**CONSULTANT VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT***Issued on: 24 July 2015*
ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION:UN-Habitat
DUTY STATION:Nairobi
FUNCTIONAL TITLE:Consultant: land and conflict
DURATION:Four months (with possible extension)
REPORTING ARRANGEMENT:
The Consultant to report to the Human Settlements Officer leading the Conflict Sensitive Land Governance Initiative within the Land and GLTN Unit of UN-Habitat
EXPECTED START DATE:
1 September 2015
BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE
Securing land tenure and property rights are fundamental for the realisation of human rights, poverty reduction, food security, peace building, sustainable rural and urban development, economic growth and sustainable development. The Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) Phase 2 Program contributes to this broader objective of securing land and property for all through the development of pro-poor and gender responsive land tools, through strategic partnerships. The main objective of the Program (2012-2017) is for ‘International partner-organisations, UN-Habitat and related land programs/projects and targeted countries and/or cities/municipalities to better able to improve tenure security of the urban and rural poor through the adoption and implementation of land policies, tools and approaches that are pro-poor, gender appropriate, effective and sustainable’ (see www.gltn.net).
Securing land tenure and property rights are fundamental for the realisation of human rights, poverty reduction, food security, peace building, sustainable rural and urban development, economic growth and sustainable development. The Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) Phase 2 Program contributes to this broader objective of securing land and property for all through the development of pro-poor and gender responsive land tools, through strategic partnerships. The main objective of the Program (2012-2017) is for ‘International partner-organisations, UN-Habitat and related land programs/projects and targeted countries and/or cities/municipalities to better able to improve tenure security of the urban and rural poor through the adoption and implementation of land policies, tools and approaches that are pro-poor, gender appropriate, effective and sustainable’ (see www.gltn.net).
Within the GLTN program, there is a new Sub-Program funded by the Swiss Development Cooperation: ‘Conflict Sensitive Land Governance Initiative within the Urban-Rural Nexus Context’ which will contribute to the achievement of the broader GLTN Program objectives with specific but complementary outcomes and activities. Like the GLTN Program, the Sub-Program will promote broad strategic partnerships with international organizations in the land sector, including UN agencies, multi-lateral and bi-lateral institutions, rural and urban civil society organizations, professional bodies and academic and training institutions in its project implementation. The Sub-Program will address conflict sensitive land governance issues in the urban-rural nexus context. There is global recognition that land governance challenges exist in these contexts, which negatively impact food security and peace building. There is limited knowledge about this, and the knowledge that exist needs to be shared across the broader land sector community and be utilized in a more integrated manner. To date, GLTN has not focused on these specific contexts and challenges aside from work currently being done for the United Nations Rule of Law Coordination and Resources Group (see below). Now GLTN has more partners, international organizations and potential champions in post conflict, and the urban –rural nexus, also in regard to small market towns. Also there is an increased global urgency to address the land governance challenges in the urban-rural nexus, also because of discussions around the Sustainable Development Goals. The same urgency exists in the post conflict context as the UN wide system is undergoing overall institutional reform. The Sub-Program objective is: International partner organisations and key stakeholders are better able to improve land governance interventions in the urban-rural nexus context through strengthened conflict-sensitive land tools, guidelines and approaches and multi-stakeholder partnerships and coordination.
This GLTN Sub-Program will link to, build on, and compliment an ongoing GLTN supported work stream where the Rule of Law Unit of the Executive Office of the Secretary General requested UN-Habitat to lead the drafting of a UN Guidance Note on ‘Land and Conflict’, coordinated through the Rule of Law Coordination and Resource Group (RoLCRG). This work, in the First Phase, has to date included an advanced draft functional status assessment of land and conflict across the UN system, and an outline of a Secretary General Guidance Note and road map, both of which need to be more detailed. This work aligns with other reform work being undertaken by the UN wide system around peacebuilding and peacekeeping.
For this workstream, preliminary discussions started from the assumption that land, and the conflict over land-related resources, are increasingly becoming a driver of violence, instability and intra-state or cross border conflict, posing an increasing global challenge. This will only increase in the next decades due to the effects of climate change, food insecurity, limited natural resources and unsustainable urban growth.
UN engagement is needed around a common agenda that includes land issues as an integral part of conflict prevention, peace agreements and peacebuilding, humanitarian and development efforts. The knowledge and experience developed so far indicates the need to prioritize land and conflict prevention to ensure that all crisis response feeds into continued and sustainable action resulting in longer term stability.
The land framework put forward by the Global Land Tool Network (www.gltn.net), builds around a set of core values and principles: pro-poor, good governance, equity, subsidiarity, sustainability, affordability, systematic large scale and gender sensitiveness. The central concept of security of tenure is defined by the ‘continuum of land rights’; where different sources of land access and use patterns co-exist, acknowledging a diversity of tenure situations ranging from the most informal types of possession and use, to full ownership; recognizing the complexity of land rights, claims and records (e.g. customary, statutory, informal); and systemic inequalities (e.g. women). A key aspect of the framework for this work is Fit for Purpose Land Administration.
For this workstream, preliminary discussions started from the assumption that land, and the conflict over land-related resources, are increasingly becoming a driver of violence, instability and intra-state or cross border conflict, posing an increasing global challenge. This will only increase in the next decades due to the effects of climate change, food insecurity, limited natural resources and unsustainable urban growth.
UN engagement is needed around a common agenda that includes land issues as an integral part of conflict prevention, peace agreements and peacebuilding, humanitarian and development efforts. The knowledge and experience developed so far indicates the need to prioritize land and conflict prevention to ensure that all crisis response feeds into continued and sustainable action resulting in longer term stability.
The land framework put forward by the Global Land Tool Network (www.gltn.net), builds around a set of core values and principles: pro-poor, good governance, equity, subsidiarity, sustainability, affordability, systematic large scale and gender sensitiveness. The central concept of security of tenure is defined by the ‘continuum of land rights’; where different sources of land access and use patterns co-exist, acknowledging a diversity of tenure situations ranging from the most informal types of possession and use, to full ownership; recognizing the complexity of land rights, claims and records (e.g. customary, statutory, informal); and systemic inequalities (e.g. women). A key aspect of the framework for this work is Fit for Purpose Land Administration.
Objective
The specific objective of this consultancy is to provide substantive technical support to the GLTN Secretariat to implement a sub-programme of the GLTN Phase 2 Programme on ‘International partner organisations and key stakeholders are better able to improve land governance interventions in the urban-rural nexus context through strengthened conflict-sensitive land tools, guidelines and approaches and multi-stakeholder partnerships and coordination.’
Expected Outputs
The specific objective of this consultancy is to provide substantive technical support to the GLTN Secretariat to implement a sub-programme of the GLTN Phase 2 Programme on ‘International partner organisations and key stakeholders are better able to improve land governance interventions in the urban-rural nexus context through strengthened conflict-sensitive land tools, guidelines and approaches and multi-stakeholder partnerships and coordination.’
Expected Outputs
- Support the development of a framework for engagement at global scale on land in post conflict contexts, including the development of relevant reference groups and partnerships
- Support in the finalizing of a Status Study, Secretary General Guidance Note and Road map on Land and Conflict;
- Notes on the further review and consultations on the Status Study
- Workshop carried out for the validation of the Status Study, Guidance note and Road Map, and development of platform, including workshop report.
- Support to the drafting and publication of a short version of the Status Study
- Support the development of a platform linked to the Rule of Law Coordination and Resources Group and the GLTN Network to discuss, develop and address land and conflict issues.
- Report on mapping of existing stakeholders, champions, institutions, platforms and processes/initiatives on land and conflict
- Support assessment and development of capacities of key stakeholders to address land challenges within a conflict sensitive approach.
- Inception report available on mapping of existing capacity development initiatives, tools and materials
- Inception report available on how to undertake the needs assessment of key stakeholders
COMPETENCIES
Professionalism: Knowledge of concepts and approaches relevant to land governance, conflict prevention and resolution, early recovery, stakeholders’ coordination, and capacity development.
Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to communicate across different socio-cultural environments.
Teamwork:Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to operate effectively within multi-cultural environments, the UN wide system and INGOs and with all levels.
Planning and organizing: ability to work within set deadlines and agreed priorities, capacity to coordinate own work plan, use time efficiently and apply judgment in the context of competing deadlines.
Technology awareness:Ability and confidence is the use of modern technology to achieve results, this includes the use of communication technology for global communication and achievement of research results.
Professionalism: Knowledge of concepts and approaches relevant to land governance, conflict prevention and resolution, early recovery, stakeholders’ coordination, and capacity development.
Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to communicate across different socio-cultural environments.
Teamwork:Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to operate effectively within multi-cultural environments, the UN wide system and INGOs and with all levels.
Planning and organizing: ability to work within set deadlines and agreed priorities, capacity to coordinate own work plan, use time efficiently and apply judgment in the context of competing deadlines.
Technology awareness:Ability and confidence is the use of modern technology to achieve results, this includes the use of communication technology for global communication and achievement of research results.
EDUCATION
Advanced University degree (masters or similar) in a field deemed relevant to the subject areas covered by these Terms of Reference such as land, law, international development, international relations or similar social sciences field. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Advanced University degree (masters or similar) in a field deemed relevant to the subject areas covered by these Terms of Reference such as land, law, international development, international relations or similar social sciences field. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
REQUIRED SKILLS AND WORK EXPERIENCE
- Minimum 5 years of previous working experience with international development assistance agencies or international NGOs is required, in one or more of the following areas: land and tenure security, development cooperation, donor coordination and / or UN system harmonization processes, post-conflict contexts, capacity development, joint programming.
- Experience with the UN system and knowledge of its architecture and coordination mechanisms.
- Demonstrated ability to conduct high level negotiation and facilitation of multi stakeholder processes.
- Demonstrated skills in both conceptual and practical analysis of complex issues, and in producing clear arguments and constructive recommendations for future action.
- Previous experience in undertaking research into conflict contexts and / or land and tenure issues in a global context 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 is required.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. For the post advertised, excellent proficiency in spoken and written English is required.
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 AND TIMEFRAMES
Payments will be made monthly upon submission and approval of monthly report.
Payments will be made monthly upon submission and approval of monthly report.
The rate is determined by functions performed. The fees will be paid as per agreement. Where applicable, travel costs of the consultant on work related missions (airplane ticket economy class), transfers, and daily allowance as per the UN rate is payable in addition to the daily fee.
HOW TO APPLY:
Applications should include:
- Cover memo (maximum 1 page)
- Summary CV (maximum 2 pages), indicating the following information:
- 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
All applications should be submitted to:
Global Land Tool Network Secretariat
UN-Habitat
P.O. Box 30030, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
Email: ombretta.tempra@unhabitat.org
Please be advised that since April 15th 2010, applicants for consultancies must be part of the
UN-Habitat e-Roster in order for their application to be considered. You can reach the e-Roster
through the following link: http://e-roster.unhabitat.org
Global Land Tool Network Secretariat
UN-Habitat
P.O. Box 30030, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
Email: ombretta.tempra@unhabitat.org
Please be advised that since April 15th 2010, applicants for consultancies must be part of the
UN-Habitat e-Roster in order for their application to be considered. You can reach the e-Roster
through the following link: http://e-roster.unhabitat.org
Deadline for applications: 11 August 2015
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, please contact:recruitment@unon.org
