JOB OPPORTUNITY: Oxfam needs a consultant for Nepal land reform project

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Background

In Nepalese society, the right to land is an important aspect of identity and a critical determinant of economic well-being, social status, and political power (College of Development Studies, 2013).

In Nepal, approximately 73 per cent of women are engaged in agriculture, contributing to all stages from management to marketing (IOM, 2016). However, women rarely have legal ownership of the land they till. According to the 2011 population census, only 19.71 per cent of households have female ownership over land and property in the country. This is despite the fact that female-headed households have increased in the country by approximately 11 per cent from 14.87 percent in 2001 to 25.73 per cent in 2011 (central bureau of statistics, 2011) These numbers reveal gaps that speak to issues of gender inequality in land and property ownership. The situation is worse for landless women in particular who have no social status, with consequential lack of decision making power and access to important services such as credit.

The year 2015 saw Nepal’s Constituent Assembly promulgate a new Constitution amidst efforts to rebuild the country following two major earthquakes that killed over nine thousand people and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.  The New Constitution in Nepal, like has been in many other countries around the world, brings hope of a future secured for women’s land rights. However, this has not been the case in many countries

The Land reform process in Nepal saw the push by Civil Society organizations that resulted in the introduction of the Joint Land Certificate (JLC), issued to both husband and wife, through the Budget Policy of 2011/12. Before the introduction of the JLC policy in 2012, less than 10.3 per cent of Nepali women had some form of ownership of land/house (Central Bureau of Statistics 2011). Has this changed with the introduction of the JLC?

It is hoped that The New Constitution will deliver secure land rights for women and men, eliminate discrimination of women along marital status and improve the general welfare of women and their communities.

Objective of the Study

With this background, Oxfam intends to commission a study that reviews the practical implementation of the Constitutional legal provisions that seek to recognize, protect and secure women’s ownership of land in Nepal. The study will also seek to review the best practices in the land reform process in Nepal: Constitutional, legal and programmatic interventions to secure women's access to land rights at different levels.

In addition to this, the study will facilitate gathering of credible information on the status of women’s land rights in Nepal for use in national and international advocacy for the strengthening of women’s land rights. Particular attention will be given to the current land reform process following the promulgation of the new Constitution and efforts to enact successive legislations.

The study will further identify challenges in securing women land rights in Nepal and based on the findings; recommend ways to better secure land rights for women in Nepal and beyond.

Consultants Profile/Qualification

Prospective consultants must have:

• Masters Degree or higher in Social Science or related field,
• At least 7 years relevant experience carrying out land and women’s rights related assignments.
• An in-depth knowledge and understanding of women’s land rights issues in Nepal.
• Previous experience in similar assignments
• Experience in carrying out situational analysis on women and land rights issues.
• Excellent oral and report writing skills, including a proven track record in writing succinct, analytical publications and reports;
• Understanding of Nepalese language will be an added advantage

Application Procedure

Interested consultants are expected to send an expression of interest (Maximum 5 pages) demonstrating their suitability for the task, Briefly elaborating on the research design including the research questions and past experience of conducting similar tasks.  The consultants should also send a financial proposal, including a breakdown of consultants’ daily rates on or before 1^st September, 2017.