Description

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced degree in Land Administration, Urban or Regional Planning, Geomatics, Geography, Law, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Minimum 7 years of professional experience in land governance, tenure reform, or land information systems in Africa is required. Proven experience working with local governments, informal communities, and cross-sector stakeholders on land governance, planning, or tenure security initiatives is required.

Familiarity with gender-responsive land governance principles, including tools that promote women’s land rights and participation is an added advantage. Prior experience working with UN agencies or similar multilateral institutions is an advantage.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the land expert will be responsible for the following duties:

• Lead a detailed diagnostic of formal, informal, and customary land tenure systems in Busia (Kenya and Uganda sides), with specific focus on barriers faced by informal women and youth traders
• Analyse existing land-related laws, policies, and institutional frameworks in both countries and identify gaps, overlaps, and opportunities for cross-border harmonization
• Guide the design and rollout of participatory land tenure mapping exercises, ensuring representation and validation by women, youth, local leaders, and customary landowners
• Coordinate the development and piloting of a fit-for-purpose land information system (LIS), tailored to cross-border, informal, and gender-sensitive land recording needs
• Provide technical assistance to integrate land and property data into the spatial economic development framework and local planning systems
• Support land dispute identification and management mechanisms, and advise on community-led land conflict resolution approaches
• Facilitate development of local by-laws, agreements, and protocols on tenure recognition and land use that align with both national and community systems
• Deliver targeted training and mentorship for local government officers, land boards, survey teams, and community land actors on land governance, participatory tools, and LIS management
• Collaborate with legal and gender experts to ensure all land interventions reflect inclusive, pro-poor, and gender-equitable principles
• Develop knowledge products including policy briefs, case studies, and technical guidance notes based on project findings and pilot experiences
• Contribute to the visibility and dissemination of land-related innovations, tools, and lessons from the project through technical briefs, public presentations, stakeholder workshops, and engagement with national and regional platforms

• Lead a detailed diagnostic of formal, informal, and customary land tenure systems in Busia (Kenya and Uganda sides), with specific focus on barriers faced by informal women and youth traders
• Analyse existing land-related laws, policies, and institutional frameworks in both countries and identify gaps, overlaps, and opportunities for cross-border harmonization
• Guide the design and rollout of participatory land tenure mapping exercises, ensuring representation and validation by women, youth, local leaders, and customary landowners
• Coordinate the development and piloting of a fit-for-purpose land information system (LIS), tailored to cross-border, informal, and gender-sensitive land recording needs
• Provide technical assistance to integrate land and property data into the spatial economic development framework and local planning systems
• Support land dispute identification and management mechanisms, and advise on community-led land conflict resolution approaches
• Facilitate development of local by-laws, agreements, and protocols on tenure recognition and land use that align with both national and community systems
• Deliver targeted training and mentorship for local government officers, land boards, survey teams, and community land actors on land governance, participatory tools, and LIS management
• Collaborate with legal and gender experts to ensure all land interventions reflect inclusive, pro-poor, and gender-equitable principles
• Develop knowledge products including policy briefs, case studies, and technical guidance notes based on project findings and pilot experiences
• Contribute to the visibility and dissemination of land-related innovations, tools, and lessons from the project through technical briefs, public presentations, stakeholder workshops, and engagement with national and regional platforms

• Land governance
• Tenure reform
• Land information systems
• Working with local governments
• Working with informal communities
• Cross-sector stakeholder engagement
• Gender-responsive land governance principles
• Tools promoting women’s land rights and participation
• Working with UN agencies or similar multilateral institutions

• Advanced degree in Land Administration, Urban or Regional Planning, Geomatics, Geography, Law, or a related field
• First-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree
• Minimum 7 years of professional experience in land governance, tenure reform, or land information systems in Africa
• Proven experience working with local governments, informal communities, and cross-sector stakeholders on land governance, planning, or tenure security initiatives
• Familiarity with gender-responsive land governance principles, including tools that promote women’s land rights and participation (added advantage)
• Prior experience working with UN agencies or similar multilateral institutions (advantage)