STA - Urban Planning Capacity Development Mogadishu / BRA staff

Senior Technical Advisor (STA) for Preparation of Training Curricula and Provision of Urban Planning Capacity Development Training for Mogadishu / BRA) Staff

The European Union – Somalia Technical Assistance and Partnership Facility (TAPF) is a five-year initiative designed to support the European Union Delegation (EUD) to Somalia’s engagement in, and cooperation with, the Federal Republic of Somalia, and to expedite progress towards achievement of the 2030 global Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

The project is being implemented through a service contract, signed between the EUD and DAI Global Belgium, and operates from DAIs offices in Mogadishu and Nairobi.

The project duration was initially scheduled to run for 36 months, from 1st January 2024 through to 31st December 2026, but this was subsequently extended to 31st December 2028.

Good urban planning enhances quality of life by fostering sustainable development, improving transportation efficiency, and promoting economic growth. It creates healthier, safer, and more resilient communities through smart land use, an increased number of green spaces, and enhanced social connectivity. Key benefits also include improved housing affordability and reduced environmental impact. 

The key advantages of good urban planning may be summarised as

• Economic growth and investment: Well-planned cities attract businesses, create jobs, and increase property values by creating productive, efficient environments.
• Improved transportation and mobility: By designing walkable neighbourhoods, efficient public transit and public transport-friendly infrastructure, cities reduce traffic congestion and reliance on personal vehicles.
• Environmental sustainability and resilience: Planning mitigates climate change impacts through promotion, or establishment, of green infrastructure, reduced carbon emissions, better management of natural resources and improved waste disposal.
• Enhanced quality of life and health: Access to parks, recreational facilities and better air quality, improves physical and mental health and wellbeing. It also fosters social cohesion by providing, for example, public meeting and recreational spaces.
• Efficient land use and infrastructure: Proper planning matches population density with relevant and proportionate infrastructure (sewers, water and energy systems, utilities, etc.), preventing chaotic urban sprawl and reducing service costs.
• Safety and reduced risk: Good urban planning protects residents by limiting development in hazard-prone areas and setting safety standards for buildings and infrastructure.
• Social equity: Well-planned urban areas provide balanced access to essential services like housing, education and healthcare, at the same time as providing opportunities for businesses and job creation to thrive.

The core components of effective urban planning, with respect to Mogadishu, comprise:

• Mixed-use development: Combining residential, commercial and recreational spaces to create safe, prosperous, vibrant, walkable communities.
• Green infrastructure: Integrating parks, trees, green roof gardens and white roofs to reduce heat, improve environmental health and improve air quality.
• Improved mobility: Prioritising pedestrian walkways and public transport routes, including motorcycle “taxi” safety, to encourage healthier lifestyles and ease of access to business and residential neighbourhoods.
• Improved sanitation and waste management: Involving the private sector in regulated waste management, for a cleaner, healthier city.  

The specific objectives of the “Preparation of Training Curricula and Provision of Urban Planning Capacity Development Training for Mogadishu / BRA) Staff” assignment will be:

1. To articulate and prepare a concise, relevant and well formulated urban planning training curriculum (compiled through stakeholder contact and discussion) suitable for presentation to Banadir Regional Administration public works engineers and for adoption by the BRA authorities, as a resource material for training future public works officials (with the aim of highlighting key considerations in effective urban planning, and provoking reflection on urban planning needs and minimum standards).
2. To deliver a three-day urban planning training course to between 30 and 35 Mogadishu public works engineers and other city officials, with the objective of identifying challenges and proposing sustainable, district-specific solutions to urban planning issues such as solid waste, and hazardous and industrial waste management, transport provision and regulation, provision of utilities (energy and water supply), social services, including healthcare and education, environmental planning, etc.   
3. To encourage and promote community participation in city management, by encouraging residents of Mogadishu to take personal responsibility for maintaining cleanliness and order in their home areas by reporting anti-social activities to the BRA authorities.
4. To enhance public awareness on the need for orderly urban planning, through continuous community sensitisation campaigns, ensuring that citizens understand their role, especially in relation to promoting environmentally sustainable practices, including waste recycling, composting and waste-to-wealth initiatives.
5. To strengthen BRAs institutional and technical capacity by highlighting and clearly defining urban planning priorities and needs, and regional and district-level roles and responsibilities.
6. To propose and develop a monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress and ensure accountability.

The STA is expected to undertake and complete the following tasks:

•    Under the direct supervision of the office of the DoPIED DG, with support from the TAPF BRA SLC, and in conjunction with the TAPF Team Leader and Key Expert 2, prepare and formulate an Urban Planning Capacity Development Training Curriculum, through direct engagement, and in coordination with municipal and regional government counterpart MDAs, and district authorities. Specifically:

• Prepare a brief and concise sector work plan, in the form of an Inception Report.
• Conduct a desk review of reports, assessments, programme evaluations, sector-specific performance data and research papers (where they exist), relating to urban planning in Mogadishu.
• Briefly assess current institutional and operational urban planning capacity, and identify gaps and planning constraints, particularly those limiting private sector investment, “green entrepreneurship”, innovation and public services.
• Engage the BRA leadership, departments and district officials, through a number of targeted interviews and consultations, to identify planning challenges, gaps, opportunities and lessons learned.
• Facilitate technical consultations with other experts, civil society organisations and the private / business sector, to inform strategic direction and propose strategic planning interventions.
• Prepare a comprehensive Urban Planning Capacity Development Training curriculum, inclusive audio-visual presentations and handouts, sufficient to engage 30+ participants over a three-day period.
• Provide mentoring and on-the-job training to regional staff and professionals during the entirety of the curriculum formulation process and training workshop, and support institutional learning and the sustainability of planning practices.

The Senior Technical Advisor for Preparation of Training Curricula and Provision of Urban Planning Capacity Development Training for Mogadishu / BRA) Staff should possess the following qualifications and experience:

• A university degree, preferably a Master’s, in one of the following fields: Public Policy Development, Urban Planning, Curriculum Development, Tertiary-level Teaching, Project Management, Applied Research, Environmental Science, or a related field. 
• Eight (8) or more years of practical work experience in a senior advisory capacity as a consultant with an international development organisation, private sector company, non-governmental organisation or government institution, such as a state university or college, serving as a lecturer, including at least three (3) previous assignments as a policy or curriculum developer, preparing formal course curricula and training materials. 
• Previous work experience as a TA or CTA (technical assistant / chief technical advisor), embedded within a host government department, leading development programmes (inclusive mentoring and capacity development experience), and / or drafting policies or training programmes / curricula. 
• Previous experience (in at least three (3) work assignments) of workshop organisation and facilitation, inclusive in-depth knowledge of, and familiarity with, interactive data collection methodologies, preparation of PowerPoint presentations and handouts, and moderating workshop tuition sessions and plenaries. 
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and spoken / verbal communication skills, in both English and Somali.
• Strong organisational and analytical skills.
• Extensive knowledge of the local (Somali) development context, particularly Mogadishu, and the current “urban planning” situation.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities effectively.

The Urban Planning Curriculum Development STA will be answerable to the Director General (DG) of the BRA Department of Planning, Investment and Economic Development (DoPIED), working in collaboration with the TAPF BRA Coordinator (SLC), and will be supervised by the TAPF Team Leader, in close collaboration with the TAPF KE2 / Partnership Advisor. 

Time sheets will be approved by the TAPF Team Leader and the EU Delegation (EUD). 

The role is expected to commence in ASAP (subject to continued need and resource availability), and to be implemented as a single, continuous assignment, counting from the date of first deployment of the expert.  

Input: A maximum of 20 working days, delivered over an indicative period of approximately two (2) calendar months (subject to operating conditions). 

The assignment will be implemented from the DoPIED office in Mogadishu, BRA. 

Travel within the city and Regional Administration will be required and will be subject to relevant project and EU rules and regulations, including security protocols and the outcome of contemporary security assessments.