Consultant for Environmental and Social Assessment for Marine Protected Area project development

Background

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization working to improve the quality of life of people, especially children who are marginalized and living in poverty. World Vision helps all who are in need, regardless of their religion, race, ethnicity or gender. As a child-focused organization, WV's work focuses on children, ensuring they are protected, and their basic needs are met. World Vision International in Vietnam (WVI Vietnam) has been funded from 13 support countries in Europe, Asia, the Americas and Australia. Funding of WVI Vietnam consists of sponsorship program funding (70%) and private non-sponsorship (PNS)/grants (30%). WVI Vietnam employs about 400 staff, of which 99% are Vietnamese nationals.
WV Ireland, and its implementing partner - WVI-Vietnam and technical partners - World Wide Fund for Nature in Vietnam (WWF-Vietnam) and the Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD), are developing a project to enhance effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas in central region of Vietnam from 2025 to2030 which will be funded by Blue Action Fund
The project idea aligns with the Government of Vietnam's commitment on marine conservation, including Vietnam's Law on Fisheries (2017), Resolution 36-NQ/TW (2018) on sustainable marine economic development, the Environmental Law (2020), Resolution 48/NQ-CP (2023) on sustainable resource use and the protection of marine and island environments, and Decision 389/QD-TTg of Prime Minister approving the Master Plan on Protection and Use of Aquatic Resources from 2021 to 2030, vision towards 2050 (2024). The project idea has been consulted on with the Department of Fisheries Surveillance - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and relevant provincial governments. The project concept note has been preselected by the donor who requires an Environmental and Social Assessment (ESA) to be conducted as the next step. The ESA will assess potential risks and impacts caused by, contributed to or linked to a proposed project and inform the development of corresponding safeguard instruments as well as finetune the full proposal.
The Blue Action Fund (BAF) requires all its projects to be compliant with the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (WB ESF 2017), including the Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) 1-10, the World Bank Group Environmental Health and Safety Guidelines (EHSGs), and the other Standards and Guidelines listed in Annex A of the Blue Action Fund ESMS Manual. These Standards are aimed at providing guidance on how to identify risks and impacts, and are designed to help avoid, mitigate and manage risks and impacts as a way of doing projects in a sustainable way. To make these Standards relevant and practical for conservation projects, Blue Action Fund has developed safeguarding Principles and Requirements based on the WB ESF, which include:
• Principle 1: Environmental and social assessment and risk management
• Principle 2: Stakeholder engagement
• Principle 3: Health, safety and security of communities and project personnel
• Principle 4: Protection, conservation and sustainable management of the environment, biodiversity and natural resources
• Principle 5: Livelihoods and access restrictions
• Principle 6: Gender equity and vulnerable groups
• Principle 7: Cultural heritage
• Principle 8: Indigenous Peoples
• Principle 9: Grievance management
• Principle 10: Human rights
BAF documents/tools:
The principal Safeguard Instrument for the application of the Blue Action Fund ESMS and Standards and Guidelines therein, is the project's Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP). This is the umbrella Safeguard Instrument for the project and will contain reference to other relevant Safeguard Instruments and protocols, which can be annexed to the ESMP. Examples of other Safeguard Instruments include:
• Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) - required by all projects
• Grievance Mechanism - required by all projects
• Process Framework -required by projects causing access restrictions with potential for economic displacement
• Free, Prior and Informed Consent Protocol -required in projects working in landscapes with Indigenous Peoples, but often used as good practice community engagement
• Chance Find Procedure - required in projects with earthworks with potential to uncover/disturb physical cultural heritage
• Environmental and Social Code of Practice - required in projects conducting small scale construction, refurbishment, livelihood development activities with construction.
• Gender Guide - in order to ensure gender equality within project implementation and equal benefits of project results.
Templates for all of these documents can be found on the Blue Action Fund website and should be utilized for the completion of deliverables under this consultancy.

Purpose of Position

The project will aim to create an interconnected network of MPAs, with existing MPAs in Cu Lao Cham, Quang Nam and Con Co, Quang Tri demonstrating sustainable management and providing valuable lessons to help establish a new MPA in Son Tra, Da Nang. In addition to marine conservation, the project will empower coastal communities around the MPAs and neighboring areas with sustainable alternative livelihood development and strengthen their capacity in disaster and climate change response.
The project will support effective implementation of existing MPAs (Con Co and Cu Lao Cham) and will support the establishment of a new MPA (Son Tra). In line with the objective of MPAs and the corresponding strictly protected zones, certain access and activities such as illegal fishing and encroachment are prohibited in these areas. Specifically, there will be restrictions in MPAs that may limit physical access for certain economic activities like fishing, affecting areas traditionally used by local communities. Changes in the use and management of natural resources will also be seen as the project will involve new management regimes for natural resources under the marine protected areas to ensure sustainable use and conservation. These restrictions and changes will result in potential economic displacement, particularly affecting communities dependent on fishing and other marine resources. Access restriction might disproportionately impact vulnerable groups in coastal communities, particularly women and girls, and minority groups of fisherfolks who are hard to identify and reach if they are not effectively engaged and enabled to have meaningful participation in the project.

Key Responsibilities

Please find the attached for your reference.

Knowledge & Skill

Experience