Position: Land Rights Advisor (National Position)

Reports to: Manager Program Quality

Job location: Kampala

Starting date: January 2025

Vacancy closing date: 12th November 2024

Duration position: 1-year renewable contract

Working hours: Fulltime (40 hours per week)

About ZOA

We are here for people who have lost everything due to armed conflict or natural disaster.

ZOA, as an international NGO, supports people who have lost everything due to armed conflict or natural disaster. Together, we can come to their aid in emergencies and remain faithful to communities as they recover – providing new opportunities for them to help themselves again. The work of ZOA is coordinated from the Netherlands. We are active in multiple countries in Africa, South America, the Middle East Region, and Asia. We work with approximately 900 employees worldwide and with (local) partners. We invite you to join our team of committed colleagues.

Our work in Uganda

In Uganda, ZOA has offices in Kampala, West Nile (Arua), Acholi (Gulu), and Karamoja (Amudat). ZOA Uganda works both in relief and recovery on the themes of food security & livelihoods, education, and conflict management with a special focus on land Rights.

ZOA Uganda is looking for a Land Rights Advisor to be based in Kampala.

Your challenge

The Land Rights Advisor is the technical lead in the area of Land Rights for the country programme, and contributes to quality implementation, monitoring and donor compliance of ZOA Uganda’s Land Rights projects.

S/He ensures that training of staff and partners, coaching, learning and technical monitoring is carried out regularly. The Land Rights Advisor is responsible for overseeing proposal development and exploring new Land Rights project opportunities on behalf of ZOA Uganda. The position requires significant time spent at project locations and coordinating with stakeholders, partners and donors.

Your main tasks and responsibilities

The main responsibility of the Land Rights Advisor is to ensure high quality Land Rights programme design, implementation and evaluation of projects by providing technical support with expertise and knowledge of Land Rights in Uganda, with a primary focus on Customary Land Ownership and subsequent transactions. The Land Rights Advisor is responsible for the development of high-quality Land Rights project proposals for potential donors.

Programme quality

• Provides high quality technical support to the implementation of ZOA Uganda’s Land Rights programme; supporting Land Rights projects throughout the project management cycle, including technical review of procurement tasks.
• Contributes to the development and implementation of Land Rights Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) plans.
• Develops and upholds a coherent ZOA Uganda Land Rights strategy in line with national and/or international trends, approaches and standards.

Learning and capacity strengthening

• Contributes to learning and knowledge development for ZOA (worldwide) specifically related to Land Rights.
• Builds capacity of Land Rights project staff on key project concepts and approaches; builds capacity and ensures capacity strengthening of co-implementing partner(s) in line with identified needs.
• Recommends strategic training opportunities for project staff.

Proposal development

• Scopes for new opportunities for ZOA Uganda, including innovative and partner-based approaches.
• Leads or participates in development of high-quality Land Rights project proposals.
• Collaborates with finance department for proposal budget development.

Reporting

• Reviews donor reports in line with contractual obligations and technical standards.
• Contributes to ZOA’s internal meetings, reporting and the annual Country Plan process.

Stakeholder management

• Builds and upholds relationships with key Land Rights stakeholders in Uganda, specifically with the CCO Working group, and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (MLHUD);
• Represents ZOA Uganda externally in relevant Land Rights related meetings, at regional and national level.
• Collaborates with ZOA International’s Sector Specialist Land Rights concerning quality standards and policy compliance, proposal reviews, learning, and funding opportunities.

Accountability

• Sensitize all stakeholders (beneficiaries, service providers, partners, government and other) on feedback and complaint mechanisms implemented by ZOA Uganda
• Upon receipt of a complaint or feedback, ensure that it is correctly documented following correct reporting procedures
• Understand ZOA’s code of conduct and safeguarding policies, ensure adherence to these policies and that project activities are implemented with a “Do No Harm” approach

Other activities

• Provides input to communication and visibility efforts, e.g. online, printed materials, ZOA’s international website.
• Supports the recruitment of project staff; when necessary, reviewing the job descriptions, participating in job interviews.
• Any other duty assigned by the Manager of Programme Quality or Country Director.

Your profile

Identity

• The candidate is expected to fully support the vision, mission and Christian values 0f ZOA (see https://www.zoa-international.com/corporate-identity)

Knowledge & Experience:

• University degree (Master’s preferred) in Land Management, Social Sciences, Development Studies, International Relations or other relevant field.
• At least 5 years of delivering high quality Land Rights related projects/programmes in similar contexts.
• Sound understanding of the Land Rights and land tenure landscape, including major trends and developments in the Land Rights sector, both on a national and global level.
• Experience in designing and executing capacity building programs for (local) partners and stakeholders
• Strong track record and (lead) writing experience in successful proposal development proposals to institutional donors and foundations, both standalone and in consortia.
• Strong reporting and writing skills.
• Experience working in consortia and with local partners; experience representing the organization externally.
• Excellent spoken and written command of English

Skills:

• Excellent facilitation, communication skills and writing ability.
• Innovative, creative and enthusiastic.
• Provides regular feedback, acknowledges success and the need for improvement with Supervisees.
• Result oriented and possession of learning power.
• Good computer skills: Ms Excel and Ms Word.
• Self-motivator, able to take initiatives with limited supervision.

Attitude/behaviour:

• High level of personal integrity.
• Flexibility and adaptability.
• Commitment to inclusion for People with Disabilities
• Interpersonal and cross-cultural sensitivity.
• Able to work under pressures and meet deadlines.
• Able to work in a sometimes fluid and innovative environment.
• High level of networking capacities, with interpersonal, organizational and intercultural sensitivity
• Commitment to ZOA’s mission, vision and values (see https://www.zoa-international.com/corporate-identity)

Special conditions/circumstances

The Land Rights Advisor will be based at the ZOA office in Kampala. Regular field visits to the project locations/other districts in the region are anticipated, for several days at a time.

The role is 1.0 FTE (40 hrs/ week). Working hours are outlined in the ZOA Uganda Employee Handbook. Some flexibility on working hours may be required, e.g. for travel at weekends, or during proposal submission and reporting periods.

Our offer

• ZOA offers a challenging role in a dynamic context, and you will be part of an inspiring and motivated team.
• We offer good benefits and remuneration which suits the NGO sector.

Do you need more information?