Event Management Expert Consultant

Result of ServiceThe Consultant will successfully support the activities of UN-Habitat’s SDG Localization team, particularly the preparation and delivery of the SDG Cities Global Conference scheduled for October 2025, as well as other related advocacy initiatives. The consultancy will cover event coordination, logistical and administrative support, and substantive preparation and communication. Work LocationNairobi Expected duration6 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesBACKGROUND The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the United Nations agency for human settlements. Based in Nairobi (Kenya), 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. UN-Habitat is the lead agency within the UN system for coordinating activities in the field of human settlement development and the UN leading the collaboration with local and regional governments and their networks. During the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in 2015, 193 Member States, convened at the Global Summit on Sustainable Development to adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are universal and relevant to all Member States, from both the global north and global south. As demonstrated in the past years of implementation, it is widely acknowledged that the local level and local action are critical for the overall success of the 2030 Agenda – the SDGs need to be localized. In addition, during the second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly, the Brazil-promoted Resolution on Localizing the SDGs received wide consensus and was co-sponsored by twelve other countries. Through the resolution, Member States further mandated UN-Habitat to strengthen the capacities of local and national governments on SDG data, reporting and integrated planning as well as on multilevel governance approaches for SDG localization. UN-Habitat is the UN focal point for work with local and regional governments and the custodian of the New Urban Agenda and has been at the forefront of SDG Localization since the very endorsement of the 2030 Agenda. Building on its operational capacities and technical leadership, the Agency developed the most integrated approach to localizing the SDGs in the UN system, working on three levels: 1) supporting cities through the SDG Cities Global Initiative; 2) supporting national governments to develop National SDG Localization Frameworks through the Partnership Platform on Localizing the SDGs; 3) and coordinating global advancements and political engagement through the Local2030 Coalition, the UN System-wide initiative on localizing Agenda 2030. UN-Habitat's global footprint on SDG Localization exceeds 20 countries, working through the UN system and in cooperation with the main UN and international partners. Most recently, UN-Habitat has been mandated to lead the two key UN mechanisms on SDG Localization and local governments: the Local2030 Coalition and the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Group on Local and Regional Governments. Local2030 Coalition is the United Nations system-wide initiative on localizing the 2030 Agenda. The Coalition brings together 14 UN agencies and stakeholders from all sectors and from all levels to foster collaboration, incubate innovation, share solutions, and implement strategies to support local stakeholders in achieving the 2030 Agenda everywhere. It also aims at boosting partnerships, co-creation, and knowledge sharing to support local actors in delivering initiatives that can be adapted and scaled up by many others and, therefore, generate a multiplier effect on accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. As a key part of SDG Cities Global Initiative, the SDG Cities Global Conference serves as a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, partnership-building, and action-oriented dialogue. It convenes local-level leaders and, representatives; UN agencies, multilateral banks, and investors; academia, civil society, and grassroots communities to discuss how to advance cities’ transformation for shared prosperity through the lenses of the SDGs. The conference fosters a connected global community, ensuring clear communication pathways between cities and stakeholders regarding the SDG Cities approach, while identifying key urban challenges, gaps, and solutions. The first two editions were online, with the launching the first eight SDG Cities pilot cities and the national projects in Ghana and Ecuador. The most recent edition, in 2023, brought together over 1,300 participants from 26 countries under the theme “Accelerating SDG Implementation at Scale.” Co-hosted by UN-Habitat, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People’s Republic of China, and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, with support from Tongji University, the conference provided a platform for local leaders, policymakers, and experts to exchange best practices and forge transformative partnerships. The 2025 edition will be an occasion to take stock of the evolution of cities’ pathways toward sustainability and to jointly define a collaborative way ahead to support city leaders and administrations in delivering their mandate. Responsibilities The consultant’s main responsibility will be to support the activities of UN-Habitat’s SDG localization team, specifically in terms of 1) coordinating the preparation and delivery of the SDG Cities Global Conference in October 2025 in coordination with other advocacy opportunities; 2) Logistics, legal and administrative support toward the SDG Cities Global Conference; 3) Relevant substantive preparations, including background material and communication support. The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks: 1. Overall Coordination of the SDG Cities Global Conference 2025 in coordination with other advocacy opportunities; • Develop an event implementation plan, specifically focused on the SDG Cities Global Conference as well as other advocacy opportunities; • Organize and participate in coordination meetings with partners and colleagues, including preparing meeting materials (PPTs; agendas, etc.), taking minutes for reporting purposes, and following up on actions needed; • Develop concept notes, talking points, session scenarios, PPTs and all necessary documentation to support UN-Habitat’s participation in events and workshops; • Identify, propose, and mobilize relevant speakers and participants to take part in the team’s advocacy events; • Translate relevant documents between English and Chinese to ensure smooth communication between partners and colleagues; 2. Logistics and Administrative Support toward the SDG Cities Global Conference • Coordinate the planning and implementation of projects, including budget and administrative processes; • Coordinate relevant administrative process of procurement, recruitment, and partnership management; • Prepare agreements and project documents in support of project implementation; 3. Substantive Preparation and Communication Support on SDG Cities and the Conference. • Prepare background documents of the Conference and the events for dissemination; • Prepare communication plans in coordination with corporate communication, the SDG Localization communication team, Shanghai World Cities Day Coordination Center; • Prepare communication materials to promote the Conference and relevant SDG Localization materials, including flyers, brochures, Save the Date, and other communication materials; • Prepare event photos, videos, and meeting minutes for use in public communications materials; • Develop a press release on the Conference indicating the key discussions, highlights within the events; • Coordinate with partners on illustration and translation. REPORTING LINE This post is located in the Urban Practices Branch of UN-Habitat and specifically within its SDG localization and local governments team. The incumbent will be supervised by the Human Settlements Officer coordinating the work of the team. The expert will work in proximity to other units, sections and offices across the Agency, including but not limited to Regional Programme Division and Regional Office of Asia-Pacific. Qualifications/special skillsUniversity Degree in Communication, Journalism, Events Management, Business Administration, Urban Studies, Political Science, Social Sciences, or other relevant area is required. A minimum of two (2) years of relevant working experience in international event coordination is required. Experience of organizing high-level, multi-stakeholder forums or conferences involving public and private sector actors, including logistical planning and on-site delivery, is desired. Working experience on the Agenda 2030 and the local implementation of the SDGs will be highly valued. LanguagesFluency in English and Chinese is required for this specific consultancy. Knowledge of another UN official language is an asset. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE 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.