Institution: Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA)

Position: Urban Planner

Rwanda Housing Authority is seeking a qualified Urban Planner to support urban and rural spatial planning, land use management, and sustainable development initiatives in Rwanda.

The successful candidate will contribute to the development and review of planning policies, assess the impact of physical development plans, provide technical advice, and support government institutions in implementing effective land use and infrastructure planning.

Key Responsibilities

Urban and Rural Planning

• Develop and review policies, strategies, laws, and regulations governing urban and rural spatial planning.
• Coordinate awareness initiatives on existing and planned land use projects at community, local government, and central government levels.
• Evaluate national land use and development master plans, district land use plans, local land development plans, detailed zoning plans, physical plans, and street addressing plans.
• Recommend necessary amendments to spatial planning tools and advise the responsible Ministry.
• Support central and local government officials in applying spatial planning frameworks and managing land use effectively.

Research and Environmental Assessment

• Assess the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of urban and rural physical development plans.
• Collect and analyze economic, social, and environmental data using geoinformation technologies to support decision-making.
• Address issues related to land use and community physical planning.

Infrastructure and Project Management

• Work with government agencies, developers, architects, community groups, and businesses to develop urban projects.
• Advise on project budgets and the feasibility of physical planning initiatives.
• Provide technical advice on bulk infrastructure, including water supply, sanitation, roads, stormwater drainage, solid waste management, and electricity.
• Monitor and oversee the implementation of urban and rural spatial planning and development projects by implementing agencies.
• Perform other relevant duties assigned by the direct supervisor.

Qualifications and Required Experience

Applicants must have one of the following qualifications and the corresponding relevant work experience:

Academic Qualification | Required Experience

Bachelor's in Urban and Regional Planning | 5 years

Bachelor's in Land Use Planning and Management | 5 years

Master's in Urban Planning | 3 years

Master's in Land Use Planning and Management | 3 years

Bachelor's Degree in Urban Design | 5 years

Master's Degree in Urban Design | 3 years

Bachelor's Degree in Geography specializing in GIS | 5 years

Degree in Urban Planning and Geography | 5 years

Master's Degree in Urban Planning and Geography | 3 years

Required Competencies and Technical Skills

Candidates should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Strong leadership and time management skills.
• Fluency in Kinyarwanda, English, and/or French. Knowledge of all three languages is an added advantage.
• Teamwork and team-building abilities.
• Knowledge of social and environmental issues related to urban and rural physical planning.
• Ability to use land use planning equipment and computer-aided software, including GPS tools, GIS, Stata/SPSS, and ArchCAD.
• Ability to interpret complex legislation and regulations related to urban and rural planning.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent report-writing and presentation skills.
• Computer literacy.
• Registration with the Rwanda Institute of Planners (RUPI) or the relevant professional body is an added advantage.

• Develop and review policies, strategies, laws, and regulations governing urban and rural spatial planning.
• Coordinate awareness initiatives on existing and planned land use projects at community, local government, and central government levels.
• Evaluate national land use and development master plans, district land use plans, local land development plans, detailed zoning plans, physical plans, and street addressing plans.
• Recommend necessary amendments to spatial planning tools and advise the responsible Ministry.
• Support central and local government officials in applying spatial planning frameworks and managing land use effectively.
• Assess the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of urban and rural physical development plans.
• Collect and analyze economic, social, and environmental data using geoinformation technologies to support decision-making.
• Address issues related to land use and community physical planning.
• Work with government agencies, developers, architects, community groups, and businesses to develop urban projects.
• Advise on project budgets and the feasibility of physical planning initiatives.
• Provide technical advice on bulk infrastructure, including water supply, sanitation, roads, stormwater drainage, solid waste management, and electricity.
• Monitor and oversee the implementation of urban and rural spatial planning and development projects by implementing agencies.
• Perform other relevant duties assigned by the direct supervisor.

• Strong leadership and time management skills.
• Fluency in Kinyarwanda, English, and/or French.
• Teamwork and team-building abilities.
• Knowledge of social and environmental issues related to urban and rural physical planning.
• Ability to use land use planning equipment and computer-aided software, including GPS tools, GIS, Stata/SPSS, and ArchCAD.
• Ability to interpret complex legislation and regulations related to urban and rural planning.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent report-writing and presentation skills.
• Computer literacy.
• Registration with the Rwanda Institute of Planners (RUPI) or the relevant professional body is an added advantage.

• Bachelor's in Urban and Regional Planning
• Bachelor's in Land Use Planning and Management
• Master's in Urban Planning
• Master's in Land Use Planning and Management
• Bachelor's Degree in Urban Design
• Master's Degree in Urban Design
• Bachelor's Degree in Geography specializing in GIS
• Degree in Urban Planning and Geography
• Master's Degree in Urban Planning and Geography