Consultant -Participatory Mapping and Site Selection for Climate-Resilient at IOM

Majuro, Ratak Chain, Marshall Islands -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

17 Sep, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

19 Jun, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Participatory Mapping, Site Selection, Climate Adaptation, Food Security, Community-Based Natural Resource Management, Stakeholder Consultation, Environmental Suitability Assessment, Indigenous Crop Prioritization, Project Coordination, Technical Reporting

Industry

International Affairs

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

Lead participatory mapping and site identification to establish climate-resilient indigenous food cultivation areas in Majuro and Wotje Atolls. Produce a consolidated site selection and crop prioritization report to inform future food security and climate adaptation programming.