangements, stakeholder engagement, and the surrounding communities. Product 4 must contain, at minimum: i. Workshop methodology, agenda and supporting materials; ii. One
(1) systematization report for each workshop, including: list of participants and stakeholder representation, summary of main discussions and key outcomes, identified opportunities and enabling conditions, implementation barriers and risks, and recommendations for the development and implementation of park financing strategies. The consultant shall prepare the workshop methodology and supporting materials in advance, subject to validation by the UN-Habitat technical team. The consultant must facilitate a minimum of ten
(10) participatory workshops and attend coordination meetings with the UN-Habitat technical team whenever required. Expected delivery date: 150 days after the signature of the contract. Product 5: Financing Strategies for the Ten
(10) Parks Description: Product 5 must consist of a report presenting financing strategies for each of the ten
(10) target parks and recommendations for municipal policy on park financing. The report must incorporate the contributions and results from the workshops tailored to each of the ten
(10) target parks. For each park, the report should include, whenever applicable:
Recommended solutions for economic activities within the parks that generate revenue, support operation and maintenance and enhance local economic development;
Legal or regulatory aspects enabling implementation;
Key implementation considerations, including identified barriers, enabling conditions and recommended mitigation measures;
Suggested governance and implementation arrangements;
Identification of key stakeholders and their expected roles, with clear actions to be addressed by the park manager;
Priority actions and an indicative implementation roadmap;
Suggested monitoring and evaluation tools. The strategies must be presented in the format of the action plans framework, including desired outcome, outputs, indicators, baseline, targets, activities, timeframe, responsible actors, and necessary inputs. Expected delivery date: 180 days after the signature of the contract.
Qualifications/special skills
Education Required:
Bachelor’s degree in Law, Geography, Social Sciences, Architecture and Urbanism, Economics, Public Policy, Administration, or related fields is required;
Postgraduate Degree (Stricto Sensu) in Public Policy, Public Administration, Political Science, Geography, Economics, Urban Studies, Urban Management, Urban Law, Finance or related fields is required, or additional five (5) years of relevant experience to the post, beyond the requirement. Desirable:
PhD in Economics, Public Administration, Geography, Finance or related field is desirable. Work experience
A minimum of ten (10) years of experience in urban planning, urban finance, municipal public policy and or municipal budgeting is required;
Work experience with the municipality of São Paulo is required;
Work experience with data analysis is required;
Previous experience within the UN System is desirable. Skills
Good computer skills in Windows, Word, Excel, Outlook and Web search engines are required;
Good handling of technological tools and use of software and online platforms is desirable;
Good knowledge on project management methodologies is desirable;
Knowledge of data collection and analysis is desirable. Competencies
Professionalism: Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of financial management principles and practices; applies sound judgment; shows persistence in meeting commitments and achieving results; demonstrates integrity and accountability.
Planning and organization: Develops clear goals and priorities; identifies priority activities and assignments; allocates appropriate time and resources for completing work and meeting deadlines.
Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others and responds appropriately; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping stakeholders informed.
Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues and partners to achieve organizational goals; values diversity; contributes to an inclusive and respectful work environment. Knowledge Management
Contribute to the documentation, organization and dissemination of relevant technical knowledge and lessons learned related to the assignment.
Support the preparation of tools, templates and reference materials that facilitate that effective project implementation.
Ensure information, records and documentation produced under the assignment are properly organized and made available to authorized personnel.
Promote knowledge-sharing and collaboration among project teams while ensuring compliance with applicable confidentiality and data protection requirements.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat, and Spanish is the working language of the Regional Office.
For the post advertised, fluency in Portuguese is required. Working knowledge of Spanish and English is desirable.
Additional Information
Travel details: Applicable The incumbent may be required to undertake official travel within Brazil, subject to project requirements and prior authorization of Head of Brazil Office. All official travel will be undertaken in accordance with applicable United Nations travel policies and procedures. Remuneration Remuneration is determined in accordance with the applicable UNOPS Local ICA or UNDP’s salary scale and the level established through the official classification process. The consultant will receive a total amount of BRL: 100.000, according to the following schedule:
Payment 1 [30%]: Upon delivery and approval of Product 1 and 2 (BRL: 30.000)
Payment 2 [20%]: Upon delivery and approval of Product 3 (BRL: 20.000)
Payment 3 [20%]: Upon delivery and approval of Product 4 (BRL: 20.000)
Payment 4 [30%]: Upon delivery and approval of Product 5 (BRL: 30.000) Notes Appointment against this post is on local basis and only nationals from Brazil or external candidates who hold a permanent visa in Brazil may apply. The extension of this contract is subject to availability of funds and/or performance. Any contract extension is not automatic. It is required for all the curricular information to be inserted in the system, which may take a few hours. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
Due to the volume of applications received, receipt of applications cannot be acknowledged individually. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Applications should be submitted through INSPIRA and must include all documents required at the system, please be ready to include the following information at the “Candidate Profile” (CP) at Inspira:
Cover memo (maximum 1 page)
Educational Background (incl. dates)
Professional Experience (assignments, tasks, achievements, duration by years/ months)
Expertise and preferences regarding location of potential assignments
Languages (please indicate your proficiency level in all languages, including your mother tongue)
Other Experience and Expertise (e.g. Internships/ voluntary work, etc.)*
Please note that Internships and part-time work count as 50%. In addition to it, note experience not relevant to the position will not be considered. All applications should be submitted to: Inspira UN-HABITAT does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. If you have any questions concerning people or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of these offices and requesting the payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unon.org.