Legal and Institutional Expert Impact Assessment of the Concept of the Urban Planning Code of Ukraine, Individual Contract (Output-based), DS Kyiv, UN-HABITAT

Background

UN-Habitat the United Nations Human Settlements Programme is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable and resilient towns and cities. It is the focal point agency for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. UN-Habitat envisions well-planned well-governed and efficient cities and towns with adequate housing infrastructure and universal access to employment and basic services such as water energy and sanitation. Responding to crisis and post-crisis context is part of UN-Habitats mandate and strategic plan.

Rationale and context of the assignment

Since 2023 UN-Habitat has been supporting the sustainable and inclusive urban recovery efforts in Ukraine focusing on among others advancing the national-level urban policy development efforts. At the request of the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine (hereinafter Ministry for Development) UN-Habitat has been supporting the development of the Concept of the Urban Planning Code (Concept of the Spatial Planning and Territorial Development Code hereinafter Concept) a foundational legal framework designed to enhance planning processes strengthen governance and promote sustainable urban development. UN-Habitat has been contributing its global expertise and technical support to this process. The future Code is expected to harmonize planning processes in Ukraine improve transparency and enhance resilience and sustainability in reconstruction and future urban development.

To ensure that the future Code is evidence-based feasible and aligned with international best practices UN-Habitat intends to conduct a comprehensive impact assessment of the Concept. This assessment will analyse the legal institutional financial and socio-economic implications as well as environmental aspects of the developed Concept to guide the future development of the Code and ensure its effective and sustainable implementation. The proposed assessment draws on similar methodologies successfully applied globally.

To support this process UN-Habitat is seeking an individual consultant with strong legal and institutional expertise to assess the potential institutional financial socio-economic and environmental impacts of implementing the Concept and to provide evidence-based recommendations to strengthen the design coherence and implementability of the future Code in Ukraine.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Head of UN-Habitat Ukraine Office and the designated mandated representative(s) the incumbent is expected to:

1. Evaluate the legal and regulatory impact of the Concept focusing on its coherence with existing legislation areas requiring harmonization or amendment and overall legal clarity and enforceability.
2. Assess institutional and governance impact of the Concept focusing on institutional roles and capacities coordination and accountability mechanisms stakeholder engagement and alignment with ongoing decentralization reforms.
3. Assess the financial and economic impact of the Concept focusing on overall fiscal effects funding mechanisms investment climate affordability considerations and measures to strengthen economic resilience.
4. Examine the social and environmental impacts of the Concept focusing on inclusion housing and accessibility climate resilience sustainable land use and contributions to broader sustainable development and environmental goals.
5. Identify potential risks and bottlenecks (legal administrative or operational) that may affect the enforcement or compliance of the future Code.
6. Develop recommendations and policy options to strengthen the feasibility and alignment of the future Code with the New Urban Agenda (NUA) SDG 11 and Ukraines urban recovery goals.

Results Expected:

The ultimate result of the assignment is the substantive impact assessment of the potential institutional financial socio-economic and environmental impacts of implementing the Concept and provision of evidence-based recommendations to strengthen its design coherence and implementability into a future Code.

Reporting requirements

The Legal and Institutional Expert will work under the overall supervision of the Head of the UN-Habitat Office in Ukraine and the substantive Lead for the developed Concept.

Outputs and Expected Deliverables

The incumbent is required to provide the following outputs

1. Desk Review:
   • Review the Concept and related Ukrainian legislation (including among others construction land urban planning environment decentralization recovery etc.).
   • Analyse the institutional and governance framework for spatial planning in Ukraine.
   • Draw lessons from comparative countries and international best practices.
2. Stakeholder Consultations
   • Conduct targeted interviews or focus groups with key national regional and local authorities as well as professional associations and civil society.
3. Impact Assessment using UN-Habitats Methodology for the Ex-Ante (prospective) Legal Impact Assessment reflecting considerations from the developed financial assessment:
   • Effectiveness of Institutional arrangements (roles overlaps coordination)
     • Economic feasibility
     • Social inclusion
     • Environmental sustainability
     • Alignment with regional and global frameworks such as EU integration frameworks SDGs and the New Urban Agenda
   • Benchmark findings with similar experiences (to be provided by UN-Habitat) to highlight comparative lessons.
4. Final Report with Recommendations
   • Provide detailed recommendations to enhance the future Codes feasibility coordination mechanisms and implementation pathways.
   • Develop a final report and summary presentation for the Ministry for Development and UN-Habitat.

The above outputs should be delivered according to the below planned schedule:

The duration of the assignment is fixed at three months. No extension of duration or additional remuneration shall be granted beyond the delivery and approval of the outputs listed above. All outputs shall be reviewed and approved by the Head of UN-Habitat Ukraine Office or his/her delegated representative as a condition for payment.

Working location and travel

The assignment is output-based and will be conducted under a home-based arrangement within Ukraine. While the consultant is not required to work from the UN-Habitat office the nature of the assignment requires presence in Kyiv and availability for in-person coordination and meetings with national counterparts including relevant ministries and stakeholders as needed.

Competencies

Professionalism: Demonstrates strong knowledge of legal frameworks related to housing land and property rights spatial and land-use planning and urban governance in the context of Ukraines recovery and reconstruction. Understands issues concerning internally displaced persons (IDPs) tenure security and the inclusion of vulnerable groups in recovery processes. Familiar with participatory pro-poor and gender-responsive approaches as well as principles of sustainable and inclusive urban development. Ability to interpret and apply legislative instruments develop and present results recommendations and opinions clearly and concisely. Proven ability to produce clear evidence-based analytical and policy reports. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments observing deadlines and achieving results. Maintains a high level of professional integrity remains calm and objective under pressure and demonstrates persistence and problem-solving capacity when faced with complex or sensitive situations.

Communication: Excellent written and oral presentation skills in English and Ukrainian. Listens to others correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language tone style and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively to achieve organisational goals; solicits impact by genuinely valuing others ideas and expertise; places team agenda above personal agenda; shows credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for teams shortcomings.

Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in law urban planning housing public policy governance or related field.

Experience

• Minimum 7 years of professional experience in law legislative drafting or governance reform preferably in post-crisis or transition contexts.
• Proven experience conducting legal impact assessments or regulatory analyses.
• Strong understanding of spatial planning systems urban recovery and institutional reform.
• Familiarity with Ukrainian governance structures or comparable transition systems is an asset.
• Excellent analytical writing and communication skills in English and Ukrainian.

Language

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Ukrainian is required.

Key skills

• Strong analytical and legal reasoning skills with the ability to interpret complex legislation and institutional frameworks.
• Sound understanding of Ukraines spatial planning land management and decentralization systems.
• Previous experience in conducting legal institutional and policy impact assessments.
• Excellent report-writing and presentation skills with proven ability to produce clear evidence-based analytical outputs.
• Capacity to synthesize large volumes of legal institutional and financial information into concise findings and actionable recommendations.
• Ability to work independently under tight deadlines and manage multiple deliverables simultaneously.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word Excel PowerPoint) and ability to use digital collaboration tools.

The candidate should be:

• Willing to take responsibility act professionally at all times and make sure tasks are fully completed;
• Willing to work independently and proactively engage with national counterparts and UN-Habitat teams.
• Flexible and adaptable to evolving priorities and feedback.
• Able to meet deadlines for all project work and work under pressure in diverse environments with minimum supervision;
• Express enthusiasm and willingness to continue learning new skills and share experiences with other members of the team;
• Committed to UN-Habitats values of integrity professionalism and respect for diversity with sensitivity to gender equality and the needs of vulnerable groups.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and as such we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission are valued can thrive and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment exploitation and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment sexual harassment exploitation discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates therefore undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description experience and educational requirements.

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