Land Specialist Vacancy Announcement: UN Habitat Jobs

ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION: UN-HABITAT, Global Division, Shelter Branch, Land Tenure and Property Administration Section
DUTY STATION: NAIROBI, KENYA
FUNCTIONAL TITLE: Land Specialist
GRADE: L4
POST DURATION: 12 Months (1 March 2009 - 28 February 2010)
CLOSING DATE: 30 January 2009


BACKGROUND


The Land Tenure and Property Administration Section, Shelter Branch, Global Division, has the mandate within UN-HABITAT to develop normative approaches in regard to urban land, innovative residential tenures, affordable land management/administration systems, land related regulatory/legal frameworks and tools, particularly for women.


The Land Tenure and Property Administration Section focuses on research and tool development also to backstop the Global Campaign on Sustainable Urbanisation, to supply technical advice to Member States and to backstop the Regional offices and other sections of UN-HABITAT. Tools provide a resource for understanding how to carry out and perform actions.


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 implementing these pro poor land policies. Consequently what is required now are pro poor land tools that are affordable and accessible for all sections of the populations.


This is essential for creating societies where there is sustainable equal access to land and equal access to the use of land. Work has already started on all these approaches, both for developing and post conflict societies. Incremental up scaling of this work over time, as capacity is developed, is envisaged through the Global Land Tool Network (see www.gltn.net).


Land is critical to the economic, social and cultural development of Kenya. It is crucial to the attainment of economic growth, poverty reduction and gender equity. Its importance is recognized by various Government initiatives, including the appointments of the Commission of Inquiry on Land Laws in Kenya (Njonjo Commission 2002) and the Commission of Inquiry into Illegally Acquired Land (Ndung'u Commission 2004), as well as the statement on the role of land in the national policy on the Economic Recovery Strategy for Wealth and Employment Creation (2003-2007). Land was a key reason for the struggle for independence and land issues remain politically sensitive and culturally complex.


THE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS GROUP ON LAND IN KENYA (DPGL)


The land sector donor group in Kenya was officially launched in July 2003. A number of development partners have supported the Ministry of Lands (MoL) in the National Land Policy Formulation Process (NLPFP) since 2004. An implementation framework for land reform, i.e. the Land Reform Support Programme (LRSP), have been developed and outlined by the Ministry of Lands during 2006-7 as to create linkages of key components for a systemic reform process.


In addition, for an efficient coordination of the land sector donor group, it is anticipated that a supporting land expert is required. The main function of the land expert will be to provide support to the land sector donor group, with related stakeholders, in order to spearhead harmonisation, alignment and coordination in related land reform initiatives.


In this regard and in conjunction with the technical land expert, the land sector group is supported by a Secretariat, which has been active since the inception of the Development Partners Group on Land in 2003.


Kenya has not had a clearly defined or codified National Land Policy (NLP) since independence. Work on the Kenyan Land Policy formulation process was formally initiated in February 2004 with a stakeholder workshop that adopted a road map for the land policy formulation process. After an all inclusive and interactive process, a draft National Land Policy (NLP) document was adopted at a National Stakeholders meeting in April 2007 and is in the process of being submitted to the Cabinet, after which a Sessional Paper will be prepared for discussion and adoption by Parliament.


The Land Reform Support Programme (LRSP) aims to support the country on the road to achieve efficient, sustainable and equitable use of land for prosperity and posterity. The LRSP embraces and aligns itself with key principles and values that underpin Kenya's National Land Policy Formulation Process, the draft Land Policy, the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) and the Land Policy Framework for Africa developed under the leadership of the African Union Commission in March 2006. It is based upon a logical framework (LF) to facilitate objective-oriented planning.


Successful LRSP will ensure that all land is put to productive use on a sustainable basis by implementing key principles on land use, productivity targets and guidelines as well as conservation. It will encourage multi-sectoral approach to land use, provide social and other incentives and put in place an enabling environment for investment, agriculture, livestock development and the exploitation of natural resources. This will enable the country to realise key components of its Vision 2030.


RESPONSIBILITIES


The technical expert for the land sector group will be required to:
Support the land sector donor group of Kenya, as they work with the Government of Kenya in undertaking a wide range of activities such as the development of Land Information Management Systems (LI MS), pilot projects to improve the overall land system, as well as to address urban, peri-urban, rural and/or post conflict areas.

Contribute towards the development of land policy implementation approaches for the purpose of increasing security of tenure for the poor in Kenya.

Contribute towards the development of more appropriate regulatory and/or land legal frameworks for the poor.
Contribute towards research, and the evaluation and documentation of large scale land tools to deliver on the land reform process in Kenya, also for the medium to long term.
Contribute towards the supervision of contracted research, including evaluating, documenting and developing large scale land tools, and the development of new methodologies, also in areas where the candidate is not completely familiar, to deliver on the priorities identified in the Kenya land policy framework through the land reform support programme.

Contribute towards the development of improved implementation methodologies for large scale land tools in regard to grassroots and gender and institutional issues identified by partners (e.g. development of benchmarks/ indicators).

Handle partnerships, including with government departments, land sector donors, civil society and grassroots organizations, the private land sector, Humanitarian organizations, in Kenya.
Undertake technical activities within a political/ institutional/land governance framework with related stakeholders/ partners.
Contribute towards the continuous updating of Kenyan stakeholders on global trends. Assess project proposals, review existing programmes and Terms of References of consultants linked to the land sector in Kenya.

Any other work that may be necessary to support the implementation of the land policy in Kenya including to co-chair DPGL if need be.

Other
A certain amount of administrative tasks will have to be undertaken by the candidate. No management of agency staff will be expected.


Competencies: Professionalism: Knowledge of concepts and approaches relevant to the land sector and ability to conduct independent analysis, identifying issues, formulating options and making conclusions and recommendations. Communication: Excellent oral/communication skills and ability to articulate ideas in a clear and accurate manner including the ability to prepare and edit a variety of written documents, reports and briefs. Planning and organising: ability to work under pressure, establish priorities and plan, coordinate own work plan, use time efficiently and apply judgement in the context of competing deadlines. Teamwork: Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.


QUALIFICATIONS


Education


Masters Degree in land management/land administration/registry, law (with a land focus) or geographic information systems.

Work Experience


1. At least 5 years experience with at least international exposure in the developing world in action research and/or consultancy and development cooperation, in issues such as 1) land management/land administration/land registry (recordal), 2) spatial information/GIS, 3) land law and development.


2. Experience in working with land departments in governments particularly on land reforms initiatives.


3. Experience in working with programme management would be an advantage.


4. Experience in understanding both institutional and technical issues in the land sector. While this is not an operational technical assistance job, experience in institutional strengthening in the land sector would be an advantage.


5. Experience in working with governments in Africa would be an added advantage.


6. Knowledge of poor communities and land networks would be an advantage.


7. Knowledge of the land sector in regard to both urban and rural land would be an advantage.


8. Knowledge of the land sector issues at global and country level would be an advantage.


Language


Excellent proficiency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of a second UN language is an advantage.


Other Skills

1. Very good writing and computer skills, including Word Processing, PowerPoint, Lotus and Excel.
2. Ability to work under pressure and in an ethnically diverse and political setting.


CONSULTANCY FEES
The consultancy fees will be negotiable based on relevant experience as per UN rules and regulations.


APPLICATION
Interested applicants should send (email preferred):
Motivation letter.

CV (please use the United Nations standard personal history form available upon request or via: http://www.unhabitat.org/co ntent.asp?typeid=24&catid=435&id=3867.

The application is also to include nationality/ ies, gender and age. Only short listed applicants will be notified.

Application should be submitted to


(Email preferred):
Clarissa Augustinus,
P.O. Box 30030, Nairobi 00100 Kenya.
Tel: +254-20 762 5324,
Fax: +254-20 7624265,


Email: clarissa.augustinus @ unhabitat.org,
copy to mary.gachocho @ unhabitat.org.


Deadline for applications: 30 January 2009.