UNDP Job Vacancy in Zimbabwe as a Consultant

Project Outputs are as follows:

Output 1: Updated database on inventories of acquired farms;

Output 2: Consensus based compensation mechanism in place;

Output 3: Adequate survey control network established;

Output 4:  Surveyed A2 farm units and updated land information database;

Output 5: Land Information System within the Ministry strengthened, effectively managed and coordinated;

Output 6: Dispute Resolution Framework Developed;

Output 7: Land Tenure Policy Is Reviewed and Implemented;

Output 8: Zimbabwe Land Commission is capacitated and functional;

Output 9: Project management.

Project context:

The Zimbabwe Land Commission was established in July 2016 in terms of Section 296 of the Zimbabwe Constitution (Amendment No.20), and its functions are outlined in section 297 as follows:

• ensure accountability, fairness and transparency in the administration of agricultural land that is vested in the state;
• to conduct periodic audits of agricultural land;
• to make recommendations to Government regarding:-
  • the acquisition of private land for public purposes;
  • equitable access to and holding and occupation of agricultural land, in particular;-
  • the elimination of all forms of unfair discrimination, particularly gender discrimination;
  • the enforcement of any law restricting the amount of agricultural land that may be held by any person or household.
• land usage and the size of agricultural land holdings;
• the simplification of the acquisition and transfer of rights in land;
• systems of land tenure; and
• fair compensation payable under any law for agricultural land and improvements that have been compulsorily acquired;
• allocations and alienation of agricultural land.

The ZLC is an entirely new entity comprising of nine Commissioners and supporting Secretariat. It is working on a way forward to help carry out its operations so that beneficiaries of agricultural land can use and increase production and productivity on the agricultural land.  The project support will provide for the capacitation of the Zimbabwe Land Commission in resolving disputes amicably with the development of the dispute resolution framework. Thus its dispute resolution must include conducting a needs assessment for dispute resolution, undertake stakeholders’ consultations on dispute resolution and production of final draft of dispute resolution framework for it to meet its mandate.

It is against this background that the Zimbabwe Land Commission is seeking to ensure accountability, fairness and transparency in the administration of agricultural land that is vested in the state. It is in this context that UNDP wishes to engage consultant(s) to undertake a comprehensive needs assessment for dispute resolution. In undertaking this assignment the consultant(s) will carry out extensive consultations with the ZLC, the MLRR, other government ministries, existing commissions, local authorities, traditional leaders, farmers and farmer organisations, the broader private sector, donors and development partners.

The objective of the assignment is to undertake a comprehensive needs assessment for dispute resolution of the newly established ZLC. The needs assessment for dispute resolution will cover all the aspects needed for a good manner of dispute resolution by the ZLC.

Specific activities of the assignment:

The following are the key activities that the consultant is expected to undertake:

• Review the necessary documents that pertain to the establishment of the ZLC as well as other policy documents on the related commissions;
• Review the current dispute resolutions mechanisms being used by the MLRR;
• Conduct a thorough impact evaluation on managing and administrating agricultural land in Zimbabwe, relating to dispute resolution. This will be based in Harare with visits to all the Provinces to meet the above objectives and according to the agreed methodology.
• Research on customary, statutory law and judicial dispute resolution as well as addressing the key causes of conflict.
• Assess the impact of disputes on the beneficiaries, particularly women.
• Assess the identified and unforeseen risks faced by the dispute resolution framework, and its capacity to adapt and manage those risks politically, administratively, effectively and responsibly.
• The review should be forward looking and make recommendations for future approaches to supporting land administration and dispute resolution in the Zimbabwean context, as well as produce lessons for land reform in Zimbabwe, so as to best contribute to best practice in a context-specific manner as laid out in the Constitution and related pieces of legislation.

• Draft a comprehensive report detailing findings on the project, drawing out lessons learned and making recommendations on how to enhance the dispute resolution framework’s impact in Zimbabwe.
• Draft a comprehensive dispute resolution framework suitable for Zimbabwe.
• Present the evaluation findings to the Commission.
• In determining the needs assessment for dispute resolution the consultant shall take due cognisance of the needs for ZLC: development and interpretation of the various regulations and legislation, exposure to the concept of natural justice, training on inspection conduct and Administrative justice, reporting procedures and enforcement of the judgements.

Expected outputs/deliverables

All deliverables such as reports, plans and other artefacts should be delivered to UNDP for onward transmission to the ZLC and the MLRR for acceptance and/or approvals in order to reach the planned milestones and proceed to the next stages.

• Inception Report:  Within one week of signing the contract the consultant shall present an Inception Report detailing the Assignment Work Plan. The work plan shall indicate the clear timelines, a detailed approach and methodology as well as the indicative structure of the final report.
• An Interim Report: The Interim Report shall be in the following parts:
  • Comprising the documents reviewed, stakeholders views, identification of issues and challenges and any concerns raised during the various consultations;
  • Analysis of other national and international Commissions of similar nature;
  • Analysis of possible options of the dispute resolution frameworks;
  • Specific recommendations on dispute resolution framework.
• A stakeholders workshop to comment on the finding of the needs assessment for dispute resolution framework, draft recommendations and validation of the Interim Report.
  • A Final Report that incorporates all the comments from stakeholders, the ZLC, MLRR, UNDP and workshop participants.

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional competencies:

• Excellent reporting and communication skills;
• Strong writing skills;
• Strong interpersonal and networking skills.

• An advanced university degree in any of the following disciples: agricultural economics, land use/land tenure, environment or rural and urban planning.

Experience:

• At least ten years of relevant experienceand be a competent administrator in similar organisations;
• Extensive experience in good governance and Integrated Results Based Management;
• Legal expertise particularly on land administration is a distinct advantage;

Language:

• Excellent verbal and written communication in English.

Application procedure:

• Applicants are requested to upload a copy of their latest updated P11 Form which can be downloaded from this website – http://www.sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc.
• Incomplete applications will not be given consideration.
• Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document;
• Please note that only applicants who are short-listed will be contacted.

Evaluation criteria

he Consultant will be evaluated based on qualifications and the years of experience, as outlined in the qualifications/requirements section of the ToR.  In addition, the Consultant will also be evaluated on the following methodology:

• Technical Criteria weight: 70%;
• Financial Criteria weight: 30%;
• The award of the contract shall be made to the Consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the Terms of Reference.