Ita Nia Rai, Community Relations Facilitator/Monitor (CRM), Deadline August 12, 2009.

Community Relations Facilitator/Monitor (CRM)

Scope of Work
Position: Community Relations Facilitator/Monitor (CRM)

Type of Employment: National

Duration: Short term probationary employment for 3 months; extension to long term employment may be possible subject to satisfactory performance

Project: Strengthening Property Rights in Timor-Leste, USAID-funded, implemented by ARD, Inc.

Location: For the first month the CRM will be located at Dili to participate in project provided training for field operations. After the successful completion of training, the CRM will be based a nominated Project field offices to coordinate field operations relating to Public Information Awareness (community outreach) and land-related dispute monitoring/mediation. The CRM will be expected to live in the assigned District (which may change from time to time). Currently, we are seeking applicants to work in Aileu, Baucau, Bobonaro (to work in Maliana), Dili and Oecusse. Additional district support may be required in 2009.

Project Background:
Working in close cooperation with the Ministry of Justice and the Direcção Nacional de Terras e Propriedades (DNTP), this 5-year project will build on past USAID Land Law Programs to provide support to the Government of Timor-Leste in the area of land and property. The project’s objectives include: 1) Strengthening Policy, Law and Regulations; 2) Developing Land Administration and Information Systems; 3) Resolving Disputes; and 4) Increasing Public Awareness.

The Project comprises 5 tasks in the pursuit of the objectives noted above; 1) Public Information Awareness / Increased Transparency; 2) Land Policy Laws and Implementing Regulations; 3) Support to a National Land Commission (NLC); 4) Land Administration (Cadastral, Registration and Land Titling System); and, 5) Dispute Resolution, Mediation and Processes for Competing Claims to Land.

Reporting:
The CRM will work under the direct supervision and management of the Field Office Manager and will work closely with the National and International Public Information Awareness, and Dispute Prevention and Mediation Specialists.

Responsibilities;
The CRM will be assigned to a Project field office in one of the Timor Leste Districts. Each field office will be staffed by at least three Timorese Field Coordinators (including a Field Office Manager). The CRM will hold responsibility for coordinating activities associated with community outreach for the Project’s Public Information and Awareness messages as well as monitoring land-related disputes and facilitating their mediation (if necessary). In some circumstances, direct mediation services may be required from the CRM.

The responsibilities of the Community Facilitator include but are not limited to the following:

Community Outreach (about 50% of the time)
• Organize and facilitate community meetings
• Keep evaluation records of community meetings
• Liaise with communities to provide them with information on project and field activities;
• Listen to communities and give feedback to the Project on community’s opinions, needs and thoughts.
• Identify “success stories” among the community and refer them to the central office
• Gather stories for the project newsletter
• Distribute project public information materials
• Coordinate closely with Task 1

Land-related Dispute Monitoring (about 50% of the time)
• Keep the Field Office dispute log up-to-date
• Gather information to create a case history of land disputes identified for dispute resolution
• Liaise with disputants to encourage them to work towards a solution
• Organize mediation at the community or DTP level
• Provide support to local leaders to participate in land dispute resolution
• Record solutions to disputes and keep copies of dispute resolution agreements
• Coordinate closely with Task 5 and report on disputes on a weekly basis to the Task 5 Manager

The CRM will also undertake other reasonable activities as deemed appropriate by the Chief of Party.

Conditions
The position will require some travel within Timor-Leste although it will be largely District-based until the completion of data collection activities in the District. CRM may be asked to move to a new District(s) upon completion of data collection activities by the Project in the given District. In this case, the CRM will be required to fund himself or herself the move to the new District.

CRM will be given training by the project to assist them in carrying out of their responsibilities.

Desirable Requirements
• Post secondary educational qualification Earth Sciences or similar;
• Previous experience working in land related and/or public information awareness and/or dispute mediation activities;
• Computer literacy;
• Fluency in Tetum and local District languages required. A good knowledge of English and/or Indonesian is desirable
• Previous experience working for an international organization would be an advantage.

Personal qualifications:
• Good communicator;
• Good organizational and planning skills
• Timely, professional and hard-working;
• Team player with good inter-personal skills.

To be considered, candidates must be Timor-Leste nationals with excellent verbal communication skills in Tetum and Indonesian, and be proficient in English.

Please submit your application letter and CV by email. In the subject line, refer to the job title of the position. Application and CV must be sent to SSilva@sprtl.tl /DCabral@sprtl/tl on August 5, thru August 12, 2009 at 18:00 pm. Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Ita Nia Rai is an equal opportunity employer. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.