Consultancy Services - Effects of displacement on land tenure systems in North East Nigeria: A case study of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States. at Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

As part of the emergency response, one of the main focus for NRC in the coming months will be the provision of protection through the ICLA legal aid program for conflict affected populations including IDPs, returnees and the local communities in Adamawa State. NRC is implementing activities in the area of food security, water and sanitation and shelter sectors.  NRC will implement the Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) programme to assist people affected by displacement to exercise their Housing Land & property rights and identity documentation rights including civil documentation.

As a result of the lack of a defined policy framework, challenges have arisen in conflict-affected areas. Issues around security of tenure, unclear title to land, inheritance and succession, as well as land grabbing are prevalent in both urban areas receiving IDPs and in rural areas where return is now being witnessed. Displacement has also disrupted structures dealing with the administration of land. Informal settlements created by displaced persons seeking safety from the crisis in urban areas without compliance to regulatory and legal frameworks may also be disrupting the state land tenure system. Access to land is a critical link to the sustainability of humanitarian interventions and the search for durable solutions.

NRC is therefore looking for a consultant to undertake a study on the effects of displacement on land tenure systems in North East Nigeria: A case study of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States. The purpose of the study is to understand how the occupancy, use, abuse or disposition of land has been affected by the humanitarian crisis in North East Nigeria and the need to understand the impact of displacement on access to land in both urban and rural contexts, during and after displacement. The Consultant reports to the ICLA Programme Development Manager and in close collaboration with the ICLA teams based in Maiduguri, Yobe and Adamawa States.

Objectives

To achieve these objectives, the consultant will be expected to analyse and comprehensively document the following:

• The international, regional and domestic legal and regulatory framework on land rights as well as the customary land tenure system in North East Nigeria.
• Types of land rights in North East Nigeria and access to land.
• The gaps associated with the land tenure systems[1] as they affect the exercise of land rights in North East Nigeria.
• The impact of the ongoing conflict and displacement on the land tenure system in North East Nigeria with a focus on the impact on conflict-affected communities.
• The land-related challenges faced by displaced persons (distinguishing between primary and secondary displacement), IDP and refugee returnees, and host communities (conflict-affected persons), with a particular focus on women.
• The effects of displacement on the land tenure system in both urban and rural contexts in North East Nigeria.

Specific Tasks:

• Develop a detailed work plan to be approved by the ICLA Programme Development Manager (PDM).
• Conduct a literature and legal review of the land tenure system including relevant legislation and policies in North East Nigeria.
• Consult key stakeholders on the principal challenges in accessing land for and by people affected by displacement.
• Develop an assessment methodology and survey tools suitable for qualitative data collection (may be guided by NRC existing tools and/ or other tools) and, as necessary, train field assessment teams.
• Conduct field visits to sites most affected by displacement in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States.
• Debrief with the relevant staff in NRC Nigeria to present findings and brainstorm on proposed recommendations.
• Present findings and recommendations to the HLP SWG and representatives of other humanitarian coordination sectors and refine recommendations and identify possible programme avenues.
• Produce a report of the findings and recommendations for key stakeholders.

Deliverables:

The consultant is expected to produce the following:

• Detailed work plan.
• Inception report.
• Survey tools and methodology (including ethical approach to research).
• Data collection from conflict-affected persons and key informants.
• Debrief with NRC Nigeria.
• Presentation of draft findings/recommendations and preliminary report to Housing, Land and Property Sub-Working Group, before the draft report.
• Final report (approximately 50 pages excluding annexes), including at a minimum: executive summary; intervention description and context; methodology; findings; conclusions; recommendations; and annexes (list of interviews, documents consulted and data collection tools). 
• A three-page briefing note summarising the assessment’s key findings and recommendations to inform advocacy initiatives.

Management and Coordination:
A reference group will be established to support the consultant. The reference group will be composed of NRC staff from the Nigeria programme and the Central and West Africa regional office.

The ICLA Manager and Area Manager will have overall responsibility for the management and coordination of the consultancy process, including: 

• Providing technical advice on the land tenure system and the ICLA strategy;
• Scheduling appointments for meetings, prior to the field visit;
• Providing information on areas of displacement;
• Reviewing and commenting on the draft report;
• Assisting to identify translators (where needed); and
• Providing necessary in-country technical and logistical support.
• NRC is responsible for ensuring the Consultant is covered by the necessary insurances in connection with the provision of consultancy services. The Consultant is responsible for ensuring other personnel they engage (if any) are insured as necessary.

Qualifications

The consultant will have strong consultancy experience involving qualitative methodologies. In addition s/he should have:

• Sound knowledge of the crisis and evolving displacement context of North East Nigeria;
• Sound knowledge of HLP, including women’s rights, in conflict or post-conflict communities, including forced displacement, humanitarian assistance and development;
• Experience of working in an emergency context;
• In-depth knowledge of the humanitarian and development landscape in North East Nigeria and knowledge of actors on the ground;
• Fluency in English. Preferred fluency in local languages Hausa, Kanuri, Fulani and excellent writing and communication skills;
• Proven ability to operate under strict deadline and high level of discipline and professionalism.
• Legal knowledge including knowledge of Sharia will be a distinct advantage. In addition, previous experience working in or on North East Nigeria is a particular asset.

Context/ Specific skills, knowledge and experience:

• Knowledge of the context in Nigeria
• Experience with start-up activities
• Experience household training in and infrastructure maintenance

Consultant Profile

• A concise Curriculum Vitae or resume.
• A summary of how you expect to plan to conduct the study including expected challenges.
• A brief explanation about the consultants’/ with a particular emphasis on previous experience in this kind of work.
• A sample of a previous academic or professional writing.
• Supporting evidence showing relevant experience.
• Communicating with impact and respect

All employees, consultant, stakeholders and vendors of the Norwegian Refugee Council should be able to adhere to our Codes of Conduct and to organizational values by being respectful, inclusive and accountable