Land Valuation Specialist

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

Organizational Setting

The position under the FAO Representation in Georgia, based in Tbilisi, however, the incumbent will be home-based with an expected mission to Georgia. The main aim of the FAO country office is to assist the Georgian government to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

The Land Valuation Specialist will be recruited under the UTF/GEO/034/GEO-F project titled: “Formulation and design of Land Consolidation in Georgia (hereafter referred as “the Project”)”. The overarching goal of the project is to support the introduction of a fully operational land consolidation instrument in Georgia integrated with irrigation rehabilitation in the World Bank Georgia Resilient Agriculture, Irrigation, and Land (GRAIL) Project. The project is expected to contribute to future increased agricultural production and investments, more efficient use of land and of water for agricultural purposes, more dynamic agricultural land markets, improved access to credit, and improved access to land and strengthened land rights, including for women who own land alone or jointly with men. 

This assignment will involve preparation of a manual that to guide the land valuation process in selected land consolidation pilot areas. The valuation of agricultural land parcels and other property within the land consolidation project area is fundamental to all land consolidation projects and the basis for the fair and transparent transfer of land rights between the participating landowners. In line with the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VGGT), it also serves to ensure that the participants are at least as well off after the project compared with before, also in terms of the value of the land after land consolidation. The manual will provide guidance about the land valuation methodology and process and on the involvement of landowners and experts. The methodology will build on existing data on soil quality, the outcome of the planned soil surveys and production value of the land parcels in the pilot areas and connect with recent land market transactions in the pilot project areas and beyond. Land valuation will end up with a relative value and market price for all participating land parcels. The manual prepared as a result of this assignment will then be tested in pilot areas selected by the project for the re-allotment phase.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall responsibility of the FAO Representative to Georgia, the direct supervision of Assistant FAO Representative, and in close collaboration with the National Project Coordinator and project team, as well as relevant units of the FAO Country Office in Georgia and international experts.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will provide technical support to the implementation of the Project with focus on all land consolidation related activities.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Lead the preparation of a manual for land valuation in land consolidation pilot areas.
• Participate in the integration of soil survey data into the land valuation process, which will also include the engagement in preparing scope of work of soil surveys in collaboration with the project team and the Soil Laboratory of the Scientific Research Center of Agriculture (SCRA).
• Contribute to the preparation of a manual for the practical implementation of re-allotment planning in the pilot areas.
• Provide training and guidance of national counterparts and project team on conducting land valuation in the land consolidation pilot areas (including preparation of training materials).

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in agriculture, land management, property valuation or any other discipline relevant to the work of the Organization. Consultants with bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
• At least 5 years of practical experience with valuation of agricultural land in the context of land consolidation projects.
• Working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• • Strong coordination, reporting, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills; 
• • Excellent communication and coordination and negotiation skills.

Selection Criteria

• Strong practical experience with land valuation in the context of implementation of land consolidation projects. 
• Strong practical experience with the implementation of land consolidation projects, in particular with re-allotment planning.
• Good understanding of, and experience with, land consolidation re-allotment planning.
• Knowledge and understanding of the development of land consolidation programmes and projects.
• Experience working with rural communities and farmers is desirable.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing)
• Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• For more information, visit the FAO employment website
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application

• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/. These qualifications should be in alignment with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings. 

• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

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