Research Associate
About the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA)
Established in 1976, the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA, is a premier Institute of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India for research and capacity building for urban sector in India. NIUA’s broad objective is to bridge the gap between research and practice on issues related to urbanization. For more than 40 years now, NIUA has been the vanguard for contributing to and building the urban narrative for a fast-evolving Urban India.
The Institution has been actively working on bringing forth key areas of concern for urban India in order to build the urban discourse at various urban scales. It has utilized its competencies in research, knowledge management, policy advocacy and capacity building to address urban challenges and continuously striving to develop sustainable, inclusive, and productive urban ecosystems in the country. It has emerged as a thought leader and knowledge hub for urban development in India and is sought out by both Indian and International organizations for collaborations and partnerships in India’s urban transforming journey. NIUA is committed towards aligning its efforts towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through all its initiatives and programs.
About the Climate Centre for Cities
The Climate Centre for Cities (C-Cube) has been established at NIUA with support from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to create synergy across all climate actions which are being undertaken in Indian cities by various stakeholders. Our Vision “To Build Climate Action in Cities”. Urban development informed by climate resilience is important for not only steering the growth towards a 5 trillion economy but also improving the quality of life of urban residents. The centre plays a pivotal role in developing partnership networks, building the capacities of city managers and key decision-makers, co-creation of policy frameworks and strategies documents, designing tools, assessment frameworks, and data observatories, and developing solutions for planning and implementation of climate-resilient project interventions at cities and advocating for local actions.
About the Urban Act Project
The Urban-Act: Integrated Urban Climate Action for Low-Carbon & Resilient Cities initiative is designed to strengthen national frameworks and enhance city-level capacities for collaborative climate action. Focused on building climate resilience, the initiative spans India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, and Thailand, with NIUA involved in implementation of Urban-Act in India. This project aligns with the ambitious goals of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) targets. The project's overarching objectives are to bridge gaps in national and state-level policies for promoting climate-resilient urban development, build local capacities for integrating climate measures into urban development, identify project concepts for climate action investments, and enhance knowledge through regional networking, exchange, and learning.
Job Description:
The Research Associate will play a vital role in supporting the Urban-Act project in India by conducting research and providing analytical support to advance climate-sensitive urban planning and governance. The selected candidate will engage in activities supporting the operationalization of climate-sensitive policies, capacity-building programs, and evidence-based urban climate action. The candidate may also expected to be involved with various C-Cube projects aligning to the designated role. The role also entails working with stakeholders, including government officials and partner agencies, and representing the project on different platforms. The ideal candidate should be comfortable working in a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment and managing multiple tasks and deadlines.
Responsibilities:
The selected candidate will coordinate and support the day-to-day activities, including data collection and operational tasks. The responsibilities shall include, but will not be limited to:
• Conduct baseline and policy analysis on national level policies and frameworks including NMSH, and NAPCC/SAPCC.
• Provide technical support to address gaps in the localization of NMSH for climate-sensitive urban development and contribute to reporting to MoHUA and MoEFCC.
• Support in facilitating workshops, consultations, and roundtable discussions with diverse stakeholders on urban climate governance and climate finance.
• Assist to develop recommendations for enhancing climate governance at the state and city levels.
• Support the design of decision-support tools, indicators, and data needs for climate-sensitive urban planning in medium and small cities.
• Develop and contribute to knowledge exchange activities, including regional training and the development of e-learning courses on urban climate action.
• Assist in the preparation of reports, briefs, and advisories to inform policy dialogues at various government levels.
• Support in communication outreach and developing knowledge collaterals.
• Drive the project to achieve outputs and outcomes promptly.
• Support the internal team in reporting, monitoring and coordinating project requirements. • Providing support to other activities, including academics, research, training, practice, operations and any other responsibilities assigned.
• Provide ongoing support to the Team Lead in tracking and reporting project progress, meeting deadlines, and coordinating stakeholder activities.
Number of vacancies: One
Skills and Qualifications:
• A postgraduate degree, preferably in Urban/Regional / Environment Planning, Architecture, Public Policy Management, Environmental Sciences, Development Studies or any related field from a reputed institution.
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in undertaking research and conducting analysis of climate policy, preferably within an international organisation, national administration or agency, research institute or organisation.
• Technical Expertise: Knowledge of national and international climate policies and frameworks (e.g., NDCs, NMSH, URDPFI). Experience in policy analysis, climate governance, and urban climate finance is desirable.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to support baseline studies, policy assessments, and make recommendations.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to present complex research and analysis clearly.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Experience in coordinating meetings, workshops, and consultations with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies.
• Collaboration: Ability to work flexibly on a range of assignments showcasing strong teamwork and collaboration and adjust to a variety of complex and evolving tasks to meet deadlines
• Experience in designing knowledge collaterals is an advantage.
Location: Based in Delhi with potential travel across India
Reporting: The selected candidate shall report to the Project Lead (Urban Act) and Head (C-Cube)
Remuneration: As par with the industry standards, depending on experience and skills and fitment with project remuneration structures. Proof of past remuneration (last received salary/monthly contract payment) would be required.
