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GOGovernment of Belize

Community Development & Planning Officer – Blue Cities Project (Ministry of Finance)

BelmopanContractOn-site

About the role

The Ministry of Finance's Central Executing Unit (CEU) is hiring a Community Development & Planning Officer for the Department of Local Government under the World Bank-financed Belize Blue Cities and Beyond Project. The project aims to improve Belize's capacity for sustainable coastal and blue economy development, increase safe water supply and reduce land-based pollution in targeted urban areas. The officer will give the Department of Local Government technical support in helping town and city councils strengthen municipal management, with a focus on strategic urban planning, zoning, public space management, project development and the maintenance of municipal infrastructure. This is an individual consultancy for 24 months, renewable on satisfactory performance, based in office at the Department of Local Government headquarters in Belmopan with travel to the municipalities. The officer reports to the Director of Local Government.

Responsibilities

  • Prepare a diagnostic assessment of each municipality covering institutional, technical, human-resource, infrastructure, planning, zoning, revenue and service-delivery gaps, with findings, priorities and recommendations
  • Support municipalities in coordinating with government, non-government and private-sector bodies on joint development and maintenance initiatives
  • Help update municipal development plans and set up ways to monitor their priorities, timelines, financing, status and results
  • Build a database of national and international assistance programmes and how each is funded
  • Strengthen municipal planning capacity through software, training, and identifying and recruiting staff
  • Develop planning mechanisms, procedures, tools and workflows
  • Help prepare project proposals, terms of reference and procurement packages
  • Support technical reviews of consultant and contractor outputs
  • Advance zoning initiatives using ArcGIS, and physical planning of streets, infrastructure and public spaces under the National Land Use Policy
  • Help carry out a 5-year valuation to update property tax rolls, with an implementation plan
  • Strengthen municipal asset inventories, help prepare maintenance plans and advise on maintenance, rehabilitation and improvement of infrastructure and public spaces
  • Advocate for and monitor legal and regulatory compliance on jurisdiction, planning, zoning and infrastructure
  • Develop a monitoring and evaluation mechanism with indicators and tools
  • Support the delivery and visibility of projects in the municipalities funded by international financing institutions

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in Urban/Regional Planning, Environmental Planning, Community Development, Development Studies, Public Administration, Local Government Management, Geography, Civil Engineering or a related field
  • At least 3 years of professional experience in community or urban planning, public policy and planning, community development, land use, infrastructure planning, local government or municipal development
  • At least 3 years providing technical assistance in areas such as municipal or local development planning; urban, spatial or land-use planning; community engagement; municipal infrastructure or public-space management; institutional strengthening; project preparation or implementation; or municipal finance
  • Experience working directly with local governments, municipalities, public institutions or community initiatives
  • Experience preparing or contributing to plans, diagnostic assessments, proposals, concept notes, terms of reference or implementation plans
  • Experience developing planning tools, procedures, monitoring frameworks, indicators, reporting systems, asset inventories or maintenance plans
  • Experience running stakeholder consultations, workshops, trainings or community engagement
  • Strong analytical, research and problem-solving skills, and the ability to turn technical findings into practical recommendations
  • Excellent written and spoken English, with report-writing and presentation skills
  • Able to work with officials, local authorities, community groups and development partners
  • Proficiency in MS Office and working knowledge of GIS and planning or data tools (ArcGIS preferred)
  • Willingness to travel throughout Belize
  • Professionalism, integrity, impartiality and confidentiality

Preferred qualifications

  • Master's degree in a related field
  • Experience in climate-resilient urban planning, nature-based solutions, disaster-risk management, coastal planning or sustainable development
  • Knowledge of Belize's local government system, municipal legislation and physical-planning framework

Benefits

  • 20% gratuity on completion of the contract