Faraz is an urban development specialist with a focus on the role of planning, technology, and inclusivity in creating resilient physical and social space.
Sector Experience: Urban development, housing, social inclusion, planning processes, smart cities, community engagement, digital communications, knowledge and learning. Languages: Native English,FluentUrdu, Hindi
Profile
I am a Senior Urban and Infrastructure specialist at Social Development Direct. I specialise in gender equality and social inclusion as part of urban planning and infrastructure programmes.
I have worked in both the UK and internationally on urban development with a diverse set of clients and partners, ranging from local government to donors such as DFID/FCDO, as well as multilateral development banks such as the EIB and ADB. Examples of recent work include supporting the EIB on their social inclusion policies, and developing a toolkit for EIB on gender and social inclusion as part of their urban development and digital investments. I also worked on affordable housing solutions in Ethiopia, and on Economic Corridor Development in Pakistan.
Previously, I worked as a knowledge & learning specialist for DFID's Infrastructure and Cities for Economic Development (ICED) Facility. My role involved driving the facility's knowledge generation in informing cities and infrastructure programming. I coordinated an ICED project exploring the role of 'smart cities' in the global south.
Before this, I worked with Social Life Ltd, a consultancy specialising in the role of communities in placemaking. My work revolved around embedding social sustainability at the heart of a number of new developments and urban renewal projects across the UK. I am also interested in the role of technology in facilitating social impact. I led on projects using big data to map resilience and wellbeing in UK cities, aimed at informing better decision-making around local communities.
I have also worked with international campaigns group Global Witness on their digital campaigning strategy. This included the use of modern digital tools and platforms to tell narratives around corruption, conflict, and environmental destruction.
My Work
‣ Social inclusion policy and measurement for the European Investment Bank (EIB) Social Development Direct ‣ Toolkits on gender-responsive urban development and digital solutions for the European Investment Bank (EIB) Social Development Direct ‣ Affordable shelter solutions in Hawassa, Ethiopia. East Africa Research fund with IIED Social Development Direct ‣ Economic Corridor Development in Pakistan, DFID's Infrastructure & Cities for Economic Development (ICED) Social Development Direct ‣ Knowledge & learning, DFID's Infrastructure & Cities for Economic Development (ICED) Social Development Direct ‣ Multi-stakeholder workshop and research report on the role of 'smart cities' in the Global South, DFID's Infrastructure & Cities for Economic Development (ICED) Social Development Direct ‣ Urban & gender programming case studies from Cities Alliance Social Development Direct ‣ Communications and engagement strategy, DFID's Work & Opportunities for Women (WOW) Programme Social Development Direct ‣ Nigeria: Post-conflict reconciliation & peacebuilding, lessons from NSRP Social Development Direct ‣ Gender focused technical input and research on issues including Violence Against Women and Girls, Gender Based Violence, Women in Conflict, and Urban Resilience Social Development Direct ‣ Social sustainability in the built environment, strategy, community engagement Social Life Ltd ‣ Communications strategy, digital campaigning, social media Global Witness ‣ Slum upgrade project analysis Social Development Direct ‣ Afghanistan campaign research, corruption researchGlobal Witness ‣ Community engagement, digital outreach, inclusive urban planning WFAMG ‣ Project Development,volunteering programme management MADE in Europe ‣ Communications coordination, cities research Reos Partners LLP ‣ Quality assurance Square Enix Europe