Bizhan Azad

Amhaz Building, Corniche TV, Beirut, Lebanon.

Area of Expertise: Land Administration & Management/Automation
Name of Consultant: Bizhan Azad
Profession: Land Administration & Management/Automation Consultancy
Date of Birth: 13 April 1956
Nationality: USA
Membership in Professional Societies: Urban & Regional Information & Systems
Association International, International Association of Assessing Officers, FIG, Urban
Data Management Systems
Potential Tasks: Preparation of PAD, PIP and related input studies for WB/G Land.
Relevant Qualifications:
Bizhan Azad, is currently serving as consultant to the Directorate of Land Registration &
Cadastre, Ministry of Finance, Beirut, Lebanon for the World Bank LE 3770, Cadastre
Operations Modernization & Automation Project. From 1995-1996 he managed the
whole process and participated in the development of specifications for the procurement
of 2 large modernization & automation projects under the LE 3770. Both contracts were
tendered using the World Bank ICB procedures. One project covers the
modernization/automation of land registries in Lebanon involving the A-to-Z of land
registration process. The other project covers the modernization/automation of cadastre
departments in Lebanon involving the whole survey and mapping process. The former
contract is for 8.2 Million USD and the latter for 8.9 Million USD. Both projects were
designed and developed to build up the capacity and enhance land administration
service delivery of government. The agencies are already using the
modernized/automated procedures which have been successfully implemented in both
Cadastre Departments and Land Registries in Lebanon.
Education:
1998, Ph.D. MIS and Land Administration, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
1980, M.S. Technology Policy Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.,
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
1978, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Salford, Manchester, Manchester,
England.
CV, Bizhan Azad 10 April 2003 Page 2
Relevant Employment Record:
2002-present. Consultant to Cadastre Operations Modernization and Automation
Project, World Bank Loan LE 3770, Beirut Lebanon.
Providing on-going assistance to administer the project at the Minister of Finance
and Project Implementation Unit. Reference: Dr. Jihad Azour, Ministry of
Finance, Beirut Lebanon.
2003 January-April. Yemen, The Yemen/World Bank Port Cities Development Project,
Short-Term Management/ Automation Consultant, Aden, Yemen.
Preparation of PIP and related Technical Assistance. Reference: Mr. Mohammed
Zemmam, The Port Cities Development Program, Aden, Yemen.
1998-2001. Project Director, PIU Manager, Cadastre Operations Modernization and
Automation Project, World Bank LE 3770, Beirut Lebanon.
Overseeing the implementation of the project involving the work of suppliers and
beneficiary involved in the modernization and automation of the Lebanon’s
national land registries and cadastre departments. Reference: Dr. Jihad Azour,
Ministry of Finance, Beirut Lebanon.
2002 June-September. Kuwait Higher Privatization Council & The World Bank Land
Policy component of Energizing Private Sector Development Project, Land
Administration & Automation Consultant, Kuwait City, Kuwait.
Inventory of public land institutions and their land disposition policies and
procedures. Reference: Mr. John Speakman, The World Bank, Middle East North
Africa Department.
2000 April-June. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, The Saudi Railway Organization, Land
Management Performance Improvement Project. Short-term Land
Administration/Automation Consultant, Dammam, KSA.
Assessment and Action Plan for the Land Management Department of the Saudi
Railway Organization to improve the process of leasing and land disposition.
Reference: Mr. Khaled Al-Yahya, President, Saudi Railway, Dammam, KSA.
1998 March-June, 1999 April-July. West Bank & Gaza, Private Sector Development
Project—Land Registration Component. Short-term Land Administration/Automation
Consultant, West Bank & Gaza.
Assisted in the development of Project Appraisal Document and Project
Implementation Plan for the Land Registration component of the Financial Sector
Development project in the West Bank and Gaza. Reference: Mr. Omar Razzaz,
Mr. Robert Mertz, The World Bank, Middle East North Africa Department.
1995-1997. Long-term Cadastre Expert, Cadastre Operations Modernization and
Automation Project, World Bank LE 3770, Beirut Lebanon.
Managed the process of preparation of needs assessment, specifications for the
procurement of 2 large Registry and Cadastre automation projects for the
Directorate of Land Registration & Cadastre, Ministry of Finance. Responsible for
the overseeing of hiring all consultants, development of their TORs, integration of
their specifications in the overall TOR for the whole project which was
competitively and successfully bid using the World Bank SBD for IT based on
one-stage two envelope scheme, under ICB. Reference: Dr. Basil Fuleihan,
(now) Minister of Trade and Economy, Beirut, Lebanon.
1992-1995. Director of Implementation Services, GIS/Trans, Ltd., Cambridge,
Massachusetts, USA.
As the director of implementation services for the prime contractor, was
responsible for the development and implementation of over 22 Million USD
services in geographic information systems and systems integration (GIS/SI) for
the states of Florida, Delaware and Pennsylvania, Departments of
Transportation. In addition, provided 3 Million USD worth of GIS/SI services to
land registries and cadastre organizations in the counties of the northeast and
western USA. Reference: Mr. Simon Lewis, President, GIS/Trans, Ltd.
Cambridge, Massachusetts.
1987-1991. Manager of Information Services, Boston Redevelopment Authority, Boston,
Massachusetts, USA.
As the manager of information services for the urban planning and development
agency of the city oversaw the modernization and automation of planning
processes and functions for the city of Boston. Responsible for directing the
design and development various municipal and planning support systems that
are now the backbone of all city information services offered to the public and for
internal use, including city atlas, etc.
1980-1984. B & M Technological Services, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Consultant on various federal government projects to improve the use of
computers in the automation of building operations management.
Languages:
English: Excellent in speaking, reading and writing.
Farsi: Excellent in speaking, reading.
Address:
Amhaz Building, Corniche TV, Beirut, Lebanon.