General Information

Publication for

Partner

Partner Name

UN-HABITAT United Nations Human Settlements Programme

Position Title

Cadastral & Land Governance Expert

Job Category

Project

Duty Station(s)

Baghdad

Seniority Level

Mid Level

ICS Level

ICS 10

Contract Type

ICA – IICA – Regular

Contract Level

IICA 2

Posting Start Date

28-Dec-2025

Posting End Date

11-Jan-2026

Duration

12 months

Job Highlight

The expert will play a central technical role in establishing Iraq’s first digital cadastral Demonstration and Training Centres in Baghdad and Erbil. The position will lead the design of pilot workflows, introduce STDM-based digital processes, and strengthen institutional capacities for secure, transparent, and modern land registration. Working closely with the Ministry of Justice, KRG counterparts, and UN-Habitat, the expert will ensure that digitisation standards, operational procedures, and quality-assurance systems are in place to enable Iraq’s transition toward e-land governance.

About the Country/Multi-Country Office

UN-Habitat has been engaged in Iraq for nearly three decades, supporting national and local authorities in reconstruction, urban recovery, and the protection of Housing, Land and Property (HLP) rights. Since 2015, the programme has increasingly focused on strengthening institutional capacities related to land governance, cadastral management, and tenure security—areas that remain central to Iraq’s long-term development agenda as the country transitions from humanitarian response to structural reform.

Decades of conflict, administrative fragmentation, and widespread displacement have significantly undermined the ability of institutions to manage land efficiently and transparently. Land records remain predominantly paper-based, vulnerable to loss, manipulation, and inconsistencies across institutions. Overlapping mandates and weak interoperability between the Ministry of Justice, sectoral ministries, local authorities, and the Kurdistan Region further complicate data sharing, property verification, and evidence-based planning.

Role Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to provide specialised technical leadership to the MULK Programme as it accelerates the establishment of two Demonstration and Training Centres in Baghdad and Erbil and prepares the foundations for Iraq’s transition toward e-land governance. The expert will guide the design and operationalisation of pilot cadastral and land registration workflows, ensuring that digitisation processes, data standards, and institutional responsibilities are clearly defined and technically sound.

The role will support UN-Habitat and government counterparts—particularly the Ministry of Justice, Real Estate Registration Departments, and relevant KRG institutions—in mapping existing procedures, developing fit-for-purpose digital workflows based on STDM, and establishing the protocols, tools, and quality-assurance mechanisms required for secure and transparent land records management. The expert will also contribute to legal and procedural clarifications necessary for digitisation and help build the technical capacities of federal and regional actors.

Ultimately, the assignment will ensure that the two pilot centres operate as credible, fully functional proof-of-concepts that demonstrate how Iraq can modernise its cadastral and land registry systems at scale, in alignment with international best practice, national reform priorities, and EU expectations for accountable and sustainable institutional development.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Head of the UN-Habitat Country Programme and the Project Manager, the Cadastral & Land Governance Expert will be responsible for the following duties:

1. Establishment of Demonstration & Training Centres (Baghdad and Erbil)

2. Lead the technical design and operational set-up of both pilot centres, including workflows, equipment needs, staffing profiles, and data-handling procedures.

3. Develop core SOPs for digitisation, archiving, spatial data capture, quality control, and customer-facing services.

4. Deliver practical training to RERD and GDRER staff on cadastral processes, digital workflows, and e-registration standards.

5. Support assessments of site readiness, IT infrastructure, staffing capacity, and data conditions.

1. Integration and Application of STDM (Implemented in coordination with the STDM Software Developer)

1. Define business processes, data standards, and institutional workflows required for STDM deployment.

2. Translate existing procedures into STDM-compliant models, metadata structures, and operational workflows.

3. Provide guidance on configuration, quality assurance, interoperability, and legal/administrative alignment.

4. Review and validate technical deliverables produced by the STDM developer.

1. Capacity Development and E-Learning Tools

1. Prepare modular training packages for cadastral staff, CSOs, and government partners, including ToT material.

2. Provide technical content for e-learning products such as manuals, exercises, and multimedia modules.

1. Technical Assessments and Advisory Services

1. Conduct assessments of current cadastral and land registry practices in the pilot offices.

2. Prepare needs assessments covering infrastructure, data quality, staffing, and workflow gaps.

3. Advise on data migration, digitisation standards, spatial data accuracy, and cadastral data models.

4. Provide inputs to legal and procedural clarifications, including amendments to Law 1971.

1. Procurement and Technical Documentation

1. Draft technical specifications for hardware, software, scanning systems, and IT infrastructure.

2. Contribute to procurement packages, including quality and evaluation criteria.

1. Project Implementation Support

1. Support tracking of technical progress across pilot activities and contribute to EU-standard reporting.

2. Document lessons learned and prepare guidance notes to inform future national-scale roll-out

The consultant is expected to produce the following deliverables:

• Inception Report (workplan, methodology, pilot requirements).

• Operational blueprint for two Demonstration & Training Centres.

• Full SOP and standards package for e-land workflows.

• Training curriculum and capacity development materials.

• Technical assessments for pilot offices.

• Monthly progress reports.

• End-of-assignment Lessons Learned and Roadmap Report.

Skills

Data Analysis, Land Administration, Problem Solving, Project Management, Quality Assurance, Stakeholder Engagement, Technical Documentation, Training & Development

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organisation. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organisation.

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organisational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.

Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education Requirements

Required

• An advanced university degree (Masters’) in Land Administration, Cadastral Science, Geomatics/Geoinformatics, Civil Engineering, Geography, or a closely related field. A degree in Computer Science with demonstrated experience in cadastral or land administration systems may also be considered.

Desired

• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s) with two additional years of experience may be accepted.

Experience Requirements

Required

• At least 5 years of professional experience in cadastral systems, land registration, or land information systems (LIS).

• Demonstrated experience with digital cadastre, including record digitisation, data conversion, or e-land governance workflows.

• Proven experience in cadastral mapping, spatial data handling, or geospatial data standards.

• Experience working with government land institutions (e.g., Ministries of Justice, land agencies, real estate registration offices).

• Demonstrated ability to deliver technical training or capacity development for cadastral or GIS staff.

Desired

• Experience in STDM or similar open-source land information systems.

• Experience working in the MENA region, post-conflict environments, or fragile institutional settings.

• Experience contributing to pilot implementations, workflow redesign, or digital transformation initiatives in land administration.

Language Requirements

LanguageProficiency LevelRequirementEnglishFluentRequiredArabicBasicDesirable

Additional Information

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Please note that 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.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

• 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.
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• 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.