Land Rights and Governance Technical Lead

Job Title: Land Rights and Governance Technical Lead – Itongo Ryanje, Itunga Ryanje, Burundi

Job Location: Ngozi, Burundi

Job Type: Regular, Full Time

Reports to: Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP). You will report to the DCOP and may line manage technical or program staff members. You will also work closely with the Chief of Party(COP), Programmes Director (PD), MEL Advisor, Systems Director (SD), Desk Officer (DO) and Advisors, and consortium members.

About the role: This is a 60-month, new role with unaccompanied terms based in Ngozi, Burundi with a salary of Grade 4 €45,457 – €50,509.

*This position is contingent upon successful agreement award and USAID approval.

Founded in 1968, Concern Worldwide (Concern) is an international humanitarian aid organization dedicated to reducing extreme poverty and alleviating suffering through emergency relief and long-term development programs spanning livelihoods, education, nutrition, health, and WASH. Concern currently operates in 26 countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Middle East, and works in partnership with communities, public and private service providers, local government, academic institutions, and other local and international organizations to ensure sustainable delivery of effective services. Concern Worldwide has operated in Burundi since 1997, successfully implementing programs in health, nutrition, social protection, food security, livelihoods, and youth empowerment throughout the country.

Your purpose:

Concern Worldwide seeks a Land Rights and Governance Technical Lead for an anticipated USAID “Itongo Ryanje, Itunga Ryanje” activity in Burundi. This activity will help Burundian women secure access and rights to land, promote climate-smart agriculture, and strengthen economic empowerment. The activity will partner with local actors, including the private sector, to strengthen women farmers’ participation in market-driven enterprises and build their entrepreneurial, leadership and management skills to achieve greater economic independence.

The Land Rights and Governance Technical Lead will provide support and leadership to the Activity, ensuring the consortium successfully achieves Result 1: Understanding and application of land rights laws by local authorities and community influencers increased. The Land Rights and Governance Technical Lead will oversee the development and implementation of programming that improves women’s access to productive land and ensures national land policies are implemented. The successful candidate should possess substantial experience working on complex, multi-year USAID or other international donor-funded Activities.

The Land Rights and Governance Technical Lead’ responsibilities will be to:

• Lead the Activity’s governance and land rights technical approach, ensuring that methodologies and interventions are technically sound and relevant to the success of the program. Closely monitor the intervention’s progress, mitigating risks and adapting interventions as needed.
• In collaboration with the DCOP and MEAL Lead – and working closely with consortium partners, stakeholders, and program participants – review activities and results and develop the workplan for land rights, land certification, and governance activities under Result 1.
• Provide technical leadership on the Activity’s analyses and assessments to ensure activities support women’s access to land tenure and ownership.
• Provide technical leadership to the activity team to identify innovative approaches to increase understanding and application of land rights laws by local authorities, community leaders, public officials, and female growers.
• Facilitate the development of tools and processes that empower local entities to lead interventions and share learning.
• Foster strong working relationships with other agencies and individuals working on governance and land titling issues and gender to maximize visibility and learning.
• Lead or assist to prepare any reports, as requested by USAID, Concern Worldwide and Concern US, and the Government of Burundi.
• Undertake any other tasks as assigned by the COP and DCOP to ensure that Activity objectives are met.

Requirements and Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field.
• Minimum of 5 years of technical experience designing, implementing, and managing governance activities (preferably those funded by USAID). Experience with land certification and land rights and policies preferred, with at least 3 years management or advisory experience.
• Demonstrated experience improving administration of land titling, customer service by public officials in land titling transactions, and social norms around female land ownership.
• Experience working in similar contexts, with experience in Burundi and/or East Africa preferred.
• Excellent leadership, program, organizational management and oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work well within a team, and to complete multiple tasks effectively and efficiently.
• Strong interpersonal skills for working with project staff, donors, partners, and program participants.
• Experience conducting continuous capacity building of activity staff in engaging with government stakeholders and conducting awareness campaigns and social behavior change.
• Flexible and adaptable approach to working in a changing environment.
• Experience working on USAID or other donor-funded programs.
• Knowledge of Core Humanitarian Standards, Sphere and other international humanitarian guidelines and protocols.
• Professional level fluency in written and spoken English and French. Fluency in Kirundi is preferred.

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 20%. The position will be located in Ngozi.