The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) is inviting applications for a Research Consultant to support a study examining the barriers and enabling conditions for advancing equitable governance in conservation sites in Madagascar. The consultancy offers an opportunity for an early-career researcher to contribute to applied research focused on conservation governance, equity, participation, accountability and community rights.
The assignment is part of IIED’s Scaling up Equitable Governance in Area-Based Conservation (SEGA) project and will involve collaboration with Madagascar National Parks (MNP) and Madagasikara Voakajy (MV). The selected consultant will conduct field-based qualitative research across three conservation sites in Madagascar and contribute to wider analysis aimed at strengthening equitable governance practices.
Research Consultant Opportunity
The position is designed for a researcher with a background in qualitative and critical social sciences, particularly someone interested in the relationships between conservation, governance, power and local communities.
The consultant will be expected to investigate the factors that support or prevent the effective implementation of governance and equity action plans developed through the Site-level Assessment of Governance and Equity (SAGE) tool.
The SAGE approach enables stakeholders working in protected and conserved areas to assess governance and equity, identify practical improvements and monitor progress over time.
Through this consultancy, the researcher will help understand how these action plans work in practice and what factors influence their success.
Key Responsibilities
The consultant will conduct research across three protected areas in Madagascar, consisting of two sites managed by Madagascar National Parks and one site associated with Madagasikara Voakajy.
Key activities are expected to include:
- Conducting qualitative research at the three selected conservation sites.
- Examining barriers to implementing SAGE action plans.
- Identifying enabling conditions that support equitable governance.
- Exploring decision-making, participation and accountability within conservation governance systems.
- Considering questions around benefit-sharing and recognition of rights.
- Examining the influence of power dynamics and historical legacies in conservation.
- Working closely with MNP, MV and IIED throughout the research process.
- Contributing findings to the broader SEGA cross-country analysis.
- Providing insights that can help strengthen the SAGE methodology.
The research is intended to generate practical findings that can support conservation organisations and other stakeholders in improving governance and equity at protected and conserved areas.
Who Can Apply?
IIED is particularly interested in candidates who are early-career academics or researchers with relevant experience in qualitative and critical social sciences.
The ideal candidate may be:
- Completing a PhD.
- A recent PhD graduate.
- A post-doctoral researcher.
- A researcher working at a national university in Madagascar.
- An experienced qualitative researcher with relevant conservation governance expertise.
Applicants should demonstrate an understanding of power relations, governance and historical legacies within conservation. Experience researching communities, protected areas, natural resource governance or related social and environmental issues would be particularly relevant.
Importantly, the consultant should be based in Madagascar and available throughout the research period.
Language and Technical Requirements
Fluency in French and Malagasy is required for the assignment. English language skills would be an advantage because of the international nature of the project and collaboration with IIED.
The successful consultant will also need access to:
- A laptop.
- Microsoft Office.
- Reliable internet connectivity.
Because the assignment includes fieldwork, applicants should also be prepared to travel to the three selected conservation sites in Madagascar.
Contract and Payment
The consultancy is expected to run for 40 working days between September and October 2026.
The role is classified as a temporary consultancy with flexible working hours, combining fieldwork in Madagascar with remote collaboration with IIED and project partners.
The maximum budget available to cover consultancy fees and logistics is £3,969.
Applicants should therefore provide an indicative budget as part of their application.
Why This Opportunity Matters
Conservation is increasingly recognised as involving much more than biodiversity protection. The governance systems surrounding protected areas determine who participates in decisions, who benefits from conservation initiatives, whose rights are recognised and how accountability is maintained.
This makes equitable governance an important part of sustainable conservation.
For an early-career researcher, this consultancy provides an opportunity to work directly on these issues while contributing to an international research initiative. The findings will support organisations working to improve governance at conservation sites and will also contribute to wider learning through the SEGA project.
The opportunity could be particularly valuable for researchers seeking to strengthen their experience in applied research, conservation governance, social science, qualitative methodologies and environmental justice.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit:
- A current CV.
- A cover letter explaining how their experience relates to the assignment.
- An indicative budget.
- Confirmation of availability between September and October.
- Details of their language skills.
- Confirmation of their current location in Madagascar.
Applications must be submitted by email to naira.dehmel@iied.org by 24 August 2026.
Virtual interviews are expected to take place on 27 and 28 August 2026.
Important: Applicants should not use the “Apply Now” button on the IIED vacancy page. Applications submitted through that button will not be reviewed.
Key Details at a Glance
- Organisation: International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)
- Position: Research Consultant
- Location: Madagascar, with fieldwork at three conservation sites
- Working arrangement: Hybrid/remote collaboration with fieldwork
- Contract: Consultancy
- Duration: 40 working days
- Period: September–October 2026
- Maximum budget: £3,969 including consultancy fees and logistics
- Languages: French and Malagasy required; English advantageous
- Deadline: 24 August 2026
- Interviews: 27–28 August 2026
This consultancy is a strong opportunity for an early-career researcher in Madagascar who wants to apply qualitative social science to real-world challenges around conservation, governance, participation, rights and equity. Candidates with relevant academic or field research experience should carefully review the terms of reference and ensure their application clearly demonstrates their methodological skills, knowledge of conservation governance and availability during the assignment period.
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