Consultant -Participatory Mapping and Site Selection for Climate-Resilient Food Systems

Job Description

1. ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT AND SCOPE

Established in 1951, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the leading UN agency in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non‑governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all, including by supporting community resilience and addressing the underlying drivers of displacement and migration.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is among the most climate‑vulnerable countries globally. With an average elevation of approximately two meters above sea level, the country is acutely exposed to sea‑level rise, saltwater intrusion, coastal erosion, prolonged drought, and increasingly variable rainfall patterns. These climate stressors are significantly degrading soil quality and freshwater resources, undermining traditional agriculture, and reducing the availability of nutritious locally grown food, particularly in outer atolls.

RMI faces a chronic food security challenge, with a high dependence on imported foods and declining consumption of indigenous crops. Environmental degradation, limited arable land, water scarcity, and changing dietary practices have contributed to widespread reliance on ultra‑processed foods. This has led to severe public health impacts, including high and rising rates of non‑communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, with particularly concerning trends among children and youth. In school boarding environments, where students rely heavily on institutional meals, access to fresh, locally sourced food is especially limited.

The interaction of climate vulnerability, food insecurity, public health challenges, and limited livelihood opportunities contributes to increasing migration pressures. Environmental stressors undermine the viability of traditional livelihoods and contribute to patterns of internal migration from outer islands to urban centres, as well as outward migration. Strengthening climate‑resilient, locally managed food systems is therefore a critical adaptation strategy, with direct relevance to reducing vulnerability, enhancing human security, and addressing migration drivers.

Indigenous crops such as breadfruit, pandanus, taro, coconut, bele, and other salt‑ and drought‑tolerant species remain well suited to atoll environments and hold high nutritional and cultural value. However, access to planting material, technical knowledge, and suitable cultivation sites has declined over time. Revitalizing indigenous food production requires careful identification of appropriate sites, attention to local land tenure and governance arrangements, and strong community participation to ensure sustainability and ownership.

Within this context, IOM is supporting community‑ and school‑based initiatives in Majuro and Wotje Atolls aimed at strengthening climate‑resilient food production systems. A foundational requirement for these interventions is a structured, participatory mapping and site selection process to identify priority locations for indigenous food cultivation, assess environmental suitability, and ensure alignment with local priorities and capacities. This includes coordination with national technical institutions, school administrations, local councils, and community leaders.

To support this work, IOM seeks to engage an international Category B Consultant to lead participatory site identification and mapping activities and to produce a consolidated site selection and indigenous crop prioritisation report. The assignment will inform current implementation and provide a practical evidence base for future food security, climate adaptation, and community resilience programming in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the IOM Head of Sub‑Office in Majuro, in close coordination with relevant programme staff and national counterparts. The consultancy will be conducted on a partially home‑based and partially in‑country basis, reflecting the need for both analytical work and in‑person engagement, training, and validation with stakeholders in RMI.

Responsibilities

2. RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

The total duration for this assignment is eleven (11) months. The consultant will agree with a final work schedule at the beginning of the assignment with IOM, setting clear deadlines for each deliverable. All outputs shall be submitted electronically in editable formats and will be considered complete upon IOM’s written approval (with up to two rounds of revisions within and after the assignment period).

3. CONSULTANT’S WORKPLACE

The Consultant will be engaged under an international consultancy contract and will work on a partially home-based and partially in-country basis in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Field visits, consultations, training, and validation activities will be conducted in person as required.

Qualifications

4. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education:
• University degree (Master’s preferred) in agriculture, environmental studies, climate change, development studies, or a related field. 

Experience:
• Minimum six (6) years of experience in climate adaptation, food security, or community-based natural resource management.
• Proven experience in participatory mapping, site assessments, and stakeholder consultations.
• Experience working in small island or Pacific contexts is an asset.

Languages:
• Fluency in English (oral and written) is required.

Required Skills

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