Organisation: World Resources Institute (WRI)
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
About US:
World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity and human well-being. We are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade in order to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean.
Cities Program Overview:
WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities works to make urban sustainability a reality. Global research and on-the-ground experience in Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Turkey and the United States combine to spur action that improves life for millions of people. Aiming to influence 200 cities with unique research and tools, WRI Sustainable Cities focuses on a deep cross-sector approach in four megacities on two continents, and targeted assistance to 30 more urban areas, bringing economic, environmental and social benefits to people in cities around the globe.
Job Summary: The Project Coordinator, Urban Mobility will support a project to foster integrated urban transport in Kampala, seeking to merge new innovations and enterprises in the city, emerging plans for BRT and other public transport, as well as building on the city’s existing minibus system. In this role, you will work with governments and other stakeholders, such as KCCA, local enterprises in urban transport, minibus operators and others involved in the public transport system of Kampala.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Project Management
- Liaise with the Kampala officials to scope, launch and foster outcomes towards integrated transport systems in Kampala, ranging from items such as fare integration, user information, and physical infrastructure – working across modes such as minibus taxis, planning for BRT, and other modes such as boda boda, bicycling and walking as modes for last-mile connectivity.
- Coordinate and interact with social enterprises and entrepreneurs in the city that may interact and be part of an integrated system that incorporates new technologies.
- Coordinate with WRI Africa and Washington, DC project management staff on urban transport projects, and Shell Foundation staff on advancing the project.
- Liaise with other WRI offices and partner institutions for data exchange, information requests and project coordination.
- Coordinate any synergies or mutual contacts and institutional cohesiveness with integrated transport projects in the region, as well as in other countries.
- Organize internal and external meetings, events and other activities involving other WRI or Shell Foundation staff, external experts and others.
Research, Knowledge and Practice
- Serve as the point contact and coordinator for project implementation and research work on the visioning and creation of an innovation-based integrated transport strategy for Kampala.
- Research and create recommendations for integrated transport strategies based on transport data, both existing and new research on items such as accessibility analysis, modal splits, opportunities for physical integration through design, user experience innovations and the like.
- Coordinate day-to-day project implementation, research and field work. This includes work planning, follow up on project implementation, monitoring progress, preparing reports. Conduct research, literature reviews and synthesize findings; prepare presentations highlighting findings.
- Coordinate dissemination of research to target audiences like policy makers, academia researchers, and industrial partners.
- Perform transport data collection, with special emphasis on public transport mapping, routes, integration opportunities for last-mile connectivity, BRT planning and related research;
- Research, document, evaluate, and analyze emerging trends, best practices, and policies in urban mobility as it relates to the project.
- Support the maintenance and tracking of key performance indicators and work-plans on shared databases.
- Participate in field work as required, including site visits, stakeholder outreach, and hosting partners in Kampala.
Writing & Editing
- Contribute written and graphic content to reports and presentation, and coordinate completion of reports providing recommendations to the city.
- Write emails, memos, other organizational items regarding the project.
- May involve review of WRI publications or knowledge products.
Grants & Financial Management
- Help coordinate on management of project as needed
- Prepare and send donor and project/grant status reports to WRI global office
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The applicant must hold a Bachelor’s degree required in transport planning/engineering, or urban/regional planning or design with a focus on transportation; Master’s degree preferred
- Minimum of one year of relevant, full time experience in urban transportation planning, road safety, non-motorized transport, road safety auditing or sustainable cities
- Knowledge or experience with integrated transport systems, including alternatives of last-mile connectivity, BRT, minibus taxis and its context in Kampala
- Ideal candidate will understand institutions and government agencies in Kampala and the larger African region. Local experience is highly desirable
- Strong quantitative, analytical, and research skills
- Enthusiasm to work on sustainability issues and in developing countries
- Detail-oriented and organized thinker
- Ability to work well in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams, juggle multiple priorities and work under tight deadlines
- Experience with geographic or statistical software/specifications such as ArcGIS or open source Qgis, GTFS, Excel, STATA, SPSS, and ability to learn new software and computer systems quickly
How to Apply:
Please submit Cover Letter and CV with application through the WRI Careers portal at the link below.
