Housing, Land and Property (HLP) Advisor

The HLP Advisor will strengthen the integration of Housing, Land and Property (HLP) considerations into humanitarian response, early recovery, and reconstruction efforts, ensuring that recovery interventions are rights-based, conflict-sensitive, and aligned with Palestinian priorities. The role enhances coherence across the UN system and partners, supports evidence-based decision-making, and helps create the enabling conditions for sustainable recovery, social stability, and long-term resilience in Gaza and the West Bank.

Responsibilities

• Support the Resident Coordinator in ensuring a coordinated and strategic focus on HLP as a foundation for humanitarian response, early recovery, and reconstruction planning in the Gaza Strip; and at addressing the West Bank’s complex land-related administrative environment
• Provide technical guidance to the RCO, UNCT members, and relevant coordination bodies on land and HLP-related issues; monitor HLP evolving context and activities in Gaza and the West Bank; and analyse and advise on emerging risks, opportunities, and political developments related to HLP, mobilizing further specialized expertise were needed
• Facilitate a coherent UN approach to engagement on HLP rights with the Palestinian Authority and other key stakeholders, in line with the priorities and workstreams of the Strategic HLP Framework for the Gaza Strip, including sustained engagement with the relevant transitional coordination mechanisms
• Periodically update the Strategic HLP Framework and support its socialization, the refinement of workstreams, the initiation and strengthening of partnerships, and its integration into inter-agency planning and coordination mechanisms
• Lead the development of HLP projects under the UN Trust Fund and support the integration of HLP considerations into Trust Fund–financed initiatives, particularly those aimed at forming coalitions around the pillars of the Strategic HLP Framework
• Engage with humanitarian actors and development partners, and represent the RCO in coordination platforms to promote transparent, inclusive, and conflict-sensitive approaches to land and HLP for both Gaza and the West Bank
• Monitor the impact of recovery activities on HLP and identify immediate technical risks that may undermine HLP rights, affect returns, compromise sovereignty, or impede the delivery of land administration, planning, and dispute-resolution systems
• Monitor emerging governance arrangements and assess their implications for land sovereignty, transparent land administration, and institutional accountability
• Develop and regularly update HLP risk assessments capturing risks linked to transitional arrangements for the Gaza land and property registry, development-induced displacement, disputes over natural resources, permanent conversion of agricultural land and environmental degradation, rising gender inequalities, and other risks identified in the HLP Framework or emerging in Gaza
• Prepare written outputs, including background papers, analyses, advisory notes, and other substantive documents, as required, with support from external specialists where needed
• Provide substantive support to consultative and other meetings, including proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, and preparing documents, presentations, and related materials
• Participate in or lead field missions, including identifying mission priorities and preparing mission

Requirements

• An advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in one or more of the following fields is desired: law, regional planning, civil engineering, environmental engineering, architecture, land and natural resources management and administration, social sciences, political sciences, economics or other related fields
• A minimum of five (7) years of progressively responsible experience in housing, land and property rights, land governance, and land administration in conflict affected, post conflict, or displacement settings is requested, preferably in the Middle East
• Strong understanding of land information systems, land and property records, and HLP data safeguards is requested
• Experience engaging with government counterparts, international organizations, and civil society is desired
• Strong analytical and political judgment, and ability to navigate sensitive issues and manage complex stakeholder environments is desired
• Experience in UNCT, HCT, RC/RCO structures is an asset
• Fluent proficiency in English is required
• Fluent proficiency in Arabic is required

Skills

• Housing, Land and Property Rights
• Land Governance
• Land Administration
• Land Information Systems
• Property Records Management
• HLP Data Safeguards
• Conflict-Sensitive Programming
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Political Judgment
• Analytical Skills
• Humanitarian Response
• Early Recovery Planning
• Reconstruction Planning
• Rights-Based Approaches
• UN Coordination Structures
• Government Relations
• Civil Society Engagement
• Evidence-Based Decision Making
• Social Stability Programming

Languages

English, Arabic