Housing Policy Expert, Consultant

Duration: 15 January 2018 – 15 May 2018 (5 months) 

Background

The Ministry of Urban Development and Housing (MUDH) is entrusted with providing access to housing for all Afghan citizens and in doing so support the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GoIRA) in its endeavour to enhance the quality of life of its citizens. Through strategic partnerships, both within the financial and construction sectors, MUDH is building the foundation for a sustainable social housing system that is designed to not only meet the needs of Afghanistan’s fast-growing population, but also support the country’s future economic growth and prosperity.

Substantial progress has been made towards this goal. However, Afghanistan’s housing sector remains to show a mismatch between public and private sector housing supply and demand in particular for low income citizens and the growing number of Internally Displaced Persons as well as involuntary returnees.

With the need for economic, political and social stabilization and security, there is an immediate urgency to make progress with strengthening the role of MUDH as a regulator and facilitator, identify alternative sources of financing, strengthen partnerships between the financial and construction sector, target housing services, make best use of available land and ensure housing and urban development is sustainable. This calls for the development of an implementable National Housing Policy which is appropriate to Afghanistan’s situation.

In 2016, UN-Habitat in collaboration with local and national stakeholders developed a National Housing Sector Profile for the country. After its formal validation by MUDH and other housing sector stakeholders in April 2017, UN-Habitat will now assist MUDH to develop an effective, efficient and sustainable housing policy with an implementation strategy aimed at responding to the Profile’s findings. This new housing policy and implementation strategy will provide the tools to establish a viable social housing system which ensures access to housing for all including vulnerable groups and to improve where needed the living conditions in Afghanistan’s urban centres to meet Sustainable Development Goal 11.

In view of the above, the UN-Habitat Housing Unit, the UN-Habitat Country Office as well as the Regional Office for Asia Pacific will collaborate closely with MUDH on these efforts. Both policy and its implementation strategy will be developed within the framework of the UN Global Housing Strategy, the Urban National Priority Programme (U-NPP) and will adhere to the guiding principles of the Human Rights Based Approach to urban development. Moreover, it will contain key policy directives for the development and implementation of a National Housing Program aimed at meeting the housing needs of the population. Initial deliberations on potential program components achievable in the short- to medium-term and of importance to GoIRA’s development objectives have begun.

Responsibilities and deliverables

Purpose of the consultancy:

The purpose of this project is to assist the Government of Afghanistan in the formulation of a National Housing Policy through a rights-based inclusive and participatory process.

The National Housing Policy for Afghanistan will address the needs and define priority areas for housing interventions including: policy and regulatory reform, institutional strengthening and coordination, establishing an inclusive Islamic housing finance system, addressing land- and infrastructure-related barriers to housing supply, capacity-development in the formal and informal construction sector, and others. The policy will guide the design of the National Housing Program and investment planning, and will seek to avoid duplication with existing policies regarding land, infrastructure, informal settlement upgrading and other relevant topics.

Objectives of the consultancy:

• Support the housing taskforce and to consultation workshops
• Throughout the process, the consultant will engage with national stakeholders to consult with partners and validate the National Housing Policy. The activities and associated actions include:
  • Under the close guidance of MUDH and UN-Habitat, the consultant will support the work of the Housing and Urbanization Taskforce (HUTF) comprised of all national key stakeholders of the housing sector. HUTF stakeholders will be invited to participate in the Housing Policy workshops to contribute to the consultation process and validate the policy and strategy. The HUTF is instrumental in defining a roadmap to formulate a National Housing Policy with strategy for policy implementation and housing programme design.
  • The consultant, together with MUDH and UN-Habitat, will present the National Housing Policy draft documents at public consultation workshops to which all individuals, institutions and stakeholders consulted during the housing policy process and the HUTF will be invited. The workshops will take place over one to two days, and the consultant will present the key actions to be taken in the different thematic areas of the housing sector (policy and regulatory framework, housing finance; land; infrastructure; construction; housing rights, housing diversity).
  • Elaborate the National Housing Policy
  • Under the close guidance of MUDH and UN-Habitat, and within the framework of the Global Housing Strategy and Urban National Priority Programme (U-NPP), the Consultant will formulate a National Housing Policy document, including an implementation strategy. These will be based on the findings and conclusions of the Afghanistan Housing Profile and the consultation process through the housing taskforce.

Competencies

• Thorough understanding of the dynamics of the human settlements sector in developing and post conflict countries, including the constraints posed to housing delivery and institutional requirements best applicable to the given context; knowledge of concepts and approaches relevant to housing policy development to address areas of land access, housing finance, building materials, construction technologies, infrastructure specifically in the areas of low-income housing and related, as well as good understanding of practice in the housing policy sector in developing countries.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to articulate complex ideas in a clear and accurate manner including the ability to present the content of the thematic area in a clear and concise manner.
• Planning and management skills: ability to co-ordinate policy making process, establish priorities and plan, coordinate own work plan and projects, use time efficiently and apply judgment in the context of competing deadlines.
• Adaptability, flexibility and resourcefulness in terms of working in a complex and dynamic environment, which may be faced with resource constraints at times; flexibility and ability to think “outside the box”, and offer new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs.

Education and work experience

• A Masters or PhD degree in a field relevant to public policy, housing studies, urban planning, urban management and development; land scape architecture or the relevant Social Sciences;
• Demonstrated senior level experience in housing sector or previous consultancies in this area particularly dealing with post conflict and Less Developed Countries
• Ten years of experience in the housing sector including thorough understanding of the dynamics of the human settlement sector in developing countries, the constraints posed to housing delivery and institutional requirements best applicable to the given context
• Ability to build relationships within the larger inter-agency setting as well as at the institutional level in the country;
• Good teamwork, interpersonal, communication and networking skills;
• Experience in the formulation of strategic plans at the organizational and sector levels and giving policy advice and capacity-building recommendations to human settlement institutions in any of the above developing countries.
• Adaptability, flexibility and resourcefulness in terms of working in a complex and dynamic environment, which may be faced with resource constraints at times;

Language skills

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. For the consultancy advertised, excellent proficiency in spoken and written English is required.

Remuneration

Remuneration will be defined per experience of the candidate and the outputs of the consultancy