Consultant for Participatory Processes (Social Work)

The consultant will support the implementation of the project "Building capacity and connections in Technical Assistance for Social Housing (ATHIS)" by providing technical support for participatory processes, capacity building, and community engagement in social housing initiatives in Brazil and the Global South. The role involves coordination with local and international partners, development of methodologies, and organizing events to promote sustainable and equitable housing solutions.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support to ensure that all project activities are conducted through participatory processes, guaranteeing inclusiveness, representativeness, gender sensitivity, and accountability.
• Provide technical support to adapt UN-Habitat’s Capacity Needs Assessment (CNA) methodology to the context of Social Housing Technical Assistance (ATHIS) in Brazil and for partners from the Global South, in close coordination with team working on data collection and analysis.
• Provide technical support and guidance, in close coordination with the Monitoring and Evaluation team, for the conduction of workshops with local and international partners (Global South) to develop a participatory, gender-oriented methodology for assessing ATHIS demands and defining criteria for prioritizing intervention territories.
• Develop a methodological guide systematizing participatory tools and methods for the collection, analysis, and categorization of demands in housing and ATHIS, with a particular focus on gender-related issues.
• Lead the process of defining priority communities for the implementation of ATHIS interventions, in close collaboration with municipal technical teams and community leaders, ensuring specific housing needs of vulnerable groups are considered.
• Engage directly with social and community leaders to ensure legitimacy and depth of housing demand assessments and strengthen potential for effective ATHIS implementation.
• Provide technical support to the development and implementation of a communication and mobilization plan with tailored strategies for priority target audiences and professionals.
• Organize and conduct events and information sessions to raise awareness of the ATHIS Law and related procedures to engage local communities, professionals and key stakeholders.
• Provide support and technical guidance for conducting a Global Forum in São Paulo, including defining key thematic areas and mobilizing speakers and participants from Brazil and other Global South countries.
• Conduct mapping of relevant professionals and institutions involved in social housing programs to create a comprehensive database of key actors and initiatives.
• Provide support for the creation of a collaboration platform for ATHIS professionals from the Global South, including organizing and facilitating virtual or hybrid meetings.
• Provide support to the development of a sustainability plan to support the long-term maintenance and expansion of the ATHIS network.
• Participate in field work missions as required.
• Complete all courses and training activities indicated by supervisor, including UNDSS BSAFE security course within first month.
• Comply with United Nations security mechanisms according to the Framework of Accountability for the United Nations Security Management System.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related fields is required or additional three (3) years of relevant experience to the post, beyond the requirement.
• Postgraduate degree (Lato Sensu or Stricto Sensu) in Sociology, Social Work, Applied Social Sciences, or related fields is desirable.
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience in the development and implementation of participatory processes and community relationships in Brazil is required.
• Experience in capacity building is required.
• Experience with social housing is desirable.
• Experience with South-South Cooperation is desirable.
• Experience in the social area and in coordinating fieldwork, preferably in the public sector, is desirable.
• Previous experience working in the United Nations is desirable.
• Good computer skills in Windows and Office packages and Web search engines are required.
• Good handling of technological tools and use of software and online platforms is desirable.
• Good handling of online events and conference tools is desirable.
• Good knowledge of project management methodologies is desirable.
• Experience working in an inter-institutional environment, project management, monitoring-evaluation; approaches and strategies regarding good urban governance and local and regional development.
• Professional approach to work, strong sense of responsibility, operate with minimal supervision; proven organizational skills and ability to manage a workload efficiently and within set deadlines.
• Ability to write clearly and effectively; listen to others, interpret messages correctly and respond appropriately; show openness in information sharing and keep everyone informed; solid abstract reasoning skills together with a proven capacity to write documents for diverse audiences.
• Ability to work with teams, demonstrate leadership, conflict management and consensus facilitation skills; ability to work in a multicultural and multi-ethnic environment, and to respect diversity; sensitivity to the main streaming of vulnerability; willingness and ability to work in difficult environments.
• Knowledge of UN-Habitat processes, procedures, and norms to guarantee adequate quality of activities.
• Ability to propose formats and procedures for efficient project implementation.
• Familiarity with office file management, ensuring proper maintenance, accessibility, and updating.
• Ability to prepare databases related to project running.
• Ensuring all relevant technical information is adequately shared with staff.
• Ensuring all produced material is fit-for-purpose and delivered in an organized way for consultation and use of the Agency.
• Ensuring privacy of shared information within the team agency.
• Fluency in Portuguese is required.
• Working knowledge of English is desirable.

Skills

• Participatory Processes
• Community Engagement
• Capacity Building
• Social Housing
• South-South Cooperation
• Field Work Coordination
• Project Management
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Urban Governance
• Local and Regional Development
• Windows
• Office Packages
• Web Search Engines
• Virtual Event Management
• Conference Tools
• Document Writing
• Conflict Management
• Consensus Facilitation
• UN-Habitat Procedures
• Database Preparation
• Office File Management

Languages

Portuguese, English