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.