United Nations Human Settlements Programme

EGYPT Office

1 Ismael Abaza Street, Qasr El-Eny, Cairo 11516, Egypt

infohabitat@unhabitat.org, www.unhabitat.org

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
REF. 21/01/2016
Issued on: 21 January 2016

ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION:
DUTY STATION:
FUNCTIONAL TITLE:
GRADE:
POST DURATION:
CLOSING DATE:

UN-Habitat, Egypt Country Office

Cairo, Egypt
Regional planning and Economics
Consultant
National Consultant
11 months
4 February 2016

Background
The Urban Policies, Governance and Legislations program in Egypt tries to tackle the multi-dimensional
context of urban planning and management and the challenges faced in the implementation of Detailed
Plans. The problem of the increasing share of sub-standard, informally developed areas in the cities and
towns of Egypt cannot be resolved without reframing informal development to deliver sufficient spatial
standard as well as explore unconventional urban development mechanisms in new cities developed on
desert land in order to safeguard the valuable agricultural land.
Spontaneous land reclamation activities in the desert hinterland adjacent to the existing agricultural land
in the Nile Valley and Delta is a common phenomenon throughout Egypt. These activities pose a
challenge and obstacle to development and growth potentials, as the desert hinterland constitute the
only available development areas for regional expansion for various agriculture, urban, industrial
activities as well as needed services and utilities.
The increasing importance of these agricultural areas outside the zemam, as well as the considerable size
of local investment and production volume of these projects can be easily acknowledged. However,
illegal and informal activities in these areas represent aggression on State land, and these
encroachments result in wasting valuable resources and financial losses from potential fees collection.
Other negative aspects are the scattered pattern of those holdings and informal agriculture activities
that does not take into account soil or groundwater quantity, and inappropriate crops and agricultural
cycles. As these areas occupy most areas of natural extension of the governorate, spatial location for
needed development projects face serious challenges.
Accordingly, it is indeed a priority to start organizing these sporadic development activities. It is expected
that the rates of encroachment on State desert hinterland will increase due to the continuity of weak
control and monitoring of a single central ministerial entity located in Cairo. Further, there is a need for
offering formal designations via legal workable procedures to small investors in Upper Egypt
governorates, within the framework of new reclamation projects.
Project Objectives and Outputs

United Nations Human Settlements Programme

EGYPT Office

1 Ismael Abaza Street, Qasr El-Eny, Cairo 11516, Egypt

infohabitat@unhabitat.org, www.unhabitat.org

This project aims at the preparation of a Demonstrative Detailed Plan that illustrates the regulation of
activities and uses in the desert hinterland. Such a plan demonstrates the procedures and mechanisms
needed to curb disadvantages that are postulated by the continuing illegal encroachment and informal
activities. The plan will illustrate how to maximize benefits of existing projects and investments via
organizing and legalizing ownership within spatial development units. Several socioeconomic
implications include ensuring the flow of resources to the State and municipalities as the result of
legalizing ownership, and the sustainability of agricultural development in those areas by means of
appropriate methods and legal forms of land tenure.
The main output of the project is an indicative detailed spatial plan for one of the desert hinterland
regions of Armant Markaz (Luxor governorate) with an approximate area ranging from 2000 to 3000
feddans. The study area will include all current legal and illegal cultivated areas in the hinterland outside
the existing agricultural land of the markaz. The project would represent a pilot development model for
dealing with formal and informal infringements through spatial planning and proposing appropriate
mechanisms, procedures and needed legal and institutional reform needed for sustainable development.
The main objective of the plan will be planning areas of agricultural extension by compilation scattered
and fragmented plots of agricultural holdings (which most probably will be conflicting and overlapping)
into agricultural development units. Small production units will be based on small-area agricultural
plots, that could be agglomerated together and irrigated by a certain underground well. Medium-size
units will be composed of larger plots of small-scale agriculture investors, and could or be allocated to
young graduates associations that are expected to maintain agricultural expertise and operate in an
efficient manner. Large agriculture development and production units would illustrate integrated
projects for land reclamation, agriculture development, and logistic areas.
Prior to the preparation of the demonstrative detailed plan, a regional land use plan for the desert
hinterland of the markaz will detail all agricultural and non-agricultural activities, as well as proposed
development areas suggested by the Regional Strategic Plan of Luxor Governorate. Agricultural uses of
the proposed land uses will determine individual existing informal activities, in addition to land
reclamation projects approved by the Ministry of Agriculture, or proposed by the regional strategic plan,
or desert expansions which will be outlined by the regional land use plan.
The project will also propose mechanisms and procedures for planning, legal and institutional reform. Of
major importance are land ownership and tenure mechanisms, as well as administration procedures for
legalized areas of agriculture projects and reclamation land. The project will also suggest guidelines for
delineating administrative boundaries for local rural units as development units.
Project Time Schedule
The overall project duration will be 10 months as follows:
Phase One:
3 months
Structural Regional Plan for Armant Markaz
Phase Two:
5 months
Demonstrative Detailed Plan for a Development Unit
Phase Three: 3 months
General Recommendations for the Demonstration Project:
Mechanisms & Procedures for Planning, Legal and Institutional Reform

United Nations Human Settlements Programme

EGYPT Office

1 Ismael Abaza Street, Qasr El-Eny, Cairo 11516, Egypt

infohabitat@unhabitat.org, www.unhabitat.org

Phases /
Months
Phase One
Phase two
Phase three

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10

Responsibilities:
Part 1: Regional economics

Participation with team in the following tasks:

Phase One:
Structural Regional Plan for Armant Markaz

Determination of relevant stakeholders (governorate and governmental officials, land

reclamation land owners and investors, ministerial representatives, etc.)
Reflection of the recommendations of the Strategic Regional Plan for Luxor Governorate on the
development vision for Armant Markaz ( showing proposed projects in the current and new
urban areas in the desert hinterland)
Survey and analysis of the current situation in the Markaz hinterland (2, 5 and 10 Km tiers
outside the existing agriculture zimam). Survey includes all existing and designated land
reclamation areas and economic projects according to secondary data obtained from official
resources such as the Governorate departments for land ownership or investment, agriculture
departments statistics and records, as well as recent aerial maps (2015, 1 m- resolution images).
Analysis include legal status of all activities in the hinterland.
SWOT analysis for environmental, urban, social, and economic conditions for Armant Markaz,
focusing on strategic issues, and development problems, potentials and opportunities.
Development strategy for the Markaz, emphasizing the proposals of the Governorate Strategic
Plan, and determining priority projects that achieve the Markaz development vision.
List of priority projects in the markaz desert hinterland (2, 5 and 10 Km tiers).
Determining spatial location of development projects in existing and proposed urban and rural
areas.
Proposed Structural Regional Plan for the Markaz, showing transportation and roads
interconnections and spatial and functional integration between the existing and proposed
urban and rural areas.
Land suitability analyses for the location of proposed development projects, including
environmental analysis for soil and underground water resources, as well as topography, flood
drains, and other natural site features.
Expectation of the growth of investment demand for development projects.
Fine-tuning of special location, size, area, and program of priority projects to be located in the
desert hinterland.

United Nations Human Settlements Programme

EGYPT Office

1 Ismael Abaza Street, Qasr El-Eny, Cairo 11516, Egypt

infohabitat@unhabitat.org, www.unhabitat.org

Land use plan for the desert hinterland (2, 5 and 10 Km tiers), showing its subdivision into
development units.
Investment, economic and financing plans for selected development projects in the desert
hinterland.
Time schedule reflecting priority for intervention within development units.
Selection of the development unit that will be detailed in the following phase (Demonstration
Detailed Plan). The development unit will include various types of agriculture existing and
proposed activities.

Phase 2:
Demonstration Detailed Plan for a Development Unit

Legal study on land tenure and ownership, including legal mechanisms including cost-benefit
analysis for alternative procedures/mechanisms for granting land ownership.
SWOT analysis for current conditions, and land suitability analysis for agriculture, industry, and
urban uses.
Alternatives of detailed plan and their evaluation.
Demonstration Detailed Plan
Investment plan for proposed development projects.
Marketing and financial plans, determining a business model for management, land designation
and legal procedures, in addition to economic feasibility studies for development projects.

Phase 3:
General Recommendations for the Demonstration Project:
Mechanisms and Procedures for Planning, Legal and Institutional Reform

Delineating administrative boundaries for local rural units as development units

Land ownership and tenure mechanisms
Administration procedures for legalized areas of agriculture projects and reclamation land.

Deliverables:

Phase One
Working paper: Reflection of the recommendations of the Strategic Regional Plan for Luxor Governorate
on the development vision for Armant Markaz, survey and analysis of the current situation in the Markaz
hinterland, list of priority projects in the markaz desert hinterland, proposed Structural Regional Plan for
the Markaz, expectation of the growth of investment demand for development projects, fine-tuning of
special location, size, area, and program of priority projects to be located in the desert hinterland, land
use plan for the desert hinterland, investment, economic and financing plans for selected development

United Nations Human Settlements Programme

EGYPT Office

1 Ismael Abaza Street, Qasr El-Eny, Cairo 11516, Egypt

infohabitat@unhabitat.org, www.unhabitat.org

projects in the desert hinterland, and selection of the development unit that will be detailed in the
following phase.

Phase Two
Working paper: SWOT analysis for current conditions, and land suitability analysis for agriculture, industry,
and urban uses, alternatives of detailed plan and their evaluation, Demonstration Detailed Plan , and
investment plan for proposed development projects.

Phase Three
Working paper: Delineating administrative boundaries for local rural units as development units.

Part 2: Regional planning

Phase One:
Structural Regional Plan for Armant Markaz

Determination of relevant stakeholders (governorate and governmental officials, land

reclamation land owners and investors, ministerial representatives, etc.)
Reflection of the recommendations of the Strategic Regional Plan for Luxor Governorate on the
development vision for Armant Markaz ( showing proposed projects in the current and new
urban areas in the desert hinterland)
Survey and analysis of the current situation in the Markaz hinterland (2, 5 and 10 Km tiers
outside the existing agriculture zimam). Survey includes all existing and designated land
reclamation areas and economic projects according to secondary data obtained from official
resources such as the Governorate departments for land ownership or investment, agriculture
departments statistics and records, as well as recent aerial maps (2015, 1 m- resolution images).
Analysis include legal status of all activities in the hinterland.
SWOT analysis for environmental, urban, social, and economic conditions for Armant Markaz,
focusing on strategic issues, and development problems, potentials and opportunities.
Development strategy for the Markaz, emphasizing the proposals of the Governorate Strategic
Plan, and determining priority projects that achieve the Markaz development vision.
List of priority projects in the markaz desert hinterland (2, 5 and 10 Km tiers).
Determining spatial location of development projects in existing and proposed urban and rural
areas.
Proposed Structural Regional Plan for the Markaz, showing transportation and roads
interconnections and spatial and functional integration between the existing and proposed
urban and rural areas.
Land suitability analyses for the location of proposed development projects, including
environmental analysis for soil and underground water resources, as well as topography, flood
drains, and other natural site features.
Expectation of the growth of investment demand for development projects.
Fine-tuning of special location, size, area, and program of priority projects to be located in the
desert hinterland.

United Nations Human Settlements Programme

EGYPT Office

1 Ismael Abaza Street, Qasr El-Eny, Cairo 11516, Egypt

infohabitat@unhabitat.org, www.unhabitat.org

Land use plan for the desert hinterland (2, 5 and 10 Km tiers), showing its subdivision into
development units.
Investment, economic and financing plans for selected development projects in the desert
hinterland.
Time schedule reflecting priority for intervention within development units.
Selection of the development unit that will be detailed in the following phase (Demonstration
Detailed Plan). The development unit will include various types of agriculture existing and
proposed activities.

Phase 2:
Demonstration Detailed Plan for a Development Unit

Alternatives for consolidating scattered agriculture ownerships into agriculture production units.
SWOT analysis for current conditions, and land suitability analysis for agriculture, industry, and
urban uses.
Alternatives of detailed plan and their evaluation.
Demonstration Detailed Plan
Investment plan for proposed development projects.
Marketing and financial plans, determining a business model for management, land designation
and legal procedures, in addition to economic feasibility studies for development projects.

Phase 3:
General Recommendations for the Demonstration Project:
Mechanisms and Procedures for Planning, Legal and Institutional Reform

Reform procedures for legal system dealing with desert hinterland

Delineating administrative boundaries for local rural units as development units
Land ownership and tenure mechanisms
Administration procedures for legalized areas of agriculture projects and reclamation land.

Deliverables:
Expert will participate in all tasks of the project and will be co-author all reports with Head of Team.
Phase One Report: Structural Regional Plan for Armant Markaz
Phase Two Report: Demonstrative Detailed Plan for a Development Unit
Phase Three Report: Mechanisms and Procedures for Planning, Legal and Institutional Reform

United Nations Human Settlements Programme

EGYPT Office

1 Ismael Abaza Street, Qasr El-Eny, Cairo 11516, Egypt

infohabitat@unhabitat.org, www.unhabitat.org

Level of efforts and terms of payment

Payment will be in three installments as the following:
Payment

Explanation

Time frame

1st payment

delivering requested services and submitting deliverables 20 days

required and approval by UN-Habitat Egypt for the first
phase in both regional economics and planning deliverables

2nd payment

delivering requested services and submitting deliverables 20 days

required and approval by UN-Habitat Egypt for the second
phase in both regional economics and planning deliverables

3rd payment

delivering requested services and submitting deliverables 20 days

required and approval by UN-Habitat Egypt for the third
phase in both regional economics and planning deliverables

Total

60 days

Competencies:
Education: Advanced/ post-graduate university degree in urban planning, urban sustainability or
environmental studies. Knowledge in the field of urban development, housing and urban
development are required. Substantive demonstrated professional experience in the area of
strategic urban planning, urban policy and/or urban management (preferably on a regional
level). International experience is preferred.
Experience: Eight to 10 years of progressive experience in field related to Terms of Reference of
the consultancy assignment. Experience in implementing pro-poor development activities in
area of expertise. Familiar with the process of preparing rapid urban sector profiling or strategic
urban plans. Strong familiarity with GOPP and UN-Habitat strategic planning methodologies;
familiarity with working with Government of Egypt institutions in the field of strategic urban
planning and/ or local development.
Language: For the post advertised fluency in oral and written English is required.
Other: Excellent writing and strong communication skills are essential. Exceptional
coordination, management and communication skills. Good reporting skills. Ready to provide
independent evaluation.

Candidates
are requested to submit a covering letter quoting the Position Title and Vacancy
Announcement No.21/01/2016 along with their detailed Curriculum Vitae and Personal
History Form and Financial Offer. E-mail is the preferred means of receipt and the
application should be sent to the UN-Habitat Regional Office for Arab States, email:
Vacancies.Egypt@unhabitat.org.
Deadline for applications: 4 February 2016