Land Governance Expert

Result of ServiceImproved tenure security, inclusive land governance, and cross-border harmonization of land administration systems in the Greater Busia Metro, resulting in strengthened local government capacity, enhanced protection of women and youth traders’ property rights, and increased opportunities for equitable and sustainable local economic development. Work LocationNairobi Expected duration6 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesBACKGROUND The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. UN-HABITAT helps the urban poor by transforming cities into safer, healthier, greener places with better opportunities where everyone can live with dignity. It works with organizations at every level, including all spheres of government, civil society and the private sector to help build, manage, plan and finance sustainable urban development. The Greater Busia Metro (GBM), which straddles the Kenya–Uganda border, is a critical economic hub in the East African region. It plays a significant role in informal cross-border trade (ICBT), which supports the livelihoods of thousands of small-scale traders, the majority of whom are women and youth. Despite its strategic location and role in facilitating regional integration under frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), GBM faces serious challenges linked to insecure land tenure, weak land governance, uncoordinated cross-border legal frameworks, and lack of inclusive systems that recognize and protect informal traders’ property rights. Many women and youth traders in Busia operate in informal markets located on land with unclear or disputed ownership. Their access to housing, productive space, and business premises is often constrained by a lack of documentation, poor legal awareness, and cultural norms that exclude them from land ownership or use rights. These challenges not only make them vulnerable to eviction, harassment, and exploitation but also limit their ability to invest in or expand their businesses. Insecure tenure also undermines the capacity of local governments to plan effectively, enforce land-related policies, and generate revenue through legal frameworks such as land-based taxation or market levies. Recognizing these gaps, UN-Habitat, in partnership with the Government of Denmark, is implementing a 3.5-year project titled “Harnessing Property Rights: Building Resilience of Local Governments and Informal Women and Youth Traders in the Greater Busia Metro (GBM)”. The project seeks to improve local economic development by enhancing land and property rights governance, promoting inclusive urban development, and supporting local institutions and communities to implement secure, gender-sensitive, and fit-for-purpose land administration tools. The project will contribute to the mapping and clarification of tenure systems, development of a Land Information System (LIS), capacity building of local government staff and community land structures, and use of data to inform evidence-based decision-making. The project aims to align with the broader objectives of regional trade integration, climate-resilient urban development, and gender equality. It will also support governments on both sides of the border to harmonize their land and property-related systems, increase local investment, and strengthen the resilience of vulnerable informal traders. Within this context, the role of the Land Expert is central. The expert will bring deep technical knowledge and hands-on experience in land tenure systems, spatial planning, community mapping, and land administration reform to help operationalize key components of the project. This includes ensuring that the processes adopted are locally driven, inclusive, technically sound, and aligned with the project's outcomes of improved tenure security, formalization of informal trade spaces, and enhanced local government capacity. The land expert will be under the overall supervision of the Senior Human Settlements Officer/Head of Sub Region and the direct supervision of the Human Settlements Officer and collaborate closely with other project managers. 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 Qualifications/special skillsAdvanced 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. LanguagesFor the position advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.