Vacancies

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CONSULTANT VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT                                                                                                           Issued on: 16 October 2015

BACKGROUND

The Land and GLTN Unit, located within the Urban Legislation, Land and Governance (ULLG) 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 Secretariat of which is located at UN-Habitat (see www.gltn.net). 

This international consultancy post for leading the research work on the Exploring the multiverse of women and the tenure options that work for them along the continuum of land rights,  is created to reach the objectives of the Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) in supporting the implementation of pro-poor and gender-responsive land reforms.    The over-all objective is to contribute to GLTN’s long-term goal of poverty reduction and sustainable development through promoting secure land and property rights for all, demonstrated through country-level interventions.  The outcome will be “strengthened capacity of partners, land actors and targeted countries, cities and municipalities to promote and implement appropriate land policies, tools and approaches that are pro-poor, enhancing for the economic autonomy of women, effective and sustainable”.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Since 2006, when the GLTN’s gender agenda was adopted, partners identified a set of methodologies and strategies for developing land tools that promote equal tenure security for women and men.   At the time, it had been posited that women (and men) are not homogenous with regard to land.  Different groups of women have different interests and face different situations.  GLTN partners have studied the tenure rights of women from various religious groups and regions, and looked at how legal reforms affect their access to land.  For instance, the World Bank undertook a study on the impact of the Hindu Succession Act in India and the impact of land certification for women in Ethiopia, while University of East London looked into the land and property rights that women have under the Islamic law and practices.    

Through the GLTN partners, a global action research initiative will examine what some specific categories of women and their needs in regard to tenure are.   Several pieces of the action research are being or will be undertaken by various partners.   For instance, Huairou Commission continues to focus on grassroots women;  the University of East London will lead the publication of an Islamic Land Law,  Property Rights and Gender Equity report/book;  IFAD looks  into a compendium of tools in Southeast Africa to document best practices;   the  Participatory and Inclusive Land Readjustment Project in Medellin, Colombia will look into the gender responsive approaches to land readjustment with the municipal government and other partners  in Medellin.   

These efforts will be carried out over a long period, and will be validated and published in pieces, with the ultimate aim of supplying solutions to a range of tenure options that work for women in various socio-economic contexts.     

 The focus of the assignment is to undertake a global action research review to further develop the multiverse of women construct and identify secure tenure options that work for categories of women along the continuum of land rights. The consultant directly reports to the Unit Leader and the gender focal point of GLTN and is expected to engage interested GLTN parties such as those mentioned above.  GLTN members and the UN Habitat leads will provide the consultant with background documents and contacts to orient the work 

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. The consultant will build on the agreed concept on the multiverse of women and tenure developed with the GLTN Secretariat, UN-Women and a reference group comprising of key GLTN partners in the development of the global research and produce a research review report that reports the conclusions of the work and suggests next steps for the GLTN. The key outputs of the consultancy will focus on: developing a road map for the multiverse of women and security of tenure initiative for the next five years (2016-2020 in line with the following parameters:
   1. Shared meaning among key GLTN partners and agreed framework on the multiverse of women and tenure security
   2. Relevance to the implementation of key SDG targets on women and land at the global, regional and country levels
2. Developing a resource mobilization plan for the multiverse of women and tenure initiative including:
   1. Project identification and formulation of project concepts or proposals, as appropriate
   2. Identification of key donors including multilateral and bilateral organizations, foundations, private sector and civil society organizations
   3. List of key contacts from potential donor institutions
   4. Joint negotiations with GLTN Secretariat and UN-Women, as appropriate

 Monitoring and Progress Controls

The consultant will produce a report on the multiverse of women and the tenure options that work for them along the continuum of land rights that will inform the planning of a GLTN programme on the topic. The following are the expected outputs:

1. Submission of a  5-year road map on the multiverse of women and tenure by 15 December 2015
2. Submission of a  resource mobilization plan for the multiverse of women and tenure initiative by 30 January 2016
3. A presentation of the road map and key elements of the resource mobilization strategy by March 2016 
4. Submission of a final report reviewed and endorsed by GLTN Secretariat and UN-Women

Final Product

The consultant will produce two reports on  the multiverse of women and the tenure  that has been developed with, validated and endorsed by UN-Women, GLTN  Secretariat and key GLTN partners.   The first report is a road map on the multiverse and the second report is a resource mobilization plan. 

COMPETENCIES

Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of GLTN’s vision, principles and approaches relevant to effectively carrying them out at country level.  Ability to identify issues, analyze 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, 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and women’s economic empowerment and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work 

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. 

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.

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 education or degree in gender studies, land administration and management, or field in related social sciences is required. 

WORK EXPERIENCE

• A minimum of 10 years of experience working in the field of land management, land rights and innovative land tools is required
• Previous working experience with international development assistance agencies is required
• Demonstrated ability to conduct rigorous research into land and tenure issues in the global context.
• Demonstrated skill in both conceptual and practical analysis of complex issues, and in producing clear arguments and constructive recommendations for future action
• Experience on research, coordination, knowledge management and documentation on gender and land tenure and other related issues such as livelihood development;
• Knowledge on land and land tenure tools, good practices and innovations is desirable;
• Knowledge on broader aspects of gender and socio-economic development is desirable;
• Experience in coordination of multi stakeholder projects and complex partnerships is desirable;
• Previous UN working experience is preferred; 

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Proficiency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of French or of another UN language is an asset. 

REMUNERATION

Payments will be done in four stages, based on deliverables over the consultancy period:

• 25% of the total is payable upon satisfactory completion of outputs (1) 
• 25% of the total is payable upon satisfactory completion of outputs (2) 
• 25% of the total is payable upon satisfactory presentation of (3)
• 25% of the total is payable upon satisfactory completion of (4)

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

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