Organizational Setting

The Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) and FAO are implementing the project Mainstreaming Sustainable Land Development and Management in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (SLDM). The project aims at establishing an enabling environment for promoting sustainable and climate-resilient land development, management, and reclamation in support of Guyana’ s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) through activities working at (i) streamlining policy, regulation, and governance; (ii) developing institutional and human capacities; and (iii) strengthening local governance in the three regions where the project is implemented. Implemented at three levels – national, regional, and local – the SLDM project is designed to create an enabling legal and policy framework informed by policy feedback loops nurtured with ground reality and inclusive participation.

Reporting Lines

The Land Administration Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the FAO Representative in Guyana. The Specialist will coordinate the work of the Project Management Unit (PMU), collaborate with the GLSC Divisions and other SLDM and FAO team members, and under the overall technical guidance of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and the concerned project task force members. He/She will also serve GLSC to assist with curating their data, reengineer the Standard Operational Procedures (SOP), and upgrade their processes in the transition from one system to another.

Technical Focus

The focus of the international Land Administration Specialist is to provide support in achieving the deliverables and objectives of the SLDM Project through continuous work with the GLSC Divisions related to the implementation of land information systems, spatial data infrastructure and capacity building.

The Specialist will work with the relevant GLSC teams in the Divisions, specifically the: Land Administration (LA), Information System (IS), Land Information and Mapping (LIM), Surveys, Legal, Finance and Land Policy, Planning and Projects (LPPP) Divisions.

Tasks and Responsibilities

The Land Administration Specialist will integrate information and manage, update and digitizse data registers on land allocation (leasing, deeds, titles, and others), and in parallel, cadastral survey plans/parcels and mapping into the GLSC systems. The Specialist will ensure that data curation, migration and conversion occur in GLSC with agreed quality parameters. He/She will design adequate quality control measures that will be applied to prevent and rectify duplications or errors in the database. He/She will provide guidance and tools for streamlined land allocation, including transfers and other changes. He/She will undertake the following specific tasks to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Land Administration and GIS/LIS Consultancy:
•    Work with LIM division to establish adequate capacity to capture information and manage, update and digitize data registers on land allocation (leases, deeds, titles, and others), land revenue, land valuation lists, and others – as appropriate, and in parallel with cadastral survey plans, parcels and mapping.
•    Oversee the development of the NGLMS, revise the outstanding SOP, conduct training, and propose improvements in support of data migration into the system and ensure operability.
–    Lead the development of operational standards and data and document management methods to support land administration functions.
–    Conduct analysis and reengineering of the GLSC standard operating procedures (SOP) and management systems, update workflows, and conduct relevant training in collaboration with the IS division to co-develop the design of an appropriate system.
–    Provide advice on the implementation of a land information system (LIS) with integrated data for informed decision-making based on the initial work performed by the IS division.
–    Advise and train the staff of the GLSC in the development/adoption/modification of data models.
–    Advise the SLDM with the technical revision and tracking of the different components in the project, preparing the necessary reports, following up and advising on the technical activities conducted in each component.
•    Implement the revised land administration standard operating procedures (SOP) into the NGLMS.
•    Advise GLSC and the LiDAR Quality Control Expert in aggregating and presenting the LiDAR consultancy deliverables to facilitate the quality control and revision of the data before approval.
•    Advise the Sustainability Expert in preparing the technical aspects of the sustainability plan.
•    Work with the Land Information and Mapping Division to reorganize the roles and functions of the LIM Division and Staff to accommodate the division to work with the implemented computerized systems.
•    Technical and management advice provided to support the various components of the project.
•    Advise on the preparation of progress reports for upper management on the technical activities conducted in each component, coordinating with the consultants and SLDM staff, to acquire the information in a timely manner and present it in summarized and concise reports when required by the project.
•    Provide project oversight and advise on technical leadership regarding all other aspects of the project, particularly for the final closeout phase of the project.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree in a discipline relevant to geography, land administration, engineering, and other related areas.
•    At least 12 years of relevant work experience in land administration systems preferable with Caribbean or other countries similar to Guyana.
•    Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, or Russian. For PSA, working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Selection Criteria

•    Relevance of experience in Implementation of Land Administration Systems, and project management with particular emphasis on developing countries and knowledge of the Caribbean context and particularly of Guyana.
•    Extent and relevance of experience of technical assistance provision to field projects on land administration.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in reviewing national processes and undertaking diagnostic studies of business process and reengineering.
•    Proven ability to redact clear and concise technical reports.
•    Extent and relevance of designing and implementing participatory approaches and to provide assistance in the organization of workshops, consultations, awareness, technical meetings and learning events.
•    Proven ability to work in multidisciplinary team and including multiple partners.