Land Management Specialist

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO’s values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

Organizational Setting

The Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU) is responsible for leading FAO’s response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO’s priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the Region and, in collaboration with departments and divisions at Headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO’s strategic response to regional priorities. REU also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization’s Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. The Regional Office supports regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region.

Background
Land consolidation has a long tradition in Western European countries and has proven to be an important instrument of enabling farmers to become more productive and competitive by reducing the fragmentation of land parcels and expand the size of their holdings.

FAO has been involved in land consolidation since the 1950s, with a renewed focus on Eastern Europe and Central Asia over the last two decades, to help countries deal with land fragmentation following the land reforms of the 1990s. FAO has facilitated analysis of the necessity and conditions for land consolidation, assessing the institutional, legal and policy frameworks and technically supported the countries in the implementation of the instrument on the field. It has also supported legislative reforms to create an enabling legal environment for cost effective and efficient implementation, in ways that ensure respect for legitimate tenure rights.

The Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT were endorsed in 2012 by the Committee on World Food Security (CFS). Since its endorsement, the VGGT have served as a reference for the improvement of the governance of all kinds of tenure issues, including promoting land consolidation that is based on international good practice.

A general principle of land consolidation is that all participants benefit in terms of the number and size of the plots. Another main principle of land consolidation, included in the VGGT, is that each participant should be “at least as well off” after the project compared with before. In addition, land consolidation related activities do not only consider formally registered tenure rights but also those legitimate rights that have not yet been registered or have only been otherwise partially formalized. The land tenure rights of non-registered legitimate owners, heirs, unknown or inaccessible owners, are to be recognized and respected.

Land consolidation projects should strive for the highest transparency in order to create trust amongst its participants. In addition to public meetings, individual interviews and negotiations, transparency is ensured by providing project related information on the websites of dedicated public institutions as well as through local announcements and publications and media awareness raising campaigns.

Reporting Lines

The technical specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia, the direct supervision of FAO REU Land Tenure Officer and in close coordination with international and national experts. The specialist may be engaged on a short or long-term basis for the specific needs of the technical team in the area of Land Tenure with possibility to be assigned as a Team Leader on specific land tenure projects.

Technical Focus

Technical knowledge in the area of Land Tenure, in particular state land management, land market development, land consolidation and land abandonment.

Tasks and responsibilities

Consultant/PSA shall possess the expertise to conduct some of the following tasks:

• Provide technical assistance to the Lead Agency for land consolidation and other relevant institutions involved in the land consolidation implementation including assessing the progress, identifying constraints and providing recommendations to alleviate them.
• Provide technical assistance related to land policy, access to land, land market development, state land management, instruments to address land abandonment and development of land administration systems.
• Facilitate the cooperation between the FAO national staff and the MAFWE team involved in the implementation of land consolidation projects, including the steps and progress related to the sustainability.
• Take the lead in guiding/directing/coordinating (both in process and content) technical design, re-allotment planning and implementation of land consolidation projects.
• Take an active role in the procurement of services for implementation of land consolidation projects related activities.
• Support the supervision of the contractual obligations of the Service Providers in accordance with the respective Service Contracts.
• Coordinate the planning, preparation and execution of backstopping missions of FAO Technical Officers and international consultants.
• Lead the process of development of training programmes (capacity building of public officials responsible for land consolidation and sustainable land management).
• Take the lead in formulating the relevant activity and work plans, including the organization of, and participation in relevant project workshops, such as national workshops, training workshops, etc.
• Prepare annual progress reports and terminal reports.
• Provide technical advice within the context of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT).
• Carry out other activities within the technical competence as requested.
• Provide monthly reports on activities done.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• A master’s degree or higher in fields such as land administration, land management, law, agriculture, economy or related disciplines.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in project management and technical assistance, preferably related to land management, land administration, rural development or agriculture.
• Working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience in providing technical assistance to government ministries and agencies.
• Experience in the design, planning, and implementation of technical assistance projects related to land tenure.
• Experience in coordinating with multiple stakeholders, including government bodies, international organizations, and service providers.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to lead a multidisciplinary team.
• In-depth knowledge of land consolidation processes, re-allotment planning, and related technical aspects.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to effectively interact with stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify constraints and recommend solutions.
• Proficiency in preparing detailed reports, including annual progress reports and terminal reports.
• Good command of English language is required, including experience in writing analytical reports.
• Ability and self-initiative to carry out assigned tasks within deadlines in a team as well as under minimal supervision.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

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