Expert 2: urban planner, urban developer with national expertise – Zambia

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Expert 2: urban planner, urban developer with national expertise for a urban, environment, finance consultancy assignment financed by GIZ in Zambia.

Aninver Development Partners is seeking an Expert 2: urban planner, urban developer with national expertise for a prospective consulting assignment in Zambia funded by GIZ. The project focuses on climate-resilient urban development, supporting local authorities and municipalities in addressing rapid urbanization, environmental vulnerabilities, and infrastructure challenges in informal settlements.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in driving local area planning, spatial mapping, and participatory development initiatives. Working closely with municipal stakeholders and communities, the expert will contribute to strengthening technical capacities for sustainable and inclusive urban transformation across target regions.

Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.

Objectives of the assignment

• Improve coordination, planning, and implementation capacities for just and climate-resilient urban development in selected municipalities.
• Support the preparation and finalization of climate-resilient Local Area Plans (LAPs) and planning agreements.
• Enhance the integration of geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial mapping within local authority databases.
• Promote active community participation and stakeholder engagement, particularly regarding marginalized groups and informal settlements.

Scope of work

• Support local authorities in identifying and establishing task teams dedicated to local area planning.
• Collect socio-economic, environmental, climate, and spatial baseline data to inform municipal reports and plans.
• Facilitate participatory community engagement methods, including focus group discussions and participatory mapping.
• Build consistent GIS layouts and integrate cadastral surveys and land audits into local authority databases.
• Develop financing concepts and actionable strategies for the implementation of Local Area Plans.
• Document implementation learnings, regulatory restrictions, and policy gaps to inform national dialogue.
• Strengthen institutional frameworks for land tenure formalization and basic service access in informal settlements.

Your role as Expert 2: urban planner, urban developer with national expertise

• Lead national urban planning and development activities in close collaboration with local authorities and project teams.
• Provide technical expertise in local area planning and spatial mapping for target municipalities.
• Manage GIS data collection, spatial analysis, and database integration for urban infrastructure and landownership.
• Facilitate participatory mapping exercises and community-level consultations within informal settlements.
• Provide management and disciplinary leadership for project team members and local counterparts as required.
• Design and deliver capacity development measures, training workshops, and technical guidance for local government staff.
• Contribute to the drafting of policy briefs, progress reports, and documentation on urban planning best practices.

Requirements

• Education: University degree (e.g. 'master's or German Diplom') in Geography, Urban Planning or related field
• 7 years of professional experience in urban planning and development
• 5 years professional experience in local area planning, 5 years with GIS and spatial mapping, 5 years with local authorities, 3 years in participatory mapping
• 5 years management experience with disciplinary leadership for 5 people
• 5 years in Sub-Sahara Africa
• 5 years in Southern Africa
• 5 years in development cooperation
• Working experience with informal settlements
• Languages: Knowledge of English C1-level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
• National of, or based in, the project country

Desirable

• Demonstrated experience working alongside traditional authorities and local government decentralization frameworks.
• Previous involvement in GIZ-funded or international donor-backed urban resilience initiatives in the region.

An experienced urban planner and GIS specialist with extensive national expertise in Zambia, proven leadership capabilities, and a strong background in participatory local area planning within informal settlements.

Assignment details

• Location: Zambia
• Financed by: GIZ
• Sector: Urban, environment, finance
• Estimated duration: 48 months
• Expected input: 450 expert days
• Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)

About Aninver Development Partners

Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.

Why apply

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a GIZ-financed project in Zambia.
• Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
• Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.

How to apply

Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.

Can I apply if I am not based in the country? This position requires a national of, or a professional based in, the project country.

What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.