Result of Service

The consultant will support the implementation of low-carbon materials and sustainable cooling related activities in the States of Odisha and Tamil Nadu (India) , including: – Supporting the Pragati Vihar slum redevelopment project under the Jaga Mission in Odisha.

This will require undertaking a site assessment, community engagement, and performing a local market analysis for sustainable building materials. The consultant will develop a project brief, design thermally comfortable independent houses, prepare technical specifications with bill of materials, prepare costings, evaluate material circularity, and ensure planning norm compliance.

The consultant will also conduct simulation analyses to recommend improvements in thermal performance and sustainable design. The consultant will support in preparing the tender document, appointment of the developer, and overall supervision of pilot project execution while monitoring the quality and progress of construction work as per the contract/designs, and timelines.

– Develop guidelines for easy-to-construct and cost-effective passive cooling strategies for the Tamil Nadu Housing Department. The guidelines will be integrated in the building byelaws and relevant building and urban planning regulations of the state.

Work Location

Remote

Expected duration

18 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recognizes the need to address global environmental concerns in an increasingly urbanizing world.

It is in this context that UN Environment supports and promotes sustainability in buildings and construction, emphasizing sustainable buildings’ local and global benefits and the role of the built environment in delivering against the New Urban Agenda and the 2030 Agenda with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

A consultant is needed to perform tasks of a technical, organizational and analytical nature to support activities of UNEP Cities Unit in India. Specifically, the consultant will support the implementation of activities in the States of Odisha and Tamil Nadu under the framework of the project ”Transforming the built environment through sustainable materials” and the UNEP Cool Coalition.

The consultant needs to be based in India. The project “Transforming the built environment through sustainable materials” aims at supporting Bangladesh, Ghana, India and Senegal in creating a market for acquisition of low-carbon building materials.

The Cool Coalition is a global multi-stakeholder network that connects a wide range of key actors from government, cities, international organizations, businesses, finance, academia, and civil society groups to facilitate knowledge exchange, advocacy and joint action towards a rapid global transition to efficient and climate-friendly cooling and heat resilience.

The Secretariat of the Cool Coalition is based in UNEP. The consultant will provide technical expertise and organizational support to national and subnational implementation activities on sustainable urban cooling (urban design, passive cooling, nature, procurement) and sustainable building material activities in India; including supporting UNEP’s dialogue with the Government of India, States and cities; engaging partners and supporting coordination of subcontractors; development of knowledge products, tools, training material and communication pieces.

Qualifications/special skills

The candidate should have Postgraduate/Graduate qualifications in disciplines related to passive design, energy efficiency, thermal comfort performance, building materials or architecture.

A minimum of twenty five years professional experience in industry in relevant field of work, preferably with at least 10 years multi-functional experience with a focus on passive design energy, cities and the environment with focus on affordable housing and good understanding of related Government policies.

Qualifying years of experience are calculated following the receipt of the first level university degree recognized by the United Nations.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

For this post, fluency in written and oral English is required. Knowledge of another language would be an advantage, particularly Hindi.

Additional Information

Specific Knowledge: Expertise in passive design, sustainable building practices, low-carbon construction, and climate-resilient housing, with a deep understanding of local building material markets, planning norms, and community engagement processes..

Professionalism: Demonstrates high competence and mastery in sustainable construction and urban redevelopment. Consistently meets commitments, observes deadlines, and achieves results with persistence and flexibility.

Maintains composure in challenging situations and handles stress effectively. Communication: Communicates clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing. Actively listens, accurately interprets and responds to messages, and asks questions to clarify understanding. Tailors’ language, tone, and style to the audience and exhibits openness in sharing information and keeping stakeholders informed. Planning & Organizing: Sets clear, strategic goals aligned with project objectives.

Identifies and prioritizes key activities, adjusts priorities as needed, and allocates

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.