Contract SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASSESMENT CONSULTANT, ECARE PROJECT
Job Description
Socio-economic Assessment Consultant, ECARE Project
Project Title: Expanding Conservation Areas Reach and Effectiveness (ECARE) in Vanuatu Location: Port Vila, Vanuatu with travel to islands
Duration: 50 days spread out over 17 weeks
Start Date: no later than 20 September 2025
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 responds to the current environmental threats by developing peer to peer visits and training to enhance management and implement improved nature-based solutions in a range of conservation areas, including those with livelihoods and income generating potential, including tourism.
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
Under the leadership of the ECARE National Project Manager, the consultant will be responsible for designing and undertaking field surveys that include socio-economic priority of existing and proposed Protected Areas/Community Conservation Areas and Tabu Areas, as well as developing toolkits and guidelines that ensure economics and gender are mainstreamed into project activities and local plans
Scope of Services
- Identify key thematic areas for socio-economic assessment most relevant to the governance of protected areas in Vanuatu
- Develop a tailored and context specific socio-economic assessment methodology that incorporates best practice participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools, indigenous knowledge, and gender-equity perspectives
- Pilot the survey tools and PRA methods at two ECARE communities on Efate
- obtain written Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) from each participating ECARE site
- Train and supervise local enumerators to undertake socio-economic assessments, ensuring gender balance and inclusion of youth where possible,
- Conduct Field-Based Socio-Economic Assessments in ECARE sites, including the Area Councils of Big Bay Coast, Canal Fanafo, East Malo, SW Malakula, SE Malakula, Tongoa, and North Efate)
- Document traditional conservation practices, land and sea tenure systems, customary law, gender roles in resource governance, and local cultural protocols, including the identification of opportunities and risks for integrating protected area management approaches into local livelihoods and development planning.
- Analyse and Report on Socio-Economic Findings:
- Develop at least six (6) sustainable community livelihood toolkits that support the design and implementation of community enterprises
- Develop a written Guideline for socioeconomic and gender equity in CCAs 11. Deliver Progress and Final Reports:
- Provide general support to ECARE management and project implementation,
Deliverables
- Inception plan with thematic priorities, draft methodology, budgets and timelines
- Finalized survey tools and PRA methods, incorporating pilot exercise amendments
- Training materials + report on enumerator training & GESI integration
- FPIC documented, in uniquely designed template, from all selected sites
- Completed fieldwork in all seven project areas, evidenced by photographs with a press release
- Cleaned dataset + draft analysis summary
- Draft socio-economic assessment report with specific recommendations for each community protected area, as well as recommendations for DEPC on overall PA management governance
- Report on community feedback sessions + documentation of validation feedback
- Six (6) Sustainable Community Livelihood Toolkits to support community enterprises linked to CCAs
- A written Guideline for socioeconomic and gender equity in CCAs
- Final report + presentation to ECARE PMU & PSC
Selection Criteria
- Masters Degree or higher in a field relevant in environmental economics, natural resource management, environmental science including protected areas management, climate change science or equivalent, environmental economics, climate change science or equivalent, or a Bachelor’s degree and 7 or more years relevant experience.
- At least 5 years of experience or expertise in design and implementation of natural resources or ecosystems socio-economic related programs in Vanuatu and or the Pacific Islands.
- Experience in protected/conservation areas socio-economic planning and conduction of socio economic assessment in Vanuatu and or Pacific region.
- Experience in adhering to community protocols
- Has a record of healthy working relationship with national and provincial stakeholders, and community organisations.
- Fluent English (verbal/written) with excellent communication and presentation skills.
- Proficient in using Microsoft Office applications and other web-based management systems.
Desirable:
- Familiarity with Vanuatu’s climate policies and governance structures.
- Experience working in the Pacific region or similar contexts.
- Ability to speak Bislama.
Duration
The duration of the contract is 50 days, commencing no later than 20 September 2025
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