Damascus, Syria
Position Purpose
The HLP Expert will provide technical oversight to ensure that all land registry digitization activities are implemented in accordance with international Housing, Land and Property (HLP) principles, while preserving the integrity, security, neutrality, and accessibility of land records. The Expert will ensure that project activities strengthen records preservation without influencing or adjudicating ownership rights or property disputes.
Summary Scope of Work (SoW)
Key Responsibilities
1. HLP Technical Advisory
- Advise the project team on the integration of international HLP principles throughout implementation.
- Ensure that digitization activities remain limited to preservation, indexing, and secure archiving of records.
- Review technical procedures to ensure neutrality and compliance with HLP good practice.
2. Records Protection and Integrity
- Develop procedures for secure handling, transport, storage, and tracking of physical land records.
- Review chain-of-custody procedures for registry documents.
- Advise on document preservation standards to minimize loss or damage during digitization.
3. Quality Assurance
- Review digitization workflows, metadata standards, indexing protocols, and document classification.
- Participate in periodic quality assurance reviews to ensure completeness and integrity of digitized records.
- Recommend corrective measures where inconsistencies or risks are identified.
4. Risk Management
- Identify HLP-related operational risks affecting land records.
- Advise on measures to reduce risks of document manipulation, unauthorized alteration, loss, or misuse.
- Contribute to the project’s risk assessment and mitigation planning.
5. Capacity Building
- Develop and deliver training modules on:
- HLP principles
- Protection of land registry records
- Ethical handling of sensitive property documentation
- Record integrity and confidentiality
- Provide mentoring to Ministry staff during implementation.
6. Data Protection and Safeguards
- Advise on access controls for sensitive land registry information.
- Ensure that confidentiality and data protection measures are incorporated into operational procedures.
- Coordinate with the Cybersecurity Specialist regarding protection of digitized records.
7. Monitoring and Reporting
- Conduct periodic field visits to digitization centers.
- Prepare technical monitoring reports with recommendations.
- Support the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for secure records management.
8. Handover and Sustainability
- Support preparation of HLP-related operational manuals and SOPs.
- Advise the partner on institutional arrangements for long-term protection of digitized records.
- Contribute to the final handover and sustainability plan.
Required Qualifications
- Advanced degree in Law, Land Administration, Urban Planning, Public Administration, or a related field.
- Minimum 3–5 years of experience in Housing, Land and Property (HLP), land administration, cadastral systems, or property rights programming.
- Experience working on digitization of land records or land administration reform is highly desirable.
- Familiarity with international HLP frameworks (e.g., Pinheiro Principles, VGGT, and relevant humanitarian/development guidance).
- Experience working with government institutions and donor-funded projects in similar region/context.
- Strong knowledge of records management, conflict-sensitive programming, and data protection principles.
- Excellent analytical, report writing, and training skills.