City Planning Mentor

We’re looking for a City Planning Mentor who can live and volunteer for 12 months in Lae, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. 

• This assignment seeks to support the development of the City Planning Division's capacity and systems to improve urban planning functions and ensure efficient service delivery. 
• To be considered for this role, you’ll need a degree or equivalent qualification in urban planning, civil engineering, architecture, or a related discipline is required.
• As a volunteer, you will support mentor the planning team, encouraging knowledge sharing and the adoption of best practices in policy development, planning, and implementation to strengthen the overall capacity of the City Planning Division.

About the Partner Organisation 

The Lae City Authority (LCA) was established in 2018. LCA has the mandate to provide municipal services to Papua New Guinea's second city and industrial hub, Lae. Lae is known as Papua New Guinea's 'Garden City' and is home to the largest cargo port in the country and a key gateway for agricultural exports coming from the fertile Highlands region. LCA is spearheading the ambitious redevelopment of the Lae Market for the growing city. It also works across a diverse array of service provision and other city functions from assisting to organise the Lae Festival, John Rosso Cup bicycle race and supporting the Morobe Show and independence celebrations to streetlights, roads and other local council-type functions.

The City Planning Division leads planning and implementation of national government and LCA city development policies regarding urban land use, zoning for public utilities, transportation, housing and commercial infrastructure. In the context of a rapidly growing city and major developments in the years ahead, planning remains an increasingly important cornerstone for the future development of Lae City. The Lae City Authority is overseen by a Board, whose chair is Hon John Rosso, MP, Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea.

While the existing team possesses foundational skills, a volunteer with specialized expertise in urban planning, policy development, and project management can provide mentorship, technical support, and introduce best practices. This assistance helps bridge gaps in advanced planning techniques, facilitates long-term strategic development, and strengthens the division’s ability to manage complex projects, such as zoning regulation and infrastructure planning, essential for Lae’s growth and modernization.

About the Australian Volunteers Program  

The Australian Volunteers Program is an Australian government-funded initiative. We support partner organisations across the Pacific, Asia, and Africa to achieve locally led change.  

Volunteers are supported throughout their volunteer journey. We actively support and encourage people of all backgrounds and abilities to volunteer and aim to make the program as accessible and inclusive as possible. If you have accessibility requirements, please contact us to discuss how we can support you to volunteer with us - inclusion@australianvolunteers.com. Learn more about our commitment to inclusion.