National Consultant: Infrastructure & Urban Planning Expert

Overview

Prepare a comprehensive baseline report on infrastructure for Damietta city.

You have:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in infrastructure, urban planning, engineering, or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of two (2) years of proven experience in infrastructure, civil engineering, urban planning, engineering, or a related field is required.
• Experience in conducting fieldwork and/or supervision of infrastructure projects is highly desirable.
• Fluency in oral and written Arabic and good command of English is required.

Result of Service The service will ultimately result in preparing a comprehensive baseline report that includes a desk review and benchmarking report, and infrastructure analysis report for the selected site(s) in Damietta city. Accordingly, the baseline report will pave the way for the infrastructure interventions.

Work Location Egypt

Expected duration 4 Months

Duties and Responsibilities ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. It is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system.

BACKGROUND UN-Habitat and the New Urban Agenda (NUA) The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the United Nations programme working towards a better urban future. Its mission is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all.

Mandated by the UN General Assembly in 1978 to address the issues of urban growth, it is a knowledgeable institution on urban development processes, and understands the aspirations of cities and their residents. For forty years, UN-Habitat has been working in human settlements throughout the world, focusing on building a brighter future for villages, towns, and cities of all sizes. Because of these four decades of extensive experience, from the highest levels of policy to a range of specific technical issues, UN-Habitat has gained a unique and a universally acknowledged expertise in all things urban. This has placed UN-Habitat in the best position to provide answers and achievable solutions to the current challenges faced by our cities. UN-Habitat is capitalizing on its experience and position to work with partners to formulate the urban vision of tomorrow. It works to ensure that cities become inclusive and affordable drivers of economic growth and social development.

In October 2016, at the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development – Habitat III – member states signed the New Urban Agenda. This is an action-oriented document which sets global standards of achievement in sustainable urban development, rethinking the way we build, manage, and live in cities. Through drawing together cooperation with committed partners, relevant stakeholders, and urban actors, including at all levels of government as well as the private sector, UN-Habitat is applying its technical expertise, normative work and capacity development to implement the New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 11 – to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

Urbanization is a key driver of development. Hence, sustainable planning and governance of urbanization is crucial to accommodate the rapid population growth, empower cities to optimize the value of urbanization and ensure even development, inclusion and equality. Rapid urbanization presents a unique opportunity to lift millions out of poverty when managed sustainably. However, inadequate urbanization management, doubled with rapid population growth has adversely affected quality of life leading to lack of adequate housing, and increasing inequality. These conditions contribute to diseconomies (e.g., congestion, pollution, displacement) that overtime negatively affects the overall city prosperity, efficiency, productivity and competitiveness.

UN Habitat in Egypt Established in 2005, UN-Habitat Egypt Programme has been providing technical support to national counterparts on a wide range of urban issues. Adopting an integrated approach, UN-Habitat Egypt has supported reforming and improving urban planning and management through three main sub-programmes, namely, urban planning and design; urban policies, legislation and governance; and urban basic services and mobility.

Urban Policy, Legislation and Governance Programme The Urban Governance, Policies and Legislation Programme in Egypt works towards to tackling the multi-dimensional urbanization context with a special attention to urban management, urban planning, urban economy where all stakeholders are empowered and enabled to engage and play their expected role(s). The programme is working with all stakeholders and on different levels to find new appropriate, realistic and context driven ways of making sure that the urbanization processes are providing acceptable spatial standards and services. The programme is also working towards enhancing the capacity of relevant actors in reforming the legal and institutional framework governing urban development; promoting the empowerment of local government; enhancing land tenure security; establishing processes for participating and inclusive planning process; enhancing local economic development and social entrepreneurs. The programme provides legislation enhancement and policies development support on the national level in order to replicate and scale up all of its successful interventions.

Hayenna – Integrated Urban Development Project In 2018, the Ministry of Housing, Utilities, Urban Communities (MoHUUC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the General Organization for Physical Planning (GOPP), the UN-Habitat and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Cooperation (SECO) signed three different agreements (the project agreement, the separate agreement, and the contract) governing the Hayenna- Integrated Urban Development Project. The project aims at developing a more transparent land management, as well as implementing better-planned and financially sustainable basic infrastructure services that offer an attractive and inclusive alternative to informal settlements and promoting local economic facilities in two pilot Governorates. Qena was selected as the first pilot Governorate. Damietta, as the second pilot governorate will follow benefiting from the lessons learned from the first pilot. The project thereby intervenes in three dimensions: urban planning and design, public finance management and land-based financing, and support to urban legislation and regulation.

Damietta City Damietta city is the capital of Damietta governorate with a total area of 6025.9 feddans and 281,493 inhabitants (72983 families with an average of 3.85 persons/family, 52% male and 48% female). The average population density of the city is 47 person/feddan. 13.6% of the population has a university degree, while 67.9% has attended school, and 18.5% has not gotten formal education. According to the 2017 national census, the considerable population is working in transformative industries (42%) and wholesale and retail trade (31%). While the percentage of the population working in services/ administrative positions and agriculture has declined. Damietta City is considered as the business and investment capital of the governorate.

According to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS)’s 2017 national census, total population of Damietta governorate is 1.5 million, representing 7% of the Delta region’s total Population. While Damietta City, accounts for the equivalent of (45.4%) of the total urban population of the governorate with total population 281493 inhabitants, and (19%) of the total population of Damietta Governorate.

REPORTING LINE The consultant will work closely with the Urban Governance, Policies and Legislation Programme and under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager to fulfill the following tasks:

Duties and responsibilities The consultant will undertake the following responsibilities, for the selected site: 1) Review Damietta Governorate/city strategic plans, Infrastructure companies plans (example: water and sanitation strategy prepared by the national company for water and sanitation), and the governorate/city proposed projects and plans. 2) Conduct infrastructure gap analysis for Damietta city (affecting or affected by the selected site) for the following sectors: a) Water supply: Analysis of the existing system, capacity, expected usage, and distribution plan. b) Wastewater system/sanitation: Analysis of the existing system, collecting system, and lifting stations. c) Electricity and power: Analysis of the current situation, distribution plan and special considerations. 3) Prepare a proposed/enhanced infrastructure planning methodology and action plan for Damietta city. 4) Develop a proposed action plan for the infrastructure projects in the selected site(s). 5) Propose infrastructure projects recommendations and implementation plan 6) Conduct capacity building activities including: a. Prepare capacity needs assessment of the local authorities (governorate and city). b. Produce capacity building training materials and manuals. c. Conduct capacity building workshops and on job trainings. 7) Prepare and submit a full documentation report, that covers: a. All the mission phases, progress and challenges b. lessons learned and best practices

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in infrastructure, urban planning, engineering, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience: A minimum of two (2) years of proven experience in the fields of infrastructure, civil engineering, urban planning, engineering, or a related field is required. Experience in conducting fieldwork and/or supervision of infrastructure projects is highly desirable. Familiarity working with local administration units and local communities is desirable. Previous work experience with international organizations and NGOs is an added advantage.

Language: Fluency in oral and written Arabic and good command of English is required

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.

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Added 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: careers.un.org