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LAND TENURE AND RESOURCE GOVERNANCE OFFICER MANDERA, KENYA

  1. OVERALL SUMMARY OF POSITION

To advance and implement the programme in the Somali Cluster, this project, “Strengthening Regional Convergence in the IGAD Somali/Mandera Cluster,” will be implemented in the Somali Cluster (also known as Mandera Cluster). The cluster covers Mandera County of Kenya, Somalia National State of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, and Gedo Region of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The project seeks to improve the region’s capacity for gender responsive and conflict sensitive land administration, promote inclusive and participatory rangelands and urban planning to secure land rights, address barriers to securing equal land rights for women, youths and minority groups. It also aims at promoting learning and scaling up of innovations from the Somali Cluster to inform national, cross border and regional learning and capacity enhancement on land governance.

The Land Tenure and Resource Governance Officer (LTRG) will provide technical and management leadership to support project implementation and business development for IGAD’s growing Land and Natural Resources Management (NRM) Practice in the Somali cluster in the following areas: Land Tenure and Property Rights, mapping of pastoralist lands, Natural Resources Governance, Resource Rights, Governance and Policy Reform, Resource-Based Conflict Mitigation and Management, shared resources governance in the Somali cluster.

The Land Tenure and Resource Governance Officer works collectively with a particular community or communities in the area of operation to bring about social change and improve quality of life through the mapping of tenure rights. The LTRG works with individuals, families or whole communities to empower them to:

  • Identify their needs, opportunities, rights and responsibilities in relation to land use and management;
  • Plan what they want to achieve and take appropriate action
  • Develop activities and services that improve the lives of pastoralist communities, using land as an enabler for development.

The LTRG acts as a link between the Land Rights Centre (LRC), the Local Governments and the communities and is involved in addressing inequality and designing interventions that target communities perceived to be culturally, economically or geographically disadvantaged.

The LTRG seeks to engage communities actively in making sense of the issues which affect their lives, setting goals for improvement and bringing about that improvement through empowerment and active participation of the target groups in land use and management as well as resource governance.

  1. RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

Responsibility 1 – Operationalization of the Community Land and Resource Tenure Mapping Project in Mandera, Kenya (40%) Time allocation

Lead and Support the implementation of the Somali Cluster Land Use and Management Project to reach and achieve the intended objectives and outcomes in a cost effective and sustainable manner as stipulated in the project design.

Tasks

  • Lead the operationalisation of the community Land and Resource Tenure Mapping Programme based on community structures and support the institutionalization of these structures for tenure security
  • Undertake media campaigns on land rights towards collective action and land use management.
  • Manage the documentation and dissemination of lessons learnt, facilitate evidence based advocacy and policy influence at local level
  • Promote and backstop the design of pilot activities and models in collective action towards conflict sensitive land use mapping and innovations in tenure security and, improve relevant strategies for effective replication and scaling up of the programme.
  • Establish a coordination mechanism with the communities to raise issues of concern to them and discuss the project progress
  • Ensure equal participation of women in all processes and community structures.
  • Mediate in matters of conflict in the communities

Responsibility 2 – community cohesion and structuring (30%) time Allocation

 Tasks

  • Build and develop a coherent and strong community structures emphasising team efforts that would propel the collective action programme towards tenure security and land use and management
  • Develop community based programmes that respond to their land needs, particularly ensuring territorial mapping using participatory land use planning methodologies.
  • Develop and promote new initiatives that advance the aspirations of the project.
  • Encourage community performance and coherence.
  • Use community spaces to positively influence well being, attitude and behavioural change.
  • Enlist the cooperation of local governments, community organizations and development partners in the areas of operation.
  • Facilitate community land related initiatives for development
  • Develop and set up good practice guidelines for collective action
  • Prepare Monthly reports for review by the Somali Cluster Office Coordinator.
  • Challenge inappropriate cultural norms and practices towards good land governance.
  • Challenge inappropriate behaviour within political structures that deter the promotion of good land governance.

Responsibility 3 – Network and carry out Continuous assessments of community Development and programmes 20% Time Allocation

  • Identify community issues, needs and problems related to land tenure, land use and management.
  • monitor and evaluate ongoing paralegal, traditional leaders, women land rights advocates and local council courts activities and progress.
  • Develop and agree together with the Local Governments and the communities on strategies that foster change in land use and management.
  • Develop and maintain linkages and networks internal and external to collective action initiatives to exploit learning, sharing and dissemination opportunities with other development agencies and stakeholders in the district to foster change in land governance
  • Liaise with interested groups to set up new lines of services.
  • Plan, attend and coordinate meetings and events that promote land rights
  • Participate and conduct assessments as may be requested.

Responsibility 4 – Support to IGAD LAND GOVERNANCE UNIT 10% allocation of time

Engaging on broader IGAD Land Governance programme and administration initiatives:

Tasks/activities

  • Take part in and contribute to Organizational events
  • Participate in fundraising and resource mobilisation for community liaison work
  • Take part in the development of and contribute to the fulfilment of the IGAD Land Governance Unit Business Plan
  1. POSTING

The position is based in Mandera, Kenya.

  1. QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES
  • A Degree Physical planning, surveying, or geospatial Engineering.
  • At least 5 years’ experience working on community development projects, physical planning, surveying, land management in the Somali cluster
  • Ability to communicate effectively and constructively in English in a variety of settings such as staff meetings, discussions with government and other partners, and training workshops
  • Strong conceptual ability, writing skills in English, as well as experience in editing the written work of others. Fluency is Somali and Amharic is mandatory. Working knowledge of Kiswahili is desirable.
  •  Able to build and nurture relationships as well as partnership management
  • Ability to work independently and high level problem solving skills
  • Project Management: Well organized, attentive to detail, able to set clear deadlines for providers and have the people skills to get the best from others. Being self driven, energetic and keen to test skills. Able to appreciate the importance of being plan-full and scheduling the management of projects activities, without being inflexible or rigid.
  • Persuasiveness (Communication): Supports others in a team in making differences in standpoints and arguments explicit and considering them in a respectful manner and, through the way in which he/she behaves, helps bring the various arguments into line.
  • Results orientation (Motivation): When collaborating with others, sees to it that all activities and decisions contribute to the team result, stimulates team members to take action where necessary and takes action himself/herself when the achievement of results is threatened.

 

  • Diversity: Understands and appreciates issues from the perspective of other cultures, groups, communities and others.
  • Gender awareness.
  • Showing, by displaying vision, action, and sticking to policy, that the aim is to achieve equality between men and women in society, taking into account of the environment.
  1. Language requirements

Fluency in English and Kiswahili is required. Knowledge of Somali is an added advantage.

  1. How to Apply

Appropriately qualified applicants from IGAD Member States are eligible to apply.

Interested candidates should send their applications in PDF format enclosed with a cover letter, Curriculum Vitae, academic documents, copy of passports/ ID cards biometric page, three reference persons including the last employer. The application should be sent by E-mail to the following addresses: E-mail address: recruitment@igad.int with subject line ‘LTRGO – Mandera’.

Closing date for application will be on 3rd November. Due to the large number of applications we expect to receive; only successful candidates who meet the required experience & qualifications for this position will be contacted.

 

Source: Intergovernmental Authority on Development

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