Seeking a Marine Livelihoods and Fisheries Specialist in Belize
Coastal and marine livelihoods are an important consideration in the development of major infrastructure in Belize. ARCH Consulting Group Ltd. is therefore looking to connect with an experienced Marine Livelihoods / Fisheries Specialist to join a multidisciplinary team being assembled for an energy infrastructure assignment in the country.
We are particularly interested in a professional with at least five (5) years of relevant experience assessing the social and economic impacts of coastal and marine infrastructure on fisheries and other marine-dependent livelihoods. Substantial experience working with fisheries and coastal communities in Belize is expected.
About the project
The work is connected to the Belize Second Interconnector Transmission/Submarine Cable Project, which is intended to strengthen the country’s electricity transmission network and improve the reliability and resilience of electricity supply.
The proposed interconnection would link the Maskall area on the mainland with San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. It includes an expansion of the Maskall Substation, approximately 13 km of overhead transmission line toward the coast, approximately 26 km of submarine cable to Ambergris Caye, an underground connection on the island, and a new substation in the San Pedro area.
A focus on people who depend on the sea
The marine component of the project makes it particularly important to understand how infrastructure development may interact with fishing activities, navigation, tourism, recreation, marine access and other coastal economic activities.
This role will help bring those perspectives into the wider environmental and social assessment. The specialist will examine how different marine resource users may be affected, engage with relevant communities and stakeholders, and help identify practical ways to avoid or reduce adverse effects.
Where impacts on income or livelihoods cannot be avoided, the specialist will also contribute to the development of appropriate mitigation and livelihood restoration measures.
What we are looking for
We would be pleased to hear from professionals whose work has given them direct insight into fisheries and marine-dependent livelihoods, particularly in Belize or comparable Caribbean and coastal settings.
Relevant experience could include:
fisheries and marine livelihood assessments;
social or economic assessment of coastal and marine infrastructure projects;
work with commercial, artisanal or subsistence fishers and other marine resource users;
assessment of potential effects on navigation, tourism, marine access and marine-based economic activities;
community consultations, field research or stakeholder engagement in coastal and fishing communities; and
design of mitigation or livelihood restoration measures in response to project-related impacts.
Previous involvement in Livelihood Restoration Plans (LRPs), Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs), ESIAs or similar environmental and social processes would be a significant advantage.
Experience with the IFC Performance Standards—particularly PS1, PS4 and PS5—or comparable international environmental and social standards would also be valuable.
At the same time, we recognize that professionals with deep fisheries or marine livelihoods experience in Belize may not have worked extensively under these specific frameworks. Strong local and technical expertise remains highly relevant, and the selected specialist would work within a wider multidisciplinary team that includes expertise in international environmental and social standards.
Working with ARCH
ARCH Consulting Group Ltd. is a Belizean international development consulting firm working with public institutions, international organizations and private-sector partners in Belize and across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Our assignments bring together local knowledge, field capacity and multidisciplinary technical expertise across areas including environmental and social development, infrastructure, climate and sustainable development, governance and education.
For this opportunity, ARCH is contributing its Belize-based knowledge, networks and field experience to a team combining local expertise with international environmental and social experience.
Interested? We would like to hear from you
If your experience is relevant to this profile, we invite you to get in touch and tell us briefly about the work you have done in fisheries, coastal livelihoods or related fields.
Please send:
your current CV;
a short indication of the assignments or experience most relevant to this role.
Expressions of interest can be sent to consult@arch-consultinggroup.com with the subject line “Marine Livelihoods / Fisheries Specialist – Belize.”
You can also contact ARCH Consulting Group via WhatsApp at +501 626 5616 if you would first like to ask a question about the opportunity.
The team is currently being assembled, so early expressions of interest are encouraged.