Background:

Rikolto is an international NGO with over 50 years of experience in partnering with farmer organizations (FOs) and food value chain actors (VCAs) across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, operating in 18 countries worldwide through 5regional offices. Rikolto envisions a world with production and consumption systems that allow poverty and hunger to be eradicated and that do not burden our planet more than it can bear.

Since 2017, Rikolto has engaged in the rice sector of nine countries: Vietnam, Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Senegal. In Vietnam, Rikolto has been coaching farmers to change their practices in line with low-carbon and sustainable rice production practices, including Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), following the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) Standards, and promoting market linkages by connecting rice producers with market actors. In the area of enabling environment, through collaboration with other stakeholders, Rikolto promotes public and private stakeholders to adopt policies, programmes, and initiatives that promote a more sustainable and inclusively governed rice sector.

In partnership with Livelihoods Venture and the Livelihoods 3rd Carbon Fund (LCF3), Rikolto is implementing a 10-year Low-Carbon Rice (LCR) project in Dong Thap province of Vietnam. The project aims to reduce GHG emissions while maintaining high production to ensure food security and contribute positively to economic growth and environmental sustainability. Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) and Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) have been identified as the most promising practices for reducing GHG emissions, especially for irrigated rice.

At the landscape level, the project will focus on the biodiversity and environment of cooperatives around Tram Chim National Park by assessing to what extent the re-establishment of semi-natural habitats in the paddy fields, as positive trade-offs from regenerative rice cultivation, can create both feeding and nesting opportunities for wildlife, including the Sarus crane, enhancing connectivity with Tram Chim’s ecosystem.

To support this, Rikolto seeks a qualified consultant to monitor both positive and negative impacts on the biodiversity and environment of the project around Tram Chim National Park.

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1. Key Objectives:

The consultant will be responsible for:

• Monitoring water quality twice per year over 10 years in four areas including: 1) 10 sites inside Tram Chim National Park; 2) 10 sites under AWD models; 3) 10 sites under regenerative model; 4) 10 sites under traditional farming control model. The pH, EC and DO parameters will be measured on-site using portable measuring devices. Other parameters will be analyzed in the laboratory.
• Monitoring the parameters of nitrogen (N) and pesticide residues in soil samples (three samples per model) through laboratory testing.
• Monitoring biodiversity (birds, insects, fishes) across the 04 areas of the project, with sampling designs tailored to each species group.
• Supporting local communities to develop livelihoods associated with Tram Chim National Park. The target community is the marginalized and vulnerable households, including women, the elderly, children, the disabled, and low-income groups.

2. Scope of work

The consultant will be the main person responsible for delivering quality results of the consultancy, in close coordination and consultation with Rikolto’s Rice team and LCF. This includes, but is not limited to, the following tasks:

• Develop monitoring plans for biodiversity and environmental indicators.
• Collect and analyse water and soil samples.
• Conduct field surveys.
• Assess the current situation to understand the difficulties and development opportunities of livelihood models including: Model of direct resource extraction from the park, beekeeping models, handicrafts, lotus planting model. Besides, surveying the needs of visitors about local products (such as price, quality, design, etc.).
• Facilitate consultation workshops with stakeholders to develop a plan for sustainable production chains for cooperatives surrounding Tram Chim National Park as part of Rikolto’s sustainable agriculture strategy.
• Provide training to local stakeholders on professional knowledge such as resource exploitation and processing techniques, product promotion, sustainable management.
• Organise pilot livelihood models (the consultant will play an advisory and monitoring role only, providing technical inputs and recommendations).
• Evaluate the effectiveness of project interventions.
• Conduct data analysis and provide reports in English.

3. Schedule

The overall project is expected to last for 10 years (from December 2025 – December 2035).

However, consultancy contracts will be signed annually based on the yearly approved work plans and budgets. The continuation of the assignment is subject to satisfactory performance and mutual agreement, which may be formalized through annexes to the original contract or new contracts for subsequent years.

4. Required Profile

The ideal consultant will possess the following qualifications and experience:

• A doctorate in agriculture, geography, biodiversity, environmental or social sciences, or other disciplines related to social and behavioral research.
• Demonstrated experience in data analysis, water and soil testing, and reporting related to biodiversity, environmental, social, or agricultural practices.
• Strong skills in drafting, reviewing, and finalizing technical reports.
• Experience working in the Mekong Delta, particularly in Dong Thap province.

5. ‍Budget each year

Year 1 Budget: Maximum of €11,935 (tax inclusive). This is a fixed, all-inclusive cost, covering:

• Professional fees
• Travel (international/domestic)
• Accommodation, meals
• Local transportation, communication, and incidentals

Budgets for subsequent years will be negotiated annually based on the scope of work, performance, and funding availability.

For more information, please refer to the Job Description.

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‍How to apply

Interested consultants are invited to submit the following documents:

• Technical Proposal: A detailed proposal that addresses the objectives and methodology for conducting the baseline analysis, along with the consultant's     qualifications and relevant experience. The technical proposal should present a comprehensive long-term vision and approach for the10-year project, including an overall methodology and key milestones. However, the detailed financial proposal should be prepared for the first year only. Budgets and work plans for subsequent years will be agreed annually based on project progress and funding availability.‍

• Financial Proposal: A breakdown of the consultant’s daily rate and the estimated number of days required to complete the tasks for the first year only, ensuring that the total all-inclusive cost remains within the maximum budget of €11,935 (tax included). Specifically, the financial proposal should included: The consultant’s daily rate and the estimated number of working days required to complete the assigned tasks; and A detailed breakdown of all related expenses, including but not limited to:
  1. Travel costs(international and/or domestic transportation)
  2. Accommodation and meals
  3. Local transportation
  4. Communication and other incidental or logistical costs necessary to perform the assignment.

The proposed budget must be all-inclusive, covering all costs mentioned above. Financial proposals for subsequent years will be determined annually, based on actual needs, project progress, and mutual agreement.

• CV: A curriculum vitae (CV) demonstrating relevant experience and qualifications.

‍Please send your application to vietnam@rikolto.org by 15 December 2025.

‍Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview or further clarification.

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