Urbanas Collaborative Consultancies

Women at tobacco farm in Mangochi District, Malawi. Photo: @urbanas2019

Associated Partnerships

Urbanas is a network of urban development and planning professionals. We provide technical assistance to our local partners at governmental institutions and civil society to achieve their targets of territorial and social development through inclusive planning, and participatory processes.

Professionals

We work in interdisciplinary teams with experts of urban and social development, territorial planning, environmental management, gender mainstreaming, migration, equitable economic development and international politics.

Institutions

We provide advisory services to national and local governments, civil society organizations, tertiary educational institutions and international development agencies.

Values and commitments

Integrity
Professionalism and productivity
Creative and results oriented problem solving

Inclusive and collaborative approach
Pluralism and respect for diversity
Effective communication

Who we are

Margarita Gómez SalasSenior Architect and Territorial Environmental Planner

Architect, Territorial Planner and Culture Manager holding an architecture and planning degree and a Master degree in culture management with broad international professional experience in Latin America, Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa. She works as advisor, university lecturer, researcher and consultant.

Expertise in territorial environmental planning focusing on natural resources management, and planning for Climate Change
Wide experience in municipal and regional planning and policy elaboration and review
Deep knowledge on community management, capacity building and elaboration of guides and manuals
Specialization in Urban resilience building and Green infrastructure projects
Proficiency in the elaboration of planning instruments of heritage management and cultural projects
Monitoring and Evaluation of programmes and projects

Membership of professional bodies:

Member of GAPP Grup d’Arqueologia Publica i Patrimoni at University of Barcelona, Spain
Certified lecturer at the Universidad Pedro Henriquez Urena, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Founding partner of desenho architecture, urban Planning and culture management, Mozambique
Registered architect at the Mozambican Ministry of Public Works and Housing, Mozambique

Umut Duyar-KienastDr. Ing.

Urban and Regional Planner holding a Bachelor degree in City and Regional Planning, a Master degree in Environmental Design, and a Doctorate degree in Urban Planning with professional experience since 2003 in international development and local government in Europe, Middle East and southern Africa.

Expertise and experience in participatory planning methods, community action research and institutional learning processes, as well as Monitoring and Evaluation.
Expertise and experiences in capacity building for local government in areas of participation, town planning and review of regulatory frameworks; implementation of workshops, preparation of manuals and guidelines.
Experience in consultancy, project design and management, including procurement and budget responsibilities.
Management skills including project development and management, result-oriented monitoring, intercultural communication, consultancy tools, participatory learning and action, capacity works.

She works with a wide range of stakeholders including local and provincial government, national and international donors and civil society organisations in developing inclusive and equitable urban regeneration strategies.

Membership of professional bodies:

Member of the Trialog e.V. Association for Scientific Research into Planning and Building in the Developing World.
Board Member of the I.S.I. e.V. Initiative Selbständiger Immigrantinnen.
Member of Chamber of Architects Berlin – registered urban planner.