Biodiversity / Protected Areas Ecologist – Tajikistan

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Biodiversity / Protected Areas Ecologist for a consultancy assignment financed by Asian Development Bank - AsDB26520TJK1 in Tajikistan.

Aninver Development Partners is preparing a proposal for a tourism sector development initiative in Tajikistan supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The project aims to identify priority tourism investments, drive policy reforms, and strengthen institutional capacities to catalyze sustainable growth across key mountainous and cultural regions of the country.

We are currently seeking an expert Biodiversity / Protected Areas Ecologist to join our multidisciplinary team for this proposal stage. The successful candidate will contribute to environmental scoping, protected area assessments, and safeguard compliance in alignment with international financial institution standards to ensure sustainable integration of tourism infrastructure.

Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.

Objectives of the assignment

• Assess and screen the ecological and biodiversity impacts of proposed tourism development initiatives in target regions.
• Ensure all project activities comply with the Asian Development Bank's Environmental and Social Framework and applicable environmental standards.
• Integrate biodiversity conservation measures into master planning and feasibility studies for prioritized tourism destinations.
• Support stakeholder consultations regarding natural resource management and protected area conservation.

Scope of work

• Conduct environmental and social scoping and risk screening for candidate tourism projects in accordance with MDB frameworks.
• Assess potential impacts of infrastructure and visitor growth on local flora, fauna, and protected natural habitats.
• Contribute to the preparation of environmental due diligence documentation required for ensuing investment operations.
• Collaborate with engineering, spatial planning, and safeguard teams to design mitigation hierarchies and biodiversity offsets where necessary.
• Support stakeholder engagement activities with conservation authorities and local communities.

Your role as Biodiversity / Protected Areas Ecologist

• Lead field assessments and ecological data collection across project sites in mountainous and sensitive natural areas.
• Evaluate baseline ecological conditions, identifying critical habitats, endemic species, and protected areas potentially affected by project designs.
• Draft environmental screening reports, impact assessments, and mitigation plans tailored to ADB safeguard requirements.
• Provide technical inputs on biodiversity conservation to the broader feasibility study and detailed engineering design teams.
• Participate in missions and coordinate with national environmental authorities and local conservation stakeholders.
• Contribute to the drafting of the final due diligence package and reporting deliverables for the project.

Requirements

• Education: Degree in Ecology or Conservation
• 8–10 years in protected areas and MDB safeguards
• Languages: Proficiency in English

Desirable

• Previous professional experience in Tajikistan or the Central Asia region.
• Experience integrating biodiversity considerations into tourism infrastructure or rural development projects.

An experienced Biodiversity and Protected Areas Ecologist with 8-10 years of expertise in ecological assessments and MDB safeguards, eager to support sustainable tourism development in Tajikistan.

Assignment details

• Location: Tajikistan
• Financed by: Asian Development Bank - AsDB26520TJK1
• Expected input: 3 person-months
• Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)

About Aninver Development Partners

Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.

Why apply

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a Asian Development Bank - AsDB26520TJK1-financed project in Tajikistan.
• Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
• Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.

How to apply

Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.

Can I apply if I am not based in the country? Yes, unless the requirements say otherwise; relevant regional experience is an asset.

What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.