( READVERTISED) REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI) - REAL ESTATE AGENT/ FIRM

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI) – Readvertised

Consulting Services – Firm
Assignment Title: Real Estate Agent/ Firm
Duty Station: PMU, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Date of Publication: 09 October 2026
Submission deadline extended: 17th November 2026 at 2:00 PM
Reference Number: VU-MLNR-568293-CS-LCS

1. BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT:

The Government, through the World Bank-funded Vanuatu Affordable and Resilient Settlements (VARS) Project, is undertaking the development and sale of the Elol Etas (Etas Gardens) Subdivision, being a pilot subdivision to address the growing demand for affordable, resilient, and well-planned urban expansion in the Greater Port Vila area.

The Etas Subdivision is designed as a pilot model for government-led urban development. It is an opportunity to work with the private sector to plan, build, and deliver affordable serviced lots in a manner that is:

• Economically viable
• Environmentally resilient, and
• Socially inclusive

The subdivision comprises 136 lots in total, consisting of 130 residential lots and six (6) non- residential lots (the Market, Hilltop Park, neighbourhood parks, and escarpment and drainage reserves).

Of the 130 residential lots, six (6) have already been allocated to the three customary landowner families (two lots each). This leaves 124 residential lots available for sale through the ESMASP allocation process, supported by a reserve list of 260 applicants. The six non- residential lots are expected to remain with Government, with the responsible agencies still to be confirmed.

The subdivision is planned with culturally sensitive and pedestrian-focused urban design principles, including road and pedestrian access, drainage, green spaces, access to public services, and typical lot sizes of 400 m2 (refer to attached Subdivision Plan). It specifically targets low- and lower- middle-income households, enabling access to land and secure tenure for Vanuatu citizens who are otherwise excluded from the formal housing market due to rising land costs and informal settlement conditions.

In addition, the project:

• Promotes equity and fairness by using transparent eligibility criteria and selection processes.
• Supports national housing policy goals under the National Land Subdivision Policy.
• Establishes a replicable model for future subdivisions by private developers.
• Addresses urbanization challenges by providing planned residential opportunities that reduce pressure on unregulated and informal urban growth.

Ultimately, the Elol Etas Subdivision represents a strategic intervention by government to promote resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban development that supports Vanuatu’s long-term socio-economic and environmental goals.

The subdivision will be distinctive due to lot size (typically 400 m2) and the use of laneways that promote pedestrian (and not vehicle) modes of transport.

The tenure type will be a Standard ‘derivative’ lease.

The sale price will be set as Vt 1.71 million, irrespective of the size or location of the lot within the subdivision. A list of successful applicants, pre-allocated to subdivision lots through the Elol Etas Subdivision Marketing, Allocation and Sale Process (ESMASP), will be provided to the Real Estate Agent to facilitate the sales and settlement process. This includes collection of purchaser deposits, preparation of purchaser documentation (Sale and Purchase Agreement), and coordination with the vendor’s Conveyancing Lawyer to ensure completion of settlement and lease transfer registration.

1.1 NATURE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

This assignment differs in important respects from a conventional subdivision sale. Many of the higher-risk and more resource-intensive activities normally undertaken by a real estate agency have already been completed by the project, including the marketing campaign, applicant registration, eligibility assessment, the lot allocation process, preparation of the reserve list, community engagement, and much of the purchaser administration.

The Real Estate Agent is therefore engaged to perform a primarily administrative sales coordination and settlement role, rather than a traditional full-service marketing and sales function. The remaining activities are largely administrative and repetitive in nature, and much of the commercial risk normally associated with residential subdivision sales has been removed by the project. Firms should have careful regard to the services included in, and excluded from, this assignment (Sections 3.1–3.4) when preparing their proposals and pricing.

The ESMASP Manager will coordinate the implementation of the subdivision sales process and will act as the primary operational interface between MoLNR, the Real Estate Agent, and the Conveyancing Lawyer.