TERMS OF REFERENCE

Senior Technical Advisor (STA) for Preparation of

Training Curricula and Provision of Urban Planning Capacity Development Training for Mogadishu / BRA) Staff

Project

EU – Somalia Technical Assistance and Partnership Facility [NDICI Africa/2023/451-029]

Start date and duration

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. 

Inputs

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

Location and travel

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.

Supervision

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

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

1. BACKGROUND

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 project is resourced and implemented by a full-time Key Expert 1 / Team Leader and a full- time Key Expert 2 / Partnership Advisor, complemented by seven (7) full-time State Level Coordinators (including one based in, and supporting, BRA).

In addition, the project manages allocations of short-term workdays divided into three (3) categories: Senior Non-key Experts, Junior Non-key Experts and Senior Technical Advisors. The latter two categories of workdays are reserved largely for Somali nationals and residents. Days allocation and usage is demand-driven, in accordance with the TAPF projects’ overall ToR.

Key experts are supported by in-country administrative staff in Mogadishu and Nairobi, responsible for local administration, operational logistics and financial management, while overall project delivery is underwritten and supervised by DAIs backstopping team and support service, based in Europe.

2.   OBJECTIVES 2.1 Project Objectives

The TAPF has three main result areas:

    I.    Strengthening the capacity of the Government of Somalia, at both Federal and State levels, and in particular the Federal Ministry of Planning, Investment and Economic Development (MoPIED), to deliver on its mandate, with respect to the National Transformation Plan (NTP) and wider development agenda.

  II.    Strengthening identification, formulation, implementation and monitoring of European Union funded programmes in Somalia, covering renewable energy, the environment, climate change adaptation and natural resources management, amongst other topics.

 III.    Enhancing partnerships and facilitation of policy dialogue on key topics for EU-Somalia cooperation.

The project is expected to deliver a range of technical support activities structured around these three result areas, in relation to both Federal (FGS) and Member State (FMS) institutions and MDAs (ministries, departments and agencies), selected non-state actors, and the EUD itself. Deliverables may include multi-stakeholder engagement activities, including community consultations, planning, project and programme design, technical studies and analyses, policy and strategy formulation and advisory support, cross-cutting thematic analyses, and monitoring and evaluation.

2.2 General Assignment Objectives

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).

2.3 Specific Assignment Objectives

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.

.   EXPERT QUALIFICATIONS / SELECTION CRITERIA

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 Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Municipal Engineering, Urban and Regional Planning, Infrastructure Engineering, Water and Sanitation Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or another relevant engineering discipline.

·         Eight (8) or more years of practical work experience in a senior engineering or technical advisory capacity as a consultant with an international development organisation, private sector company, non-governmental organisation, or government institution. Experience should include planning, designing, supervising, or managing infrastructure, urban development, municipal services, environmental management, or related engineering projects.

·         Previous experience as a Technical Assistant (TA), Chief Technical Advisor (CTA), or similar senior technical expert embedded within a government institution, supporting engineering, infrastructure, urban development, municipal service delivery, or policy and institutional development programmes.

·         Previous experience in at least three (3) assignments involving the planning, organisation, and facilitation of technical workshops, stakeholder consultations, engineering training programmes, or capacity-building activities, including preparation of technical reports, PowerPoint presentations, and training materials.

·         Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

·         Excellent written and spoken communication skills in both English and Somali.

·         Strong organisational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

·         Extensive knowledge of the Somali development context, particularly urban infrastructure, municipal engineering, environmental management, and service delivery challenges in Mogadishu. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while managing multiple priorities effectively.

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. 

Deadline for submission of CVs: not later than 29 October 2026 (Relaunched)

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.