The Land Portal Foundation seeks dynamic and highly motivated country consultants to conduct desk-research and assess or review the state of land data and information in specific countries in Africa and Latin America. The consultant must be fluent in English and preferably at least one or more of the following languages: French, Portuguese, Spanish. 

These are short term consultancy positions for a 6 month period. 

Organisational Profile

The Land Portal exists to nurture a vibrant online platform to inform and engage with partners, promoting open data and the sharing of best practices and stimulating debate and collaboration both on and offline. We provide a vital bridge for those grappling with complex land governance issues – from researchers and NGOs through to governments and grassroots communities – connecting people, facilitating dialogue and joining the dots between fragmented information.

The Land Portal is an information gateway and resource base, a vibrant online community of users from around the world, and a trusted voice within the land governance sector globally.

Data and information are powerful tools for achieving a land governance system that benefits those with the most insecure land rights and the greatest vulnerability to landlessness. However, information sources remain highly fragmented, unstructured, poorly curated, represent a narrow range of perspectives, and continue to be published in ways that do not facilitate maximum discovery, engagement and reuse. Until policy and decision-makers, intermediaries and grassroots groups have access to the data and information they need to make sound decisions, their initiatives (programs, policies, campaigns) will fail to achieve maximum impact.

Raising awareness of “open data” – and the critical role it plays in realising tenure security for individuals and communities around the world – continues to be our greatest challenge. To this end, we make use of every possible conference, meeting and speaking engagement to promote the concept of “going open”, while recognising that not everything can or should be made entirely open.

In 2019 the Land Portal developed the SOLIndex, a benchmark and diagnostic tool that tracks the openness of land data globally. The SOLIndex supports transparency, improves decision-making, and provides a diagnostic tool for policymakers, land data custodians, researchers, and practitioners, by exploring the openness of land data at the global and national level. It assesses the completeness and openness of land data by examining the availability of public sector information to provide a globally comparable indicator. Four core data categories are identified: land tenure data, land use data, land value data and land development data. 

In the period July 2024 – December 2024 the Land Portal Foundation intends to expand assessments for 27 countries in Africa and Latin America. 

Job Description

The consultant will undertake thorough desk research and conduct a scoping study in the respective countries in order to assess the state of land data and information in accordance with the SOLIndex data questionnaire.  The consultant should also provide a brief overview on the (Open) Data Policy Frameworks (Legal and Policy) in the respective country with regards to data sharing and management. The consultant will describe the various data sources and complete the dataset matrix as well as complete the data questionnaire. The results will be presented in  a short (4-5 pages) country profile and published on the SOLIndex data and analytics dashboard under a Creative Commons licence.

The consultant will conduct or review the SOLIndex assessment for at least one of the following countries:

Angola, Brazil (Portuguese)

Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Cameroon (French)

Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Panama (Spanish)

Consultants may apply and be considered for more than one country (preferred).

The Consultant will have the primary responsibility for the specific tasks and will report directly to the Senior Land Information Specialist.

Principal Tasks & Responsibilities: 

The researcher will be responsible to review or conduct the research according to the SOLIndex User Guide and Methodology and complete in the Data Questionnaire, Dataset Matrix and draft a short country profile.

Specific responsibilities and outputs relating to the SOLIndex Consultancy:

• Undertake thorough desk research and scoping study in relation to the respective country in order to document  and assess the completeness and openness of government land databases. The researcher will use the Land Portal methodology. This will primarily involve desktop research.

• Provide an overview on the Open Data Policy Frameworks (Legal and Policy) in the respective country. During this process it is important to provide an overview on the rules, regulations, procedures and practices with regards to data sharing and management, if any exist.

• Complete the Land Portal dataset matrix with the findings of the scoping exercise and assess openness in accordance with the open data criteria. 

• Complete the SOLindex data questionnaire and score all the relevant criteria as indicated in the template.

• Draft a SOLIndex Country profile (Max - 4 Pages) according to the Land Portal template, to be published under a Creative Commons licence.

• Review the completed data matrix, data questionnaire and the country profile.

• Recommend improvements to the State of Land Information Research Methodology based on learnings and findings from the implementation to ensure the tool is informed by practical advice and fits to diverse contexts.

• Participate in the weekly exchange calls organised by the Senior Land Information Specialist to share updates and experiences and discuss progress

Specific deliverables and outputs relating to open data land management:

• Review/Complete Dataset Matrix

• Review/Complete Questionnaire for SOLIndex Methodology

• Review/Draft Short SOLIndex Country Profile report (4 Pages)

All deliverables will be completed at the same time on the date as agreed with the Senior Land Information Specialist 

The Open Land Data Management Consultant will report to the Senior Land Information Specialist. 

Qualifications and skills

The successful candidate will have:

• University degree in any field related to land governance 

• Minimum of 3 years of research experience within the land governance and/or land data sector 

• Experience with quantitative and/or qualitative data analysis;

• Fluency (native level) in English and fluency in at least one of French, Portuguese or Spanish.

• Minimum of 5 years of overall work experience;

• Some knowledge of open data and data sharing best practices; 

• Excellent computer skills; experience with Content Management Systems is a plus;

• Great attention to detail;

• Excellent communications skills, including good drafting, communicating and presentation abilities.

Personal and Professional Attributes

• Inclusive and effective communication skills and techniques with an ability to respectfully engage with, and to communicate concepts to others. 

• High standard of ethics and integrity which inspires trust and confidence. 

• Enthusiasm and commitment to sustained effort through diligence and pursuit of high standards. 

• Commitment to ongoing personal and professional development which drives best practice. 

• Proactively utilises initiative, innovation and a commitment to continuous improvement. 

• Strong collaborative skills which enable effective engagement within a high functioning cohesive team. 

• Ability to employ sound judgement and decision making amongst competing demands 

• Ability to show initiative in planning and developing new ideas and approaches, and to implement and communicate change effectively.

• Problem-solving attitude;

• Diplomacy, team spirit and willingness to take initiatives;

• Ability to meet strict deadlines;

• Disciplined - good at managing his or her own time and committed to work from home in a remote environment.

Timeframe

This consultancy is expected to start as soon as possible and be completed over a period of 3 months, or as agreed between the Consultant and the Land Portal Foundation. The Consultant will be working from home. It is expected that the assessment will take 5-6 days per country.  The Consultant will be working from home. 

How to Apply?

Please send your curriculum vitae (CV) and a cover letter explaining your interests, qualifications and country experiences - please specify which country(s) -, addressed to Laura Meggiolaro, Land Portal Team Leader no later than 19 July, 2024 at midnight CET. Email your cover letter and CV to jobs@landportal.info

Please write “SOLIndex Consultant – Job Application” in the subject of the email.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Please note that shortlisted candidates should make sure that they are available for  interviews during the period of 29-31 July.

Please indicate your country of focus in your application!