STA for Urban Planning Training

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.

The Banadir Regional Administration (BRA), also known as Mogadishu Municipality, governs Mogadishu (the capital of, and largest city in, Somalia), and its immediate surroundings. 

With an estimated population of more than 3.5 million people, the city is divided into 20 districts, comprising Abdiaziz, Bondhere, Daarasalaam, Dayniile, Dharkeynley, Garasbalaley, Gubadleey, Hamar-Jajab, Hamar-Weyne, Heliwaa, Hodan, Howl-Wadag, Kaaran, Kaxda, Shangani, Shibis, Waberi, Wadajir, Warta Nabada and Yaqshid. 

Each district has its own administrative headquarters and police station, but public services, especially healthcare, education and waste disposal, are primarily delivered by the private sector.

As Somalia's largest city, Mogadishu faces significant structural challenges, including rapid population growth, the presence of a large, internally displaced persons (IDP) population, many housed in informal IDP settlements, and inadequate public services and infrastructure, including healthcare facilities, schools and higher education facilities, drainage and waste disposal. 

Rapid growth of the population in the metropolitan area has placed considerable strain on existing planning systems, service delivery mechanisms and institutional coordination structures. Thus, as urban expansion and an increase in the urban population continues apace, the need for effective governance systems capable of managing growth among the urban population has become increasingly urgent.

In this regard, the Banadir Regional Administration, and particularly the Department of Planning, Investment and Economic Development (DoPIED), plays a central role in managing Mogadishu’s development, with responsibilities spanning urban planning, infrastructure development coordination, environmental management and delivery of essential municipal services. However, regardless of its mandate, BRA faces institutional and technical capacity limitations that affect its ability to effectively plan, coordinate and implement development initiatives in a consistent and integrated manner. In consequence, a programme of targeted skills training is required (aligned with the Mogadishu Transformation Plan (MTP)) that prioritises institution strengthening and promotes improved urban planning and enhanced service delivery. By focusing on strengthening technical expertise, improving governance systems, and enhancing coordination across departments and districts, a programme of targeted skills training will support BRA in translating strategic priorities (as defined in the MTP) into practical and sustainable outcomes. 

In context of the above, this assignment ToR sets out a programme of targeted training that is designed to enhance the institutional and technical capabilities of BRA staff in one of five key operational areas (urban planning, strategic planning and policy development, municipal service delivery, women’s leadership and increased participation in governance, and Training of Trainers (ToT) for implementation of the Mogadishu Transformation Plan (MTP)). 

This training programme aims to address a specific critical capacity gap in urban planning, while strengthening wider institutional systems for governance and accountability. 

The programme, as designed, will directly benefit between 30 and 35 BRA officials, in particular the cadre of Public Works Engineers from various public works departments and district administrations.

Overall, the training programme will contribute to development of a resilient, well managed and economically vibrant Mogadishu, in line with the recently developed five-year Mogadishu Transformation Plan, which has been designed to enhance the effectiveness of local government operations in the city, through improved civil service management and the improvement of public infrastructure and capacity, especially through increased involvement of the private sector, via private investment and promotion of public–private partnerships (PPP). 

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 scope and purpose of the overall “Formulation of Training Curricula and Provision of Capacity Development Training for Mogadishu / BRA Staff” initiative was first outlined in a DoPIED Concept Note that defines the objectives of the programme and the methodology through which a number of targeted training courses will be implemented among BRA staff and across Mogadishu’s 20 districts. 

In line with the proposed methodology, the Senior Technical Advisor (STA) for Preparation of 

Training Curricula and Provision of Urban Planning Capacity Development Training for Mogadishu / BRA) Staff will work closely with DoPIED technical staff (the DoPIED DG, heads of department and DoPIED senior management team) who will play a crucial role in facilitating the STAs work. 

Formulation of the Urban Planning Capacity Development Training Curriculum will pass through a number of consultation and drafting phases, including a desk review of relevant documents, before organisation of a single three-day training workshop for up to 35 BRA technical staff (to be held in one of Mogadisu’s four administrative “zones”: Bari, Bartamaha, Galbeed and Waliyow-Cadde). 

The STA will incorporate feedback gathered during initial consultation meetings into the draft training curriculum, which curriculum will constitute a permanent, key deliverable of the assignment. 

The STA will also work closely with sectoral working groups (where they exist) and TAPF Key Experts (KE1 and KE2) and Non-key Experts (the BRA Coordinator – SLC) and will coordinate between the Department of Planning, Investment and Economic Development (DoPIED) and other ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), thus helping to generate a comprehensive, inclusive and fully formed training blueprint. 

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 role is expected to commence in June 2026 (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.  

A maximum of 35 working days, delivered over an indicative period of approximately two (2) calendar months (subject to operating conditions). 

The main place of assignment will be Mogadishu, capital of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and headquarters of the Banadir Regional Administration (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. 

Deadline for submission of CVs: not later than 5th of June 2026