Chemonics seeks a short-term land use planning consultant for the ongoing USAID Rwanda LAND Project. The project aims to assist the government of Rwanda in reducing land-related conflict by strengthening the resilience of its citizens, communities, and institutions and their ability to adapt to land-related economic, environmental, and social changes.
The government of Rwanda, through long-term development instruments like the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy, has prioritized optimal, rational, and sustainable utilization of land. To support this aim, Rwanda established the National Land Use Development Master Plan in 2011 and the legal framework guiding land use planning was instituted in 2012. The Kigali City Master Plan was likewise adopted in 2008. The Kigali City Master Plan presents a broad vision and guidelines for land use in the three districts that make up Kigali City (Nyarugenge, Gasabo, and Kicukiro), serving as the basis for more specific planning at the district, central business district and sub-area levels.
Today, Rwanda is in the process of finalizing district-level land use plans. These were initiated in 2012 and were supposed to have been validated by March 2015. The process for validation and approval involves presentation of a draft district-level land use plan to the District Economic Commission. Once approved by the Commission, it is then presented to the District Council for final approval. As of March 2015, 16 districts (apart from the three Kigali City districts) have district-level land use plans (DLUPs) that received final approval. Six districts had their DLUPs approved by the District Economic Commission and were awaiting final approval by the District Council. Three district-level land use plans were presented to their respective Economic Commissions and were being revised in response to comments. The remaining six districts have yet to have their DLUPs presented to their Economic Commissions.
The primary objectives of the consultancy are to: 1) investigate the institutions, criteria, and processes employed in creating different levels of land use plans; and 2) examine the extent of citizen participation, institutional coordination and efficiency, and attention to climate change adaptation priorities employed in the land use planning process and decision-making. The consultancy shall begin on or around May 11, 2015 for a period of not more than 2.5 months and 30 working days. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.
Responsibilities include:
- Draft a preliminary report on the process framing the land use planning process and institutional framework governing land use planning in Rwanda – drawn entirely from secondary source research; the report will also assess the extent to which climate change adaptation considerations inform land use plans and the degree to which citizens are engaged in the process and their perspectives meaningfully influence land use planning decisions
- Draft a guide for interviewing key informants together with list of proposed key informants to interview
- Collect notes from key informant interviews
- Draft a report on assessment findings and recommendations that draws on information gained from both primary and secondary sources
- Present on assessment findings to Ministry of Natural Resources, Rwanda Natural Resources Authority, LAND Project, and any other counterparts deemed appropriate by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Rwanda Natural Resources Authority (internal consultation)
- Present on assessment findings at multi-stakeholder forum comprised of representatives of the government of Rwanda, civil society organizations, academia, private sector, and international community to elicit their input on the findings and recommendations
- Complete a final report on the assessment findings and the proposed plan that reports on and take into account feedback received from Ministry of Natural Resources, Rwanda Natural Resources Authority, LAND Project, and other stakeholders
Qualifications:
- An advanced degree in land use planning, urban planning, natural resource management, or similar field
- At least 10 years of experience in land use planning and land use planning policy in developing country contexts, preferably in sub-Saharan Africa
- Extensive experience engaging in reviews of policy and institutional arrangements related to land or other natural resources
- Proven skills in qualitative research, including key informant interviewing
- Robust experience designing land use planning processes that are climate change sensitive and that substantially engage civil society and ordinary citizens
- Familiarity with Rwanda’s legal framework governing land and prior experience working in Rwanda on land-related matters preferred
- Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
- Excellent English oral and writing skills; knowledge of spoken French is desirable
HOW TO APPLY:
Send electronic submissions to LandUsePlanningConsultant@chemonics.com by May 13, 2015. Please include "Land Use Planning Consultant" in the subject line. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.
In addition, please download and complete Chemonics’ equal employment opportunity self-identification formand submit it separately to EEOselfidentify@chemonics.comwith only "Land Use Planning Consultant – Rwanda LAND" in the subject line. If you prefer not to disclose your sex, race, or ethnicity, you may check “I do not wish to complete the information requested.” Thank you for completing the form and supporting our equal employment opportunity reporting requirements.
Chemonics is an equal opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally protected characteristics.
