Director, Resettlement At Development Aid

About Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Timor-Leste

MCA Timor-Leste, collaborating with the Government of Timor-Leste and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) of the Government of the United States of America, is responsible for implementing the $420 million Timor-Leste Compact, together with an additional contribution of $64 million from the Government of Timor-Leste—representing a total $484 million investment in Timor-Leste. The Compact aims to address human capital development as a binding constraint to economic growth in Timor-Leste through two projects: the Water, Sanitation, and Drainage (WSD) Project and the Teaching and Leading the Next generation of Timorese (TALENT) Project.

In coordination with, and under the direction of, the MCA Deputy Executive Director for Programs, the Resettlement Director is responsible for ensuring that project activities undertaken by MCA Timor-Leste meet the land acquisition and resettlement requirements stipulated in the Compact with particular reference to the requirements of the Compact’s Resettlement Policy Framework. These requirements apply to land acquisition, physical and economic displacement, compensation for lost assets and income, physical resettlement, and livelihood restoration for all individuals, households and business entities that may be affected by project activities supported by the Compact.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Lead the development and review of documents related to land acquisition and involuntary physical and economic displacement for all MCA-supported activities including Resettlement Action Plans (RAP) and Livelihood Restoration Plans (LRP), as well as the procurement of consultants to assist in the preparation and implementation such plans.
2. Oversee and manage the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of RAPs and LRPs and associated activities with the support of the Resettlement Specialist.
3. Coordinate with MCA Timor Leste staff, consultants, contractors, and other government entities to: i) ensure the Compact’s compliance with the Resettlement Policy Framework; and ii) integrate land acquisition, compensation and other resettlement activity planning into project design and implementation.
4. Ensure that: i) resettlement implementation includes a grievance procedure consistent with Compact’s Resettlement Policy Framework and ii) that it is accessible to all project affected persons including vulnerable persons affected by the project. Develop a system for the tracking and resolution of land acquisition, resettlement, economic displacement, and other related grievances.
5. Engage with MCA Timor Leste staff in ESP, GSI, M&E, Financial, and Procurement and others to ensure cross-cutting requirements are fulfilled in the development and implementation of resettlement activities.
6. Coordinate with relevant Timor Leste government authorities to obtain the required approvals for RAP-associated activities.
7. With the support of the Resettlement Specialist, supervise the implementation of all Compact-related RAPs; ensure that implementation arrangements and operations are consistent with the approved project-specific RAPs and Resettlement Policy Framework; conduct field visits to inspect planning and implementation activities, participate in public meetings, and identify solutions to implementation bottlenecks as they arise.
8. In collaboration with other MCA Timor Leste staff, support the organization and management of public consultation, meetings with stakeholders, and the communication of information on resettlement issues to those affected by involuntary land acquisition and resettlement in accordance with the RAPs and other MCA-approved guidelines and procedures.
9. Develop tracking systems to monitor the progress of resettlement and displacement implementation and prepare regular progress reports for MCC and the Government of Timor Leste.
10. Prepare TORs for, manage the procurement of, and oversee consultants for any resettlement-related specialized studies that might become necessary during project implementation to ensure compliance of Compact activities with the Resettlement Policy Framework.
11. Serve as the MCA expert on land acquisition and resettlement issues.
12. Direct, supervise and evaluate the work of the Resettlement Specialist.

Requirements (Education, Experience, Technical Competencies)

Education

1. Advanced university degree in Social Sciences (Sociology/Social Work/ Rural Development/ Development Studies, or relevant disciplines).

Experience and Technical Competencies

1. Minimum 10 or more years of experience in land acquisition, resettlement and community development, which must include at least 5 years of experience with the policies and standards for resettlement of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), World Bank or other international development finance institutions.
2. Demonstrated post-conflict country work experience.
3. Experience in managing the development and/or implementation of Resettlement Action Plans consistent with World Bank Environmental and Social Standards ESS 5, IFC Performance Standard 5, or other multilateral or bilateral donor resettlement procedures.
4. Experience with quantitative and qualitative data analysis, interpretation and reporting.
5. Experience in planning and conducting public consultations and stakeholder engagement processes.
6. Ability to work with multidisciplinary and multicultural teams and institutions.
7. Computer skills (MS Office and familiarity with project management software, such as MS Project) and experience with tracking systems.
8. Fluency in English, both spoken and written.