National Consultant for Tonga

Result of Service

Under the direct supervision of the responsible project officer, and in coordination of the project’s Regional Consultant, and the National Focal Point, the National Consultant for Tonga will be responsible for the following components: 1. Coordinate the project inception meeting and fact-finding mission in Nukuʻalofa in collaboration with the Regional Consultant 2. Provide support to the Regional Consultant as needed to establish the Technical Advisory Group 3. Collect data and assist with analysis as needed on local context to assist Regional Consultant’s Assessment Report of resilient rural-urban and active mobility plans with utilization of digital technologies using SUTI+ 4. Collect data and assist with analysis as needed to support Regional Consultant’s Just Transition analysis and labour force implications of the digital transformation, with a special focus on employment opportunities for women in digital mobility services 5. Support a national stakeholder consultation and capacity building workshop to identify local challenges and issues, and to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders to improve peri-urban mobility, enhance resilience and social inclusiveness 6. Initiate the development of a local resilient and inclusive peri-urban mobility plan enabled by digital technologies/platforms (MaaS, DRT, shared mobility). This plan will be co-developed with local authorities and in collaboration with the Regional Consultant. The plan will build upon previous ESCAP knowledge products such as the Regional Guidelines for Social Inclusion and Innovations in Urban Transport, the Public Transport Integration Guidelines and the Regional Road Map on Smart Transport and build on/expand existing mobility plans and polices in the respective cities. This deliverable would continue under a contract extension, subject to successful performance.

Work Location

Remote

Expected duration

20 Jul 26-19 Jul 27

Duties and Responsibilities

ESCAP’s Technical Cooperation Project entitled “Strengthening the capacity of transport policymakers to utilize digital technologies to develop resilient and inclusive mobility policies and plans to improve public transport infrastructure and services in peri-urban areas” aims to introduce demand responsive and shared mobility services using digital technology in peri-urban areas in Kyrgyzstan, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Nepal, and Tonga. The project is expected to enable vulnerable and marginalized communities to have improved and resilient access to essential services, and potential new employment opportunities generated from digital platforms and operation of new public transport services. Additionally, the regional guidelines and cooperative platform developed by the project will be useful for wider application in the region. Provision of resilient and inclusive mobility is an often overlooked aspect of transport development in peri-urban areas in most Asia-Pacific cities. As cities grow, land prices in downtown areas increase which forces poor and vulnerable populations to move out to the peripheries. Prioritizing resilient and inclusive peri-urban mobility in medium sized cities reduces inequality and ensures that no one is left behind. Digital technology plays a vital role in enhancing social inclusion by enabling adaptable, affordable transport solutions tailored to diverse needs of a wider range of people in peri-urban areas. Tools like artificial intelligence, mobile applications, and data analytics can create on-demand services that integrate peri-urban populations into broader transport networks. Real-time data can optimize transit schedules and routes, improving responsiveness to underserved groups. Digital platforms such as mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) and demand responsive public transport (DRT) can enable users to request transport services based on their specific needs and thus improving accessibility, promoting safety, reliability, and affordability for vulnerable transport users. Smart mobility solutions empower governments to use existing infrastructure more efficiently, avoiding costly new transit systems. Mobile apps offering travel updates, route optimization, and accessible booking systems extend mobility services to peri-urban areas, boosting economic participation and social inclusion. The digital transformation of peri-urban mobility presents challenges for the transport workforce. Governments must ensure a just transition that leaves no one behind, while creating new opportunities, especially for women, through less labour-intensive jobs with flexible hours. Digital technologies can enhance the resilience of public transport by enabling better planning, real-time monitoring, and adaptive responses to disruptions. The project will support target countries to plan for resilience of public transport infrastructure and services in peri-urban areas considering the potential climate risks and likely impacts. The project will integrate urban and mobility planning while leveraging existing urban resilience frameworks. The labour force implications will be analysed to ensure a just transition and create more opportunities for women. Each target city will undergo a just transition analysis while the Sustainable Urban Transport Index Plus (SUTI+) will assess accessibility and inclusiveness. A regional policy guideline for resilient and inclusive peri-urban mobility will be developed. A technical advisory group will be created to enhance UN system-wide coordination.

Qualifications/special skills

University degree in transportation management or transportation engineering, urban planning, environmental science, public policy, or a related discipline. (i) at least 5 years of experience working on development projects, particularly with a focus on sustainability, transportation, or related fields such as energy, climate finance, or environmental management. (ii) demonstrated ability in data collection, and development of technical reports or studies related to transportation, energy, or environmental projects. (iii) demonstrated ability in the preparation and development of national and regional-level meetings, workshops and study tours. (iv) experience working with national and local government stakeholders, particularly in the context of developing regulatory frameworks or policy recommendations. (v) demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in multi-country teams.

Languages

Fluency in written and oral English is required; working knowledge of the local language of Tonga is preferred.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE 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.