The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT, is the United Nations agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. The position is located in the Innovation Unit of the Knowledge and Innovation Branch, located within the External Relations, Strategy, Knowledge and Innovation Division (ERSKI) of UN-Habitat at its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

ERSKI is responsible for strategic planning, programmatic direction and operationalization of UN-Habitat's focal point role for the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goal 11 in the UN system.

The Knowledge and Innovation Branch is responsible for leading the development of UN-Habitat’s flagship reports, the gathering and reporting on urban data through its Data and Analytic Section, and the production of cutting-edge knowledge and innovation on cities, the processes of urban development and urbanization and its associated effects.

The Innovation Unit is responsible for the development of an organizational strategy and policy on knowledge and innovation, including on finance innovation, smart cities and digital transformation, the development and maintenance of an organizational inventory of innovation initiatives, approaches and practices, and the communication on UN-Habitat’s innovation approaches and initiatives with external audiences, which includes establishing and coordinating strategic innovation partnerships and supporting resource mobilization for innovation.

The incumbent of this position reports to the Chief of the Branch.