Land Valuation Specialist

The Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) and FAO are implementing the project Mainstreaming Sustainable Land Development and Management in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. The project aims at establishing an enabling environment for promoting sustainable and climate-resilient land development, management and reclamation in support of Guyana’ s Green State Development Strategy through activities working at (i) streamlining policy, regulation and governance; (ii) developing institutional and human capacities; and (iii) strengthening local governance in the 3 regions where the project is implemented. Implemented at three levels – national, regional and local – the Sustainable Land Development and Management (SLDM) is designed to create enabling legal, policy and institutional frameworks informed by policy feedback loops nurtured with ground reality and inclusive participation.

He / She will also work closely with the land administration specialist, the land resources planning and management expert, the experts contracted to conduct the establishment of the business strategy (including the geographical information system (GIS) and database expert), land tenure and governance specialist, the legal consultant and the land policy experts, information and communication technology specialist, mapping/geospatial specialists, as well as GLSC Divisions.

His /Her activities will include an assessment/review and technical proposal for improvements of the policy, legal and institutional frameworks, as well as the human capacities in land valuation and land economy needed to support sustainable land development and management in Guyana. Land Valuation Services are essential to underpin the land markets and enable efficient and effective land assets management in the public and the private sectors, including the sustainable management of land and other natural resources, and land development. In Guyana, the demand for professional land valuation services (meeting recognized international standards) is high, and the supply of such services is meagre, both in the government agencies and in the private sector. Therefore, there is an urgent need to build the capacity and institutions in Guyana, which will ensure bridging the gaps.

One of the functions of GLSC is to undertake land valuation of public land for the purposes of classifying public land in relation to setting reserve prices for the sale thereof or rental rates. There is a need to establish valuation resources, procedures and mainstream valuation in the workflow of land administration systems. Reliable and efficient land related systems are necessary for emerging interests in land. Land valuation is one of the main elements of land administration systems and supports land negotiation for land sales, rent, taxation, compensation, mortgages, future investment, land use planning, and value of land assets. Valuation reliability will improve land administration efficiency and provide credible data on the land markets for informed decision-making, transparency and increased land investments which could provide customer satisfaction for the Commission.

The SLDM Project will be complementary to the strategic planning process which is aimed at facilitating the valuation of land as a revenue-generating service and as a legal function. There is a need to ensure that the Valuation Department is suitably and sufficiently staffed in order to deliver this mandate. The development of a valuation framework is necessary in addition to the documentation of the operation procedures (Standard Operating Procedure, guidelines), and a valuation model suitable to the national and local context. Land valuation services would be offered at the regional offices and scaled up to a national level.

Reporting Lines

The Land Valuation Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the FAO Representative in Guyana and the SLDM project Chief Technical Advisor. He/ She will work in collaboration with the Commissioner/CEO and the Board of the GLSC and other team members, and under the overall technical guidance of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and the concerned task force members.

He / She will be based in the SLDM office in GLSC premises during his/her missions to Guyana and supported by the FAO country office as required. He/ She will undertake the following tasks\:

• Conduct an assessment of the current status of land valuation/land economy.
• Prepare a strategic plan and structure for the establishment of the Land Valuation Unit within the GLSC mandate and specific functions.
• Support the development and implementation of the Action Plan (short, medium and long-term) for developing/reviewing the policy, legal and institutional frameworks pertaining to land valuation, and human capacities in land valuation at national level within Guyana (public and private sectors).
• Establish baseline for land valuation and data and resources needed for land bank data
• Support the development of a valuation database and valuation model,
• Facilitate and support development of national valuation standards in line with international best practices,
• Prepare Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for valuation of public and private lands, conduct a training needs assessment and facilitate training of GLSC staff (e.g. valuation toolbox),
• Provide theoretical and practical training to GLSC staff in priority areas for pilot areas using a standardized methodology
• Provide demonstration of valuation best practices, valuation toolkits, valuation methodologies utilized in land administration and different scenarios.
• Formulate and guide the implementation of the incorporation of the Land Valuation approach into the GLSC technical and administrative procedures and land valuation database (land bank data) for comparison information and analyses.
• Support the incorporation of the land valuation approach into the national land policy process.
• Undertake field visits to target regions to explore land valuation options in order to advise on policy and legal reforms.
• Liaise and work in close collaboration with the land policy, land tenure and governance, land administration and land management, and land planning specialists to ensure synergies with other studies, assessments, and procedures being developed under the SLDM project as appropriate.
• In close cooperation with the land tenure and governance specialist, land administration specialist and land resource management and spatial planning specialist, prepare a participatory methodology and ToR for multi-stakeholder platforms at regional and local levels to analyse and make proposals on\: a) land valuation objections and appeals mechanisms b) land market dynamics and incentives for SLDM.
• Provide inputs and guidance to address land valuation issues in the Guyana land use planning framework in close consultation with the land resources planning and management and the land tenure and governance specialists (e.g. on SLDM, territorial approaches and incentive mechanisms).
• Develop and implement a land valuation skills transfer plan targeting identified GLSC staff at national and regional offices.
• Develop a final report including the preparation of lessons learnt notes on the findings for external distribution.

• Advanced university degree in a discipline relevant to land valuation, land management, land economy.
• At least 10 years of relevant experience in land valuation
• Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian. Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish in the case of PSA.SBS.

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

• Extent and relevance of experience in land valuation in areas not limited to, but including setting rental rates, sale or lease of public land, setting up of valuation database, and for compensation and cross-cutting issues affecting land policy, with particular emphasis on developing countries and knowledge of the Caribbean context and particularly of Guyana.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the provision of technical assistance to field projects on land valuation.
• Extent and relevance of navigating and facilitating politically sensitive and potentially controversial issues related to land valuation.
• Proven ability to redact clear and concise technical report and policy notes.
• Experience in providing assistance in the organization of workshops, consultations, awareness, technical meetings and learning events.
• Proven ability to work in multidisciplinary team and including multiple partners.