Senior Project Consultant at Landesa 46 views0 applications

Landesa helps the world’s poorest people gain land rights; reducing poverty and conflict, increasing economic activity, empowering women, strengthening food security, and improving environmental stewardship. It’s a big mission and it takes a team of talented, committed people to make it happen.

We are seeking a Senior Project Consultant to serve as a key member of the Liberia Land Rights for Sustainable Development Project, the goal of which is to strengthen land rights for rural Liberian communities and individuals, including women and youth, by supporting access to justice, institutional capacity, and land rights awareness. In collaboration with the US-based Liberia Project Lead, the Senior Project Consultant will provide oversight of in-country activities to ensure that the project achieves high-quality and timely deliverables and remains focused on the project goal. The Senior Project Consultant will serve as the project’s principle in-country liaison for the Government of Liberia and CSO implementing partners and, in close partnership with the Landesa team, will carry out tasks such as research, writing, training facilitation, field work, technical support to implementing partners, and advocacy for the adoption and implementation of gender-responsive land-related laws and policies. S/he is expected to demonstrate leadership on gender equality and support the integration of gender, women’s land rights, and youth land rights across the project.

Reporting: The Senior Project Consultant will report to the Liberia Project Lead.

Availability: The Senior Project Consultant will be expected to work a standard workweek of 40 hours plus additional hours as necessary to get the job done. The position requires significant national travel and limited international travel (up to 100 days per year total).

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Nurtures Landesa’s relationships with the Government of Liberia (particularly the Liberian Land Authority), local and international civil society organizations, the national donor and development community, media, and rural land users. Uses good judgment and strategic thinking to identify new partners and opportunities for strengthening the land rights of rural women, youth, and communities and clearly communicates these with the Landesa team.
• Liaises with land- and related sectors and civil society stakeholders and represents the Landesa project at convenings, including the Women’s Land Rights Task Force, the CSO Working Group on Land Rights Reform, the Liberia International NGO Forum, and other CSO networks. Additionally, participates in convenings organized by the project donor and liaises and collaborates with organizations within the funding cohort.
• In the project start-up phase, leads the Landesa accreditation process and supports hiring, procurement, work planning, and other start-up activities.
• Works closely with the US-based project team, land sector stakeholders, and implementing partners to translate project goals and objectives into implementable, sustainable activities.
• Provides technical support and guidance to implementing partners and Landesa staff in activity design, implementation, and monitoring to ensure that goals and objectives—including those related to gender integration—are accomplished within prescribed time frame and funding parameters. Advises partners on finding solutions to implementation challenges.
• Actively participates in project design and implementation, including research, writing, and site visits.
• With the support of the US-based project team, monitors the performance of implementing partners toward their objectives, including through frequent visits to project sites.
• In collaboration with the Landesa team, organizes and facilitates stakeholder workshops, trainings, and other capacity development opportunities.
• Ensures compliance with Landesa policies, practices, procedures, and regulations. Accountable for adherence to and compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act [FCPA].
• Keeps abreast of the operational, political, and legal environment within Liberia and informs the Project Lead and Landesa team of environmental shifts that might positively/negatively impact operations and implementation. Make recommendations on policy, project interventions, and other issues that are practical, useful, and realistic, given the country realities and resources.
• Develops and maintains a strong relationship with Landesa’s US-based staff. Regularly communicates successes, challenges, and lessons learned from project implementation to the Landesa team.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced degree in law, gender studies, international development, sociology, geography, anthropology, or related field (commensurate experience will be considered).
• 10+ years of relevant experience working with national/international NGOs and public-sector institutions in Liberia; experience in the land, natural resource management, democracy and governance, or climate change sectors preferred.
• Creative and independent self-starter and problem solver with a track record of success in achieving project objectives despite challenges. Excellent organization, delegation, performance management, administration, analytical, negotiation, and time management skills. Exacting attention to detail, flexibility and the ability to work simultaneously on multiple projects. Excellent and advanced critical conceptual or decision-making skills.
• Strong leadership qualities with the ability to set and communicate vision and strategy. Ability to inspire staff, partners, and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience working with and building relationships among diverse partners, including government, CSOs, international NGOs, and rural communities. Able to work with a diverse team environment and wide variety of partners and effectively manage external and institutional relationships.
• A deep commitment to gender equality and the mission of a better, safer future for the poorest women and men through secure access to land. Experience supporting gender integration in development projects and/or leading gender analysis is preferred.
• Experience working with youth-related issues, particularly youth and land, is desirable.
• High degree of personal and professional integrity, initiative, and intellectual curiosity.
• Strong analytical skills for interpreting complex project and political issues and to think innovatively and introduce new concepts. Ability to think creatively and strategically to mediate and negotiate successfully with individuals and groups internally and externally. Ability to overcome obstacles to cooperation and to foster harmonious relations.
• Familiarity with budgets, monitoring and evaluation, and report writing in the development context.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English, particularly with regard to presentations and preparation of publications, and report writing.
• Ability to proficiently use Microsoft Office: Windows, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.