INDIGENOUS SOUTH-SOUTH CAPACITY CONSULTANT

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Indigenous South-South Capacity 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 18 working days spread over the Months of May/June 2026, with possibility of a no-cost extension
Contract Amount: No more than 540,000 Vatu, excluding travel costs
Start Date: no later than 4 May 2026
End Date: no later than 10 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 supports 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 consultant will support the indigenous communities along the Western coastline of Malekula island to build their capacity related to CCA Management Plans and management effectiveness during their planned May 2026 Western Malekula Environment Network gathering, exposing participants to practical tools, peer learning, and conservation livelihood opportunities, while also supporting Malekula to establish a sustainable network among villages that mirrors and builds on the successes of other island-based environmental networks in Vanuatu. The consultant will share existing conservation toolkits and resources, facilitate sessions during the gathering, and provide guidance on next steps for indigenous south-south networking among Malekula stakeholders and others. The consultant will also share their experiences with the National Protected Areas Symposium to be convened in June 2026.

1. Inception phase

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

2. Malekula Environmental Gathering

• Participate in the gathering of Western Malekula environmental champions in May 2026 and facilitate core capacity building training activities

3. Western Malekula Environment Network continuity and planning

• Facilitate formation of new environment network on Western Malekula mirroring other environment networks in Vanuatu (governance ToR, membership, roles) and support the development of a 6 month Network workplan

4. Indigenous sharing at National Protected Areas Symposium

• Facilitate a session on indigenous conservation networking at symposium,
  highlighting best practices, recommendations and key challenges

5. 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.

Selection Criteria
This consultancy is open to indigenous individuals, networks or CSOs in Vanuatu which have:
Organisational experience:

• Proven success supporting ni-Vanuatu villages to establish CCAs, develop management plans, and implement monitoring with measurable biodiversity/livelihood outcomes.
• Established governance structures (e.g., board, committees) and gender- balanced resource team with CCA planning, monitoring, and sustainable livelihoods expertise.
• Experience producing practical toolkits/resources (management plans, monitoring protocols, livelihood guides) successfully used by remote communities.

● Technical expertise:

• Deep practical knowledge of CCA management planning and effectiveness monitoring aligned with Vanuatu’s Environmental Protection and Conservation Act
• Demonstrated South-South capacity building through peer exchanges, workshops, or inter-community networking.
• Gender and livelihoods integration in conservation, with women leaders actively shaping environmental approaches

● Implementation capacity:

• Ability to mobilise up to 5 key resource people (governance, CCA planners, gender/livelihoods experts) for intensive field delivery.
• Logistical experience managing multi-village gatherings in remote areas, including material production/distribution
• Track record of environmental network funding and other sustainability
  mechanisms

● Skills and competencies:

• Fluency in Bislama and relevant ni-Vanuatu languages for community facilitation; strong English for reporting.
• Cultural competence working with customary landowners, chiefs, and women’s groups across islands.
• Excellent facilitation of peer-to-peer learning sessions on networking, monitoring, and planning.

Travel

1. The position will require travel to the selected project sites in Vanuatu.
2. Accept to travel for three weeks or more on this specific assignment.

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