Equality and Social Inclusion 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. 

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Project:  National Adaptation Plan for the Agriculture and Forestry Sectors of Paraguay

• Duty Station: Asunción, Paraguay

• Period: March 1^st 2026 – December 30th 2026

• Consultant Level: Level 4

PROJECT BACKGROUND

GGGI has been active in Paraguay since 2018, collaborating with the Government of Paraguay to advance green growth policies and investments. Key partners include the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MADES), the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), and Paraguay’s Development Finance Agency (AFD), driving progress across various sectors.

In partnership with MEF, MADES and GGGI is launching a new Green Climate Fund (GCF)-funded technical assistance project titled “National Adaptation Plan (NAP) for the Agriculture and Forestry Sectors of Paraguay.” This initiative aims to develop Paraguay’s NAP, which will strengthen the country’s resilience to climate change by addressing key adaptation barriers in the agriculture and forestry sectors and creating a national adaptation guiding framework. The project will enable the Government of Paraguay to enhance its climate change adaptation information systems, integrate adaptation into national frameworks, promote inclusive and climate-resilient practices in agriculture and forestry, and foster private sector participation.

Key objectives include:

• Enhance data and monitoring systems: Strengthen Paraguay’s capacity to generate, manage, and utilize comprehensive, up-to-date data on climate change risks and impacts. This will support the development, tracking, and refinement of adaptation strategies, plans, and projects while fostering an evidence-based approach to adaptation.

• Mainstream adaptation into national policy and planning frameworks: Improve the alignment of national policies, planning frameworks, and governance structures with Paraguay’s adaptation objectives. This includes mainstreaming resilience into sectoral strategies and ensuring coherence across the agriculture and forestry sectors.

• Promote inclusive and climate-resilient agriculture and forestry practices: Develop and implement targeted adaptation measures that address the needs of vulnerable and marginalized populations. These actions will promote CSA and forestry practices, ensuring equitable access to resources and participation in decision-making processes.

• Strengthen private sector engagement: Develop policy instruments and economic incentives to actively involve the private sector in climate adaptation initiatives. This includes fostering public-private partnerships and creating investment opportunities that align with national adaptation goals.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The Equality, and Social Inclusion (GESI) Consultant will support the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MADES) to ensure the mainstreaming of equality and social inclusion into all stages of the NAP development process, including data systems, planning frameworks, institutional arrangements, and engagement with public and private stakeholders. This will promote inclusive and equitable climate adaptation responses that reflect the needs, knowledge, and priorities of women, indigenous people, youth, and other vulnerable and marginalized groups in the agriculture and forestry sectors.

SCOPE OF WORK

The GESI Consultant will be part of the Readiness Technical Unit (RTU) which consists of a Senior Climate Change Adaptation Officer, Agriculture Officer, Forestry Officer, Public Policy Consultant, Economic Modeling Consultant, Climate Vulnerability Consultant, Climate Services Coordination Consultant and Senior Communication Assistant. The consultant will deliver technical support, capacity-building, and strategic guidance to ensure the integration of GESI across all components of Paraguay’s NAP for the Agriculture and Forestry Sectors.

The consultant is expected to contribute to the following key areas:

• Gap Assessment and Baseline Development

• Review public policy instruments, institutional mandates, and ongoing government programs related to equality and social inclusion in the context of climate change, agriculture, and forestry.Identify gaps, strengths, and opportunities for GESI integration in the national adaptation planning process.

  • Analyze existing laws, regulations, and institutional mandates related to equality, human rights, and environmental protection to understand the legal and policy enabling environment for GESI integration. 

  • Examine sectoral policies and programs within agriculture and forestry to assess how they currently address or neglect the specific needs and vulnerabilities of diverse social groups (e.g., land tenure policies, agricultural extension services, forest management regulations).

  • Review existing government instruments, programs, and institutional frameworks related to equality and climate change to identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities for GESI integration in national adaptation planning.  

• Mapping of institutional mandates, roles, and coordination mechanisms for GESI and climate change. Map the roles and responsibilities of key government institutions (MEF, MADES, Ministry of Women, INDI - National Institute for Indigenous Affairs, MAG - Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, INFONA - National Forest Institute, etc.) in promoting GESI within climate change and sectoral contextDevelop a baseline report that will inform the formulation of the NAP GESI Action Plan and serve as a reference for monitoring progress.

• Evaluate existing coordination mechanisms between ministries on GESI and climate change issues.

• GESI Integration in NAP Development

• Ensure that GESI considerations are embedded across all technical components and outputs of the NAP, including vulnerability and risk assessments, prioritization of adaptation options, institutional arrangements, and M&E frameworks.

• Review deliverables on the NAP development produced by consultants and partners to ensure GESI mainstreaming is applied consistently and aligned with GCF standards.

• Assist in reviewing the outputs of projects resulting from the development of the NAP to ensure they incorporate a GESI perspective.

• Design, implement, and report on workshops related to equality and climate change within the framework of NAP development.

• Development of the NAP GESI Action Plan

• Lead the formulation of a dedicated GESI Action Plan as a standalone output of the NAP, including concrete actions, institutional responsibilities, timelines, and indicators.

• Align the Action Plan with national equality policies and international frameworks such as the UNFCCC Gender Action Plan and GCF GESI Policy.

• Facilitate workshops and consultations with MEF, MADES, and other key stakeholders to collaboratively develop a standalone GESI Action Plan that complements and guides the overall NAP.

• Documentation of the participatory process used to develop the plan.

• Institutional Capacity Strengthening

• Design and deliver targeted training sessions for MEF, MADES, and other relevant institutions, such as local financial institutions on GESI in climate change adaptation and project development to integrate GESI considerations into instruments and processes 

• Provide guidance on incorporating GESI into institutional procedures, including planning, budgeting, and monitoring mechanisms.

• Provide technical guidance to the NAP technical team on conducting sensitive and socially inclusive climate risk and vulnerability assessments.

• Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

• Facilitate participatory processes to ensure inclusive stakeholder engagement, particularly involving grassroots organizations, women’s groups, and Indigenous communities.

• Design and deliver workshops and communication materials that promote awareness and ownership of GESI dimensions within the NAP.

• Ensure representation from women’s, Indigenous, youth, and disability groups as per GCF GESI Policy and the NAP’s stakeholder engagement plan.

• Incorporate diverse knowledge systems, including traditional and local knowledge from women and Indigenous Peoples, into vulnerability analyses.

• Facilitation of Inclusive Consultation Processes

• Assist in organizing and facilitating GESI-sensitive consultations, workshops, and dialogues with diverse stakeholder groups, ensuring their voices, perspectives, and priorities are heard and incorporated into the NAP.

• Support the development of clear, concise, and accessible communication materials (e.g., brochures, factsheets, presentations, policy briefs) that explain the NAP in a GESI-sensitive manner.

• Portfolios of adaptation actions

• Integrate GESI considerations into adaptation portfolios, differentiating by size of productive unit, demographics and gender.

• Co-design methodologies and evidence to quantify social and economic co-benefits related to the reduction of inequities.

• On-demand Technical Support

  • Provide flexible, ongoing technical inputs to ensure GESI considerations are reflected throughout the project lifecycle and across cross-cutting activities, ensuring integration of GESI principles in planning, execution, and monitoring processes.

  • Contribute highlighting achievements and lessons learned in equality and social inclusion integration on Readiness Progress Reports.

  • Collaborate with other project consultants to promote coherence and complementarity in GESI integration.

  • Contribute expert feedback on reports, policies, and technical documents to ensure alignment with GESI standards.

  • Prepare advisory Memos on Emerging GESI, addressing specific GESI challenges or opportunities during implementation.

  • Offer targeted technical advice and guidance to the project management unit, MEF, MADES, and other relevant stakeholders on specific GESI challenges or opportunities that emerge during the NAP development.

  • Provide GESI-specific inputs for donor reports, funding proposals, and other project documentation, highlighting the GESI contributions and outcomes of the NAP.

  • Participate in relevant technical meetings, working group sessions, and steering committee meetings to provide GESI insights and ensure GESI considerations are on the agenda and adequately addressed.

  • Accompany all stages of the readiness program by offering technical guidance and advice to ensure alignment with GESI objectives and best practices.

During the first week of assignment the consultant will define the reporting arrangements of the consultancy, in consultation with the NDA and the Project Manager.  

The consultant will work from the MADES facilities on the days defined as agreed with the national counterpart and the Project RTU. The MEF must be in copy of all communications as Designated National Authority.

The Consultant will deliver an initial Work Plan at the start of the assignment and submit monthly activity reports in Spanish, in line with GGGI format requirements. Technical notes, matrices, workshop documentation and other working products shall be submitted as part of the monthly reporting. Executive summaries of key outputs, including the NAP GESI Action Plan, shall be provided in English. A full English translation will be required only for the final consolidated technical note of the consultancy. Comments from GGGI, MADES, MEF and other designated technical focal points shall be addressed and incorporated within seven (7) calendar days, in relation to reports or technical inputs produced during the reporting period.

EXPERTISE REQUIRED

• Must be a Paraguayan national or hold a valid work permit.

• Postgraduate degree in social sciences or related fields is required.

• At least 5-8 years of professional experience working on equality and social inclusion projects is required.

• At least 3 years of professional experience in project implementation across the environmental or development sectors, with desirable experience related to climate change adaptation or resilience.

• At least 5 years of professional experience working in Paraguay on equality, interculturality and, stakeholder engagement is required.

• Experience in the Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector in Paraguay is desired.

• Fluency in Spanish and English is required, and knowledge of local languages is desired. 

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION 

• Selection method/process: competitive

• Timeline of selection: 1 month  

The date to close is 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.