Land Information Systems (Cadastral) Expert

UNOPS mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need.  Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, UNOPS vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness.

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. 

Background

UN-Habitat has been active in Iraq since 1996 under the Oil for Food Programme. After 2003, UN-Habitat was largely engaged in early recovery efforts, particularly those supporting internally displaced persons through the provision of shelter and reconstruction solutions.

After more than five years since the official declaration of the ‘end of war against ISIL’ by the Government of Iraq in late 2017, there are still approximately 5.6 million people in Iraq affected by missing or outdated HLP documentation while it is estimated that 2.4 million people face issues due to a lack of HLP documentation or have issues with establishing security of tenure. 

As part of the EU-funded project, “Modernising Urban Land Knowledge (MULK)”, UN-Habitat seeks to reform and modernise the land governance and management framework of Iraq by supporting the creation of a land record digitization system and in developing the technical specifications and implementation plans for the digitised e-land administration and e-cadastre systems. The project aims to initiate the necessary processes for improving security of tenure and land governance systems through initiating legislative and regulatory reforms, developing the framework for streamlining and making transparent land-related administrative processes, and by promoting access to data that can influence investment and land use decisions. 

The main objective of this consultancy is to support the Ministry of Justice, Real Estate Registration Directorate RERD/Cadastre, including CSOs in developing a deep understanding of e-land governance systems and their implications, allowing them to advocate more effectively for policies that prioritise transparency, data security, and the protection of HLP rights and to lay the foundation for the development of a comprehensive e-land registry digital platform under the UN-Habitat project. He/she will support the Project Manager in the capacity-building training and development of technical specifications for digitising land records with their expertise in land management and governance. 

Reporting Line:

The incumbent will be based in Baghdad, at the UN-Habitat Office, reporting to Head of the UN-Habitat Iraq Programme and/or his/her designation. 

The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and of UNOPS. 

UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Head of the UN-Habitat Iraq Programme and/or his/her designate, the Land Information Systems (Cadastral) Expert will be responsible for the following duties:

• Design capacity-building initiatives, training modules, and awareness campaigns for the Real Estate Registration Directorates (RERD) and CSOs based on the results of a capacity gap analysis; 

• Conduct trainings and seminars on e-land governance for RERD and CSOs; 

• Evaluate the current land registry system in Iraq; 

• Conduct needs assessments to understand the needs and gaps at the real estate registration offices in Iraq; 

• Support the selection and implementation into 2 pilot areas for the digitisation of land records in coordination with the Ministry of Justice and the Real Estate Registration Directorates; 

• Establish the infrastructure for data collection and database management through identifying the appropriate technology and software for digitisation of land records; 

• Devise clear technical specifications (hardware and software) for the digitisation of land records; 

• Identify land record to be digitised through supporting the cataloguing and organisation process by establishing the metadata and indexing systems; 

• Provide training initiatives on how to access and utilise the digital land database; 

• Determine land registry software specifications and functionalities for a user-friendly customer interface; 

• Develop an RFP for the e-land registry system to make the full transition to e-land governance; 

• Create a roadmap for data collection and sharing, which may include digitising paper records, conducting land surveys, capturing aerial and/or satellite imagery, mapping, and data production; 

• Conduct a technical feasibility study to determine technical specifications for the e-cadastre platform; 

• Formulate a full implementation plan that outlines the step-by-step process for building and deploying the e-cadastre system; 

• Develop an RFP for the e-cadastre software, outlining the technical requirements (i.e., GIS integration, data management, spatial data accuracy, data migration, and interoperability with other systems) and the functional aspects (i.e., land parcel identification, boundary definition, land registration, and user access control); 

• Support the Project Manager in preparing progress reports, monitoring reports, and other relevant documents related to the project. 

• Build a repository of all applicable e-land governance laws and regulations.

• Identify potential coordination and governance mechanisms to foster effective intergovernmental coordination and data management.

• Assess capacity gaps and HLP awareness-raising needs for public and civil society organisations (CSOs).

• Digitise land records in pilot areas in coordination with RERD offices.

Outputs/work assignment 

The incumbent is expected to submit the following deliverables during the course of his/her assignment: 

• Monthly activity reports detailing the activities carried out in day-to-day operations;

• Lessons learned on the relevant project activities. 

​Academic Qualification 

• An advanced degree in Information Management, Data Science, Engineering, Computer Science, Geography, Geographic Information Systems, Geology, Social Sciences, Statistics, or other relevant field of studies is required; A first-level university degree with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience is required;

• Experience working with cadastral systems, e-cadastres, cadastral maps, cadastral surveying/mapping, and cadastral GIS data is required; 

• Thorough understanding of land records is required; 

• Previous experience on digitising records/digital transformation is required; 

• Demonstrable experience working with qualitative and quantitative data is required; 

• Experience working with cadastral systems in countries in the MENA region is a significant advantage; 

• Experience in post-conflict settings is an advantage;

• Experience working with Government Agencies/Ministries is an advantage; 

• Motivated to contribute towards peace and development and to serve others;

• Excellent interpersonal, networking and communication skills;

• Wiliness to contribute and work as part of the team;

• Flexible and open to learning and new experiences; 

• Respect for diversity and adaptability to diverse cultures, environments and living conditions.

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nation Secretariat, for this position fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of Arabic is a distinct advantage.

1. Contract type: ICA
2. Contract level: I-ICA 2
3. Contract duration: 12 months

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.