Socio-economic and Stakeholder Engagement Specialist – Kyrgyzstan

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

Aninver Development Partners is preparing a competitive proposal for an upcoming FAO-financed project in the private-sector and natural resource management sector in Kyrgyzstan. The initiative focuses on improving biodiversity and sustainable forestry by strengthening protected area management planning and implementation capacity. As part of this assignment, we are seeking a qualified Socio-economic and Stakeholder Engagement Specialist to join our international consulting team.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in executing comprehensive socio-economic assessments, leading participatory planning processes, and driving stakeholder engagement activities at the pilot site level. Working closely with national and local counterparts, the expert will ensure that community perspectives and socio-economic considerations are fully integrated into the protected area management planning framework.

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.
• Conduct thorough socio-economic evaluations and baseline assessments to inform management planning.
• Execute a comprehensive, participatory, and evidence-based planning process involving local stakeholders.
• Engage local communities and relevant counterparts to develop practical management objectives and implementation frameworks.
• Contribute to improved biodiversity conservation and sustainable protected area management.

Scope of work

• Undertake baseline studies and socio-economic evaluations for the designated pilot site in the country.
• Carry out targeted field verifications and community-level consultations to inform the management planning process.
• Execute a comprehensive, participatory, and evidence-based planning process involving local stakeholders.
• Support the integration of socio-economic data into zoning and spatial planning frameworks.
• Contribute to the preparation of technical guidelines for protected area management planning.
• Support capacity development and knowledge transfer activities for national and local counterparts.

Your role as Socio-economic and Stakeholder Engagement Specialist

• Lead socio-economic assessments and sustainable livelihoods evaluations for the pilot protected area.
• Design and implement stakeholder engagement strategies and consultation plans involving local communities and authorities.
• Facilitate participatory planning workshops and focus group discussions with diverse local stakeholders.
• Analyze socio-economic data to feed into the development of Protected Area Management Plans (PAMPs).
• Collaborate with biodiversity and GIS experts to ensure socio-economic dimensions are reflected in spatial zoning.
• Contribute to capacity building and knowledge transfer initiatives for national and local counterparts.
• Prepare high-quality technical reports and documentation relating to stakeholder engagement and socio-economic findings.

Requirements

• Education: Relevant university degree
• At least 5 years of professional experience in socio-economic assessment, participatory planning and stakeholder/community engagement
• Languages: English

Desirable

• Prior professional experience in Kyrgyzstan or the wider Central Asia region.
• Familiarity with FAO or other international donor-funded project procedures.
• Proficiency in local languages spoken in the project area.

An experienced socio-economic and stakeholder engagement professional with a strong background in participatory planning, community consultation, and 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.