Housing, Land and Property (HLP) Advisor

The UNOPS Middle East Region (MR) provides strategic leadership, performance oversight, and support to UNOPS operations across Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and the State of Palestine. MR is responsible for positioning UNOPS as a key development partner in the region through high-level engagement with regional bodies, UN coordination mechanisms, development banks, donors, and intergovernmental organisations. By fostering strategic partnerships and promoting operational excellence, the region supports country teams in delivering sustainable solutions to complex development, peace, and humanitarian challenges

UNOPS supports both humanitarian response and early recovery in Gaza. Currently, UNOPS support in Gaza focuses on key humanitarian enablers, including on access, via the Security Council-mandated UN 2720 Mechanism and the Access Support Unit (ASU), humanitarian fuel and energy, and mine action. Operations are envisaged to continue in the coming period with a focus in line with the UNOPS mandate: (i) infrastructure construction and rehabilitation, (ii) procurement and (iii) project management.

The HLP Advisor will be hosted by the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) within the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) and will be a member of the Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) team. The Advisor will work closely with members of the UN Country Team, relevant UN clusters and working groups, Palestinian Authority institutions, commissioners within the National committee, and technical counterparts. The Advisor will report to the Head of the RCO in UNSCO.

Strategic guidance and technical backstopping will be provided by the UN-Habitat Palestine Country Office, UN-Habitat’s Land, Housing and Informal Settlements Section and the UN-Habitat Emergency Director.

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. Through strategic coordination, policy advice, risk analysis, and stakeholder engagement, the position contributes to safeguarding land tenure and property rights, reducing the risk of disputes and displacement, and promoting transparent and accountable land governance. 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.

The HLP Advisor will:

• 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

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

Required

• 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.

Desired

• 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.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
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• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.