Social & Stakeholder Engagement Specialist – Kyrgyzstan

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Social & Stakeholder Engagement Specialist for a private sector consultancy assignment financed by FAO in Kyrgyzstan.

Aninver Development Partners is preparing a technical proposal for an upcoming FAO-funded assignment in Kyrgyzstan focused on improving biodiversity and sustainable forestry. The initiative aims to strengthen protected area management planning and implementation capacity through comprehensive assessments, participatory planning, and institutional capacity development over a 12-month period.

To support this vital conservation effort, we are seeking a qualified Social & Stakeholder Engagement Specialist. The expert will play a critical role in facilitating inclusive dialogue, conducting socio-economic and community consultations, and ensuring that local stakeholders are meaningfully integrated into the protected area management planning process.

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

• Strengthen protected area management planning and implementation capacity in Kyrgyzstan.
• Engage local stakeholders through a comprehensive, participatory, and evidence-based planning process.
• Conduct socio-economic evaluations to inform sustainable protected area management.
• Contribute to improved biodiversity conservation and the strengthening of local institutional capacities.

Scope of work

• Execute a comprehensive, participatory, and evidence-based planning process involving local stakeholders and communities.
• Conduct socio-economic evaluations to inform protected area management planning.
• Undertake baseline studies and management effectiveness assessments in cooperation with local counterparts.
• Support targeted field verification and community-level consultations.
• Contribute to the development of practical management objectives, zoning, and implementation frameworks.
• Participate in capacity development and knowledge transfer activities for national and local stakeholders.

Your role as Social & Stakeholder Engagement Specialist

• Lead stakeholder consultations, participatory planning, and local engagement workshops in the project area.
• Design and implement effective communication and outreach strategies for diverse community groups and institutional partners.
• Coordinate closely with the team leader and other technical specialists to integrate social findings into spatial planning and management frameworks.
• Facilitate dialogue between local authorities, community members, and project implementers.
• Draft reports on socio-economic findings, stakeholder feedback, and participatory processes.
• Support capacity-building activities and workshops for local counterparts.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in social sciences, sociology, rural development, anthropology, natural resource management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated professional experience in stakeholder engagement, participatory planning, and community consultation within the environmental or forestry sector.
• Strong understanding of socio-economic dynamics and community-based conservation approaches in Central Asia.
• Excellent facilitation, communication, and report-writing skills.
• Proficiency in English; knowledge of local languages spoken in Kyrgyzstan is strongly preferred.

Desirable

• Prior professional experience working on FAO or other international donor-funded forestry and biodiversity projects.
• Familiarity with protected area management planning frameworks.

An experienced social scientist and participatory planning expert with a strong track record of engaging local communities and institutional stakeholders in environmental conservation projects in Central Asia.

Assignment details

• Location: Kyrgyzstan
• Financed by: FAO
• Sector: Private sector
• Estimated duration: 12 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 FAO-financed project in Kyrgyzstan.
• 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.