Expert 3: Urban planner, GIS expert - with national expertise – Zambia

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Expert 3: Urban planner, GIS expert - with national expertise for a urban, environment, finance consultancy assignment financed by GIZ in Zambia.

Aninver Development Partners is seeking an experienced Urban Planner and GIS Expert with national expertise for a prospective consultancy assignment in Zambia. Implemented with the support of GIZ, the initiative focuses on promoting just and climate-resilient urban development and decentralization, addressing rapid urbanization, climate vulnerability, and infrastructure challenges in selected municipalities.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in supporting local authorities to formulate climate-resilient Local Area Plans and planning agreements. By leveraging advanced Geographic Information Systems and spatial mapping, the expert will help bridge technical and financial capacity gaps, ensuring sustainable spatial layouts and improved living conditions in rapidly growing informal settlements across the country.

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 climate-resilient urban development in selected municipalities.
• Develop robust Local Area Plans and spatial layouts integrated into local authority databases using advanced GIS methodologies.
• Enhance technical and spatial data collection frameworks to address informal settlement challenges effectively.

Scope of work

• Support local authorities in identifying, collecting, and analyzing socio-economic, environmental, climate, and spatial baseline data.
• Contribute to the formulation of climate-resilient Local Area Plans and planning agreements through participatory community engagement methods.
• Build and manage consistent GIS layouts and cadastral surveys integrated into municipal databases, covering water supply, drainage, wastewater, and landownership.
• Facilitate training and capacity development initiatives for local authorities and stakeholders in GIS and spatial planning techniques.
• Document learnings, policy gaps, and technical shortcomings to inform national and local stakeholders through policy briefs.

Your role as Expert 3: Urban planner, GIS expert - with national expertise

• Lead the application of Geographic Information Systems for local area planning and spatial data management within target municipalities.
• Provide technical advisory services to local authorities on spatial analysis, mapping, and low-cost planning methodologies.
• Support the setup of local authority task teams responsible for the preparation and execution of Local Area Plans.
• Integrate cadastral surveys and infrastructure layers—such as water, sanitation, and community spaces—into unified municipal databases.
• Assist in organizing participatory mapping and community engagement activities, particularly within informal settlements.
• Coordinate closely with academic institutions and local stakeholders to strengthen municipal technical capacities.

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 using GIS, 5 years working with local authorities, 2 years planning in informal settlements
• 5 years professional experience in Southern Africa
• 5 years of experience in development cooperation projects
• Languages: Knowledge of English C1-level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (qualification will not be assessed)
• National of, or based in, the project country

An adept urban planner and GIS specialist with extensive national and regional experience in Southern Africa, boasting a strong background in local area planning, informal settlement upgrading, and capacity building within development cooperation frameworks.

Assignment details

• Location: Zambia
• Financed by: GIZ
• Sector: Urban, environment, finance
• Estimated duration: 48 months
• Expected input: 210 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.