Integrated Coastal Zone Management Planning Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Integrated Sustainable Land and Coastal Management (ISLCM) project is a five-year project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Vanuatu Government. FAO is the Implementing Agency (IA) and is providing the technical support to the Vanuatu Government in implementing the project. The Ministry of Climate Change, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and Ministry of Agriculture, Quarantine, Forestry and Fisheries are the Executing Agencies and national counterparts for the project. The project will be working closely with other partners within the public and private sectors as well as with members of the Non-Government Organizations (NGOs). The overall goal of the project is to test and implement sustainable and integrated management of forest, land and marine resources to achieve effective ridge-to-reef (R2R) conservation in selected priority watersheds in Vanuatu.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall administrative leadership of the FAO Sub-regional Representative for the Pacific Islands in Samoa,technical leadership of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO), and under direct supervision and technical management of CTA and the NPC, including close consultations with national counterparts in Government, the IZCM consultant will undertake the duties and responsibilities outlined below.

Technical Focus

The key role of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Planning Consultant will be to develop a community integrated coastal zone management plan (C-ICZM) at village and area council levels to enhance resilience of coastal ecosystems to climate change in project sites, eventually to be scaled up to national level. The plan will focus on rebuilding resilience to climate change through a number of measures. These would include eco-system-based management of fisheries resources through; enhancement management of scared sites and traditional tabu areas, establishment of additional tabu areas, CCAs and conservation networks, and through additional fisheries management tools including gear restrictions. A comprehensive review the baseline survey conducted by Department of fisheries based on ISLCM project sites will inform the development of the ICZM Plans which will focus on establishing baselines for marine ecosystem health, identifying breeding and recruitment areas and opportunities which will contribute to longer-term zoning for effective management of the sites. The ICZM should be developed using the baseline survey results. The local consultant will work with the government lead responsible for this component (DEPC and Department of Fisheries). The plan should also outline a comprehensive education and outreach program for fishers (men, women and youth) on marine and coastal zone management. This outreach plan will link with and build upon the on-going work of the Marine Protected Areas Network for Vanuatu. Specific to this work, the local consultant will conduct work that will be guided by the following outcome and output of the ISLCM project document (which will be provided upon request):

Component 1: Improving the enabling environment for integrated sustainable land and coastal management

Outcome.1.1 Integrated R2R considerations mainstreamed into sector development policies Output.1.1.3 Policy proposals in support of ICZM including protection of coastal and marine ecosystems on which fisheries sustainability and marine biodiversity depend

South Pentecost (Penama Province ) • Development of Community Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plans • Establishment of MPAs / CCAs • Crown-of-Thorn Sea star removal Installation of FADs • Upland management measures implemented to reduce sediment run-off into marine systems

Lelepa-Mangaliliu (Shefa Province): • Development of Community Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plans • Establishment of MPAs / CCAs • Crown-of-Thorn Sea star removal • Species management plans for key species: Gigant Claim • Installation of FADs • Upland management measures implemented to reduce sediment run-off into marine systems.

Aneityum Mistery Island //Port Patrick (Tafea Province)- • Development of Community Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plans • Establishment of MPAs / CCAs • Crown-of-Thorn Sea star removal • Installation of FADs • Upland management measures implemented to reduce sediment run-off into marine systems • Installation of FADs

Banks Group Gaua (Torba Province) - • Development of Community Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plans • Establishment of MPAs / CCAs • Species management plans for key species, including coconut crabs and invasive species • Installation of FADs

The local consultant will be expected to conduct the following activity as per project output: Output 1.1.3 a. Develop Community Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plans (CICZM Plans) and Marine Spatial Planning through a participatory approach integrating fisheries, traditional management regimes at the village/ community and areas council levels identifying timebound actions for long-term management to include tabu and Community Conservation Areas.

The engagement process of this work will operate at different levels which includes relevant stakeholders, village level, community level (communities may contain a number of villages) and area council. Field assistants will be provided by the responsible government agency through the ISLCM Project Management Unit (PMU) to provide field support.

At the end of the contract period, the work conducted should help contribute to achieving the following project target: a) Community Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plans (CICZM Plans) established integrating “kastom tabu” areas to enhance ecosystem resilience food production and livelihood support for local communities in Project Site’s locations b) Tabu areas / CCAs/ MPAs linked together through Area Council ICZM Plans to ensure integration of planning processes

The Local consultant will also be expected to work with the ISLCM Local Conservation Specialist while engaging in this work. The work under this post will need to focus on 3-4 priority sites as recommended by PMU according with Prodoc. The local consultant will be required to provide capacity building to the stakeholders during his/her work who will then take on the skills and knowledge to complete the remaining sites as there are 5 sites collectively. Reporting and Coordination The local consultant will be expected to report and coordinate work with the following key parties: 1. PMU/CTA for ISLCM 2. GoV agency mandated for the mission (Fisheries Department) 3. Departments of Local Authority to work with the involved community

The engagement and achievement of this work will be reflected through the following key result areas: a) Development of the first draft and final CICZM plans for key sites: From the baseline work, a first draft of the management plan should be developed for comments before submission of the final plan.

All on the ground logistics will be coordinated by the ISLCM Project Implementation Unit (PIU). The local consultant will be expected to attend a project briefing and planning prior to any field visits. All reports on deliverables will be submitted to FAO through the endorsement of the PMU (using the project management structure).

Tasks and responsibilities

Prepare an ICZM action plan on how to approach the task with clear activities and milestone in achieving them : • Gather data on the current status of the ICZM in the country with challenges and opportunities it has • Analyse collected data and prepare draft Country ICZM profile by indicating the priority areas for investment following the provided outline • Submit to FAO the draft country ICZM profile for comments and clearance • Share the cleared draft country ICZM profile with national authorities and other stakeholders in the livestock sector for comments and additional input • Present the draft country profile at national validation workshop and gather comments, suggestions and additional inputs • Incorporate feedback gathered at the validation workshop and produce and submit the final version of the country ICZM profile

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• National of Vanuatu or resident in the country with a regular work permit • A university degree related to biology and natural resources management • At least 7 years of experience related to ICZM & biodiversity conservation and natural resource management • Working knowledge of English and Bislama

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus • Teamwork • Communication • Building Effective Relationships • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement Technical/Functional Skills • Ability to lead and work as part of a multidisciplinary team and to collaborate effectively with project partners • Strong drafting, presentation and reporting skills; • Strong computer skills, in particular mastery of all applications of the MS Office package and internet search;