Result of ServiceOutputs: a. Data collection and analysis (by 30 April 2025) The VLR support expert will assist in collecting data from city, national, and local stakeholders in Malé, Maldives, to monitor progress on the SDGs, following the strategy and objectives outlined by the VLR lead expert. Key responsibilities include: • Identifying relevant local government agencies, departments, and officials in coordination with Malé City Council officials and the VLR lead expert. • Organizing meetings with officials and stakeholders to gather data related to the SDGs. • Assisting in translating relevant sections of official documents into English to facilitate data collection and analysis. At the end of this phase, the expert will deliver an indicator framework, a database, and a detailed report outline. . Deliverables: • Contribute to the development of the Local Indicator database • Report on the data collection b. Stakeholder engagement (by 30 June 2025) The VLR support expert will facilitate engagement with all relevant local stakeholders. Key outputs include: • Conducting stakeholder mapping to identify and categorize relevant actors. • Organizing workshops, including providing logistical support such as selecting a venue and coordinating with participants. • Collecting feedback from stakeholders on the draft report and its database of indicators. The local expert will contribute to the VLR’s key findings and recommendations. Deliverables: • Workshop reports and attendance sheets How are the outputs to be delivered? • All outputs are to be delivered to the project manager by email in MS word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint to produce technical documents. • Consultations with stakeholders and workshops would be delivered in a form appropriate under the local circumstances taking into consideration any COVID-19 protocols. • Possible modalities include in-person interviews and focused group discussions, in-person or virtual workshops, virtual consultation with a selected multi-stakeholder group, or phone interviews, one-on-one interviews and discussions with representatives of various departments, etc. • ESCAP, in consultation with Male City Council, National Government and ICLEI, will review and provide feedback on each deliverable within 5 working days. Work LocationMale Expected duration1 Mar - 30 June 2025 Duties and ResponsibilitiesPurpose: A Voluntary Local Review (VLR) is a process through which sub-national governments undertake a voluntary review of their progress towards delivering the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They are guided by the same principles as those of the SDGs – leave no one behind; the right to the city and multi-stakeholder engagement; universality across developed and developing countries; adoption of an all-encompassing strategy to envision the desired future by 2030; the need for a robust evidence base for action; and embracing and integration of environmental, economic, spatial, and social systems. Localizing the SDGs or translating the Global Goals into relevant, actionable and attainable priorities at the local level is a vital first step in leveraging action for addressing the multiple interlinked crises and promoting sustainable urban development. Considering cities’ capacity to learn, respond and innovate, cities can use the SDGs as a framework for identifying interlinkages between different sectors and identifying potential points for acceleration, joint action, and trade-offs. The Asia-Pacific Regional VLR Guidelines propose the concept of VLR-VNR integration, i.e., the vertical integration of the two processes around the follow-up and review of the SDGs (where the policy cycle is divided into planning, implementation, and follow-up and review) as a response to clear gaps between the two processes as well as demands by national and subnational governments to better understand, accommodate and utilize VLRs. Additionally, VLR-VNR integration could, for local governments, strengthen the legitimacy of subnational/local follow-up and review of the SDGs. This, in turn, could validate local government future requests for support from the national government regarding SDG implementation. Conducting a VLR helps spread awareness on the SDGs with local communities and accelerates their uptake across all municipal departments, strengthening horizontal and vertical coordination between them, as well as more informed decision making. A VLR acts as a unifying exercise at the local level that serves as a model for comprehensive bottom-up action to achieve the SDGs. To date, the United Nations and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) together with partners have supported cities in Asia and the Pacific to develop their VLRs, namely, in Jakarta and Surabaya municipalities (Indonesia), Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory and Subang Jaya municipality (Malaysia), Nakhon Si Thammarat municipality (Thailand), city of Melbourne (Australia), Japan and others. In 2023, ESCAP is also supporting several other cities in the region to develop their VLR, including Suva City, Fiji and Santa Rosa, Philippines. All these efforts will be achieved through conducting research on existing regional and national smart city initiatives and frameworks to extract lessons learned and best practices, facilitating stakeholder engagement to support research and validation processes, developing practical regional and national guidelines, establishing metrics for success, and facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing. To support the development of Malé VLR, ESCAP is seeking a VLR support expert, who will fulfill the following duties and responsibilities under the direct supervision of ESCAP’s Sustainable Urban Development Section and the Project Coordinator. Objective: Although VLRs have yet to become an official part of the review architecture of the 2030 Agenda, they hold the potential to bridge the gap between local action and the national and global conversation on sustainable development. Specifically, a VLR: 1. Allows the local government to listen to the needs of its people and reflect them into local policymaking 2. Invites self-reflection, by diagnosing the state and pointing to pathways for better localization of the SDGs 3. Provides for a process that is data-driven and can be used to plan for action to achieve the future we want 4. Gives a local take on the global conversation of sustainable development The VLR support expert will support the data collection from key institutions for the VLR from the government and support stakeholder engagement, including organisation of meetings for validation of data and finalization of report. Name and title of supervisor: Omar Siddique, Economic Affairs Officer, EDD / ESCAP Qualifications/special skillsAdvanced degree (masters degree or higher) in sustainable development, urban development, statistics, environmental and social sciences, public administration, public policy or related discipline. At least 5 years’ experience in sustainable development related research and technical assistance. Experience and demonstrated publication history in working with governments in Maldives on sustainability. Strong analytical, quantitative, and empirical research skills; and proven ability to link findings to public policy analysis and recommendations. Proven ability to develop constructive relationships with key actors and networks in the area of sustainability. Knowledge of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goal, Voluntary National and Voluntary Local Reviews of the SDGs, including data and research would be a distinct advantage and how it local policy and planning frameworks in the Maldives. Experience working in the Maldives on local sustainable development is essential. Knowledge of local governance structures, key legal and policy frameworks, and challenges and solutions therein is essential. LanguagesFluent in English and Dhivehi, in both writing and speaking. Knowledge of local language is essential. 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.