Research consultant: Barriers and enabling conditions for advancing equitable governance in conservation sites in Madagascar
Location: Madagascar, with fieldwork at three conservation sites and remote collaboration with IIED, Madagascar National Parks and Madagasikara Voakajy
Function: Scaling up equitable governance in area-based conservation (SEGA)
Status: Consultancy
Contract length: 40 working days between September and October
Budget: Max budget available to cover consultancy fees and logistics is £3,969
Hours: Flexible
IIED is seeking a research consultant to work with Madagascar National Parks (MNP), Madagasikara Voakajy (MV) and IIED on a study of the barriers and enabling conditions affecting actions to advance equitable governance at conservation sites in Madagascar.
This is a great opportunity for an early career academic or researcher with a background in qualitative and critical social sciences, and sensitivity to power dynamics and historical legacies in conservation, to contribute to applied research linked to protected and conserved area governance.
About the assignment
Madagascar hosts globally significant biodiversity and a network of protected and conserved areas managed by government agencies, non-governmental organisations, local communities and private actors. Effective conservation increasingly depends not only on ecological management, but also on the quality and equity of governance systems that shape decision-making, benefit-sharing, accountability, participation and recognition of rights.
MNP and MV, in collaboration with IIED, are leading the Madagascar component of the Darwin-funded project “Scaling up equitable governance in area-based conservation” (SEGA). The project uses the Site-level Assessment of Governance and Equity (SAGE) tool to support actors at protected and conserved areas to assess governance and equity, identify practical actions and monitor progress.
The consultant will conduct research in three protected areas in Madagascar — two MNP sites and one MV site — to understand what supports or hinders the successful implementation of SAGE action plans. The research will inform MNP and MV’s work on equitable governance, contribute to a cross-country SEGA analysis, and help strengthen the SAGE methodology.
We are looking for a researcher with a background in qualitative and critical social sciences, with sensitivity to power dynamics and historical legacies in conservation.
Ideally, the consultant will be an early career academic, for example towards the completion of a PhD, a recent PhD graduate or a post-doctoral researcher, based at a national university. The consultant should be based in Madagascar and available for the research period from September to October.
The consultant needs to be fluent in French and Malagasy. English language skills would be an advantage. The consultant will require access to a laptop with MS Office and a reliable internet connection.
How to apply
To express your interest, please submit a CV, a cover letter outlining how your experience is relevant to this opportunity, and an indicative budget. Please also confirm your availability between September and October, your language skills, and your current location in Madagascar.
Please send your application to [email protected] no later than 24 August 2026. We expect to hold virtual interviews on 27 and 28 August.
Do not select the 'apply now' button on this page as your application will not be reviewed.
