REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI) (CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

Description

Job Descriptio
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI)
(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

Individual Selection of Consultan
Country: Government of Vanuatu
Project Name: Vanuatu Affordable and Resilient Settlements Project
Assignment Title: Resilient Housing and Community Capacity Development (Firm)
Individual/Firm: Firm
Duty Station: PMU, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Date of Publication: 2 March 2026
Deadline for Submission: 20 March 2026 at 14:00 Hours
Reference Number: VU-MLNR-538678-CS-CQS

1. Background of the Project
The Government of Vanuatu (GoV) aims to provide potable water, sanitation, roads, drainage, and electricity to low-income households for the largest number of citizens. To support this goal, the World Bank Group’s International Development Agency is assisting through the Vanuatu Affordable and Resilient Settlements Project (VARS).

The project aims to
•Develop a phased, 10-year, risk-informed Land Development and Investment Strategy (LDIS) for the Greater Port Vila area, covering an estimated population of 114,000 (around 40% of the national population).
•Prepare a five-year action plan to implement phased settlement upgrading (SURP) of 23 existing informal settlements in Greater Port Vila.
•Implement selected on-the-ground investments and strengthen institutional and policy frameworks to pilot new land development and in situ settlement upgrading.

Key activities include
•Basic area upgrading of four informal settlements: Ohlen Mataso, Seaside, Tokyo, and part of Anamburu.
•Developing a 10-hectare “sites-and-services” (greenfield) lower-middle-income residential subdivision.
•Expanding or rehabilitating off-site infrastructure focusing on flood management and mitigation.
•Strengthening institutional capacity for responsible government and sub-national agencies to plan, finance, and implement the 10-year LDIS and 5-year SURP in partnership with communities and the private sector.

2. Purpose of the Assignment
The firm will lead the development and operationalization of resilient self-build housing prototypes, including coordination of architectural inputs, preparation of full technical documentation, and delivery of training, awareness, and regulatory integration tools in support of the National Housing Policy. Pilot activities will be conducted at the Etas subdivision.

The assignment includes three main workstreams
•Resilient Self-Build Housing Designs, Guideline Development and Implementation Support
•Develop four low-cost, resilient standard house plans compliant with the Vanuatu National Building Code.
•Pilot construction at Etas subdivision and produce step-by-step instructional videos and manuals for the DUAP website.
•Conduct focus group discussions with home builders (facilitated by a separate architectural firm) to validate designs.
•Collaborate with local training providers, including Pacific Australia Skills (PAS) and Vanuatu Skills Partnership, to support construction and content production.

National Resilient Construction Public Awareness & Community Engagement Campaig
•Design a nationwide campaign on safe construction practices and upgrading pathways.
•Integrate the new standard house plans and training materials into messaging for households, communities, and informal builders.
•Consult with Shelter Cluster and Vanuatu Red Cross for guidance and coordination.

Supervision of Four Prototype Houses at Etas Subdivisio
•Supervise the construction of one unit of each approved prototype house at the Etas subdivision (also known as Elol Etas Subdivision) under the VARS Project.

3. Required Qualifications and Experience
Selection Method: Consultant’s Qualifications Selection (CQS) as per World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers.

Core Shortlisting Criteria
•Core business operations with at least 5 years of relevant experience.
•Demonstrated experience in developing resilient, low-cost housing tools, guidelines, and standard designs; construction training and media; behavior-change campaigns; and housing technical advisory. Experience in Pacific/SIDS countries preferred.
•Availability of key skills in-house or through associates.
•Proven in-country delivery (or credible plan) and experience coordinating with government and community institutions (e.g., DUAP, Malvatumauri, provincial/municipal authorities).

4. Reporting

•Contracting Authority: MoLNR / VARS PMU (contract management and payment authorization)
•Technical Lead: DUAP (MoIA) for National Housing Policy implementation
•Counterpart Agencies: MIPU, PVCC, Shefa Provincial Council, Shelter Cluster, Vanuatu Red Cross, PAS, VSP, World Bank VARS task team
•Progress Reporting: Monthly brief progress notes; quarterly review meetings; milestone review meetings at Part A/B completion; three monthly reports during supervision; final report at Month 18

5. Duration of Assignment
•Total: 135 person-days over 18 months
•Videography and post-production expected to be undertaken by a specialist under a lump-sum arrangement

6. How to Apply / Submission Requirement
Interested consultants should follow the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers. Consultants will be selected according to the Consultant Quality Selection (CQS) method.

Further details, including the full Terms of Reference (ToR), can be obtained from the Ministry in person or via email during office hours (8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday).

Deadline: Submit expressions of interest and CV by 20 March 2026, 14:00 Vanuatu Time

Address:
Vanuatu Affordable and Resilient Settlements Project (VARS)
Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MoLNR)
Socapo Area, Port Vila, Vanuatu

Email: spo@vars.vu
(cc: pm@vars.vu
/ cm@vars.vu