AFDB1JP00001687

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The Study Coordinator will provide overall coordination, technical and methodological leadership, quality assurance, synthesis and finalization of the work in Zambia, Angola and Mozambique. The assignment will encompass inception and methodology development, technical guidance to country consultants, review of national outputs, regional analysis, validation and dissemination.

Methodological leadership
Prepare the overall study methodology, analytical framework, work plan, reporting templates and data collection tools;
 Establish a standardized country documentation framework and define core research questions, data requirements, stakeholder categories, consultation instruments and reporting structures;
 Integrate the principles of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT), including tenure security, inclusion, gender equality, meaningful consultation, accountability, safeguards and responsible investment; and
 Maintain an investor-facing approach that is community-sensitive and rights-based.

Coordination of country consultants
 Brief country consultants on the methodology, expected outputs, quality standards and timelines and provide guidance during desk reviews, consultations, data collection and analysis;
 Convene regular coordination meetings and review inception notes, draft reports, consultation summaries, land access pathway maps and final outputs; and
 Provide written feedback and harmonise terminology, analytical approaches and country findings.

Regional synthesis and operational guidance
 Compare country-level findings to identify regional trends, similarities, differences and lessons concerning tenure systems and investment-facing land access procedures;
 Analyse tenure-related bottlenecks to land-based investments in agriculture, infrastructure, energy, mining, housing, climate-resilient landscapes and other relevant sectors;
 Assess implications for project preparation, safeguards, due diligence, bankability, community engagement, compensation, resettlement and dispute resolution;
 Develop practical recommendations for governments, FAO, AfDB, SADC, international financial institutions, climate finance institutions, investment promotion agencies and private investors; and
 Prepare a regional synthesis and policy and investment facilitation brief.

Corridor or landscape case studies, where relevant
 Guide the design of selected corridor or landscape case studies and related data collection on land acquisition, community engagement, consent, compensation, resettlement, institutional coordination, cross-border dynamics and dispute resolution;
 Compile concise corridor case study briefs and identify lessons for reducing investment risks, blended finance and IFI-supported operations.

Quality assurance
 Ensure technical quality, internal coherence, consistency and readability of all country and regional outputs and verify that findings are evidence-based and appropriately sourced;
 Reflect both legal provisions and implementation realities, including gender, youth, vulnerable groups, social inclusion, climate resilience and safeguards; and
 Revise study products in response to consolidated inputs from FAO, AfDB, national institutions and peer reviewers.

Stakeholder engagement, validation and dissemination
 Support a regional stakeholder engagement and validation plan and facilitate technical discussions at the validation workshop;
 Consolidate stakeholder feedback, record how comments were addressed and integrate relevant inputs into final study outputs; and
 Support dissemination through executive summaries, policy briefs, presentations and technical note

The Study Coordinator shall submit five key deliverables in accordance with the agreed work plan. The indicative timelines will be confirmed during the inception phase.

Deliverable 1: Inception Report. At the start of the assignment, the Study Coordinator shall submit an inception report outlining the detailed study methodology, work plan, analytical framework, standardized reporting templates and data collection tools to guide the country-level assessments and ensure consistency across the three countries.

Deliverable 2: Draft Regional Synthesis Report. During the mid-phase of the assignment, the Study Coordinator shall prepare a draft regional synthesis report consolidating the country profiles, comparative analysis of land tenure systems, land access pathways, investment-related risks and institutional bottlenecks, together with practical policy recommendations and operational guidance for investment facilitation.

Deliverable 3: Validation Workshop Report. During the final phase of the assignment, the Study Coordinator shall prepare a report documenting the validation process, key stakeholder observations, recommendations and feedback received, including how these have been addressed or proposed for incorporation into the final study.

Deliverable 4: Final Regional Study Report. At the end of the assignment, the Study Coordinator shall submit a comprehensive final regional study incorporating feedback from the validation workshop and comments from AfDB, FAO and other relevant stakeholders. The report shall present consolidated findings, case studies, comparative analysis, conclusions and actionable recommendations for strengthening land tenure governance and facilitating responsible land-based investments in Southern Africa.

Deliverable 5: Dissemination Materials. At the end of the assignment, the Study Coordinator shall prepare concise dissemination materials, including PowerPoint presentations, an executive summary and/or a policy brief, highlighting the study's key findings, policy implications and investment facilitation recommendations for AfDB, FAO and relevant partners.

The assignment shall be implemented over a six-month period, comprising 30 working days, commencing on 1 December 2026. The work will be undertaken primarily remotely, except for participation in the validation workshop. The detailed allocation of working days across activities shall be agreed with AfDB and FAO through the inception work plan.

The Study Coordinator will work under the overall supervision of AfDB, in close collaboration with FAO. The Coordinator will liaise with the country consultants, national institutions, FAO technical teams, AfDB operational teams and other stakeholders as required.

The Coordinator will maintain regular communication with designated AfDB and FAO focal points, organize coordination and review consultations and submit deliverables according to the approved work plan. AfDB and FAO will provide technical guidance and coordinate comments on outputs as appropriate. The institutions’ respective responsibilities for arranging consultations and validation will be confirmed at inception.

The assignment will be undertaken remotely, with the exception of participation in the validation workshop, which will require the Study Coordinator's physical presence at a location to be confirmed. The Coordinator shall remain available for virtual consultations and technical coordination with AfDB, FAO, country consultants and other relevant stakeholders throughout the assignment. Travel arrangements and associated costs for the validation workshop will be subject to prior approval and handled separately in accordance with the Bank's applicable rules and procedures