KIRIBATI: CONSULTANT FOR SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF AN ENVIRONMENT FUND
JOB DETAIL
KIRIBATI: CONSULTANT FOR SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF AN ENVIRONMENT FUND
INTRODUCTION TO GGGI
The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Kiribati, a founding member of GGGI, is a remote island-nation in the central Pacific Ocean that is acutely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Comprising 33 atolls and reef islands, Kiribati’s low-lying geography makes it particularly susceptible to rising sea levels, which threaten to inundate homes and vital infrastructure. Additionally, increased frequency and intensity of storms, coastal erosion, and saltwater intrusion into freshwater supplies pose severe challenges to the environment and people’s livelihoods. These environmental pressures compromise the nation’s food and water security and highlight the urgent need for global climate action to protect this fragile ecosystem and its people.
In Kiribati, GGGI is supporting the Environment Conservation Division (ECD) of the Kiribati Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agriculture Division (MELAD) to establish an Environment Fund. The activity is funded through New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (MFAT) Low Emission, Climate Resilient Development (LECRD) programme. The LECRD programme aims to support Pacific Island countries (PICs) to transition to low-emission climate resilient development through assistance with long-term inclusive planning and decision-making.
The Government of Kiribati has long been interested in establishing an Environment Fund. Provisions were first made for an Environment Fund in its repealed 2007 Environment Act and again in its revised 2021 Environment Act.
Establishing an Environment Fund in Kiribati is expected to enable the government to address key policy targets, given the increased financial constraints and growing need to adapt and mitigate climate change at scale and in the longer run. Key areas of intervention may include but not limited to, the following:
- Pollution reduction, recycling and chemical and waste management policies and projects to reduce emissions from organic waste –among other benefits;
- Implementation of nature-based solutions (NBS) to combat climate change;
- Research and projects for coastal protection;
- Energy transitioning and use of renewables;
- Biodiversity conservation and climate resilient ecosystem management;
- Sustainable agriculture, forestry, fisheries and water management;
- Recurrent funds for community and school-based education and awareness programmes on climate change adaptation and mitigation; and
- Research and project development for environmental protection and climate resilience projects.
To support the Government of Kiribati establish an Environment Fund, GGGI is currently undertaking a number of activities, in collaboration with the Government of Kiribati and in consultation with key stakeholders, to assess the enabling environment and condition for success for an Environment fund in Kiribati. A report summarizing all these findings on the enabling environment and conditions for success in Kiribati will be shared with the consultant at the start of the consultancy, alongside all the supporting information and data gathered and analysis conducted.
GGGI is also supporting the Government of Kiribati and key stakeholders in Kiribati to agree on what the Environment Fund’s objectives, operational principles and mandate will be. This is expected to be clarified and agreed by the start of this consultancy project and so will also be shared with the consultant at the start of the consultancy.
OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The objectives of the assignment are to provide the Environment Conservation Division (ECD) of the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agriculture Division (MELAD) with the technical assistance and capacity building training needed to establish an Environment Fund in Kiribati.
In particular, the assignment will provide the Government of Kiribati with clear, evidence-based recommendations, based on extensive stakeholder consultation, on the best legal structure, governance structure and financial structural for an Environment Fund in Kiribati, taking into account the current legal, regulatory, financial and policy frameworks in place in Kiribati.
The proposed recommendations on the optimal legal, governance and financial structure for the Fund will be presented to the Government of Kiribati for approval. If the high-level recommendations are approved by the Government, a second consultancy assignment will be issued to develop the detailed policies, procedures and regulations for the Kiribati Environment Fund (KEF).
SCOPE OF WORK
Development of High-level Recommendations for the establishment of a Kiribati Environment Fund (KEF)
The Consultant will be responsible for reviewing all findings GGGI shares with them on the enabling environment and conditions for success in Kiribati and will draw on these findings, alongside additional stakeholder consultation (which GGGI can help facilitate) and evidence gathering and analysis to develop:
- A proposed legal structure for the KEF with clear justification/rationale, ensuring KEF setup compliance with national laws/regulations and international best practices;
- A proposed governance structure and fiduciary arrangements for the KEF with clear justification/rationale, including the roles and responsibilities of the board of trustees, management team, and advisory or technical committees. The work should accommodate the KEF suggested policy and processes requirement which has the corporate and compliance interactions between the governance and fiduciary setting of the fund; and
- A proposed financial structure for the KKEF with clear justification/rationale, including the identification of potential funding sources including government allocations, international grants, private sector contributions, innovative financing and disbursement mechanisms.
The consultant is then required to combine all the recommendations into a single draft Recommendation Report and Power Point Presentation that should be given in-person at a stakeholder validation workshop GGGI will arrange in Kiribati[1].
The consultant should actively engage with key stakeholders at the workshop, as well as other stakeholders who have reviewed the recommendations, to record their feedback on the recommendations and, where necessary, further explain the recommendations and the reasons they are being recommended.
The consultant should then carefully review all feedback received, and where appropriate amend or alter recommendations and update the recommendation report to produce a Final Recommendations Report that will be submitted to the Government of Kiribati for approval of the recommendations.
Finally, the consultant should develop a Stakeholder consultation report which will detail all stakeholder engagements and summarize stakeholder feedback and how different stakeholders contributed to the development of the High-Level Recommendations. It will also detail efforts taken to build consensus and actively engage with and include women, youth and other marginalised groups in the development of the recommendations.
DELIVERABLES AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE
The Consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs and deliverables:
| Output | Deliverables | Due Date | Payment schedule* |
| High-level Recommendations for the establishment of an Environment Fund in Kiribati (KEF) | 1 Draft High-Level Recommendation Report and Power Point Presentation for the KEF. This should include:
|
4 weeks from signing the contract | 40% |
| 2 Final High-Level Recommendation Report that incorporates stakeholder feedback and revisions. | 6 weeks from signing the contract | – | |
| 3 Stakeholder Consultation Report summarizing feedback (with graphics) and efforts taken to build consensus and actively engage with and include women, youth and other marginalised groups during Task 1, and how different stakeholders contributed to the development of the High-Level Recommendations. | 6 weeks from the start date | 60% |
* Final payment will be made upon successful delivery of all 3 deliverables.
The Reporting Requirements
- The Consultant is to provide his/her own equipment to produce all deliverables;
- The Consultant shall submit the deliverables reflecting the tasks and outcome of all activities.;
- All relevant technical papers, reports, training modules, and other documents prepared from the start to the end of the assignment shall be made available and accessible and should be logged in GGGI’s Information Repository template;
- All stakeholders engaged with, should be logged into GGGI’s templates on consultation activities.
- All outputs must be in English, in accordance with GGGI’s formatting requirements, and submitted in electronic formats along with complete sets of raw data, research materials, and interview notes;
- All deliverables must be approved by the GGGI with the agreement of the MELAD and ECD; and
- The Consultant shall consider the comments and necessary revisions proposed. Within 14 days from the receipt of the comments or modification proposal from the GGGI, the Consultant shall prepare and submit the final versions of the deliverables and other requirements.
EXPERTISE REQUIRED
The Consultant should possess the following qualifications and experience:
- Advanced degree in law, environmental law/science, finance, public administration, or a related field;
- Extensive experience in legal, governance, and financial structuring, preferably within the context of environmental or development projects.
- Proven experience in establishing and managing environmental, trust, climate resilience or development funds;
- Strong understanding of environmental and climate change issues, particularly in the Pacific region;
- Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and international donors;
- Strong analytical, writing, and presentation skills including Microsoft applications skills;
- Strong verbal and written skills in English is essential;
- Commitment to inclusivity and gender equality; and
- Knowledge of Kiribati’s legal and regulatory environment is highly desirable.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Date to close is Korean Standard Time (KST). Cover Letter, and CV must be sent in English. Individual consultants are encouraged to apply.
[1] GGGI will cover flights, accommodations and reasonable expenses related to travel and stay in Kiribati for consultants that are not based in Kiribati.
