Gender and Land Expert at UN-Habitat

The consultant “Gender and Land Expert” shall report to the Chief, Land, Housing and Shelter Section (LHSS) under the Urban Practices Branch or any authorized staff. The consultant will work together with the LHSS of UN-Habitat and/or GLTN Secretariat and implementing partners of the Land at Scale project in Uganda at the national and local levels to conduct the study. Aspects that the consultant needs to investigate include but are not limited to:

• Desktop review of the legal and policy framework and existing literature, including traditional and customary norms to identify gaps affecting women and vulnerable groups’ land rights in Uganda.
• Identify social/ cultural norms and practices that lead to gender inclusion (progressive) and exclusion in land ownership and land administration/management on customary tenure, specifically on polygamous marriages.
• Review of the legal and institutional framework (both formal and informal): to assess gender responsiveness of land administration/management institutions, including participation and representation of both men and women
• Assess the perception of different social groups and communities towards fair access and control over land.
• Conduct field visits, interviews and data gathering to achieve the objectives of the assignment.
• Identify barriers hindering and opportunities available for women, youth, men, and vulnerable groups to have access and control over land and natural resources for agricultural production, access to finance and economic empowerment.
• Assess decision-making processes among gender groups, mainly women and men at household, clan and community levels regarding access, control and use of land and natural resources.
• Assess the impact of customary land registration on women’s tenure security, including women’s participation in CCO issuance processes, including strengths and weaknesses.
• Document approaches, tools and best practices used by MLHUD, development partners, including CSOs, to mainstream gender in land tenure and land governance in Uganda, including identification of strengths, weaknesses/gaps and existing capacity needs.
• Examine the gender responsiveness of existing land dispute resolution mechanisms both formal and informal, including participation representation of women and other vulnerable groups.
• Recommend possible measures, including policy, legal and institutional reforms necessary to ensure equal access and control to land and natural resources and active participation in land governance.
• Recommend approaches and tools which can be used to scale up the best practices in addressing gender issues regarding access and control over land and natural resources. Where applicable highlight region-specific recommendations.

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in gender development studies, sociology, anthropology, business or public administration, international development, project development, land management, natural resource management or relevant field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in undertaking projects or assignments related to land and gender on customary tenure is required.
• Experience in gender analysis/assessments design and review of programmes focused on gender equality, equity and mainstreaming in land governance is required.
• Knowledge of customary land tenure and its related challenges and opportunities in Uganda is desirable.
• Previous experience with UN and/or international organization and government bodies is desirable

Languages

• Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required; knowledge of the other UN languages is an added advantage.