Consultant: Land Expert

Posted in

UN-Habitat

Job Type

Full Time

Location

Kismayo

Description :

Organization: UN Human Settlements Program
Country: Somalia
Closing date: 21 Feb 2017

Consultant Vacancy Announcement

ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION: UN-Habitat

DUTY STATION: Kismayo

FUNCTIONAL TITLE: Consultant: Land Expert

SUPERVISOR Unit Leader, Land and GLTN Unit , ULLG Branch

CONTRACT TYPE & DURATION 4 months with possibility of extension

EQUIVALENT LEVEL P3

VACANCY CLOSING DATE 21 February 2017

BACKGROUND
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the United Nations agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. The Land and GLTN Unit, located within the Urban Legislation, Land and Governance Branch of UN-Habitat has the mandate to develop, test and disseminate pro-poor and gender responsive approaches in regard to urban land, innovative residential tenures, affordable land management/administration systems, and land related regulatory/legal frameworks and tools. The Unit hence focuses on research and tool development also to supply technical advice to Member States and backstop the Regional offices and other sections of UN-Habitat. Land tools provide a resource for enabling action. While there has been extensive global discussion around land policies that work for the poor, there has been insufficient attention paid to the development of methods for developing and implementing these pro-poor land policies. Consequently what are required are land tools that are affordable and accessible for all sections of the population in countries around the world. This is essential for creating societies with sustainable, equal access and use of land. Work has already started on these approaches, both for developing and post-conflict societies. Incremental expansion of this work over time, as capacity is developed, will take place through the Global Land Tool Network (GLTN, the Network), the Secretariat of which is located at UN-Habitat.

Land disputes and land tenure/ownership problems occupy a central position in the protracted conflict in present-day Somalia. Endowed with vast rangelands and hence the dominance of pastoralism, Somalia also has pockets of cultivated agricultural land and growing urban areas, a case in point being the Lower Juba region, which is endowed with fertile soils, rich grazing grounds, and abundant marine resources. Yet, conflict has kept Jubbaland chronically unstable for over two decades. Driving the conflict in Somalia has been clan-dynamics and warlordism, both of which have only served to reinforce one another (Deherez 2009 ). Jubbaland, the proposed case study for this proposal, is seen as another emerging federal state in Somalia, a key factor with implications on how the conflict-situation manifests itself in the region. As a country, Somalia has a long history of population movement, both voluntary and involuntary. The dominance of pastoralism entrenches migration as a key feature of the country’s subsistence economy. Environmental pressures, especially droughts and other climate-change induced challenges, has fueled population movements. Yet, involuntary movements caused by war, forced the intense migration of people, giving rise to monumental refugee and IDP-related problems. This resulted in multiple and widespread problems in the area of housing, land and property rights issues. In brief, the land conflict situation in Somalia is complex and context-specific, with many dimensions to it. Such a complexity dictates that any intervention in Jubbaland and Kismayo be guided by an informed analysis of the local situation, and hence this proposed study on the land conflicts situation in Somalia ‘s Kismayo and Jubbaland region.

This proposed study is a joint initiative between UN-Habitat (Land and GLTN Unit) and the DPA/UNSOM.
The Land and GLTN Unit, located within the Urban Legislation, Land and Governance (ULLG) Branch of UN-Habitat, is mandated to develop, test and disseminate pro-poor and gender responsive land tools and approaches within the continuum of land rights framework. Established in 2006, the Global Land Tool Network (GLTN), is a growing coalition of more than 70 international partners concerned with rural and urban land issues, working together to contribute to poverty reduction and sustainable development through promoting secure land and property rights for all, demonstrated through country-level interventions.

The objective of the study is to investigate the land conflict situation in Somalia’s Kismayo and Juba lands for purposes of guiding the work of the UN system in Somalia in peace building and land-conflicts management. Further to this, the findings will contribute to policy making in Somalia’s land governance sector. The specific objectives of the study are to:

  1. Assess land governance systems, land tenure rights and their implications for development.
  2. Document and map land claims of pastoral communities in Jubbaland, and
  3. Investigate land ownership and land use patterns in Kismayo

.
. RESPONSIBILITES

The consultant, under the direction of the designated Task Coordinator, will have the following responsibilities:

  • *Putting in place all logistical arrangements required for undertaking the study.**

This includes, among other things; introducing and explaining the study to all relevant central and local government authorities in Kismayo and seeking all relevant permission required for undertaking the study, establishing a list of key contacts and organizing logistical support for fieldwork.

Main Outputs
The key outputs for this task are:

  • List of key government (local & central) contacts to be contacted during the study
  • Secured permission for undertaking the study
  • Logistical support required for undertaking the study
  • Identification of key non-state actors working in the land governance sector in Kismayo.

The targeted organizations include NGOs, community based organizations, UN agencies and all relevant private sector actors, Resources Persons.

Main Output

  • The main output for the task is a list of all key non-state actors working in the land governance sector.
  • Identification and collection of existing literature on land in Somalia.

The information to be collected includes key government documents on land including land policies, land legislation, workshop reports covering land, research reports on land etc. The information collected will be in both electronic format and hard copy.

Main Outputs

  • Literature on land, in both hard copy or electronic format, for review analysis by GLTN
  • Undertake field data collection for the study

 

The National Consultant is responsible for undertaking field data collection. Field data collection will be collected using key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The National Consultant will provide inputs in the development of research instruments as led by the Task Coordinator.

Main Outputs

  • Detailed field notes as per the implemented research instruments
  • A complete list of people interviewed.
  • Organize consultation and feed-back workshops as advised by the Task Coordinator

This includes mobilizing government and non-state actors to participate in workshop proceedings, organizing the workshops and writing of key notes from workshop proceedings.

Main Outputs

  • Key recommendations from the workshops
  • Full lists of workshop participants.
  • Reports from field data collection

COMPETENCIES
Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of principles and approaches relevant to effectively carry analysis around land, land governance, land tenure and global frameworks and urban and rural development. Ability to identify issues, analyse and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to assist with data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis and summarize salient features including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

EDUCATION
Advanced degree or degree in land administration and management, urban/regional planning; land use, urban development and planning, international relations or related social sciences is required.
WORK EXPERIENCE

  • A minimum of 5 years of experience working in the land sector. Key areas of expertise required are land administration, physical planning, land rights and innovative land tools.
  • Working experience in both urban and rural sector.
  • Previous working experience with international development agencies is required.
  • Demonstrated ability to conduct rigorous research into land and tenure issues in the regional context.
  • Demonstrated skill in both conceptual and practical analysis of complex issues, and in producing clear arguments and constructive recommendations for future action.
  • Previous experience in undertaking similar land related research is preferred.

LANGUAGE SKILLS
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. For the post advertised excellent proficiency in spoken and written English and national Somali languages.

OTHER SKILLS

  • Proficient in use of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
  • Ability to work to schedule, but where requested to be flexible with changes in timelines.

REMUNERATION:

The rate is determined by functions performed. The fees will be paid upon satisfactory delivery of outputs as per agreement. Where applicable, travel costs of the consultant (airplane ticket economy class), transfers, and daily allowance as per the UN rate is payable in addition to the daily fee.

ontact: recruitment@unon.org

How to apply:

Applications should include:

  • Cover memo (maximum 1 page)
  • Summary CV (please use the United Nations standard personal history form available upon request or via http://www.unon.org/docs/P11.doc).
  • Educational Background (incl. dates)
  • Professional Experience (assignments, tasks, achievements, duration by years / months)
  • Other Experience and Expertise (e.g. Internships/ voluntary work, etc.)
  • Expertise and preferences regarding location of potential assignments
  • Expectations regarding remuneration (daily)
  • List of referees
  • Optional: A document developed by the applicant that is able to depict his / her ability to perform the tasks described in these Terms of Reference.

 

How to apply :

All applications should be submitted to:
Global Land Tools Network Secretariat, UN-Habitat
P.O. Box 30030, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
Email : Josephine.Ruria@unhabitat.org

Subject of the email: Application – Land Expert, Kismayo

Deadline for applications: 21 February 2017

UN-HABITAT does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. If you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of these offices and requesting the payment of a fee.

Apply Now