Deadline: 1-Sep-23
Sida is pleased to announce a call for applications to strengthen the capacity of and cooperation between institutions and organisations in the land sector.
This in order to make a difference on the ground to enhance the living conditions for poor and vulnerable people living mainly in peri-urban and urban areas. This programme aims to give participants new tools and knowledge on how to approach and elevate a settlement towards formal status with increased security of ownership and access to land as a result.
Secured land ownership rights are key elements for sustainable development. The control of land and its use is a major task for governments and legal systems. An impartial public sector is a prerequisite for effective land governance and sustainable land use.
The programme will have a holistic approach to the change intervention which will include bringing in participants from a wide net in the society, from central and local government institutions via NGO’s to key opinion makers/influencers from the local community.
Each participant of the ITP will contribute to a particular change project derived from the local context. Before implementing the change project, it is necessary to establish its intention and scope within each participant’s organisation to ensure full support and commitment during the whole programme period.
The central point of this programme is cooperation and trust with the intention to facilitate sustainable results after the completion of the change projects.
The programme is hence about organisational integrity, improved cooperation and trust between central and local government, NGO’s, CSO’s and the local community with regards to land management.
Essential aspects of land matters that will permeate the entire programme are:
- Sustainability
- Environmental aspects
- Gender equality and Human rights
- Conflict sensitivity
The programme strives for effective results through change projects towards attaining organisational and institutional change as well as enhanced knowledge and skills.
Change Project
- The change project approach should strengthen knowledge, capacity and awareness among the participants to influence and inspire their home organisations, initiating improvements in line with adopted national plans and policies for the Land Sector. This covers aspects of accountability, transparency, effectiveness and quality of service delivery for women and men with different ethnic and social backgrounds. It is essential that selected change projects derive from the local context and are implemented by participants’ organisations.
- The programme is divided into 3 courses with different participants, each to last one year. Each programme will continue its own change project with strong local ownership. The experiences and results achieved will be handed over to the next course.
- The change projects are already on-going. In Liberia, the change project is “Deeding of Government land” in Bentol. In Zimbabwe, the change project is “Planning and constructing a market site” in Epworth.
- Possible areas of interest for the change projects:
- Waste management
- Drone Mapping & Data Collection
- Street addressing
- Issue land occupation permits
- Awareness to communities and other stakeholders
- Women’s market
- Cooperatives
Programme Structure
- The driving force behind programme participation is the ambition and willingness among participants and their organisations to carry out change projects identified and agreed upon in the local context contributing to the overall programme objectives.
- Mentors from Lantmäteriet will support the participants to carry out their change projects.
- The change projects and work approach will be elaborated among the participants and their organisations. During the entire programme period the achieved results will be measured and compared with expectations to indicate the status of the change projects.
- The duration of each course within this programme is approximately one year containing work in each country and training in Sweden as well as training in a third African country (to be selected).
Planned Activities
- The planned activities below are preliminary and may be subject to change.
- Initiation phase: Welcome and introduction to all participants in respective country (Liberia and Zimbabwe). This activity is planned to be carried out digitally and includes introduction to the programme outline and content, expectations, practical and logistical issues as well as introduction to the Swedish society and system.
- Swedish phase (Approximately three weeks in Sweden): The content will be adjusted to the needs of the participants and will focus on setting a basis to achieve the ITP goals, including teambuilding, bench marking visits and learning from Swedish experiences, as well as planning the work to be carried out in the change project for each country. All participants are expected to share their own expertise and experience with fellow participants and lectures.
- Change project phase: The participants from each country are expected to implement the change project as a team, contribute to the result with their individual knowledge, experience and network and dedicate the amount of time needed to achieve the expected results. The change projects and work approach will be elaborated among the participants and their organisations. During the entire programme period the achieved results will be measured and compared with expectations to indicate the status of the change projects.
- African phase (Approximately one week): The training will focus on sharing experiences and learning from a third African country (to be selected). This includes lectures, presentations, group discussions, study visits and teambuilding.
- Closing/initation phase (Approximately one week): At the conclusion of the course, the participants in each country will present achieved results and share challenges and experiences with the participants for the next course. After the course the participants are expected to be part of the ITP network and support forthcoming work and activities.
Impact & Outputs
- Impact: To contribute to sustainable and secure living conditions in peri-urban/urban settings by increasing cooperation and building trust in land governance authorities by applying a holistic approach to land interventions.
- Outcome A: Land administration authorities have taken initiatives to strengthen the lands rights for inhabitants in vulnerable areas.
- Outcome B: Land administration authorities have taken initiatives to improve the cooperation with other authorities, civil society and local stakeholders.
- Outcome C: Women’s participation in land administration and land related services has increased.
Target Groups
- It is strongly recommended that each country send a mix of applicants representing central and local governance, civil society (NGO’s and CSO’s) as well as representatives from the local community and other potential stakeholders.
- They encourage everyone to nominate female candidates.
- All applicants should (if possible) fulfil these criteria’s:
- Willingness and ability to travel to Sweden and a selected African country in accordance with the course program
- Basic computer literacy
- Positive attitude towards change
- Openness and willingness to learn
- Personal driving force
- Ability to work individually and in a team
- Willingness and ability to spend time working on the change project
Invited Countries and Areas
- The following countries are invited to nominate candidates: Liberia and Zimbabwe. The total number of participants is limited to 30 per course (15 participants per country).
Costs
- Sida will cover international travel to Sweden and the selected African country (including board and lodgings), programme fees and literature.
- The participants’ organisations will be required to cover costs for personal expenses, salaries for the participants during the programme and work with change projects, domestic travel, visa fees, local airport taxes and departure fees.
Language Requirements
- The programme will be organised and conducted in English, without any translation. All applicants must be fluent in English.
Other Requirements
- It is recommended that the candidates undergo a medical examination before filling in the Medical Statement in the application form as the programme includes travel and work away from home in a new environment.
- Participants accepted to the programme will be obliged to participate in all phases. Substitutes will not be accepted for any phase.
- As computers, internet and e-mail will be used continuously in the programme, each participant needs to have access to a computer. A valid e-mail address and internet access will be necessary.
- Please note that family members are not allowed to accompany participants to any part of the programme.
For more information, visit Sida.