Consultancy Service for GEDSI Assessment and Strategy Development

BACKGROUND

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Philippines works across the Bohol, Sulu, and Celebes Seas, which together span over 600,000 square kilometers and form part of the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion (SSME) — a globally significant marine area recognized under the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF).

These interconnected waters are ecologically rich and serve as major fishing grounds supporting millions of Filipinos who rely on small-scale fisheries for food and income. The region's coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, and deep-sea habitats are critical for biodiversity, fisheries productivity, and coastal protection.

Despite their ecological and economic importance, these marine areas remain underrepresented in national marine spatial planning and MPA network design. Small island provinces such as Tawi-Tawi and Siquijor face high poverty rates, limited access to services, and growing vulnerability to climate change impacts — including sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and declining fish stocks — all of which disproportionately affect marginalized communities.

Through this initiative, WCS aims to build climate resilience, protect coastal ecosystems, and strengthen sustainable livelihoods in climate-vulnerable small island communities, particularly by enhancing the leadership of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IP&LCs) in ecosystem-based marine resource management. A strong Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) approach will ensure that interventions are inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the diverse needs of women, persons with disabilities, Sama Indigenous Peoples, and other marginalized groups.

PURPOSE OF ENGAGEMENT

As part of the United Kingdom's Climate and Ocean Adaptation and Sustainable Transition-funded initiative (UK-COAST), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is implementing the project, From Vulnerability to Resilience: Securing Food and Climate Futures for Philippine Small Island Communities in Siquijor, Tawi-Tawi, and at the national level. WCS will be collaborating with key national and regional agencies, as well as relevant departments, to co-develop a planning framework that integrates Indigenous knowledge systems with scientific tools. This framework will support marine spatial planning (MSP), the recognition of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECM), and the achievement of relevant targets under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

To ensure inclusive design principles throughout all phases of the Project, we will be mainstreaming Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) frameworks in planning documents. This includes participatory decision-making processes that ensure meaningful representation and involvement of women, youth, persons with disabilities, and marginalized fishing sectors; the recognition of Indigenous Peoples and the promotion of small-scale fisheries and diversified livelihoods to strengthen socio-economic and climate resilience in coastal and small island communities.

WCS is seeking a consultant to conduct a comprehensive GEDSI assessment and subsequently develop a GEDSI strategy for Siquijor[MM1] and for its[MM2] national engagements to ensure that project activities and policies are inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the needs of marginalized and underrepresented groups, particularly women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, fisherfolk, and other vulnerable communities, and for Siquijor, traditional healers. el.

Scope of Work

The primary objective of this consultancy is to conduct a comprehensive GEDSI analysis at the national level, and within the Province of Siquijor focusing specifically on coastal communities[MM3] as a priority engagement site during the project inception phase. The analysis will inform the development a subsequent GEDSI Strategy and Action Plan that will guide equitable, gender responsive, and socially-inclusive implementation of project activities, ensuring that women, youth, Indigenous Peoples and other marginalized groups benefit equitably from project outcomes.

The consultant is expected to perform [MM4] the following tasks:

1. Assessment and Analysis

• Conduct a GEDSI situational assessment to examine the structural, institutional, and cultural dynamics, shaping gender and social inclusion outcomes at both the national and provincial levels, with a focus on coastal communities for Siquijor. Analyze intersectional vulnerabilities and identify systemic barriers and enabling conditions that influence the participation, leadership, access to benefits, and decision-making roles of women, Indigenous Peoples, youth, persons with disabilities, traditional healers (in the context of Siquijor), and small-scale fishers in activities and decision making related to ocean governance and marine resource management.
• Produce an evidence-based synthesis that highlights differentiated needs, risks, and opportunities to inform inclusive policy and program design.

2. Strategy Development and Planning

• Develop or update a comprehensive GEDSI Strategy and Action Plan that operationalizes inclusive equitable practices within the project framework, ensuring alignment with national gender and inclusion policies and local development priorities in Siquijor.
• Identify strategic interventions and policy measures to address structural inequities, enhance participation of women, youth, Indigenous Peoples and other marginalized groups, and promote GEDSI responsive approaches in project implementation.
• Provide an implementation roadmap with measurable indicators to monitor progress on GEDSI outcomes at national and local levels.

3. Capacity Development

• Design and develop practical tools, guidelines, and checklists to support integration of GEDSI principles across project planning, implementation, and monitoring activities.
• Design and facilitate GEDSI training and/or orientation sessions for project staff, implementing partners, and key stakeholders in Siquijor, emphasizing GEDSI empowerment, local knowledge systems, and inclusive participation mechanisms in Siquijor, as well as mainstreaming GEDSI considerations in environmental management, governance, and livelihood interventions.

4. Implementation Support

• Provide recommendations in the implementation and review phases of the project to ensure GEDSI considerations are fully embedded and to ensure that inclusivity and equity are reflected in communication materials, stakeholder engagement processes, and community-facing project activities.
• Develop a feedback and monitoring mechanism to ensure lessons from Siquijor inform national-level policies and replication of inclusive models.

DURATION AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS

The engagement will run from November 15, 2025 to March 30, 2026. The implementing partner is expected to deliver and provide the following items:

• Inception report detailing methodology, analytical framework and work plan.
• GEDSI assessment or analysis report that captures key findings, data analysis, and priority issues at national and Siquijor levels
• GEDSI Strategy and Action Plan outlining strategic priorities, interventions and monitoring indicators
• Training materials and/or capacity-building report summarizing capacity-building activities and participant feedback
• GEDSI integration toolkit or checklist for operational use in project planning and monitoring.
• Final technical report summarizing activities, outcomes, lessons learned, and recommendations.

The consultant will report to the Policy and Governance Unit and work in close coordination with Program Implementation Unit and relevant partners.

OTHER DUTIES RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Define research framework. Provide the research protocols and methodologies for including survey questions, if any.

2. Ensure compliance with social safeguards mechanisms. Undertake the proper prior informed consent and other social acceptability requirements.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree in Gender Studies, Sociology, Development Studies, Social Work, or related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in gender, disability, and social inclusion work.
• Demonstrated experience in developing GEDSI strategies, tools, or training programs.
• Strong understanding of intersectionality and inclusive development principles.
• Excellent facilitation, writing, and communication skills.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Interested applicants must submit:

• Updated Curriculum Vitae highlighting relevant experience
• Brief cover letter or proposal outlining suitability for the role, proposed changes to the timeline, and approach to the assignment
• Submit the requirements to /

WCS is an equal opportunity employer, and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and engaging a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on gender, race/ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, caste, genetic information or any other covered status or characteristic protected by laws and regulations/and similar categories.

It is everyone's responsibility to ensure that we do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based upon a person's membership in one of these protected categories in areas such as recruitment, selection, job assignment, supervision, training, promotions, job grading, transfers, termination, compensation, benefits, educational opportunities, WCS sponsored recreational activities and facilities.

The organization complies with the spirit and intent of relevant local laws and WCS's employment policies.

Job Type: Temporary

Contract length: 4 months

Application Question(s):

• Interested applicants must submit:

● Updated Curriculum Vitae highlighting relevant experience

● Brief cover letter or proposal outlining suitability for the role, proposed changes to the timeline, and approach to the assignment

● Please submit proposal to /

Work Location: Remote

Application Deadline: 10/30/2025