Project description:

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is undergoing major transformational economic & social change, driven by Saudi Vision 2030, which is aimed at reducing the county’s reliance on oil revenues & government spending. Launched in 2016, Saudi Vision 2030 is founded on three pillars:

• A vibrant society. A thriving economy. An ambitious nation.

• A thriving economy.

• An ambitious nation.

That draw on the nation’s intrinsic strengths. Key to its success is creating high performing, accountable government at all levels; attracting private sector investment; nurturing an entrepreneurial environment & ensuring employment opportunities for the country’s young population. Riyadh City, the country’s financial & administrative capital, is at the heart of this change & well positioned to support the achievement of Vision 2030 goals & targets.

The past 50 years have seen Riyadh evolve into the largest economy in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region, having benefited from urban planning expertise, infrastructure investment, inward migration of workers & local & foreign direct investment. Riyadh’s strong growth is forecasted to continue for the next 20 years, with the city’s population projected to double from the current 7.5 million to 15 million people by 2030. The government has already committed more than US$ 250 billion for infrastructure projects as part of an US$ 800 billion investment package over the next 10 years, with the participation of the private sector, to transform the city.

Riyadh Municipality must support this substantial growth with effective & efficient infrastructure related facilities & public services by integrating business strategies, technology & people. In this regard, the Municipality has already adopted a number of innovative approaches to provide this support. Indeed, Riyadh Municipality has been a leader in KSA’s digital transformation efforts in line the rapid global technology development & government & institutional trends

The Riyadh Strategy 2030 vision is to transform the capital city into one of the world’s top ten city economies, doubling its population to 15 – 20 million people while increasing the number of visitors to more than 40 million by 2030. The strategy, which is due to be launched in 2022, will be implemented through 26 sectoral programs, including more than 100 initiatives & over 700 pioneer projects across various sectors & in different parts of the city. Riyadh Municipality will therefore have an important role to play in the implementation of the strategy & the achievement of its vision.

The strategic aim of the project is to enable Riyadh Municipality to more efficiently & effectively fulfil its mandate in the 4 areas of cooperation through provision of substantive technical assistance, advisory & quality assurance services from our client. This will enable Riyadh Municipality to contribute effectively to the achievement of the Riyadh Strategy 2030 vision & Saudi Vision 2030.

To this end, drawing on its extensive international expertise & experience in institutional strengthening, assisting municipal infrastructure & service delivery & increasing community & voluntary engagement, our cleint will assist the achievement of the following 4 expected project outcomes based on the 4 agreed areas of cooperation:

• Mayor’s Office has access to international best practices & uses up to date international expert advice in decision making.

• Riyadh Municipality able to effectively use big data & evidence to support informed decision making on policy & strategy & infrastructure development & service provision.

• Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) actively involved in infrastructure development & service delivery.

• Increased & strengthened community & voluntary engagement through local bodies & digital channels.

The project will provide a strategic framework for our client to provide substantive technical assistance, advisory & quality assurance services to Riyadh Municipality to deliver on its mandate & in particular, perform its functions more efficiently & effectively in the areas of cooperation that are the focus of this project. The project will capitalize on our clients institutional & human capacity strengthening expertise & experience & its strategic role as a central & impartial knowledge provider, builder of capacities, partnership broker & facilitator of exchanges at country, regional & global levels.

Scope of work:

• The PPP Expert will support informed decision making on PPP policy & strategy, infrastructure & service delivery in line with global best practice.

Duties & responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Report on ongoing public private partnerships actively involved in infrastructure development & service delivery in Riyadh Municipality.

• Conduct a participatory review of ongoing public private partnerships actively involved in infrastructure development & service delivery in Riyadh Municipality. 

• Prepare a detailed comprehensive work plan for PPP projects under Riyadh Municipality mandate.

• Prepare best practice reports on big data driven & evidence based decision making on policy & strategy & infrastructure development & service delivery.

• Conduct national & international benchmarking & learning visits for staff in relevant departments.

• Develop a systematic framework for infrastructure development & service provision through PPPs.

The PPP Expert will be reporting technically to the Chief Technical Advisor & administratively to the Project Officer & in coordination with the National Project Manager.

• Master’s Degree in Economics, Urban Economy or any related fields, with minimum 10 years of work experience or Bachelor’s Degree with minimum 12 years of work experience in Urban Economy & Urban Development with proven competence in the public private partnerships in the municipal sector.

• 10 years of experience in evidence based economic policy for cities with reference to the municipal sector.

• Experience in urban economy indicators.

• Leading multicultural teams is an asset.

• Strong analytical & writing skills & a track record in producing relevant reports & other materials are required.

• High level of communication & interpersonal skills & experience in working effectively in a multicultural environment is required.

• Creates confidence among stakeholders, by delivering authoritative positions, compelling analysis & contextual acumen.

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s specific values & ethical standards & acts in accordance with the standards of conduct for international civil servants while advocating for our clients mission & vision.

• Ability to negotiate for solutions through participatory methods with various stakeholders at different levels local, regional & national.

• Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem solving capability & collaborative energy in professional area of expertise.

• Proficiency in the English language is required.

• Professional certificates is an asset if acquired in relevant fields.

• Set & align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.

• Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.

• Create & act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.

• Proactively initiate & champion change, manage multiple competing demands.

• Think beyond immediate task / barriers & take action to achieve greater results.

• Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter agency collaboration.

• Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce & champion inclusivity.

• Ability to manage programs & projects with a focus at improved performance & demonstrable results.

• Ability to take decisions in a timely & efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise & resources.

• Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise & creates win win situations.

• Ability to engage with a wide range of public & private partners, build, sustain & / or strengthen working relations, trust & mutual understanding.

• Ability to allocate & use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with principles of accountability & integrity.

• Effective & efficient delivery & implementation of urban programs & projects.

Team management experience is desired for this role.

• This assignment will be based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

• Our client will cover the round ticket to / from the duty station.

• If unforeseen travel outside the consultant’s duty station city is requested by our client & not required by the Terms of References (ToR), such travel shall be covered by our client in line with applicable rules & regulations & upon prior written agreement. In such cases, the consultant shall receive living allowances not exceeding the United Nations (UN) Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) rate for such other location(s).

• A written approval from our client & relevant authorities will be required to facilitate the consultant's travel to any locations than stated in this TOR on official missions where necessary.

• Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply for this role.