Lead GIS Expert

VN-ADAPT is implemented by a consortium of the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV, as the consortium lead), the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the ICEM Vietnam Company Ltd. with coordination and support from the Agricultural Projects Management Board (APMB) as the Project owner. About IUCN: IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature is a global membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private, and non-governmental entities with the tools and knowledge needed to advance sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. IUCN combines the latest science with traditional knowledge and stakeholder engagement to support effective and equitable environmental governance. More information: www.iucn.org

1. Objectives and description of the assignment Objectives This asignment aims to deliver the following outcomes: i) Raster and/or polygons dataset - Raster and/or polygons dataset for each province classified as triple rice, double rice, single rice, etc. (TIF and/or ESRI Shapefile). The rice cultivation status map should comprehensively depict current production conditions by ecological sub-region, cropping-season structure, and the principal farming systems within the study area. It should also be cross-referenced and validated against relevant sectoral databases and existing agricultural production statistics if these datasets are available to ensure consistency and facilitate its effective use in production management, planning, and decision-making. ii) Maps and Tables - Maps and tables of the classification per province (PDF). iii) Short summary - Short summary document, including description of data sources, processing workflow, limitations of technical approach, and assessment of classification accuracy (MS Word)., To monitor the implementation of Resolution 120 and related projects and programs, IUCN wishes to hire a consultant or form to use high resolution satellite data to produce a GIS database of the intensity of rice cropping in fields across all the four upper delta provinces of Kien Giang, An Giang, Dong Thap, and Long An for calendar, The assignment may be implemented by an individual consultant, a consulting team, or a consulting firm. Regardless of the arrangement, the applicant shall nominate a Lead GIS Expert who will be responsible for the overall technical quality and delivery of all outputs under the assignment.

• Payment modality: Delivery-based (against accepted deliverables) The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Use filed data and high-resolution satellite data to produce a GIS database of the intensity of rice cropping in fields across all the three upper delta provinces of An Giang, Dong Thap (Total area of the old Dong Thap Province), and Tay Ninh (Total area of the old Long An Province) for calendar 2025. The minimum number of land classes are: (1) triple rice, (2) double rice, (3) single rice, and (4) others. The mapping results should describe and analyze the current status of rice production across ecological sub-regions, cropping-season patterns (Winter-Spring, Summer-Autumn, Autumn-Winter, or other locally specific cropping calendars), and the predominant farming systems (e.g., triple-rice cropping, double-rice cropping, rice-upland crop rotations, rice-aquaculture systems, and other systems where applicable).

• If requested, IUCN will be responsible for collecting land cover data to help calibrate the data analysis. To help consultants compile and cross-check image interpretation results, IUCN, supported by APMB, will collect data from specialized sectoral databases, provincial technical agencies, and other official sources, including agricultural statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. This process ensures the findings are consistent, reliable, and practically applicable for agricultural management and decision-making.

1. Deliverables and Timeframe For the map of 2025, the consultant(s) shall submit the following deliverables: i. Deliverable 1. Rice Cropping Intensity GIS Database A GIS database covering the target provinces of An Giang, Dong Thap, Tay Ninh (former Long An Province), and other agreed project areas, including:

• Raster and/or polygon datasets classifying rice cropping intensity;
• Minimum land-use classes:
• Triple rice;
• Double rice;
• Single rice;
• Other land uses;
• GIS geodatabase (GIS files in GeoTIFF (TIF) and/or ESRI Shapefile format; metadata describing data sources, projection systems, classification methods, and attribute definitions; analytical workflow documenting image processing, classification, and validation procedures)., * Documentation shall be provided to demonstrate the comparison of the mapping results with sectoral databases, agricultural production statistics of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and relevant official local statistics if these data are available. The documentation shall clearly describe the comparison methodology, the degree of agreement between datasets, and any discrepancies identified, together with explanations where applicable. ii. Deliverable 2. Rice Cropping Intensity Maps and Statistics A map package including provincial rice cropping intensity maps in PDF and shapfile format; summary tables of area (ha) by land-use class and by communes of provinces; comparative statistics showing the extent of triple-rice, double-rice, and single-rice systems; maps and statistical summaries depicting the current status of rice production by ecological sub-region, cropping-season pattern, and predominant farming systems; as well as the results of comparisons and cross-validation against sectoral databases and official agricultural production statistics maintained by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and local authorities; and high-resolution map layouts suitable for publication and reporting. iii. Deliverable 3. Technical Summary Report A concise technical report will include objectives and scope of the analysis; description of satellite imagery and other data sources used; image processing and classification methodology; accuracy assessment and validation results; key findings and trends; assessment of the current status of rice production by ecological subregion, cropping season structure, and major farming systems; cross-check and reconcile the results with specialized databases and production statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, as well as local authorities; limitations and assumptions; and recommendations for future monitoring and updates. All final deliverables must be available in both English and Vietnamese. Please refer to Section 2 (Objectives/Description of the assignment): Deliverable Deadline Payment i-iii (2025) 15 December 2026 100% Budget should show all unit costs. Payment will be based on submission and acceptance of each deliverable. Duration and level of effort The assignment will be completed within 3 months from 1 August to 30 November

1. The consultant(s) will spend a total of 50 days for this mission as below: Year Days 2026 (2025 rice cultivation mapping + methodology development) 50 Total 50

The applicant (individual consultant, consulting team, or consulting firm) shall demonstrate that the proposed lead expert assigned to the assignment meet the following minimum requirements:

• At least Master degree or higher in GIS, agriculture, natural resources management, environmental sciences, or a related field

• At least 5 years of experience in GIS and analyzing spatial data

• Experience mapping rice cropping intensity in the Mekong Delta or similar landscape

• Expertise in use of Sentinel optical and radar data for land cover mapping
• Expertise in use of Google Earth Engine or equivalent to automate image processing

Viet Nam Nature-based Solutions for Adaptation in Agriculture through Private Sector Transformation (VN-ADAPT) is a national programme in Viet Nam to be implemented to 2028, with potential to extend to mid-2029. The programme is funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN). The Project has been approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) in January 2026. VN-ADAPT focusses on two key climate-vulnerable landscapes in Viet Nam - the Central Highlands and Mekong Delta. The project aims to improve institutional capacity and strengthen partnerships to channel private innovation and investment towards accelerated adoption of nature-based solutions in the agriculture sector with a focus on these two regions of Vietnam. This will be realised through four inter-related work packages, namely: i) Developing coordination mechanism among relevant stakeholders to promote Nature-based Solutions for adaptation (NbSA) in Agriculture. ii) Developing Draft Guidelines on NbSA in Agriculture. iii) Promote Innovation of Agricultural Enterprises and Cooperatives and