Individual Consultant - Develop ESS Policy for the Tonga Ministry of Finance

Please note that the deadline is based on Korean Standard Time Zone (KST, UTC+9)

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

Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts such as cyclones, sea-level rise, droughts, and rising temperatures, which threaten development and economic stability. Although climate finance approvals have improved, funding disbursement remains too slow and insufficient to meet urgent needs. Institutional capacity gaps within governments, financing entities, and accredited organizations continue to limit access to, management of, and implementation of climate finance. Strengthening readiness over the next five years is critical for PICs to secure sustainable finance and achieve resilience goals before 2030.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF), established under the UNFCCC, is the world’s largest dedicated climate finance mechanism supporting low-emission and climate-resilient development under the Paris Agreement. Tonga’s Ministry of Finance (MoF) has been nominated as one of two national entities seeking accreditation as a Direct Access Entity (DAE), which would enable it to directly access and manage GCF-funded projects. To achieve accreditation, the MoF must meet GCF standards in fiduciary management, environmental and social safeguards (ESS), and gender-responsive risk management.

Through the GCF Readiness Programme, the MoF began its accreditation process and completed a Gap Assessment by PwC UK in 2021, which identified priority gaps including the need for a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and an ESS Policy. The SOP will be funded through the GCF Multi-Year Readiness Programme, while the ESS Policy is supported by the UK SIDAR Programme.

GGGI is therefore seeking a short-term consultant to provide technical expertise in developing the Ministry of Finance’s ESS Policy, working closely with MoF staff, GGGI, line ministries, and key stakeholders to ensure compliance with GCF requirements and international best practice.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

This consultancy aims to develop a comprehensive Environment and Social Safeguard Policy for the Ministry of Finance that will fulfil the GCF accreditation requirements while being appropriate to Tonga's context. The Consultant is expected to deliver the following activities:

Inception Report and Workplan:

1. The consultant is expected to prepare and submit a comprehensive Inception Report outlining the methodology, implementation approach, and detailed work plan for the assignment. The report will include stakeholder mapping and an engagement strategy to guide consultations with key ministries and partners, an initial gap analysis of existing systems against Green Climate Fund (GCF) requirements, and a review of relevant national policies, legislation, and institutional frameworks. It will also present a proposed outline and structure for the Ministry of Finance Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) Policy to guide subsequent drafting stages.

Environmental and Social Safeguard Policy:

2.The Consultant will develop an Environment and Social Safeguard Policy in alignment with the relevant Legislation of Tonga which includes the Environment Impact Assessment Act and Regulation. The policy should also be compared with the GCF Revised Environment and Social Policy and ESS standards and relevant International Finance Corporation (IFC) performance standards.

3.The ESS Policy should contain a clear Environmental & Social risk screening, impact identification and assessment procedure that aligns with Tonga’s Legislation on Environment Impact Assessment, good international practices, detailing roles and responsibilities for project categorization and managing mitigation measures and actions arising from E&S risk assessments. The applicability of the policy will be used and overseen by the Ministry of Finance with the support of key relevant Ministries of the Government of Tonga such as the Department of Environment and others. The policy should also address the gaps identified in the PWC gap assessment report.

Stakeholder consultation and validation workshop:

4. The consultant will conduct relevant stakeholder consultations in developing the ESS Policy and conduct a validation workshop to validate the first draft of the ESS Policy and finalize the draft policy.

Final ESS Policy and its operationalization:

5.The consultant will prepare a cabinet submission for the final ESS Policy to be tabled in Cabinet and prepare and submit the finalized Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) Policy together with key supporting documents to enable effective implementation. This will include an Implementation Guidance Manual, training materials such as presentation slides and a facilitator guide, and an implementation roadmap with a capacity development plan. The deliverable will also include a Cabinet Submission package with briefing materials for policy endorsement, as well as a Training Report summarizing activities undertaken, participant engagement, outcomes achieved, and recommendations for ongoing institutional strengthening.

6.Capacity building will target MoF’s leading departments for ESS, the focal points of ESS under MEIDECC with Department of Environment and other relevant departments, climate change champions, Ministers and Senior Management and other relevant stakeholders. Deliver a final training report including information on stakeholder attendance, assessment of learning outcomes and a press release, operational procedure covering the implementation of the ESS Policy.

DELIVERABLES AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE

The following deliverables will be expected to be delivered by the consultant.

The consultancy is expected to be at least 40 workdays / 2 months total duration based in Tonga. In the case of the consultant NOT being originally based in Tonga – ONE return travel in economy class will be paid as well as per diem and hotel according to GGGI travel rules and regulations.

The Consultant will be based in Tonga at the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and will work closely with its Aid Management & Resilience Development Division (AMRDD) staff. Reporting will be made directly to the CEO and Minister for MoF through the Acting HOD for AMRDD. Periodic review of the Consultant’s work progress will also be carried out by the GGGI Tonga team, led by the Senior Programme Manager. Technical and advisory support, including data and information gathering for stock-take reports, will be provided by the GGGI Tonga Technical Officer already based at the MoF.

Reporting Requirements:

1. All relevant technical data, reports, and other documents prepared from the start to the end of the assignment shall be attached to the Final Report and shall be logged in GGGI templates provided to the Consultant.
2. All outputs must be in English, in accordance with GGGI’s formatting requirements and editable format that is readable by a Microsoft Office application. Where relevant, the Consultant shall also provide sets of raw data, research materials, and meeting notes related to the contractual objective.
3. The Final Report must be approved by the GGGI with the agreement of the MoF. 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 report.         

The MOF Environmental & Social Safeguard Consultant will require the following qualifications, experience, competencies and language skills:

• At least a Master’s degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Policy, Social Development, or related field
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in Environmental & Social Safeguard Policy writing.
• Familiarity with Environment & Social safeguards in Tonga.
• Proven experience developing policies and systems related to GCF or other major climate funds
• Familiarity with GCF’s interim Environment & Social Safeguard standards (which are the International Finance Corporation’s Performance Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability) will be an advantage.
• Understanding of the public sector and the Government of Tonga’s institutional structure, processes and the climate change space would be desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in implementing, reviewing and/or developing organizational statements/portfolios with a demonstrable track record in similar assignments.
• Excellent leadership, organizational, problem solving and time management skills
• Commitment to gender equality and awareness of gender aspects of sustainable development
• Fluent in English with excellent written English
• Commitment to gender equality and awareness of gender aspects of sustainable development

Date to close is 26 June 2026, 12:00 Korean Standard Time (KST). Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Application, Cover Letter, and CV must be sent in English. A consortium, or a firm may not be engaged for the individual consultant assignment.

Project: Tonga – Technical Assistance for Developing the Environment and Social Safeguard (ESS) Policy for Ministry of Finance - Individual Consultant - International

Duty Station: Nuku'alofa, Ministry of Finance

Contract Duration: 2 months: 01 August - 30 September 2026

Consultant Level: 4

Total Fees: 10,000 USD