REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI) - ESMASP CONVEYANCING LAWYER

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI)

Individual Selection of Consultant

Assignment Title: ESMASP Conveyancing Lawyer
Duty Station: PMU, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Date of Publication: 24 th September 2026
Deadline for submission: 08 th October 2026 at time: 1400 Hours.
Deadline for submission extended: 30 th October 2026 at time: 1400 Hours
Reference Number: VU-MLNR-568295-CS-INDV

1. BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT:

The Government of Vanuatu, through the World Bank-financed Vanuatu Affordable and Resilient Settlements (VARS) Project, is developing and selling residential lots in the Elol Etas (Etas Gardens) Subdivision. Etas is a pilot subdivision. It responds to the growing
demand for affordable, resilient, and well-planned urban growth in the Greater Port Vila area, and it is intended as a model that private developers can replicate.

The subdivision contains 136 lots in total: 130 residential lots and 6 non-residential lots (a market, parks, and reserves). Six residential lots have already been allocated to the three customary landowner families. The remaining 124 residential lots will be sold to
eligible households through the Elol Etas Subdivision Marketing, Allocation and Sale Process (ESMASP).

The subdivision targets low- and lower-middle-income households who are otherwise excluded from the formal housing market. Typical lot sizes are around 400 m², with pedestrian laneways, drainage, green spaces, and access to public services (refer to the attached Subdivision Plan).

The sale price for every lot is fixed at VT 1.71 million, regardless of lot size or location. Land tenure will be provided through standard derivative leases. Under the ESMASP, the project handles marketing, applications, eligibility checks, and lot allocation. A Real Estate Agent will manage purchaser engagement and deposits.

The Conveyancing Lawyer will prepare the legal documents, complete settlements, and register the derivative lease transfers. The ESMASP Manager will coordinate the sales process and act as the main operational link between MoLNR, the Real Estate Agent,
and the Conveyancing Lawyer.

The conveyancing work under this assignment is largely standard and repetitive. The same documents and steps will be repeated across many lots, all at the same fixed price. The role is procedural rather than complex legal advisory work, and it is well suited to a qualified local practitioner. Because purchasers may be entering the formal property market for the first time, it is vital that the legal process is clearly explained to, and understood by, each assigned applicant.