Technical appraisal, advisory and national stakeholder coordination services for the Project Preparation Grant (PPG) phase of the GEF-SCCF project

Terms of Reference for IUCN Consultancy

Technical appraisal, advisory and national stakeholder coordination services for the Project Preparation Grant (PPG) phase of 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):

• Provide technical appraisal and advisory services for the GEF CEO Approval 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 the achievement of GEF CEO Approval of the medium-sized project (MSP), with submission to the GEF Secretariat no later than 15 February 2027 and CEO Approval within the 12-month window from PIF approval (15 June 2026) required under GEF policy.
• Lead in-country stakeholder coordination for the PPG phase: mapping and convening national and site-level stakeholders, servicing the National Blue Carbon Task Force, planning and facilitating the consultation programme, maintaining the consultation record, and consolidating national technical inputs and co-financing commitments.
• Coordinate day to day with the project preparation team (national consultants and the international firm), IUCN, implementing partners, the Ministry of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries (Blue Economy Division) and the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change.
• This consultancy is for a national/Mauritius-based consultant and the selected candidate will be referred to as the PPG Technical Adviser and Coordinator.

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 Blue Economy and Fisheries Division is the anticipated Executing Entity.

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 a set of barriers that 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 important 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.

https://www.thegef.org/projects-operations/projects/12334

The project will move Mauritius from fragmented ecosystem studies toward a proactive, investment-ready approach to climate resilience, providing a replicable model for SIDS seeking to connect blue carbon science, ecosystem-based adaptation and community stewardship. It is structured around three technical components and a monitoring and evaluation component:

Component 1 — Strengthening Institutional Capacity and Adaptation Readiness, Governance Frameworks and Knowledge Systems. Establishes the institutional, policy, governance and knowledge foundations for blue carbon. 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. 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. 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. 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 including Agalega, St Brandon and the Saya de Malha and Nazareth Banks, 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.

The project was validated through consultations with the National Blue Carbon Task Force on 2 April 2025, which brought together government institutions, academic partners, civil society organisations and private and technical partners. Those consultations confirmed the project's relevance and identified the need to further define institutional roles, technical capacities and coordination mechanisms during 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.

Technical appraisal and national stakeholder coordination -Mauritius GEF SCCF Project Pre

Description of the Assignment

As per the GEF and IUCN project cycle, the next and final stage in project development is for IUCN to lead the development and submission of a fully developed GEF CEO Approval request, IUCN project document and all required annexes and relevant analyses that contribute to achieving GEF CEO Approval of the MSP.

GEF policy requires the final project document to be approved within 12 months of PIF approval, that is by 15 June 2027. In line with GEF Agency practice, up to 8 months from PIF approval is allocated to development and submission of the CEO Approval request, plus up to a further 12 weeks for GEF Secretariat review. On this basis, IUCN will submit the GEF CEO Approval package no later than 15 February 2027, targeting technical clearance and CEO Approval by around 10 May 2027 and in any event by the 15 June 2027 deadline.

Through this consultancy, IUCN is seeking to recruit a national PPG Technical Adviser and Coordinator to provide technical appraisal and advisory services, and to lead in-country stakeholder coordination, during the GEF SCCF PPG phase in Mauritius, ultimately supporting the submission of a technically robust and compliant GEF CEO Approval package to the GEF Secretariat.

The PPG Technical Adviser and Coordinator will serve as the principal national focal point for coordination and strategic technical guidance, facilitating the integration, review and quality assurance of technical inputs from national stakeholders, leading the organisation and facilitation of consultation processes, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, technically sound inputs that meet stakeholder expectations and IUCN and GEF requirements.

The role will not involve drafting the CEO Approval request, which will be undertaken under a separate consultancy. Instead, the Adviser will be responsible for coordinating stakeholders and inputs, providing technical review and advice, and ensuring alignment, coherence and technical consistency across project components, working closely with the Blue Economy Division, the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, IUCN staff, the recruited consultants and the pre-identified co-executing agencies throughout the process.

Key responsibilities

The PPG Technical Adviser and Coordinator will play a central, cross-cutting role in the coordination and oversight of all PPG activities. While not responsible for drafting the CEO Approval request, the Coordinator will ensure the coherence, technical quality and timely delivery of all inputs contributing to its preparation, and will provide technical appraisal and peer review of the CEO Approval package and related annexes. Responsibilities include:

• Serve as the primary coordination focal point for all PPG stakeholders, including IUCN, the Blue Economy Division, the Ministry of Environment, the National Blue Carbon Task Force, the international and national consultants, and administrative support staff.
• Lead the preparation and implementation of a detailed PPG workplan and methodology, developed in close collaboration with the project design and preparation consultants (PPG Consultants), and aligned with GEF, SCCF and IUCN standards and timelines.
• Provide coordination support to the selected project design and preparation consultants, including those covering thematic areas such as blue carbon assessment and MRV, ecosystem mapping and remote sensing, coastal and marine spatial planning, ecosystem-based adaptation and restoration, blue finance and environmental economics, and stakeholder engagement. Ensure that their inputs are delivered on time, technically sound, and coherent across project components.
• Ensure quality control of all national-level deliverables and technical contributions prior to their integration by the project design and preparation consultants into the CEO Approval request and annexes.
• Synthesise and organise inputs from national stakeholders, facilitating their effective integration into successive drafts of the CEO Approval request by the project design and preparation consultants. The PPG Technical Adviser and Coordinator is not responsible for drafting the proposal but plays a critical role in aligning and validating national contributions.
• Lead the planning, convening and facilitation of stakeholder consultations at national and site level (including inception, consultation and validation workshops), in close collaboration with IUCN, the Blue Economy Division and the National Blue Carbon Task Force, as set out in the section below.
• Review and provide technical input on key supporting documents, including baseline and feasibility studies (in particular blue carbon and coastal ecosystem studies), safeguards planning and ESMS documentation, gender analysis and action plan, stakeholder engagement plans, and other annexes required for the CEO Approval package, ensuring consistency with national priorities and project objectives.
• Verify technical and numerical consistency between the CEO Approval request narrative, the results framework, the core indicators, the budget and the annexes, and flag for resolution any inconsistencies carried over from PIF stage, including the split between project financing and agency fee, duplicated or overlapping output formulations, and any placeholder text requiring replacement.
• Facilitate the collection, verification and consolidation of co-financing commitments, in coordination with IUCN, the Blue Economy Division, the Ministry of Environment, pre-identified co-executing agencies and key partners, and ensure that the co-finance documentation meets GEF requirements, including the amount, type and definition of investment mobilised for each co-financier.
• Liaise with the GEF Operational Focal Point for Mauritius on endorsement requirements and any documentation required for the CEO Approval submission.
• Provide regular progress updates to IUCN and the Blue Economy Division, proactively flagging risks and bottlenecks and proposing mitigation measures to keep the PPG process on track.
• Support the final packaging and submission of a complete, coherent and high-quality CEO Approval request package, including all required annexes.
• Carry out any other relevant tasks, as requested by IUCN or the Blue Economy Division, in support of the efficient and successful delivery of the project's PPG phase.

Stakeholder coordination and engagement responsibilities

Stakeholder coordination is a core function of this role, not an ancillary one. The project's design depends on inputs from a wide set of government, academic, civil society, private sector and community actors across Mauritius and Rodrigues, and the PIF explicitly defers the definition of institutional roles, technical capacities and coordination mechanisms to the PPG phase. The Coordinator is responsible for the following:

a. National Blue Carbon Task Force coordination

• Act as the operational link between the PPG process and the National Blue Carbon Task Force, which serves as the project's principal national coordination platform.
• Support the convening of Task Force meetings during the PPG phase, in agreement with the Blue Economy Division: propose meeting dates, prepare agendas and briefing materials, circulate documents for review in advance, and prepare and circulate minutes and action points.
• Track follow-up on Task Force decisions and action points, and report progress to IUCN and the Blue Economy Division.
• Support the Task Force in reviewing and providing guidance on the emerging project design, including site selection, institutional roles and the proposed cross-sectoral coordination mechanism to be operationalised under Output 1.1.1.

b. Stakeholder mapping and consultation planning

• Prepare and maintain a national stakeholder map and analysis, building on the stakeholders consulted during PIF development and extending to any additional actors identified during the PPG. This should cover, at minimum: the Blue Economy and Fisheries Division; the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change; the Ministry of Housing and Land Use Planning; the Ministry of Finance; the Mauritius Oceanography Institute; the Department for Continental Shelf, Maritime Zones Administration and Exploration; the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council; the Rodrigues Regional Assembly; universities and research institutions including the University of Mauritius and Université des Mascareignes; civil society organisations including Reef Conservation and Eco-Sud; the Odysseo Foundation; private sector actors across tourism, fisheries, aquaculture and the financial sector; development partners including UNDP; and coastal communities and fisher associations at the demonstration sites.
• For each stakeholder, record the institutional mandate, relevance to specific components and outputs, anticipated role during implementation, and the appropriate means and frequency of engagement.
• Prepare a consultation calendar for the PPG phase, sequencing national workshops, thematic and bilateral meetings, site-level consultations and Task Force meetings against the deliverable schedule, and agree it with IUCN, the Blue Economy Division and the PPG consultants.
• Identify and advise on protocol, permissions, clearances and lead times required for engaging government institutions, the Rodrigues Regional Assembly and community-level stakeholders.

c. National-level institutional coordination

• Convene and facilitate, or co-facilitate with the PPG consultants, the national Inception Workshop, thematic consultation sessions and the national Validation Workshop, including logistics coordination, invitations, participant lists, facilitation support and reporting.
• Organise and support bilateral and thematic meetings with individual ministries, agencies and research institutions on the technical areas where their mandate is engaged — in particular MRV and GHG inventory alignment, marine spatial planning and coastal zoning, climate finance and the blue finance framework, and data sharing and geospatial systems.
• Broker agreement on institutional roles, data-sharing arrangements and the proposed execution and coordination architecture, and escalate unresolved questions to IUCN and the Blue Economy Division in good time.
• Ensure that the outcomes of each consultation are captured, attributed and channelled to the PPG consultants in a form that can be integrated into the CEO Approval request and the Stakeholder Engagement Plan.

d. Site-level and community consultation

• Plan and coordinate consultations at the demonstration and sampling sites — Mont Choisy, Poste Lafayette, Bain Boeuf, Le Morne and Albion, together with Rodrigues and any additional sites confirmed during the PPG — including scheduling, local notification, venue and logistics arrangements, and appropriate language support.
• Ensure that site-level consultations reach the groups whose livelihoods and resource use are directly affected, including small-scale fishers and fisher associations, coastal households, tourism operators, community-based organisations, and women and youth groups, and advise the PPG consultants on the participation arrangements needed to make that engagement meaningful.
• Coordinate closely with the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and Gender specialist engaged under the separate PPG consultancy, so that consultations serve both the design process and the safeguards and gender assessments without duplicating demands on the same communities.
• Support the identification of community co-management arrangements and local stewardship structures relevant to Output 3.2.2, and advise on their readiness and capacity.

e. Regional and international partner coordination

• Maintain working contact with regional and international technical partners identified in the PIF, including the IORA Blue Carbon Hub, CSIRO, the WIO Mangrove Network and the Blue Africa network, to support methodological alignment, avoid duplication and identify opportunities for shared field logistics and data.
• Identify complementary initiatives, datasets and prior assessments (including the 2019–2024 nearshore seagrass, mangrove and tidal marsh assessments) and facilitate access to them for the PPG consultants.
• Advise on opportunities for co-location, shared expertise and shared logistics with related initiatives, particularly for access to Rodrigues and offshore areas.

f. Consultation records and documentation

• Maintain a consolidated consultation record for the PPG phase — covering dates, institutions, participants disaggregated by sex, topics discussed, key recommendations received and how each has been addressed — in a form suitable for annexing to the CEO Approval package and for meeting GEF stakeholder engagement requirements.
• Review the draft Stakeholder Engagement Plan prepared under the separate PPG consultancy, verify that it reflects the consultations actually undertaken and the institutional realities of the Mauritian context, and confirm that it is operational for the implementation phase.
• Ensure that the treatment of civil society organisations, vulnerable groups, and local communities in the CEO Approval package is consistent with the consultation record and with GEF policy requirements.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

The consultant may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to support specific tasks within this assignment — for example, transcription of consultations and meetings, thematic synthesis of stakeholder feedback, or summarising background documents during desk review. The consultant nonetheless remains 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 consultant's own technical judgement, including in the technical appraisal of the CEO Approval package and its annexes. All technical review and synthesis must be grounded in the documents and stakeholder inputs actually received. The consultant must not upload confidential or personally identifiable information — including material from stakeholder consultations and meeting records — to public AI platforms, and may be required to disclose how AI tools were used during the assignment.

Duration of the Assignment

The consultancy will run from 1 August 2026 to 30 June 2027 (dates indicative, to be confirmed on contracting). The assignment includes up to 30 days of input, with the majority of time allocated between August 2026 and February 2027 to support the preparation and submission of the medium-sized project to the GEF by 15 February 2027. The remaining period, expected to run from February to June 2027, will cover the GEF review and approval process, during which the consultant may be called upon to coordinate the collection of ad hoc technical inputs and ensure that responses to reviewers' and the GEF Task and/or Project Manager's comments are delivered within GEF timelines and are technically sound, including, where required, consultations with stakeholders and IUCN internal experts.

The consultant should indicate in the technical and financial proposal proposal how the available days are distributed across the deliverables and the consultation programme, including days allocated to travel to Rodrigues and to the coastal demonstration sites. A tentative travel budget as an addendum to the financial proposal will be appreciated (the consultant will reimbursed on actual costs in line with IUCN non-staff travel policy).

Deliverables

The consultant will provide the following deliverables and carry out the following activities, in coordination with IUCN, the Blue Economy Division, and the project design and preparation consultants/team:

KEY DELIVERABLE 1: Draft PPG workplan and methodology, stakeholder map and consultation calendar, and co-coordination of preliminary and kick-off meetings

Develop a draft preliminary PPG workplan and methodology setting out the overall approach, sequencing of activities, consultation strategy and logistical arrangements required to deliver the CEO Approval package within SCCF timelines. Co-coordinate preliminary consultation meetings between IUCN, the Blue Economy Division, the Ministry of Environment and the co-executing agencies, and facilitate the kick-off meeting with the selected project design and preparation consultants and key stakeholders, ensuring early alignment on roles, expectations, timelines and quality standards. Outputs:

• Draft PPG workplan and methodology, agreed with IUCN, the Blue Economy Division and the PPG consultants
• National stakeholder map and analysis, covering institutional mandates, relevance by component, anticipated implementation roles and means of engagement
• PPG consultation calendar, sequencing national workshops, thematic and bilateral meetings, site-level consultations and Task Force meetings against the deliverable schedule
• Meeting notes and action points from the preliminary meetings and the kick-off meeting

KEY DELIVERABLE 2: Inception Workshop coordination, technical review and synthesis of PPG strategy

Coordinate and provide facilitation support to the Inception Workshop and participate in it. Review the outputs of the Inception Workshop and associated strategy documents (final methodology, stakeholder engagement plan, site visit plans). Provide a concise synthesis note outlining key recommendations for follow-up actions and confirming alignment with GEF, SCCF and IUCN expectations, including any early issues requiring adjustment during the PPG phase. Outputs:

• Inception Workshop coordination: agenda, invitations, participant list disaggregated by sex, logistics and facilitation support
• Inception Workshop synthesis note, with recommendations and follow-up actions
• Consolidated review of the PPG consultants' interim deliverables, with documented technical feedback
• Records of any National Blue Carbon Task Force meetings held in the period, including agenda, minutes and action points

KEY DELIVERABLE 3: Consolidated technical review and synthesis of consultations and baseline studies

Review the baseline reports, blue carbon and coastal ecosystem studies, and technical inputs submitted by the PPG design and preparation consultants/team. Provide consolidated technical feedback, verify alignment, completeness and internal coherence, and flag any gaps or issues requiring clarification prior to integration into the CEO Approval request and annexes. Structure and organise inputs to facilitate their integration into the first draft of the CEO Approval request, ensuring consistency with the project context and stakeholder expectations. Outputs:

• Consolidated technical review of baseline reports, blue carbon and coastal ecosystem studies and technical inputs, with documented feedback and a gap register
• Synthesis of national stakeholder inputs received to date, organised by component and output to support integration into the first draft
• Updated consultation record covering all meetings and consultations held in the period
• Progress note to IUCN and the Blue Economy Division flagging risks, bottlenecks and proposed mitigation measures

KEY DELIVERABLE 4: Technical oversight and coordination of national and site-level consultations, and consolidation of co-financing and endorsement documentation

Coordinate and provide the technical support required for consultation processes at national and site level (including at Mont Choisy, Poste Lafayette, Bain Boeuf, Le Morne, Albion, and Rodrigues as confirmed). Co-facilitate, where required, consultation meetings and workshops, and ensure technical consistency of successive drafts of the GEF CEO Approval package, with a focus on coherence across components, alignment with GEF and SCCF requirements, and consistency between the narrative, results framework, budget and annexes. Where needed, technically appraise the outputs of the PPG design consultants/firm to ensure high-quality, technically sound inputs into the pre-final GEF CEO Approval package. Outputs:

• Coordination and reporting of national and site-level consultations, including participant lists disaggregated by sex and records of recommendations received
• Documented technical appraisal of successive drafts of the CEO Approval request and annexes, verifying cross-component coherence and consistency between narrative, results framework, core indicators, budget and annexes
• Consolidated co-financing documentation, with confirmed amounts, types and definition of investment mobilised for each co-financier, verified as meeting GEF requirements
• Confirmation of GEF Operational Focal Point endorsement requirements and status
• Records of any National Blue Carbon Task Force meetings held in the period

KEY DELIVERABLE 5: Validation Workshop coordination and support to finalisation and submission of the GEF CEO Approval package

Coordinate technical and logistical preparations for, and participate in, the national Validation Workshop. Based on stakeholder feedback and the pre-final GEF CEO Approval package, support the PPG design and preparation consultants/team in integrating final national inputs into the final GEF CEO Approval request and annexes, and in ensuring timely, high-quality submission of the complete GEF CEO Approval package to the GEF Secretariat by 15 February 2027. Outputs:

• Validation Workshop coordination: agenda, invitations, participant list disaggregated by sex, logistics, facilitation support and workshop report
• Consolidated PPG consultation record for annexing to the CEO Approval package, documenting all consultations undertaken, recommendations received and how each has been addressed
• Technical clearance note confirming that final national inputs have been integrated and that the package is technically coherent and ready for submission
• On-call support during the GEF Secretariat review period, coordinating national inputs to responses to review comments through to technical clearance

Payment Schedule

The timetable below summarises the chronological order of deliverables and indicates the milestones at which IUCN will pay the consultant. Expected dates are indicative and will be confirmed against the PPG start date.

Deliverable

Expected date of delivery

Milestone payment

• Deliverable 1: 15/09/2026 - 10%

Draft PPG workplan and methodology, stakeholder map and consultation calendar, and meeting notes for the preliminary and kick-off meetings.

• Deliverable 2: 31/10/2026 - 10%

Inception Workshop coordination and synthesis note, consolidated review of the PPG consultants' interim deliverables, and Task Force meeting records.

• Deliverable 3: 15/12/2026 - 30%

Consolidated technical review and synthesis of baseline reports, blue carbon studies and technical inputs, with documented feedback, gap identification and updated consultation records, structured to support integration into the first draft of the GEF CEO Approval request.

1. Deliverable 4:25/01/2027 - 30%

Technical oversight and coordination of national and site-level consultations, documented technical appraisal of successive drafts with cross-component coherence verified, and consolidated co-financing and endorsement documentation for the pre-final GEF CEO Approval package.

• Deliverable 5: 13/02/2027 - 20%

Coordination of and participation in the national Validation Workshop, consolidated stakeholder consultation record, and technical support to integrate final national inputs so that the complete GEF CEO Approval package is validated, finalised and submitted to the GEF Secretariat by 15 February 2027.

• All products will be paid once delivered to the complete satisfaction of IUCN and the Blue Economy Division.

Skills and Experience

• Master's degree in natural resource management, marine or environmental sciences, climate change, environmental policy, or a related field.
• At least 8 years of experience in managing or coordinating projects related to coastal and marine ecosystem management, climate change adaptation, ecosystem-based adaptation, or blue carbon.
• Prior experience coordinating multi-stakeholder environmental or climate projects in Mauritius, preferably involving international donors (GEF experience is a strong asset; familiarity with SCCF/adaptation financing is desirable).
• Demonstrated experience convening and servicing inter-ministerial, inter-agency or national technical committees or task forces, including agenda setting, briefing, minuting and follow-up on decisions.
• Established working relationships across the Mauritian institutional landscape relevant to this project — including ocean economy and fisheries, environment and climate change, land use planning, finance, and national research institutions — and a practical understanding of government protocol, clearance requirements and lead times.
• Demonstrated experience planning and facilitating community-level and site-level consultations in coastal or fisheries-dependent communities, including with women's and youth groups.
• Strong facilitation and communication skills, including the ability to engage constructively with diverse stakeholders and manage multi-stakeholder discussions.
• Willingness and ability to travel within Mauritius and to Rodrigues for site-level consultations.
• Fluency in English (spoken and written) is required.
• Working knowledge of French and/or Mauritian Creole is a strong asset.
• Excellent writing and document review skills; strong proficiency in Microsoft Office tools.

Supervision and Coordination

The consultant will report to and work under the supervision of the IUCN ESARO GEF/GCF Regional Portfolio Manager and closely collaborate with the relevant IUCN ESARO Coastal and Ocean Resilience Programme Manager as well as the Deputy Head – Coastal and Ocean Reslience Programme. The consultant will be expected to work in close collaboration with the PPG design and preparation consultants/team recruited for the preparation of the GEF CEO Approval package, comprising a GEF writer and technical assistance expert and an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and Gender expert, engaged under a separate Terms of Reference. The work will require coordination with IUCN senior staff based in Headquarters and in the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office, IUCN staff engaged on the Mauritius portfolio, and close collaboration with the Ministry of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries (Blue Economy Division), the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, the National Blue Carbon Task Force, key national stakeholders, and co-executing entities.