Safeguarding Consultant

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Period: September 15, 2026 to May 15, 2027
Location: Khanh Hoa, Tuyen Quang, and Quang Ngai Provinces
Reporting to: Country Programme Manager

I. BACKGROUND

Vietnam is one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth, yet its forests and ecosystems face severe pressures from overexploitation, degradation, and fragmentation. Fauna & Flora works with government and civil society partners across eight provinces to protect nature while supporting communities, particularly women and ethnic minorities who depend on natural resources.

Fauna & Flora has been awarded an IUCN RISE grant for a project focused on three key landscapes where Fauna & Flora has long-term engagement. In Tuyen Quang, forests host the critically endangered Tonkin snub-nosed monkey and support ethnic minority communities reliant on forest co-management. Nui Chua National Park in Khanh Hoa Province is home to coral reefs and one of the mainland’s last sea turtle nesting beaches where Fauna & Flora has helped establish a community-led biodiversity fund for nature-positive enterprises. In Quang Ngai, a forested border province rich in primates and birdlife, interventions are creating deforestation-free value chains and sustainable livelihoods.

Unfortunately, Gender Based Violence (GBV) and harassment remain serious challenges, especially in conservation where women face barriers to safe participation. The IUCN RISE Challenge (Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Environments) aims to address gender-based violence (GBV) that is linked to environmental conservation, natural resource management, and climate action, while also improving environmental and social outcomes. In 2020, another RISE project led by WildAct conducted one of the first assessments of sexual harassment and genderbased violence within Vietnam’s conservation sector. Surveys with wildlife conservationists, environmental practitioners, and government officials found extremely high levels of workplace harassment, with around five out of six respondents reporting experiences of sexual harassment at work. Many organizations also lacked formal safeguarding policies, reporting mechanisms, or guidance for staff experiencing harassment.

In the years since, Fauna & Flora’s Vietnam Programme has received reports of safeguarding issues and responded with GBV prevention trainings and strengthened safeguarding measures in 2024. Building on this work the project will extend GBV prevention, mitigation and response training to partners and communities. The objective of this current project is to integrate safeguarding into conservation, governance, and livelihood activities, ensuring women’s safer, more equitable involvement in biodiversity protection.

Fauna & Flora is therefore seeking a consultant to lead the design and implementation of a comprehensive GBV risk mitigation, prevention, and response and a safeguarding programme across conservation and natural resource management activities in Khanh Hoa, Tuyen Quang, and Quang Ngai provinces. The consultant will help ensure that conservation interventions are safe, inclusive, and accessible for women and vulnerable groups by strengthening safeguarding systems, preventing GBV, improving reporting and referral mechanisms, and generating evidence on gender barriers and risks within conservation activities.

II. OBJECTIVES

The consultancy aims to:

Develop safeguarding and GBV mitigation policies and procedures for project partners.
Deliver GBV awareness, mitigation, prevention, and response training and safeguarding capacity-building activities for communities.
Map and assess local GBV support services and establish referral pathways and integrate referral systems with existing survivor support services.
Design and implement confidential GBV reporting and grievance redress mechanisms for partner organizations and project participants.
Conduct baseline quantitative and qualitative research at the beginning of the project including gender analysis and GBV risk assessments to inform project implementation and monitoring.
Produce a project case study at the end of project

III. METHODOLOGY

The consultant is expected to use a combination of:

Participatory workshops and stakeholder consultations.
Policy review and development support.
Community awareness training and separate facilitated dialogues with both partners and communities.
Quantitative and qualitative research methods.
Gender and GBV risk assessment tools.
Service mapping and referral pathway development.
Capacity building and mentoring for partner organizations.
Development of communication materials and grievance mechanisms.
Documentation of lessons learned and case studies.

IV. SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant will report directly to the Programme Manager and work closely with the three Project Managers from each site throughout the assignment. Across all work packages, the consultant will provide strategic and technical advice to strengthen the integration of safeguarding and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and mitigation measures within project activities and deliverables. This includes identifying risks, assessing the potential impacts of project interventions on vulnerable groups, and recommending appropriate safeguards to promote safe, inclusive, and equitable participation. Safeguarding and GBV considerations should be embedded as cross-cutting themes throughout the assignment and reflected, where relevant, in methodologies, consultations, training materials, and recommendations. All technical outputs shall be reviewed and approved by Fauna & Flora prior to finalization.

Activity	Activity location	Estimated number of beneficiaries	Intended outcome
1. Develop safeguarding and GBV mitigation policies and procedures for project partners.
Conduct policy development workshops	Tuyen Quang and Quang Ngai Provinces	100 men and 50 women	Clear codes of conduct on safeguarding and GBV prevention applied to all project staff, partners, and stakeholders
Provide templates and technical guidance	Tuyen Quang and Quang Ngai Provinces	100 men and 50 women
2. Deliver GBV awareness, mitigation, prevention, and response training and safeguarding capacity-building activities for communities.
Organize separate and mixedgroup dialogues on GBV and conservation	Tuyen Quang and Quang Ngai Provinces	300 women and 300 men	Meaningful discussions address GBV and amplify women’s voices in local governance and conservation
Run annual campaigns tied to national holidays (Labour Day and National Day)	Tuyen Quang and Quang Ngai Provinces	500 women and 500 men
3. Map and assess local GBV support services and establish referral pathways and integrate referral systems with existing survivor support services.
Map available services	Tuyen Quang and Quang Ngai Provinces	50 women	Confidential reporting mechanisms are used by staff, partners, and community members across project sites
Develop clear referral protocols with local partners	Tuyen Quang and Quang Ngai Provinces	50 women, 50 men
Create referral systems	Tuyen Quang and Quang Ngai Provinces	50 women, 20 men	Referral pathways are functional and used to access appropriate services
Connect victims with referral systems	Tuyen Quang and Quang Ngai Provinces	50 women
4. Design and implement confidential GBV reporting and grievance redress mechanisms for partner organizations and project participants
Develop and disseminate GRM communication materials	Tuyen Quang and Quang Ngai Provinces	200 women and 200 men	Confidential reporting mechanisms are used by staff, partners, and community members across project sites
Set up multiple reporting channels	Tuyen Quang and Quang Ngai Provinces	50 women
Establish grievance categorization and referral protocols	Tuyen Quang and Quang Ngai Provinces	50 women
5. Conduct baseline quantitative and qualitative research at the beginning of the project including gender analysis and GBV risk assessments to inform project implementation and monitoring.	Khanh Hoa, Tuyen Quang, and Quang Ngai Provinces	100 women and 100 men	Will be able to identify how women may be able to participate safely and equitably in conservation and livelihoods activities and measure project impacts
6. Produce a project case study at the end of project	Khanh Hoa, Tuyen Quang, and Quang Ngai Provinces	N/a	Results able to be shared across other sites in Vietnam

V. BUDGET AND DURATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

Package	Deliverables	Full breakdown*	Daily rate (USD)**	# of working days	Total costs
1. Support partners to develop their own policies on safeguarding and GBV prevention by conducting policy development workshops and providing templates and technical guidance	Inception and Workplan Policy Development Workshops Safeguarding and GBV Policy Templates/Tools Technical Guidance and Mentoring to Partners Review and Finalisation of Partner Policies Final Report and Recommendations	1 expert x 6 days x 2 provinces to conduct policy development workshops (12 days) 1 expert x 6 days x 2 provinces to provide templates and technical guidance (12 days) Total 24 days	$150.00	24	$3,600
2. Organize separate and mixed-group dialogues on GBV and conservation including implementation and media packages	Campaign Strategy and Implementation Plan Campaign Materials Package Campaign Delivery Campaign Monitoring and Reporting	1 expert x 24 days to conduct 6 dialogues on GBV and conservation Total 24 days	$150.00	24	$3,600
3. Assess local support services and formalize referral pathways for survivors by mapping available services and developing clear referral protocols with local partners	Service Mapping Assessment Stakeholder Consultation Referral Pathway Framework Referral Directory Validation Workshop and Final Report	1 expert x 6 days to map available services for women x 2 provinces (12 days) 1 expert x 6 days to assess gaps in accessibility for rural and ethnic minority women x 2 provinces (12 days) 2 experts x 14 days to develop clear referral protocols with local partners (28 days) Total 54 days	$150.00	52	$7,800
4. Establish confidential and anonymous GBV reporting mechanisms including development and disseminate GRM communication materials, creation of reporting channels, and connecting victims with referral systems	Assessment and Design of Reporting Mechanisms Development of Reporting Channels GRM Communication Materials Capacity Building Operationalization Report	1 expert x 10 days to develop guideline (10 days) 1 expert x 12 days to provide technical support for establishing grievance categorization and referral protocols (12 days) Total 22 days	$150.00	22	$3,300
5. Connect existing support services to GBV reporting mechanisms by creating referral systems and connecting victims with referral systems	Referral System Integration Plan Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Coordination Meetings Referral Testing and Functionalization Final Integration Report	2 experts x 15 days to provide technical support and create referral systems Total 30 days	$150.00	30	$4,500
6. Quantitative and qualitative survey conducted at beginning of project and developing a case study	Inception and Methodology Report Data Collection Tools Baseline Data Collection Baseline Analysis and Report Case Study Development Dataset and Presentation	2 experts × 16 days for the baseline survey, including the development of the research framework and data collection tools, field data collection, data analysis, and preparation of the baseline report (32 days) 1 expert × 10 days for ongoing and end-of project assessment support, including the development of pre and post-activity assessment tools and the provision of technical guidance to Project Officers (POs) and local partners to integrate outcome monitoring into project activities in a cost effective manner (10 days) Total 42 days	$150.00	42	$6,300
7. Conduct gender analysis including GBV risk assessments in target communities (baseline assessment)	Inception Report and Assessment Framework Field Assessment Stakeholder Consultations Gender and GBV Risk Assessment Report Mitigation and Action Recommendations Validation Workshop	2 experts x 10 days on tasks including: developing data collection tools, conducting fieldwork, and preparing reports Total 20 days	$150.00	20	$3,000

*Number of days should be considered a guide and may be adjusted based on the consultant’s proposed approach and level of effort with a fixed maximum daily rate of $150

**The consultant fee is based on contracted/actual working days contracted unit price with approved timesheets.

Costs should be based on actual expenses according to Fauna & Flora cost norms and accepted invoices

VI. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The consultant team should possess the following qualifications:

The team should collectively hold advanced university degrees in Gender Studies, Social Sciences, Community Development, International Development, Public Health, Law, Human Rights, or a related field.
The Team Leader should have a minimum of at least 10 years of relevant professional experience in gender equality, safeguarding, prevention and response to gender-based violence (GBV), women’s empowerment, or social inclusion programming. Team members collectively should bring at least 20-25+ years of combined experience in gender equality, safeguarding, prevention and response to gender-based violence (GBV), women’s empowerment, or social inclusion programming.
Demonstrated experience conducting gender analyses, GBV risk assessments, baseline studies, participatory research as well as developing and implementing safeguarding policies, codes of conduct, grievance redress mechanisms, and survivor-centred referral systems in rural and community settings.
Experience facilitating training, workshops, and capacity-building activities with stakeholders including government agencies, civil society organisations, community groups, and local authorities.
Strong understanding of GBV prevention, response services, referral pathways, and ethical principles for working with survivors of violence.
Familiarity with Vietnamese policies, legal frameworks, and institutional arrangements related to GBV prevention and response, safeguarding, and community development.
Strong facilitation, communication, MEL, and report-writing skills in English and Vietnamese.
Willingness and ability to travel to project sites in Khanh Hoa, Tuyen Quang, and Quang Ngai Provinces.
Applications from teams with complementary expertise are encouraged; not every team member needs to meet every qualification individual, provided the team as a whole meets the requirements above.

VII. SAFEGUARDING AND ETHICAL RESEARCH PROTOCOL REQUIREMENTS

Key requirements for this project include integration of:

Survivor-centred approaches
Informed consent procedures
Confidentiality requirements
Do No Harm principles
Data protection requirements

In line with the following guidelines and standards:

Any safeguarding concern, allegation, disclosure, suspicion of abuse, exploitation, harassment, neglect or other safeguarding risk identified during the consultancy must be reported immediately in accordance with Fauna & Flora safeguarding reporting procedures.

VIII. COMPLIANCE WITH FAUNA & FLORA POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The consultant shall comply with all relevant Fauna & Flora policies, procedures, and operational requirements throughout the assignment. Prior to commencing work, the consultant will familiarize themselves with applicable organizational policies and guidance as provided by Fauna & Flora. This includes, but is not limited to:

Adherence to Fauna & Flora procurement, finance, and expense procedures
Respect for data protection, confidentiality, and information security requirements when handling project information and stakeholder data.
Compliance with communications and branding requirements, including obtaining appropriate consent before taking, using, or sharing photographs, video recordings, testimonials, or other media collected during the assignment.
Adherence to relevant health, safety, security, and risk management procedures applicable to fieldwork, travel, consultations, and stakeholder engagement activities.
Commitment to conduct all activities in an ethical, inclusive, culturally appropriate, and professional manner consistent with Fauna & Flora’s values and standards of practice.

The consultant shall ensure that any subcontractors, associates, or personnel engaged under this assignment are also aware of and comply with applicable Fauna & Flora policies and requirements.

IX. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT

Fauna & Flora will provide consultant with the following support:

Access to Fauna & Flora’s previous reports, papers, and background information related to study sites
Administrative support and procedures to work in the field and with local partners

X. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Team profile (CVs)
Work plan (2-3 pages following the template attached)

XI. CONTACT INFORMATION AND HOW TO APPLY

For inquiries and submission of applications, please contact: Le Hong Viet – HR Officer, Fauna & Flora Vietnam Programme by email [email protected]

Note: Fauna & Flora International reserves the right to reject any or all applications received. The consultant selection is based on the lowest cost, provided that the application meets the required qualifications specified in the Terms of Reference (TOR) on a pass/fail basis.

The closing date for the submission of application is October 1, 2026.