AREA COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT PLAN CONSULTANT

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Area Council Development Plan Consultant, ECARE Project

Project Title: Expanding Conservation Areas Reach and Effectiveness (ECARE) in Vanuatu
Location: Port Vila, Vanuatu with travel to islands
Duration: Deliverables Based, approximately 37 working days spread over over a 2.5 month period with possibility of no cost extension
Contract Amount: No more than 1.6 million Vatu, excluding travel costs
Start Date: no later than 10 April 2026
End Date: no later than 26 June 2026
Reporting to: ECARE National Project Coordinator, Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation, Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC), Government of Vanuatu
Funding Support from: Global Environment Facility and International Union for the Conservation of Nature

Background
The GEF-funded Expanding Conservation Areas Reach and Effectiveness (ECARE) project
customary owners, provincial governments and the national government to formally protect more forest and coastal areas and improve capacity and processes for protected area management and sustainability.

The project directly contributes to a better targeting of investment for PAs through: clearer identification of needs and opportunities to achieve good results (including a reinforced link between PAs, conservation, adaptation to climate change, and disaster risk reduction) at appropriate levels, and an improved effectiveness of limited existing resources for the development of capacities at all levels, an increased visibility of the PA conservation effort at the national and local levels leading to a better recognition of conservation national commitments by other sectors, and a better socio economic and territorial resilience of the communities relying on natural resources.

About the Role
The Area Council Development Planning Consultant will undertake ECARE Activity 1.2.3 Guidelines developed for the integration of PA and natural resources management within Area Councils development plans, and Activity 2.3.2 Integration of PA and natural resources management into Area Council Development Plans with the following specific tasks, to be undertaken in close collaboration with the Department of Local Authorities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs:

1. Inception phase

• Hold initial consultations with the ECARE Project Management Unit and submission of Inception Plan

2. Desktop review of ACDP templates and best-practice plans

• Review the Ministry of Internal Affairs / DLA standard templates and guidance documents for Area Council Development Plans, 10 ACDPs identified as best examples nationally and at least 5 ACDPs from Area Councils that are part of the ECARE project

3. Key informant interviews and consultations

• Conduct interviews with 10 Area Administrators 2 Provincial Planners 2 ECARE PMU technical experts and 2 officials from DEPC to clarify key aspirations for conservation mainstreaming in ACDPs

4. Co-development and piloting with one Area Council

• In collaboration with one Area Administrator in an ECARE project Area Council (likely on Efate Island), integrate conservation priorities into the ACDP

5. ACDP Drafting guidelines and toolkit

• Based on the reviews and consultations, develop Guidelines for Integrating Protected Areas and Natural Resources Management into Area Council Development Plans.

6. Validation and finalisation

• Present the draft guidelines and toolkit to DLA, DEPC, ECARE technical team and a selection of Area Administrators (e.g. via workshop or virtual session) to validate findings and recommendations.

7. Revise and Enhance at least 3 ACDPs covering ECARE sites to include PA/NRM elements

• Support Area Administrators/Area Councillors to utilise guidelines and enhance their ACDPs
• Work in depth with one Area Council in each province covering a site where ECARE works

8. Provide support to ECARE management and project implementation, including

• Technical support and guidance on subnational planning related matters that arise during the project implementation period.

Education
University degree (Bachelors or equivalent) in environmental management, natural resource management, conservation, land use planning, climate change, geography, or a closely related field and 7 or more years relevant experience.

Work Experience and Professional Skills

• At least 5 years of demonstrated experience in protected areas, conservation planning, or natural resource management in Vanuatu or the wider Pacific.
• Proven experience with subnational or local development planning, preferably including work with Area Councils, provinces, municipalities, or similar decentralised structures.
• Experience developing practical guidelines, toolkits and/or training materials for government counterparts and local practitioners.
• Demonstrated experience conducting document reviews and qualitative field research, including key informant interviews and synthesis of findings into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Experience in adhering to community protocols and working in a community setting that are diverse from village to village or islands to islands and has well-mannered interaction with local communities and has respect for them.
• Fluent English and Bislama (verbal/written) with excellent communication and presentation skills.Proficient in using Microsoft Office applications and other web-based management systems.

How to Apply

Proposal Submission Requirements
Interested applicants should submit a proposal which includes, at minimum

1. An expression of interest, including a detailed Approach and Methodology for the work
2. A detailed budget breakdown
3. Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) including valid Referee contact information (3)
4. If a firm: Registration Certificates (VFSC Registration, Business License), Firm/Organization track record (profile);

Applicants should make the submission in soft copy, in separate PDF files, by e-mail to the following address: dkalfatak@vanuatu.gov.vu , cc: jlaloyer@vanuatu.gov.vu

Deadline for submission: Monday 20th April 2026, 05:00 PM

Other Information
Full TOR available by request to: dkalfatak@vanuatu.gov.vu , cc: jlaloyer@vanuatu.gov.vu