Yemen faces critical environmental challenges exacerbated by climate change, conflict, and institutional fragmentation. Our client Yemen is advancing the development of two environmental initiatives funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF).

Project 1: Protecting Yemen’s Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (GBFF) This project aims to enhance biodiversity conservation in Yemen’s coastal governorates (including Al-Mahra, Hadramaut, Lahj, and Taiz). The project focuses on establishing a Protected Area (PA) network, restoring critical coastal ecosystems (mangroves, coral reefs, wetlands), and empowering Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) through co-management and sustainable "blue/green" livelihoods. Key components include:

•  Establishment of new coastal PAs (e.g., Sharmah–Jethmun, Bab al-Mandab–Al-Makha).

•  Restoration of high-value ecosystems.

•  Development of sustainable livelihood enterprises (ecotourism, fisheries).

Project 2: Strengthening Yemen’s National Biosafety Framework (Biodiversity STAR allocation). This project aims to operationalise Yemen’s National Biosafety Framework to ensure compliance with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. It addresses the lack of active regulations and infrastructure for managing Living Modified Organisms (LMOs). Key components include:

• Strengthening legal and institutional frameworks (regulations, National Biosafety Committee).

• Building capacity for risk assessment and border control (including a GMO detection lab).

• Enhancing public awareness and stakeholder engagement.

Accordingly, our client seeks to hire a National Social and Environmental Safeguard, and Gender Expert. The consultant will support in the project preparation phase for both projects to design the full project documents (Prodocs).

The main objective of this assignment is to support the development of an environmental and social safeguard strategy for the project’s interventions in the targeted governorates. This will be achieved through conducting baseline assessments, ensuring a gender-sensitive project proposal, evaluating the project’s potential impacts, and addressing the specific needs of beneficiaries—particularly vulnerable groups such as women, youth, and displaced communities. Additionally, the expert will review the relevant national and international regulations to ensure full compliance.

Under the supervision of the Project Manager and the International Social and Environmental Safeguard Specialist, the consultant will undertake the following key duties and responsibilities:

Task 1: Inception and Desk Review

a) Review the PIF, Initiation Plan, relevant national policies, community governance documents, and existing environmental and social datasets, and develop the SESP.

b) Prepare an inception report detailing the methodology, data collection plan, schedule for provincial and site visits, and stakeholder engagement approach.

Task 2: Field Data Collection for Social, Gender, and Ecosystem Baselines

a) Conduct fieldwork across the four target governorates and specific project sites (e.g., Sharmah–Jethmun, Bab al-Mandab corridor) to gather socioeconomic data, resource-use patterns, coastal livelihood dependencies, vulnerability indicators, and gender-differentiated information.

b) Collect data on fisheries practices, ecosystem pressures, community adaptation strategies, and local risks to biodiversity.

c) Identify vulnerable groups, including women, youth, IDPs, and marginalized groups, and document barriers to participation and benefit-sharing.

Task 3: Stakeholder Mapping and Consultations

a) Prepare a stakeholder register of community groups, local authorities, private-sector actors, fisher cooperatives, and women-led organizations.

b) Conduct consultations and focus groups to gather inputs for the social assessment, gender analysis, SEP, and barrier analysis.

c) Document consultation outcomes (attendance sheets, notes, photographs, summaries) in line with GEF and our client's requirements.

Task 4: Inputs to Safeguards Instruments (SESP, ESMF, Social Assessment, Gender Analysis, SEP/GRM)

a) Provide contextual inputs on environmental and social risks, community concerns, access restrictions, livelihoods vulnerabilities, governance practices, and cultural heritage.

b) Provide data and written inputs required for the social assessment and gender analysis, including context-specific risks, discrimination patterns, and opportunities for empowerment.

c) Contribute raw data for the updated SESP, including risk categorization evidence and mitigation options.

d) Contribute to the light ESMF with local insights on screening procedures, community engagement protocols, traditional dispute resolution mechanisms, and potential FPIC applicability.

e) Draft local-level GRM pathways aligned with existing community structures.

Task 5: Component A/B Documentation Support

a) Support problem and solution tree development with field-validated evidence.

b) Contribute to barrier analysis output with data on institutional, regulatory, socio-cultural, economic, and environmental constraints.

c) Support METT baseline data collection for candidate PAs and provide GEF Core Indicator data (e.g., beneficiaries, hectares, biodiversity metrics).

d) Support preparation and facilitation of the validation workshop.

The National Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager and the International SES Expert.

 Master’s degree or higher in environmental sciences, marine/coastal resources management, social sciences, development studies, or related fields Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

Minimum 8 years of experience in environmental or social safeguards, community-based natural resources management, or coastal governance in Yemen.

Demonstrated experience conducting field assessments, socioeconomic surveys, and community consultations.

Knowledge of Yemen’s coastal ecosystems, fisheries-dependent livelihoods, or traditional governance systems.

Experience supporting donor-funded environmental projects; familiarity with our client /GEF safeguards is an asset.

Strong analytical, writing, and community facilitation skills.

Proficiency in English & Arabic both Oral & Writing.

Interested qualified and experienced consultants should submit their detailed CVs, including past experience in similar assignments