International LPIS Expert - Retainer

Dutystation: Home based

Functional responsibilities

Under the Activity 5 (Developing a LPIS framework), the project will support the Government with technical advisory for the development of a fully functional LPIS that supports agricultural land mapping, subsidy compliance, fraud prevention, and environmental monitoring. The LPIS system will have to be compatible with existing national systems and EU regulations for agricultural development and subsidy management.

The Expert will provide technical advisory and support to the Project Manager on the key activities of the project for the successful implementation of the project and technical assistance to the Agricultural and Rural Development Agency (ARDA) and its working group, as well as other key stakeholders in relation to the development of the Land Parcel Information System LPIS, including the implementation of one or more pilots in selected areas. They will provide expertise on EU requirements and advise on the integration with national systems such as the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS).

The Expert is expected to be able to work on following tasks, as agreed with the Project Manager:

• Work closely with ARDA, and other stakeholders to refine LPIS objectives and ensure alignment with existing national plans.
• Analyze existing LPIS models from EU countries, identify best practices, and assess institutional and technical capacities for system integration.
• Lead the design and implementation of LPIS pilot(s) in selected areas
• Advise on the LPIS model selection based on national requirements, cadastral status, legal framework, and technological capacity.
• Support the development of Terms of reference, technical specifications and operational requirements for LPIS, ensuring alignment with EU accession criteria
• Map existing data sources (cadastre, land maps, satellite imagery) and assess the integration needs for LPIS.
• Identify data gaps and technological limitations that need to be addressed to ensure the successful operation of the system.
• Provide recommendations for system design, ensuring it meets EU standards and CAP compliance requirements.
• Ensure the system integrates seamlessly with national platforms and propose strategies for future scalability.
• Provide technical advisory in setting up a dedicated LPIS unit/department within ARDA to manage the system effectively.
• Offer capacity-building support to ARDA’s LPIS working group, focusing on system design, data management, and integration.
• Support the establishment of agreements between relevant stakeholders to create a collaborative framework for LPIS implementation.
• Organize workshops to align stakeholders on requirements and implementation strategies and ensure active knowledge sharing and learning across stakeholders and capture lessons learned.

The Expert is expected to work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Agricultural and Rural Development Agency (ARDA), and relevant stakeholders and user groups. The number of days will depend on the tasks in line with the project implementation as identified by the Project Manager and agreed with the expert.

The Expert is home based with travel to Albania as required and agreed with the Project Manager.

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) preferably in Agricultural Engineering, rural planning; GIS, Geography, or related fields.
• A first-level university degree with additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of an advanced degree.

Experience:

• Familiarity with EU agricultural regulations, IACS, and LPIS is required.
• At least 7 years experience in Land management systems is required.
• Experience in EU integration processes is required.
• Experience in working with national authorities, government agencies, and international donors in EU accession countries is required.
• Experience in the area of digitalisation processes in regards to property rights and land administration is a strong asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English required.