KIRIBATI INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENT POLICY (KIEP) CONSULTANT

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. 

BACKGROUND

Based in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is an international intergovernmental organisation founded to support and promote a model of economic growth known as “green growth,” which is low-carbon, environmentally sustainable, climate-resilient, and socially inclusive. GGGI works with member and partner countries worldwide, building their capacity and collaborating on green growth policies that can positively impact the lives of millions. The organisation partners with countries, multilateral institutions, government bodies, and the private sector to deliver its vision and mandate through country and regional programs that are funded by donors. 

The Government of Kiribati (GoK) is one of the founding members of the GGGI and signed its Host Country Agreement with the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development (MELAD) in June 2018. GGGI is working with the GoK through its focal points MELAD and MFED through its regional programs such as the Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN, DFAT Funding), Climate Finance Access, Absorption, and Implementation (CFAAI, UK FCDO funding), Low-Emission Carbon-Resilient Development (LECRD 2024-2026, MFAT funding) and the Integrated, multi-stakeholder approach for high-impact pipeline development (GCF Readiness funding). GGGI has supported MELAD and the GoK to develop its NDC Implementation Roadmap and NDC Investment Plan (2021) through the Regional Pacific NDC Hub (NDC Hub), Adaptation Fund NIE Gap Assessment Report (2025) through CFAAI, implemented the Kiribati Climate Smart Agriculture under Qatar funding (2021-2024), the National Climate Finance Strategy (2025-2027 – GCF Readiness) and the Kiribati Environmental Trust Fund work under the LECRD.

The UK FCDO Climate Finance Access, Absorption, and Implementation in the Pacific (CFAAI) is funding this consultancy. The CFAAI project is part of the UK’s Small Island Developing States Capacity and Resilience (SIDAR) Programme and is implemented in seven Pacific Island Countries: Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu. The project focuses on absorption and implementation, complementing GGGI’s existing portfolio of climate finance activities and is delivered through various regional programs. 

This assignment will support MELAD to finalise the Kiribati Integrated Environment Policy (KIEP). The KIEP is a cross-cutting policy that aims to align with the Kiribati Environment Act (2021) and the MELAD & ECD strategic operations/work plans, as well as relevant environmental strategic work plans and policies. KIEP provides a key environmental policy framework to support the effective and efficient implementation of environmental mandates and portfolios within the MELAD.  This policy work is expected to identify priority programmatic environmental priorities that integrate the MELAD & ECD operations, revisit the KIEP (2013) and ensure alignment with Kiribati government policies, regulations, strategic action plans, and stakeholders’ feedback. It will form, among others, the integration of various stakeholders’ views and operational priorities with synergies to MELAD & ECD's existing work program. The policy is also expected to align with Kiribati’s regional and international Multi-Environment Agreements, treaties/commitments. MELAD ECD has already conducted consultations in preparation for this consultancy. Hence, the Consultant is expected to compile the feedback from various stakeholder consultations and align it with the revised key thematic areas of the MELAD ECD work programs as outlined in the KIEP.

It is expected that the Consultant will commence around October 2025 and continue to the end of January 2026.

The key objectives of the consultancy are:

• Identify policy gaps, implementation strengths, institutional and technical resources challenges, environmental priorities, regional and international synergies/obligations,
• Consult stakeholders across government, civil society, and communities to ensure an inclusive and transparent process,
• Finalise a revised and updated Kiribati Integrated Environment Policy (KIEP) document and align it with stakeholder feedback, national development strategies, regional and global environmental agreements,
• Embed actionable recommendations, actions linked to relevant KIEP thematic areas and a roadmap for implementation. This includes a monitoring, evaluation and learning section as well as the KIEP Sustainable Financing Plan.

The consultant will undertake the following deliverables:

Deliverable 1: Planning, policy review and analysis

• Provide an engagement plan with meeting/workshop schedules, documents and frameworks to access with key communications to commence the work,
• Map and update regional and international environmental obligations (e.g., SDGs, MEAs) to be integrated into the policy,
• Liaise/engage with the GGGI Project Manager in Kiribati and key government, civil society and church groups contacts in the government to implement the plan,
•  Provide the summary, gaps, strengths, overlaps, obligations, and weaknesses of each policy and framework and overlaps in the current KIEP (2013) and related environmental policies,
• Assess national implementation strengths and institutional and technical human resources capacity challenges affecting KIEP policy delivery,
• Define new and emerging environmental priorities based on national, regional and international needs and stakeholder insights,
• Improve the existing skeleton design of the draft KIEP content and structure of the revised and updated KIEP.

Deliverable 2: Stakeholder consultations and inception report & workshop

• Facilitate an inclusive consultation process with government ministries, island councils, civil society, the private sector, youth, and communities,
• Collect and synthesise feedback to guide the revised and updated KIEP content and structure,
• Conduct an Inception workshop,
• Provide an “Inception Report” incorporating policy analysis, stakeholder consultation feedback and the inception workshop feedback (Tasks 1-2),
• The Inception Report and other annexes, such as the implementation plan, KIEP structure, etc., are submitted to the Government for approval.

Deliverable 3: Drafting and finalisation of the updated KIEP

• Develop the revised and updated KIEP document that incorporates stakeholder and government feedback and ensures it aligns with MELAD, ECD, national strategic frameworks and global environment commitments at the regional and international levels.
• Provide a KIEP document that is practical, cost-effective and efficient, implementable, and integrates cross-cutting themes and issues such as gender, environment, climate change, traditional knowledge, and resilience.
• Ensure the KIEP document incorporates an implementation, monitoring, and learning strategy section as well as its financing plan for operationalisation. This should have clear indicators, responsible agencies, and timelines.
• Wrap up with a validation workshop that brings all key stakeholders.
• Make available the presentation materials – for stakeholder validation workshops, high-level briefings and future usage.
• Final KIEP is presented to the Government of Kiribati through the Secretaries and Cabinet levels with no pending follow-up or review queries.

 

 Payment Schedule:

No.	Deliverable	Payment Terms	% and Amount
1.	Planning, policy review and analysis	4 weeks after signing the contract.	20 % (USD 4,446)
2.	Stakeholder consultations and inception report & workshop	12 weeks after signing the contract.	35 % (USD 7,780.50)
3.	Drafting and finalisation of the revised and updated KIEP	16 weeks after signing the contract.	45 % (USD 10,003.50)

 Notes:

• The Consultant is to provide his/her own equipment to produce all deliverables.
• The Consultant shall submit the report in electronic versions readable/editable by a Microsoft Office application, with compliance to GGGI fonts, etc.
• All outputs must be in English.
• The total professional fee in the Payment Schedule above excludes travel, workshop and accommodation costs.

The Consultant is expected to have the following qualifications:

• Advanced degree in environmental policy, public policy, environmental science, or related fields.
• At least 8 years of experience in environmental policy development or review, preferably in the Pacific Islands or Small Island Developing States (SIDS) contexts.
• Familiarity with the three Rio Conventions and relevant multilateral environmental agreements to which Kiribati is a State Party to (e.g., UNFCCC, CBD, SDGs) and regional environment and related frameworks.
• Knowledge of Kiribati’s environment and development context is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated understanding of polices and regulations in Kiribati or the Pacific region.
• Proven ability to communicate clearly and effectively in written reports and other publications; previous writing examples might be requested.
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal and motivational skills and sensitivity to the local environment, as well as the ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative working relationships with government, civil society and churches’ counterparts.
• Demonstrated capacity to facilitate in-depth, outcome-oriented, stakeholder dialogues at the higher-ups (Cabinet and Secretaries levels), GoK Ministries Directors & SOE CEOs levels, and at the Civil Society and Churches levels.
• Ability to lead and work effectively with people from diverse inter-disciplinary, multi-sectoral, cultural and professional backgrounds.
• Maturity and professional ability to handle sensitive information and ability to respect the confidentiality of such information while working with GGGI and the GoK, even after the contract ends.

The following documents are required as part of the consultant’s application. These documents must be in English: 

• Curriculum Vitae with a maximum of four pages. 

• Cover Letter with demonstration of ability and experience in the three deliverables.

• Proposed one-page workplan, indicating the applicant’s understanding of the scope of work and approach for the completion of the assignment. 

• Project: Climate Finance Access, Absorption, and Implementation in the Pacific (CFAAI)

• Duty Station: Combination of remote working AND working from Tarawa, Kiribati

• Contract Duration: 29^th Sep 2025 to 31^st Jan 2026

• Total Fees: USD22,230 (excluding travel, workshop and accommodation costs)

• The consultant will report to the Climate Finance Access and Absorption Advisor for Kiribati (the Project Manager).

Applications will close on September 19, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Korean Standard Time (KST). Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. A consortium or firm may not be engaged for this individual consultant assignment. 

Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. A consortium or a firm may not be engaged for the individual consultant assignment.

Child protection – GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGI’s Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

 

 

 

Child protection – GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGI’s Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.