Development of the CEO Approval package for the GEF-SCCF project “Blue Carbon Horizons: Strengthening Climate-Resilient Coastal Planning in Mauritius

Terms of Reference for IUCN Consultancy

Development of the CEO Approval package for the GEF-SCCF project “Blue Carbon Horizons: Strengthening Climate-Resilient Coastal Planning in Mauritius through Blue Carbon for Ecosystem-Based Adaptation” (GEF ID 12334)

Objective of the Consultancy

This consultancy has the following objective(s):

Development of the CEO Approval Request package, including the IUCN Agency Project Document (prodoc) and all required annexes and relevant analyses for the Mauritius Blue Carbon Horizons project (GEF ID 12334), which would contribute to achieve GEF CEO Approval of the medium-sized project (MSP), with submission to the GEF Secretariat no later than 15 February 2027.

Background

Project Reference:

GEF SCCF PPG Mauritius (IUCN Project ID: to be confirmed) / Mauritius GEF SCCF (GEF ID 12334)

Donor reference:

Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), Window A on Climate Change Adaptation / Global Environment Facility (GEF)

About IUCN:

IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.

Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 15,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.

IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.

Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.

www.iucn.org

About the Project

The project “Blue Carbon Horizons: Strengthening Climate-Resilient Coastal Planning in Mauritius through Blue Carbon for Ecosystem-Based Adaptation” (GEF ID 12334), co-developed by IUCN and the Ministry of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries (Blue Economy Division) of Mauritius together with key national stakeholders, received GEF CEO approval of its Project Identification Form (PIF) and Project Preparation Grant (PPG) on 15 June 2026. It is a medium-sized project (MSP) financed under the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF-A), with an implementation period of 60 months.

The objective of the project is to enhance the climate resilience of Mauritius' coastal communities and ocean-based sectors by enabling a regenerative Blue Economy through the development of a high-integrity knowledge base and the integration of blue carbon and biodiversity-based financial mechanisms into national adaptation and spatial planning frameworks. As a Small Island Developing State whose long-term resilience is closely tied to the health of its coastal and marine ecosystems (mangroves, seagrass beds, coral reefs and coastal forests), Mauritius faces rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, coastal erosion, pollution and development pressures that are degrading the natural buffers protecting coastal communities and Blue Economy sectors across its 2.3 million km² Exclusive Economic Zone.

The PIF identifies the barriers the project is designed to address: a limited operational link between evidence, planning and implementation; an inadequate institutional architecture for integrated blue carbon governance across environment, fisheries, ocean economy, climate change, finance, tourism and spatial planning mandates; limited readiness to mainstream blue carbon into national policy instruments such as the NAP, NDC, NBSAP, ICZM and marine spatial planning; and weak valuation and monetisation of ecosystem services. It also identifies key enablers, including strong national policy momentum, the National Blue Carbon Task Force as an existing coordination platform, regional and international technical partnerships, and private sector exposure to coastal and marine climate risk.

(Please refer to the GEF-approved PIF, available on the GEF portal: https://www.thegef.org/projects-operations/projects/12334)

The project is divided into the following components:

Component 1: Strengthening Institutional Capacity and Adaptation Readiness, Governance Frameworks and Knowledge Systems. This component establishes the institutional, policy, governance and knowledge foundations for blue carbon. It covers the National Blue Carbon Strategy and Action Plan and mainstreaming into the NDC, NAP, NBSAP, ICZM and Blue Economy and climate finance strategies (Outcome 1.1); a blue carbon and biodiversity finance framework including registry infrastructure and a regenerative Blue Economy taxonomy; national blue carbon assessment guidelines aligned with IPCC guidance, a national MRV system and digital data platform, and science-to-policy reporting mechanisms (Outcome 1.2); and a knowledge management and capacity-building suite with toolkits, training modules, legal and regulatory assessments and a community of practice (Outcome 1.3).

Component 2: Strengthening Blue Carbon Ecosystem Mapping, Baseline Inventory and MRV Systems. This component generates a national high-resolution spatial map of blue carbon ecosystems (mangroves, seagrass meadows and tidal wetlands) using standardised field survey protocols, and a decision-grade national blue carbon baseline inventory including a geospatial database and ecosystem extent, condition and carbon stock assessments (Outcome 2.1).

Component 3: Accelerating the transition to a regenerative Blue Economy. This component integrates blue carbon into national and sub-national planning instruments, marine spatial planning, climate finance and coastal zoning frameworks (Outcome 3.1); implements priority restoration and conservation interventions at demonstration sites, operationalises community-based co-management systems, and supports blue jobs and livelihoods across tourism and blue food value chains with targeted inclusion of women and youth (Outcome 3.2); and operationalises blue financial instruments, an investable NbS pipeline with benefit-sharing mechanisms, and a Mauritius Blue Finance for Adaptation roadmap and regulatory framework aligned with TNFD (Outcome 3.3).

M&E: Monitoring and evaluation. A GEF and IUCN compliant project monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting system, including annual Project Implementation Reports, a Mid-term Evaluation and a Terminal Evaluation.

Indicative demonstration and sampling sites are Mont Choisy (north-west coast), Poste Lafayette (east coast), Bain Boeuf (north coast), Le Morne (south-west coast) and Albion (west coast), alongside Rodrigues and offshore areas to be confirmed during the PPG phase. Exact site boundaries, polygons and coordinates will be validated during the PPG through GIS review, field verification and confirmation with the Ministry and the National Blue Carbon Task Force.

IUCN is the GEF Agency (Implementing Entity) and the Ministry of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries (Blue Economy and Fisheries Division) will act as the Executing Entity. The National Blue Carbon Task Force, which validated the project concept on 2 April 2025, provides the principal national coordination platform for the project and for the PPG phase. Coordination is also foreseen with regional and international research programmes, including the IORA Blue Carbon Hub, CSIRO, the WIO Mangrove Network and the Blue Africa network.

Description of the Assignment

As per the GEF and IUCN project cycle, the next and final stage in project development is for IUCN to implement the Project Preparation Grant (PPG) phase based on the funding received from the GEF (as indicated above), and lead the development and submission of a fully developed GEF CEO Approval Request, IUCN Agency Project Document and all required annexes and relevant analyses that contribute to the achievement of GEF CEO Approval (clearance from the GEF CEO to begin implementation of the Project). As the project is a Medium-Sized Project (MSP), the applicable GEF decision at this stage is CEO Approval rather than CEO Endorsement.

The GEF CEO's approval of the PIF on 15 June 2026 requires the final project document to be approved within 12 months, that is by 15 June 2027. To allow sufficient time for the iterative review process with the GEF Secretariat, IUCN will submit the GEF CEO Approval package no later than 15 February 2027, after completing the iterative process with different stakeholders, including validation of the project design through a national Validation Workshop.

Included in these ToRs is all the work to respond to any and all GEF Secretariat review requests, to revise submitted project documents and all necessary annexes, as needed to address any concerns or needs to achieve GEF CEO Approval. The review period after submission to the GEF Secretariat will last from 15 February 2027 until CEO Approval is achieved (by 15 June 2027, if not prior).

This final PPG development work is supported by GEF PPG financing under implementation by IUCN, in close collaboration with the Blue Economy and Fisheries Division, the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change and the National Blue Carbon Task Force.

A national PPG Technical Adviser and Coordinator is being recruited separately by IUCN. That role leads in-country stakeholder coordination, convenes and services the consultation programme and the National Blue Carbon Task Force, maintains the consolidated consultation record, and provides technical appraisal of the outputs delivered under this consultancy. The consultants engaged under these ToRs are responsible for the technical design and for drafting the CEO Approval package; they contribute the technical content to consultations convened by the national Coordinator, rather than convening those consultations themselves.

Note: This consultancy forms one part of a two-track PPG preparation team. In parallel, IUCN is recruiting a national PPG Technical Adviser and Coordinator (referred to as ‘National Coordinator) under a separate Terms of Reference. That role is Mauritius-based and provides in-country coordination and technical appraisal: it convenes and services the national consultation programme and the National Blue Carbon Task Force, maintains the consolidated consultation record, facilitates the collection and verification of co-financing commitments and liaison with the GEF Operational Focal Point, and provides independent technical review of the outputs delivered under this consultancy before they are integrated into the CEO Approval package. The two assignments are complementary and interdependent. The consultants engaged under these ToRs hold technical accountability for the project design and for drafting the CEO Approval Request, the IUCN Agency Project Document and all annexes; they contribute the technical content, materials and structured questions to consultations convened by the national Coordinator, rather than convening those consultations themselves. The National Coordinator does not draft the CEO Approval Request, but leads the stakeholder consultations as well as the primary research/field work. Bidders should plan for close, continuous working contact with the Coordinator throughout the assignment, including joint development of the PPG workplan and consultation calendar at inception, and should note that the delivery dates set out below are sequenced against the Coordinator's own review and appraisal milestones.

Composition of the team

This consultancy is to be delivered by a team of two experts working under a single contract, in collaboration with the National Coordinator (as described above):

Expert 1: GEF Design and Drafting Expert, Climate Change Adaptation and Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (Team Leader). Leads the assignment and is technically accountable for the project design and for the CEO Approval package. Responsible for the blue carbon and coastal ecosystem baseline (secondary literature primarily, any primary research will be conducted by the National Coordinator), confirmation and geo-referencing of demonstration and sampling sites, the climate vulnerability and adaptation rationale, GEF Core Indicator baselines and targets, the Theory of Change and results framework, the institutional, governance and execution arrangements, the blue finance architecture and post-project sustainability plan, and the drafting and consolidation of the CEO Approval Request, the IUCN Agency Project Document and all annexes and portal entries, including version control and quality assurance across the package.

Expert 2: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and Gender Specialist. Responsible for the ESS documentation required for GEF compliance and for the safeguards tools required by the project design. These include the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment or Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment and associated safeguard instruments, the screening for vulnerable groups, the Environmental and Social Management Plan, the Grievance Redress Mechanism, the climate risk screening, in-country disclosure of ESS documents, and the Gender Analysis and Gender Action Plan, including gender-sensitive indicators and sex-disaggregated targets for the results framework. Drafts the corresponding sections and annexes of the CEO Approval package. It is ideal if the expert is based in Mauritius.

Proposals may be submitted either by a consulting firm fielding both experts, or by individual consultants submitting a joint proposal, with one nominated as lead for contracting and payment purposes. In either case, a single technical and financial proposal in English is required, covering both roles and indicating the proposed level of effort and daily rate for each. The two experts are jointly responsible for delivering an internally consistent CEO Approval Request package that meets GEF and IUCN requirements.

1) Expected Deliverables

Key deliverables defined in these ToRs to be developed by the Consultant/Firm and provided to IUCN include:

KEY DELIVERABLE 1: Project design concept, including comprehensive methodology and workplan for CEO Approval package development

In close coordination with IUCN, the Blue Economy Division and the national PPG Technical Adviser and Coordinator, develop a project design concept containing the methodology and plan to undertake the drafting of the CEO Approval package. This should include a detailed workplan with milestones, a clear division of responsibilities between the two experts, the technical inputs required from each stakeholder group, logistical needs, and the modalities for field verification and site visits including Rodrigues. The workplan must align with the consultation calendar prepared by the National Coordinator. An Inception Workshop, followed by field verification and site-level consultations and a consolidation session, is recommended.

KEY DELIVERABLE 2: First Draft of CEO Approval package

The first version of the CEO Approval Request package should include:

a. Description of project context and objectives: baseline assessment (including site-specific information collected through primary and secondary sources), root causes and barriers to be addressed, business-as-usual scenario vs. project intervention alternatives

b. Justification of the alignment with GEF-8 programming directions and SCCF Window A programming for climate change adaptation, and with national and regional priorities

c. Review of secondary literature and prior assessments, including the 2019 to 2024 nearshore seagrass, mangrove and tidal marsh assessments, and assessment of existing national strategies, policies and frameworks relevant to the project, including the NDC, NAP, NBSAP, ICZM, marine spatial planning and Blue Economy and climate finance strategies

d. Consolidated blue carbon and coastal ecosystem baseline, confirmed and geo-referenced demonstration and sampling sites, and the technical scope and protocols for national mapping, baseline inventory and MRV

e. Climate vulnerability and adaptation rationale, and preliminary gender and environmental and social safeguard considerations relevant to the project's intervention logic and geographical scope

f. Proposed Theory of Change

g. Draft logical framework with gender-disaggregated indicators

h. GEF Core Indicator baselines and proposed targets

KEY DELIVERABLE 3: Second Draft of CEO Approval package

Following completion of the PPG activities set out in Section 2, the second version of the CEO Approval Request should include:

a. All the information from Deliverable 1 and Deliverable 2

b. Proposed project execution and management structure, including reporting arrangements and flow of funds

c. Institutional arrangements, project implementation arrangements and project team, including the cross-sectoral coordination mechanism and its relationship to the National Blue Carbon Task Force

d. Description of components and detailed activities, with overlaps and duplications carried over from PIF stage resolved

e. Design of the blue finance architecture, including the finance framework, registry and taxonomy approach, the investable pipeline and benefit-sharing arrangements, and the post-project financing sustainability plan

f. Consolidated results framework with a separate budget between GEF resources and co-financing resources (detailed by co-financier) (Table B)

g. Description of performance and output indicators and baseline data, including confirmed GEF Core Indicator targets

h. Incremental and additional cost reasoning of the project in relation to the SCCF investment, and estimation of adaptation benefits

i. A monitoring and evaluation plan for the project, including detailed costs, monitoring arrangements and deliverables

j. Theory of Change and institutional arrangements (demonstrating funds flow) diagrams

k. ESS documentation, including the ESIA or SESA, ESMP, any further plans or tools required by the applicable standards, and the Grievance Redress Mechanism, with a record of in-country disclosure

l. Gender Assessment/Analysis and Gender Action Plan

m. Knowledge Management and Learning Plan, including strategic communication plan, budget and timeline

n. Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), specifically addressing civil society organisations, vulnerable groups and, as applicable, local communities (National Coordinator to support this deliverable)

o. Private Sector Engagement Plan (National Coordinator to support this deliverable)

p. Co-financing letters from the Government of Mauritius and partners, with the amount, type and definition of investment mobilised (National Coordinator to support this deliverable)

KEY DELIVERABLE 4: IUCN Agency Project Document and Final Draft of CEO Approval Request with all required Annexes

Complete pre-due diligence of the Executing Entity and provide the final draft of the CEO Approval Request and the IUCN Agency Project Document (using the IUCN template). All required annexes must be completed and integrated, including:

a. All the information from Deliverables 1, 2 and 3, updated to reflect comments received from IUCN, the Blue Economy Division, the National Blue Carbon Task Force and national stakeholders, and the outcome of the national Validation Workshop

b. Pre-due diligence of the Executing Entity (IUCN standard template)

c. Final monitoring and evaluation plan, including detailed costs, monitoring arrangements and deliverables

d. Final estimation of adaptation benefits and end-project target GEF Core Indicators, with methodology

e. Final Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP)

f. Final ESS documentation, including the ESIA or SESA, ESMP, any further plans or tools required by the applicable standards, and the Grievance Redress Mechanism, with a record of in-country disclosure

g. Final Gender Assessment/Analysis and Gender Action Plan

h. Final documentation on the blue finance architecture and all related studies and diagrams

i. Final Knowledge Management and Learning Plan and Private Sector Engagement Plan

j. Confirmed co-financing letters and the GEF Operational Focal Point endorsement (National Coordinator to lead this deliverable)

All annexes are to be delivered to the standard of quality required for GEF approval, and the package is to be checked against the GEF-8 list of key requirements leading to CEO Endorsement or Approval submission prior to delivery to IUCN.

KEY DELIVERABLE 5: Response to GEF Secretariat review and technical clearance

After IUCN's submission of the CEO Approval package to the GEF Secretariat (deadline: 15 February 2027), it is expected that the consultants will remain available until CEO Approval is achieved (deadline: 15 June 2027) to complete the iterative review process with the GEF. This will include IUCN's response to GEF Secretariat review comments on the CEO Approval package and on the project design, in order to obtain technical clearance and approval of the CEO Approval Request. All comments received during this final stage must be adequately addressed and, if required, consulted among stakeholders and with IUCN internal experts to ensure technical soundness of the responses. Where necessary, the National Coordinator will provide first level of quality assurance of the deliverables.

2) PPG Activities and Sub-deliverables

A. General

The deliverables to be developed by the Consultant/Firm and provided to IUCN will require the following five sets of activities and sub-deliverables:

SET OF ACTIVITIES 1, throughout PPG: Contribute the technical content to, and draw design inputs from, the national stakeholder consultation programme convened by the national PPG Technical Adviser and Coordinator, and prepare the Stakeholder Engagement Plan for the implementation phase. Led by Expert 1.

SET OF ACTIVITIES 2, as part of Deliverable 2: Establish the blue carbon and coastal ecosystem baseline, confirm and geo-reference the demonstration and sampling sites, define the technical scope and protocols for national mapping and MRV, update the climate vulnerability and adaptation rationale, and set GEF Core Indicator baselines and targets. Led by Expert 1.

SET OF ACTIVITIES 3, as part of Deliverables 2 and 3: Design the project's intervention logic, Theory of Change, results framework and budget; define the institutional, governance and execution arrangements including the cross-sectoral coordination mechanism; and design the blue finance architecture, investable pipeline and post-project financing sustainability plan. Led by Expert 1.

SET OF ACTIVITIES 4, as part of Deliverables 3 and 4: Undertake the environmental and social impact assessment and gender work required for the CEO Approval package, including the ESIA or SESA, safeguard instruments, screening for vulnerable groups, Grievance Redress Mechanism, climate risk screening, in-country disclosure, Gender Analysis and Gender Action Plan. Led by Expert 2.

SET OF ACTIVITIES 5, throughout PPG: Draft and consolidate the CEO Approval Request, the IUCN Agency Project Document, the results framework, the budget tables, the M&E plan and all required annexes and portal entries; document consultation and workshop proceedings; and maintain version control, internal consistency and quality assurance across the package through each review round. Led by Expert 1, with Expert 2 drafting the safeguards and gender sections and annexes.

B. Detailed

SET OF ACTIVITIES 1: Technical contribution to the national stakeholder consultation programme (throughout PPG)

Objective 1: To ensure that the project design is grounded in the views of national and site-level stakeholders, that the technical questions requiring stakeholder resolution are put clearly and at the right moment, and that the resulting recommendations are integrated into the final design and recorded in a Stakeholder Engagement Plan that will guide engagement throughout implementation.

Table 1. Activities, sub-activities and outputs to achieve PPG Objective 1.

PPG Activity - Sub-activities - Outputs

Activity 1: Contribute to and draw on the national stakeholder consultation programme

Expert 1 leads for the consultancy team; Expert 2 contributes

Sub-activities

– A.1.1 Participate in the virtual kick-off meeting with IUCN, the Blue Economy Division, the Ministry of Environment and the National Coordinator, at which focal points, roles and quality standards are confirmed.

– A.1.2 Review key documents, including the approved PIF and PPG request, GEF Secretariat comments, the National Blue Carbon Task Force records, prior nearshore seagrass, mangrove and tidal marsh assessments (2019 to 2024), the NDC, NAP, NBSAP, ICZM and marine spatial planning instruments, the Blue Economy strategy, IUCN GEF policy and guidance documents, SCCF programming guidance and GEF-8 templates.

– A.1.3 Develop, together with Expert 2 and the national PPG Technical Adviser and Coordinator, a comprehensive methodology and workplan for CEO Approval package development, including milestones, logistical needs, modalities for field visits (including Rodrigues) and the technical questions to be put to each stakeholder group.

– A.1.4 Address feedback received from IUCN, the Blue Economy Division, the National Blue Carbon Task Force and the national Coordinator on the methodology, workplan and consultation strategy.

– A.1.5 Co-facilitate the national Inception Workshop and thematic consultation sessions, providing the technical content, presentation materials and structured questions required to elicit design inputs. Consultation logistics, invitations and convening are led by the National Coordinator.

– A.1.6 Participate in site-level consultations at the demonstration and sampling sites and in Rodrigues, in the programme convened by the National Coordinator, and use these to validate site selection, intervention design and community co-management arrangements.

– A.1.7 Co-facilitate the national Validation Workshop and integrate the resulting feedback into the final CEO Approval package.

– A.1.8 Prepare the Stakeholder Engagement Plan for the implementation phase, drawing on the consultation record maintained by the National Coordinator and specifically addressing civil society organisations, vulnerable groups and, as applicable, local communities, with input from Expert 2.

Outputs

– Output 1.1 Comprehensive methodology and workplan for CEO Approval package development

– Output 1.2 Technical content and materials for the Inception Workshop, thematic sessions, site-level consultations and Validation Workshop

– Output 1.3 Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) for the implementation phase

SET OF ACTIVITIES 2: Blue carbon and coastal ecosystem baseline, site confirmation and Core Indicators (as part of Deliverable 2)

Objective 2: To establish the decision-grade technical and climate baseline on which the project design rests, to confirm where the project will work, and to set defensible Core Indicator baselines and targets together with the adaptation reasoning required under the SCCF.

Table 2. Activities, sub-activities and outputs to achieve PPG Objective 2.

PPG Activity - Sub-activities - Outputs

Activity 2.1: Blue carbon and coastal ecosystem baseline

Expert 1 leads

Sub-activities

– A.2.1.1 Consolidate the existing evidence base on Mauritius' blue carbon ecosystems (mangroves, seagrass meadows, tidal wetlands and associated coastal systems), including ecosystem extent, condition, carbon value, pressures and data gaps, drawing on prior national assessments and regional datasets.

– A.2.1.2 Define the technical scope, standards and field survey protocols for the national mapping and baseline inventory to be delivered under Component 2, including alignment with IPCC guidance, national GHG inventory systems and MRV requirements, and specify the data architecture and platform requirements.

– A.2.1.3 Confirm and geo-reference the demonstration and sampling sites (Mont Choisy, Poste Lafayette, Bain Boeuf, Le Morne, Albion, together with Rodrigues and any offshore areas confirmed during the PPG), through GIS review, field verification and confirmation with the Ministry and the National Blue Carbon Task Force.

– A.2.1.4 Update the climate vulnerability and adaptation rationale for the project, and articulate the adaptation reasoning and additional cost reasoning required under the SCCF.

– A.2.1.5 Define GEF Core Indicator baselines and end-project targets, with supporting methodology, together with the estimation of adaptation benefits and direct beneficiaries disaggregated by sex.

Outputs

– Output 2.1 Consolidated blue carbon and coastal ecosystem baseline, with data gap analysis

– Output 2.2 Technical scope, standards and protocols for national mapping, baseline inventory and MRV

– Output 2.3 Confirmed and geo-referenced site list with coordinates and rationale

– Output 2.4 Climate vulnerability and adaptation rationale, with adaptation and additional cost reasoning

– Output 2.5 GEF Core Indicator baselines and targets, with supporting methodology

SET OF ACTIVITIES 3: Project design, institutional arrangements and blue finance architecture (as part of Deliverables 2 and 3)

Objective 3: To convert the baseline and the PIF-stage concept into a fully specified project, with a coherent intervention logic and results framework, workable institutional and execution arrangements, and a blue finance architecture and sustainability pathway capable of outlasting the project period.

Table 3. Activities, sub-activities and outputs to achieve PPG Objective 3.

PPG Activity - Sub-activities - Outputs

Activity 3.1: Intervention design, Theory of Change and results framework

Expert 1 leads

Sub-activities

– A.3.1.1 Refine the component, outcome and output structure set out in the PIF, resolving overlaps and duplications carried over from PIF stage, and define detailed activities, sequencing and dependencies across the three technical components.

– A.3.1.2 Develop the Theory of Change, setting out how the evidence base, institutional readiness, planning integration and finance instruments combine to deliver adaptation outcomes.

– A.3.1.3 Develop the results framework, with indicator names, units of measurement, baseline and target data, gender-sensitive indicators and sex-disaggregated targets, and the associated monitoring and evaluation plan with detailed costs, monitoring arrangements and deliverables.

– A.3.1.4 Prepare the consolidated budget, separating GEF resources from co-financing resources detailed by co-financier, and reconcile the project financing and agency fee figures carried over from PIF stage with IUCN.

Outputs

– Output 3.1 Refined component, outcome, output and activity structure

– Output 3.2 Theory of Change

– Output 3.3 Results framework with gender-sensitive indicators, and monitoring and evaluation plan with costed arrangements

– Output 3.4 Consolidated budget with GEF and co-financing resources separated by co-financier

Activity 3.2: Institutional, governance and execution arrangements

Expert 1 leads

Sub-activities

– A.3.2.1 Define the project execution and management structure, including the role of the Blue Economy and Fisheries Division as Executing Entity, IUCN as GEF Agency, the Project Board or Steering Committee and its Terms of Reference, reporting arrangements and flow of funds.

– A.3.2.2 Define the cross-sectoral coordination mechanism to be operationalised under Output 1.1.1, including the relationship to the National Blue Carbon Task Force, and confirm institutional roles, mandates and data-sharing arrangements across the ministries and agencies engaged.

– A.3.2.3 Complete pre-due diligence of the Executing Entity and any additional execution partners, using the IUCN standard template.

– A.3.2.4 Develop the Knowledge Management and Learning Plan, including tools and methods for knowledge exchange, knowledge outputs, a strategic communication plan, and the associated budget and timeline, and define coordination arrangements with the IORA Blue Carbon Hub, CSIRO, the WIO Mangrove Network, the Blue Africa network and other relevant initiatives.

– A.3.2.5 Develop the Private Sector Engagement Plan, setting out the anticipated roles and types of private sector actors across tourism, fisheries, aquaculture and the financial sector, and the mechanisms for their participation.

Outputs

– Output 3.5 Execution, management and institutional arrangements, including Project Board Terms of Reference, reporting arrangements and flow of funds

– Output 3.6 Cross-sectoral coordination mechanism design and confirmed institutional roles

– Output 3.7 Pre-due diligence of the Executing Entity (IUCN standard template)

– Output 3.8 Knowledge Management and Learning Plan, including strategic communication plan, budget and timeline

– Output 3.9 Private Sector Engagement Plan

Activity 3.3: Blue finance architecture and sustainability

Expert 1 leads

Sub-activities

– A.3.3.1 Assess the blue finance instruments and frameworks to be developed under Outcomes 1.1 and 3.3, including registry infrastructure, a regenerative Blue Economy taxonomy, high-integrity standards and protocols for investment and carbon accounting, and alignment with TNFD and emerging international standards.

– A.3.3.2 Define the approach to the investable pipeline of ecosystem-based adaptation and nature-based solution investments, including selection criteria, benefit-sharing arrangements and the link to mapped blue carbon assets and co-management arrangements.

– A.3.3.3 Prepare the post-project financing sustainability plan, setting out how the systems, data platform, MRV architecture and finance instruments will be sustained beyond the project period.

– A.3.3.4 Confirm co-financing amounts, types and the definition of investment mobilised with each co-financier, and support IUCN and the national Coordinator in obtaining updated co-financing letters and the GEF Operational Focal Point endorsement.

Outputs

– Output 3.10 Assessment and design of blue finance instruments and frameworks

– Output 3.11 Approach to the investable NbS and adaptation pipeline, with selection and benefit-sharing criteria

– Output 3.12 Post-project financing sustainability plan

– Output 3.13 Confirmed co-financing letters and investment mobilised definitions

SET OF ACTIVITIES 4: Environmental and social impact assessment, safeguards, gender and social inclusion (as part of Deliverables 3 and 4)

Objective 4: To assess and manage the environmental and social risks associated with the project's restoration, conservation, survey and zoning interventions, and to ensure that gender equality and social inclusion are analysed, planned for and embedded in the project design, the results framework and the project's own appraisal arrangements.

Table 4. Activities, sub-activities and outputs to achieve PPG Objective 4.

PPG Activity - Sub-activities - Outputs

Activity 4.1: Environmental and social impact assessment and safeguards

Expert 2 leads

Sub-activities

– A.4.1.1 Undertake an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment or Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment of the risks potentially triggered by project interventions, with particular attention to the restoration and conservation demonstrations, field survey activities in sensitive coastal and marine habitats, and community co-management arrangements, building on the ESMS Screening completed at PIF stage and confirming the safeguards categorisation.

– A.4.1.2 Screen for the presence, rights and interests of vulnerable groups in and around the demonstration sites and in Rodrigues, including small-scale fishers, fisher associations and coastal households dependent on the affected ecosystems, and prepare the corresponding safeguard instruments where triggered.

– A.4.1.3 Assess access and resource-use implications of restoration, conservation and zoning measures, and develop mitigation measures together with affected communities, consolidated into an Environmental and Social Management Plan and any further plans or tools required by the applicable standards.

– A.4.1.4 Develop a project-level Grievance Redress Mechanism, and define how safeguard requirements will be embedded in the project's own appraisal and operational procedures and in the blue finance instruments developed under Outcome 3.3.

– A.4.1.5 Conduct a climate risk screening for the areas of intervention, consistent with the project's SCCF adaptation framing.

– A.4.1.6 Arrange in-country disclosure of the ESS documents in the relevant languages, recording publication dates and locations as required for the CEO Approval package.

Outputs

– Output 4.1 ESIA or SESA report, with confirmed safeguards categorisation

– Output 4.2 Environmental and Social Management Plan and any further safeguard instruments required

– Output 4.3 Project-level Grievance Redress Mechanism, and safeguard provisions for project and blue finance appraisal procedures

– Output 4.4 Climate risk screening for the areas of intervention

– Output 4.5 Record of in-country ESS disclosure, with publication dates and locations

Activity 4.2: Gender and social inclusion

Expert 2 leads

Sub-activities

– A.4.2.1 Conduct a Gender Analysis for the project's areas of intervention, examining differences in roles, knowledge, rights and decision-making influence, and in access to and control over coastal and marine resources, in coastal and fisheries-dependent communities in Mauritius and Rodrigues.

– A.4.2.2 Develop a Gender Action Plan that can be operationalised during implementation, addressing the participation of women and youth in ecosystem monitoring, restoration, co-management, blue jobs and benefit-sharing arrangements foreseen under Outcome 3.2.

– A.4.2.3 Define gender-sensitive indicators and sex-disaggregated targets for the results framework, together with the process for collecting sex-disaggregated data, and identify gender-responsive measures to be embedded in relevant project activities.

– A.4.2.4 Define gender-responsive and socially inclusive criteria for integration into the project's investment appraisal and governance arrangements, including the blue finance instruments and the co-management systems.

Outputs

– Output 4.6 Gender Analysis for the project's areas of intervention

– Output 4.7 Gender Action Plan

– Output 4.8 Gender-sensitive indicators, sex-disaggregated targets and data collection process for the results framework, and gender-responsive appraisal criteria

SET OF ACTIVITIES 5: Drafting, consolidation and quality assurance of the CEO Approval package (throughout PPG)

Objective 5: To produce a complete, internally consistent and submission-ready CEO Approval Request package and IUCN Agency Project Document that integrates all technical inputs, meets GEF-8, SCCF and IUCN requirements, and withstands GEF Secretariat review.

Table 5. Activities, sub-activities and outputs to achieve PPG Objective 5.

PPG Activity - Sub-activities - Outputs

Activity 5.1: Drafting of the CEO Approval Request, Project Document and annexes

Expert 1 leads; Expert 2 drafts the safeguards and gender sections and annexes

Sub-activities

– A.5.1.1 Draft successive versions of the CEO Approval Request using the current GEF-8 template, and the IUCN Agency Project Document using the IUCN template, integrating all technical inputs into a single coherent narrative.

– A.5.1.2 Prepare and format all required annexes and GEF portal entries, including the Core Indicator worksheets, Taxonomy Worksheet, Rio Markers, project location and financing tables.

– A.5.1.3 Prepare the incremental and additional cost reasoning for the project in relation to the SCCF investment, and the estimation of adaptation benefits.

– A.5.1.4 Document the proceedings of the Inception Workshop, thematic sessions, site-level consultations and Validation Workshop, in coordination with the national PPG Technical Adviser and Coordinator who maintains the consolidated consultation record.

Outputs

– Output 5.1 Successive drafts of the CEO Approval Request

– Output 5.2 IUCN Agency Project Document

– Output 5.3 Complete annex set and GEF portal entries

– Output 5.4 Incremental and additional cost reasoning, and estimation of adaptation benefits

Activity 5.2: Quality assurance, consistency and response to review

Expert 1 leads, with Expert 2

Sub-activities

– A.5.2.1 Maintain version control and carry out systematic internal consistency checks across the CEO Approval Request, Project Document, results framework, budget, Core Indicators and annexes, verifying arithmetic, cross-references, component, outcome and output numbering, beneficiary figures and co-financing totals before each submission to IUCN.

– A.5.2.2 Compile a compliance check of the package against the GEF-8 list of key requirements leading to CEO Endorsement or Approval submission, and against IUCN requirements, identifying and closing any gaps.

– A.5.2.3 Prepare consolidated comment-response matrices for comments received from IUCN, the Blue Economy Division, the National Blue Carbon Task Force and the GEF Secretariat, and incorporate agreed revisions across all affected documents.

Outputs

– Output 5.5 Version-controlled, internally consistent submission package

– Output 5.6 Compliance checklist against GEF-8 and IUCN requirements

– Output 5.7 Comment-response matrices for each review round

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

Consultants may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to support specific tasks within this assignment, for example transcription of consultations, thematic synthesis of stakeholder feedback, or summarising background documents and comparable case studies during desk review. Consultants nonetheless remain fully accountable for the quality, accuracy, confidentiality, integrity and ethical conduct of the assignment. AI must not be used to fabricate or misrepresent evidence, analysis, findings or conclusions, and must not substitute for the consultants' own technical judgement, including on the blue carbon and adaptation baseline, safeguards classification, gender analysis, or results framework and core indicator targets. All analysis and recommendations in the CEO Approval Request package must be grounded in verified data and stakeholder input gathered through the methodology agreed with IUCN. Consultants must not upload confidential or personally identifiable information, including material from stakeholder consultations, to public AI platforms, and may be required to disclose how AI tools were used during the assignment.

Duration of the Assignment

The period of the consultancy will run from early October 2026 to 15 June 2027, including the GEF Secretariat review period. Exact start date, and the corresponding internal milestones below, to be confirmed at contract signature. The technical and financial proposal must indicate the proposed level of effort in days for each expert, including days allocated to travel to Mauritius and Rodrigues.

Deliverables and Activities

The consultants will provide the following deliverables and carry out the following activities:

Deliverable and associated activities - Lead - Due date

• Kick-off meeting and document review (A.1.1 to A.1.2) - Experts 1 and 2 - 16 September 2026
• DELIVERABLE 1: Project design concept, methodology and workplan (A.1.3 to A.1.4) - Expert 1 - 05 October 2026
• Inception Workshop and thematic consultation sessions (A.1.5) - Expert 1 National Coordinator will support this deliverable - mid October 2026
• Site-level consultations and field verification, including Rodrigues (A.1.6) - Experts 1 and 2, NC - late October – mid November 2026
• Blue carbon and coastal ecosystem baseline, site confirmation and Core Indicators (A.2.1) - Expert 1, NC- mid November 2026
• ESIA or SESA, safeguard instruments and Grievance Redress Mechanism (A.4.1) - Expert 2 - November 2026
• Gender Analysis and Gender Action Plan (A.4.2) - Expert 2 - November 2026
• DELIVERABLE 2: First Draft CEO Approval Request- Expert 1 - 05 December 2026
• Intervention design, Theory of Change and results framework (A.3.1) - Expert 1 - December 2026 to January 2027
• Institutional, governance and execution arrangements (A.3.2) - Expert 1, NC - December 2026 to January 2027
• Blue finance architecture, sustainability plan and co-financing letters (A.3.3) - Expert 1 - December 2026 to January 2027
• DELIVERABLE 3: Second Draft CEO Approval Request, with safeguards, gender and governance annexes and co-financing letters - Expert 1 - 27 January 2027
• Quality assurance and compliance check (A.5.2.1 to A.5.2.2) - Expert 1, NC - early February 2027
• National Validation Workshop (A.1.7) - Experts 1 and 2 - 09 February 2027
• DELIVERABLE 4: Final CEO Approval Request package, IUCN Agency Project Document and all annexes and letters - Expert 1 - 13 February 2027
• IUCN submission of the CEO Approval package to the GEF Secretariat - IUCN - 15 February 2027
• DELIVERABLE 5: Responses to GEF Secretariat review comments, through to technical clearance - Expert 1, with Expert 2 - By 15 June 2027

Payment Schedule

The table below summarises the chronological order of deliverables and indicates the milestones at which IUCN will pay the consultant/firm. Percentages apply to the total contract value covering both experts.

Deliverable - Expected date of delivery - Milestone payment

1. Project design concept, including methodology and workplan for CEO Approval package development - 16/10/2026 - 10%

2. First Draft of CEO Approval Request (project context, baseline, Theory of Change and draft results framework) - 18/12/2026 - 20%

3. Second Draft of CEO Approval Request, including safeguards, gender and governance annexes and co-financing letters - 27/01/2027 - 30%

4. Final CEO Approval Request with all required annexes sufficient for approval by GEF, and IUCN Agency Project Document - 10/02/2027 - 30%

5. Responses to GEF Secretariat's review and comments on the CEO Approval package submitted, through the iterative review process with GEF - By 15/06/2027 - 10%

• All products will be paid once delivered to IUCN and the Blue Economy Division and to their complete satisfaction (internal quality assurance processes cleared).
• The consultant / consulting firm must consider in the technical proposal the modification of some deliverables during the execution of the contract, if necessary to adapt some results, without affecting the amount of the original contract.
• The technical and financial proposal must set out the proposed level of effort (in days) and daily rate for each of the two experts, together with a separate breakdown of travel and workshop costs (these costs will be paid in actuals, as per IUCN non-staff travel policy).

Supervision and Coordination

The consultants will report to and work under the supervision of the IUCN ESARO Coastal and Ocean Resilience Programme Manager and the IUCN Regional Multilateral Finance Portfolio Manager (GEF/GCF). The IUCN Regional Gender, Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist will provide support to Expert 2 on the ESMS, gender and stakeholder documentation.

The consultants will be expected to work in close collaboration with the national PPG Technical Adviser and Coordinator recruited under a separate Terms of Reference, who leads in-country stakeholder coordination, convenes the consultation programme and the National Blue Carbon Task Force, and provides technical appraisal of the outputs delivered under this consultancy.

The work will require coordination with IUCN senior staff based in Headquarters and in the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office, and close collaboration with the Ministry of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries (Blue Economy Division) as Executing Entity, the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, the National Blue Carbon Task Force, and key national stakeholders and co-executing entities in Mauritius and Rodrigues.

Skills and Experience

For the development of this consultancy, a team of two experts should be proposed, meeting the profile requirements set out below. Where the proposed team is entirely international, the inclusion of at least one expert based in, or with substantial working experience in, Mauritius or the Western Indian Ocean is strongly encouraged. Note: The two-person team will work closely with the National Coordinator

Expert 1: GEF Design and Drafting Expert, Climate Change Adaptation and Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (Team Leader)

Mandatory

1. Demonstrated experience developing GEF CEO Endorsement or Approval Request packages, agency project documents and their annexes, with working knowledge of the current GEF-8 templates and the GEF portal.
2. Experience and expertise in project design, including Theory of Change, results frameworks, GEF Core Indicators and monitoring and evaluation, including gender-responsive project design.
3. Technical expertise in climate change adaptation, including ecosystem-based adaptation, climate risk and vulnerability assessment, and national adaptation planning instruments such as NAPs and NDCs.
4. Technical expertise in coastal and marine ecosystem management, covering one or more of mangroves, seagrass meadows, coral reefs and coastal wetlands, and familiarity with marine spatial planning and integrated coastal zone management will be an asset.
5. Working knowledge of blue carbon science, carbon accounting and MRV, including IPCC guidance for coastal wetlands and integration with national GHG inventory systems.
6. Experience with adaptation financing, ideally the SCCF, LDCF, Adaptation Fund or GCF, and a sound grasp of adaptation reasoning and additional cost reasoning.
7. Attention to detail and proven ability to consolidate technical inputs from multiple specialists into a coherent, internally consistent submission package, with demonstrated attention to document integrity: arithmetic accuracy, cross-referencing, component, outcome and output numbering, and version control across long technical documents.
8. Experience preparing comment-response matrices and managing iterative revision rounds with donors, secretariats or multilateral funds, and ability to coordinate multiple inputs, especially co-financing letters and endorsement letters that require close follow up.
9. Availability to travel to Mauritius, including Rodrigues, for field verification and consultations.
10. Excellent technical writing and editing skills in English.

Optional, but advantageous

1. Experience working in Small Island Developing States, particularly in the Western Indian Ocean.
2. Familiarity with blue finance instruments, payment for ecosystem services, results-based finance and the TNFD framework.
3. Knowledge of Mauritius' policy and institutional landscape, including the NDC, NAP, NBSAP, ICZM, marine spatial planning and Blue Economy strategies.
4. Familiarity with regional blue carbon platforms and networks, including the IORA Blue Carbon Hub and the WIO Mangrove Network.
5. Prior experience with IUCN project document templates and IUCN quality assurance processes.
6. Working knowledge of French and/or Mauritian Creole.
7. Proposed academic background: marine or coastal sciences, climate change adaptation, environmental management, natural resources governance, or a related field.

Expert 2: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and Gender Specialist

Mandatory

1. Expertise in Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA), and in the development of Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMP) and other safeguard instruments.
2. Experience applying multilateral fund or international financial institution safeguard standards (GEF, IUCN ESMS or equivalent), including safeguard screening, categorisation and public disclosure requirements.
3. Demonstrated experience conducting environmental and social assessment in coastal and marine settings, including for restoration, conservation, nature-based solution or coastal zoning interventions.
4. Expertise in gender analysis and in the preparation of Gender Assessments/Analyses and Gender Action Plans for coastal, marine, fisheries or climate adaptation projects, including gender-sensitive indicators and sex-disaggregated targets for results frameworks.
5. Experience in designing project-level grievance redress mechanisms.
6. Experience assessing the presence, rights and interests of vulnerable groups in coastal and fisheries-dependent communities, including access and resource-use implications of conservation and zoning measures, and in preparing the corresponding safeguard instruments.
7. Knowledge of the environmental and social legislation and environmental impact assessment procedures of Mauritius or of a comparable Small Island Developing State.
8. Availability to travel to Mauritius, including Rodrigues, for field work and consultations.
9. Fluency in English.

Optional, but advantageous

1. Familiarity with the Mauritius Environment Protection Act and national EIA regulatory framework.
2. Experience applying IUCN's Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) specifically.
3. Experience conducting climate risk screening for coastal or marine investments.
4. Experience with community-based co-management and benefit-sharing arrangements in fisheries or coastal contexts.
5. Working knowledge of French and/or Mauritian Creole.
6. Proposed academic background: environmental management, social sciences, anthropology or sociology, gender studies, or a related field.