Call for Concept Notes: Land Tenure Program Eastern DRC. Great Lakes Program

Deadline: 30-Sep-20

The Great Lakes (GL) Program of the Netherlands, managed by the Dutch Embassy in Kigali, intends to set up a land tenure program for Eastern DRC. The embassy therefore invites organizations interested in implementing such a program, to submit a concept note for this program.

The program will be part of the Cluster Food Security and Integrated Water Resource Management of the GL program, managed by the Netherlands Embassy in Kigali. For this program the Netherlands Embassy in Kinshasa and its office in Goma will be involved as well.

Objectives of the Land Tenure program (LTP) in relation to GL program of the Netherlands (GLP):

The LTP will contribute to the general objective of the GLP: Improved stability in the Great Lakes Region and especially Eastern DRC.
The LTP will contribute specifically to the medium term objectives under the thematic areas Food Security (FS) and Peace, security and stability (PSS):
- Improved land governance
- More effective local conflict-resolution
- More effective political engagement of Dutch and regional actors

Program Categories

This Action Plan broadly consists of four categories of activities:

Reform of land regulations and policies
Innovative actions
Harmonization of laws
Capacity development of government and civil society organizations

Program Priority Areas

The program will focus on two major topics:

Land tenure security
Land access

Funding Information

The maximum budget is 7,3 million euro for a four year period.

Selection Criteria

The selection criteria are:

Organisation:
- Relevant experience of the organisation with land tenure security and land conflicts, preferably in Eastern DRC.
- Evidence of the organisation’s capacity to implement sensitive projects, in a politically complex environment.
- Evidence of the organisation’s capacity and flexibility to field a well-performing team and to adapt the team when necessary.
Quality of the concept note:
- Evidence of understanding and endorsement of (1) the concept and vision of the GL program on land security and (2) the program sections.
- Understanding of the local context and its challenges and opportunities.
- Conflict and actor analysis of land tenure in relation to the focus of the program.
- Local conflict and actor analysis for the two provinces and how the project will engage with it.
- Description of how the program will ensure a conflict sensitive approach, providing proof of a thorough understanding of land-related conflicts and their causes in Eastern DRC.
- Implementation strategy for the main sections of the program.
- Outcomes and related outputs and activities.
- Strategy for Lobby and Advocacy.
- Approach to :
  - work together with the different levels of government.
  - realise collaboration with other Great Lakes projects.
  - coordinate with international organisations, donors and implementing organisation.
  - assume a coordinating role in land-related Lobby & Advocacy for the GL program and beyond.
  - Approach to ensure sustainability of the project results.
  - Realistic estimation of the number of beneficiaries the project will reach.
  - Budget, indication of major budget categories such as:
  - Staff costs
  - Implementation costs (minimal 55% of the budget)
  - Logistics and other office costs
  - Indirect/overhead (including oversight, administration and management costs by head office) (maximum 12%)
Evidence of appropriate knowledge of the legal framework of land tenure in DRC and the ongoing land reform.
Program team:
- The proposed functions in the team cover the different subject matters of the program.
- Capacity of the team to perform, assess and translate political economy studies in the activities of the project.
- The senior team members have over 10 years proven experience and knowledge in their field of expertise and with land tenure related conflicts.
- The teamleader has over 10 years international experience with land tenure security and access to land. Indicate the relevance of that experience for the DRC.
- Network of the team in DRC.
- CV’s of the candidates for the two lead positions (teamleader and head of Bukavu or Goma office). The proposed candidates need to be available for the implementation of the project. If, due to delays at the embassy, no contract or agreement has been concluded within 4 months of submitting the concept note, a replacement can be proposed if needed.
- Evidence that the team can perform under stress and political pressure.