Thematic Coordinator on Urban Planning & Public Spaces

Project background:

MASAR for Local Governments is a programme funded by the EU MADAD trust fund. The overall aim of the programme is to strengthen the long-term resilience of targeted subnational governments and their host, refugee and IDP populations to deal with displacement.

MASAR for Local Governments focuses on the urban setting, which is the background of processes of displacement, investment, employment and service delivery.

In Lebanon, the programme aims to assist the governorates of: i) Baalbek-Hermel; ii) Akkar; and iii) coastal plain north of Tripoli and their respective Unions of Municipalities to deal with accelerated urbanisation caused by the crisis.

This programme will mobilise municipal experts from Iraq/Lebanon and Europe to contribute to build the capacity of subnational governments. This will include, among others, provision of technical advice; training; coaching and mentoring addressed to municipal Planning Units or Service Departments.

Capacity building activities will be complemented by concrete pilot quick impact projects aiming to, for instance, designing an urban layout to improve an existing network of streets and roads to better accommodate a higher influx of traffic, or to set up a municipal solid waste sorting plant to better cope with increasing volumes of litter.

MASAR project is being implemented by a consortium of European entities: VNG International (the association of municipalities of the Netherlands), the Polish Center for International Aid (Polish acronym PCPM), the Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation (Catalan acronym ACCD), and Local Government Denmark (Danish acronym KL).

Aim of this assignment:

This is a roving position based in Tripoli and providing expertise based on call to VNG and PCPM.

The incumbent makes sure that the approaches, methodology and results between the different areas of intervention are harmonized. 

The Thematic Coordinator provides advice and coaching/mentoring to selected subnational governments on Urban Panning, Engineering, Civil Works and Canals-Ports-Roads related issues.

The incumbent is under the direct supervision of the Front Officer based in Tripoli and the overall supervision of the Team Leader stationed at the VNG International project office in Beirut.

The Thematic Coordinator will work in close coordination with the Municipality & Community Participation officer.

Key Responsibilities:

More specifically, his/her key responsibilities include:

• Provide expertise on Urban Planning & Public Spaces issues for all related project activities;
• Ensure alignment of methodology and knowledge between the different target groups and target areas (i) Baalbek-Hermel; ii) Akkar; and iii) coastal plain north of Tripoli);
• Inform the project team on the latest developments, technologies, trends on Urban Planning & Public Spaces issues;
• Liaise with different project target groups (national ministries, subnational governments, government agencies, civil society organizations, and private firms and service providers) for the correct implementation of urban planning related pilot projects;
• Identify procurement needs for pilot projects based on the scenario plans;
• Support and supervise the execution of pilot projects;
• Provide training and coaching of the target groups on management of  Urban Planning & Public Spaces;
• Identify relevant local partners for collaboration on issues related to Urban Planning & Public Spaces;
• Based on the project objectives related to Urban Planning & Public Spaces, identify needs for the input from short-term experts (international and national), and prepare their Terms of References;
• Provide substantive support to local and international experts;
• Contribute to project narrative reports as requested;
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned.

Minimum qualifications:

1. Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Canals-Ports-Roads Engineering, Urbanism, Urban planning or equivalent
• Master’s degree will be an asset.

1. Professional Experience:

• Over 5 years of working experience; including directing Public Works in the Tripoli area;
• Over 5 years of working experience with subnational governments and inter-governmental relations;
• Experience with training and coaching is preferred.

1. Competencies:

• Ability to work flexibly, independently and as part of a small team;
• Cultural sensitivity and cross-cultural skills (religion, ethnicity, gender);
• Ability to build collaborative relationships between diverse communities;
• Excellent computer skills (Microsoft Office: Word, PowerPoint, and Excel).

1. Languages:

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic;
• Working knowledge of French is an advantage.