This assignment has been negotiated in good faith with the Partner Organisation, and the information contained was correct at the time of acceptance of the request. While we take responsibility for matters under our direct control, all assignments and arrangements are subject to change. This assignment may be amended or withdrawn to reflect changes in circumstances.
GENERAL DETAILS Assignment Title Urban Planner Partner Organisation Baglung Municipality Website of Partner Organisation www.baglungmun.gov.np Duration of Assignment 12 months Start Date September 12, 2019 Assignment Code
1. PARTNER ORGANISATION OVERVIEW Established in 1997, Baglung Municipality has a population of approx. 57,823 (2011 Census) residing in 14 wards covering an area of 98.71 sq.km. However, the actual number of people living in the municipality is likely to be more than indicated in the 2011 Census and is thought to be close to 70,000, taking into account students, government staff, private sector employees and migrant workers coming into the area from other districts of Nepal. Currently the municipality has 142 staff working in various sections. Vision: A clean, safe, and prosperous Smart City. The main purposes of the Municipality are the following: Promote economic development, environment conservation and disaster management. Infrastructure development, delivery of education and social development services. Poverty reduction, agriculture development, preservation of culture and tourism promotion. Industrial development. Strengthening financial management, collaboration with the private sector, academic and research institutions, civil society organisation and other government institutions. The capacity building of staff is a complementary purpose. The National Planning Commission, Government of Nepal, stresses that localization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at Provincial and Local Government levels for the universal, equitable and inclusive outcome of sustainable development efforts. The federal system of government entrusts many SDGs related to service delivery to the provincial and local
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levels. These include basic and secondary education, primary health care, water supply and sanitation, agriculture, basic infrastructure and social security. Thus, the programs of the municipality are broadly aligned with SDGs.
The municipality has collaborative relationships with civil society organisations, international development agencies and private sector role players (businesses, industries and their associations).
2. ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW Baglung is the second largest city, after Pokhara, in the Gandaki Province of Nepal. The geographical map the Baglung Municipality has recently expanded with the merger of five additional local government units into the municipality. Baglung is a rapidly growing municipality due to increased connectivity with other districts of Nepal. The municipality aims to improve the overall management of facilities and services being provided. In line with the policies and programs approved by the Municipal Council, it needs to design and implement an Integrated Urban Development Plan (IUDP) to steer the long term planned growth of the city based on the optimal use of available resources while considering the social, economic and environmental effects of land use and its impact on the community.
The municipality is in the process of engaging a team of multidisciplinary consultants to collect and analyse data to prepare a strategy and plan for urban development, covering: How the physical environment is arranged to support the health, safety, wellbeing and amenity provision to citizens in a way that is inclusive and accessible. How infrastructure supports development/community (i.e. roads, drainage, water supply, sewerage, open space, location of schools, health posts etc.). Distribution of land use to support the economic wellbeing of the community (i.e. protect agricultural land, locate new commercial enterprises in activity centres, location of urban development to ensure efficient use of infrastructure, use of, and development near rivers).
The municipality seeks the support of an experienced Australian Urban Planner volunteer for the development of an Integrated Urban Development Plan (IUDP) and related detailed implementation plans. The Volunteer urban planner will work with the municipal executives, planning, social development and technical section staff to develop these plans and to transfer related knowledge and skills.
3. ASSIGNMENT OBJECTIVES Work with the municipality team to design the Integrated Urban Development Plan (IUDP) with ‘smart city’ objectives Ensure that systems are in place to sustain the capacity developed in the municipality. To ensure the inclusion of all people directly affected by the volunteer assignment in the course of your work with the partner organisation and host community, including implementing strategies that relate to: a. promoting gender equality and empowering women, b. disability inclusion, and c. child safeguarding.
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4. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE VOLUNTEER In consultation with their line manager and relevant stakeholders, Australian volunteers complete a work plan in the first three (3) months of their assignment. The duties below are an indication of the type of work that may be involved in meeting the Assignment Objectives: Together with the team, review components of the draft Urban Development Plan of the municipality, prepared by the multidisciplinary team. Support finalisation of the Integrated Urban Development Plan (IUDP). Design a phased Master Plan for the implementation of the IUDP. Provide technical support in the implementation of plan. Develop and/or maintain partnerships with local, regional and international organisations, provincial and national government, professional and peer networks. Ensure that capacity development of local team members is central to all the above.
5. SELECTION CRITERIA Qualifications, Essential Skills & Experience Master’s Degree in Urban Planning or Regional Development Planning. Five years’ experience in urban/town planning. Certifications in Planning from recognized authority. Good skills in AUTOCAD, GIS and other planning software. Experience in skill transfer and capacity building, interpersonal skills, communication skills and organizational skills.
Desirable Skills & Experience Working experience in a local government setting.
6. ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION Line Manager Mayor. Staff Supervision This role will not supervise any staff.. Working Relationships Municipal executives, Social Development, Planning and Technical section staff. Hours & Days of Employment From 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Sunday to Thursday and 10:00 to 3:00 on Friday. The expectation is that the volunteer will work the equivalent of a 5 day week to a maximum of 40 hours per week.
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Leave Entitlements All volunteers are entitled to 20 days leave per 12 months, unless otherwise advised. Same conditions and terms as local colleagues apply, including national holidays.
Professional Indemnity Insurance Professional indemnity insurance is not provided for Australian volunteers. You should consult your partner organisation about the need for professional indemnity insurance for your role prior to your departure, and where required, you are advised to obtain adequate professional indemnity insurance from a reputable insurance provider.
Note: A volunteer must not act as a medical practitioner without adequate professional/medical indemnity insurance. This must be provided by the partner organisation, Australian organisation (if applicable) or self-arranged by the volunteer. This applies to all clinical medical activities undertaken by midwives, nurses, doctors, paramedics, physiotherapists etc.).
Other Conditions If required to work after hours, the volunteer is entitled to time off in lieu because there are no overtime pay provisions. Local Language Skills and Level Required Medium Language Support Basic language support is provided during the in-country orientation period. Most often, additional resources for further development later in the assignment will be available if required. 7. LIVING AS A VOLUNTEER Baglung, the administrative headquarters of Baglung District, is 275 km west of Kathmandu. Baglung Bazar is situated on a plateau overlooking the Kali Gandaki Gorge, directly south of the Dhaulagiri Himalayan range. Steep cliffs rising from the valley flank the plateau on three sides. Baglung serves as the major center for business, finance, education, service and healthcare for the people of mid-Kali Gandaki Valley.
Weather Baglung enjoys warm summers and mild winters. Annual average temperatures range from a maximum of 26.6 °C and a minimum of 19.1 °C. Rainfall is heavily affected by the Monsoon and most rain occurs during the months of June through September. The remainder of the year is mostly dry and sunny. Snowfall is extremely rare in the central city, however, higher elevations within the city limits see occasional snow during the winter months.
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Connectivity Completion of several road projects have put Baglung at the crossroads of major north-south and east-west highway systems of Nepal. Tracks have been opened for Kaligandaki Corridor Highway connecting Tibet to the north via Mustang and border towns in the south. Similarly, Midhill Highway that connects the eastern and western halves of Nepal passes through the city. A paved highway connects the town with Pokhara, 72 km to the east. There are regular bus and taxi services to Pokhara and Jomsom (96km). Road access is easy and roads are surfaced in the bazar areas. Road transportation (local bus, tourist bus, micro bus, jeep, cars, taxis, and motorcycles) is convenient for travel to, from and around Baglung Bazar. Telephone, mobile and internet access are easily accessible with very good network systems and internet speed in Baglung Bazar.
Places of interest From a tourism perspective Baglung is well known for its hunting reserve (Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve), rafting, trekking, hiking, suspension bridges and the Kalika Temple - one of the oldest temples in Nepal. The adjoining Kali Gandaki River offers some of the best white-water rafting in Nepal and attracts a number of thrill seekers every year. Suspension bridges meant for foot traffic are abundant in the area. So much so that the moniker "land of suspension bridges" is used to identify Baglung. The bridge over Kaligandaki connecting Kaiya with Kushma is notable for having the highest and longest span in Nepal. Baglung and its adjacent areas are well known for folk Nepali music. The area has given rise to some of the prominent names in Nepali folk music. The annual folk song competition, held during the Chaite Dashain Festival, attracts artists from across the nation.
Local market The local market is big and is where you can find household items, foods, fruits, meats and clothes. Restaurants serve Nepali, Indian and Inter-continental/Western foods too.
Accommodation One can rent a room or an apartment (note that access to fully furnished rooms is limited). Volunteers from other volunteer programs have lived and worked in Baglung and surrounding districts.
Health services Baglung has one provincial government hospital, three private hospitals, doctors’ clinics and pharmacies. The government Regional Hospital, Manipal Medical College and a few private hospitals in the provincial capital Pokhara serve as referral centres.
8. ALLOWANCES & SUPPORT These allowance levels are based on the Cost of Living in the host country location. Allowances will be reviewed periodically and may increase or decrease. Volunteers will be given notice of any change to the allowance level. AUD $1,330.00 per month
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Accommodation Allowance AUD $300.00 per month Housing Assistance with the identification of suitable, secure and affordable accommodation will be provided by the In-Country Management Team. Other Allowances & Support All Australian Volunteers program volunteers receive the following: Pre-departure Briefing in Melbourne In-country Orientation on arrival Pre-departure vaccination expenses Visa expenses Pastoral care, assignment monitoring and security guidance Return airfare to country of assignment Psychological and medical advice and support services Re-entry support services Settling in allowance (assignments longer than 6 months) Re-settlement allowance (assignments longer than 6 months)
9. PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION As a part of your online application you will be required to answer the following questions through a video recording (if you are unable to submit through the online video due to accessibility please contact the Recruitment Coordinator). Response to Selection Criteria a) Why do I feel that volunteering internationally is the right thing for me to be doing at this time in my life? b) What are the biggest personal adjustments I’m likely to have to make to be accepted as a useful colleague and engaged community member in this assignment? c) The Australian Volunteers Program is committed to ensuring the inclusion of all people directly affected by the volunteer assignment, such as the partner organisation and host community. What is your personal experience and/or understanding of social inclusion. d) How do I match the Qualifications, Essential Skills & Experience? Include your most relevant experiences, results and achievements responding to each of the selection criteria in Section 5. Personal Circumstances Constraints The Australian Volunteers Program recognises and values the enhanced skills and expertise of returned volunteers as a result of their volunteering experience. The program is also designed to maximise international volunteering opportunities for all Australians. With this in mind, if a returned volunteer and a candidate who has not volunteered previously apply for the same
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role, preference will be given to the latter, providing they meet the personal and professional selection criteria for the role. We are NOT able to accept applications from people with the following personal circumstances due to security, cultural, legal or visa restrictions in this location: Same sex partners who wish to accompany applicants as part of the program may face issues in applying for and being issued with a visa
Applicants with a criminal record where a criminal conviction may be relevant to the inherent requirements of the assignment.
10. HOW TO APPLY All applications must be submitted online through the Australian Volunteers Program website. If you haven’t already done so, you will need to register on our website prior to applying. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply for this assignment.
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