Procurement & Careers / Procurement Notices
ESMASP Conveyancing Lawyer
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
“Firms or individual applicants who have already submitted their applications are not required to reapply. All previously received submissions will remain valid and will be considered during the evaluation process.”
Deadline extended: the closing date for this readvertised REOI has been extended to 2:00 pm, Tuesday 17 November 2026 (Vanuatu time).
The Government of Vanuatu, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MoLNR) and the World Bank-financed Vanuatu Affordable and Resilient Settlements (VARS) Project, invites qualified individual legal practitioners to express interest in providing conveyancing services for the sale of residential lots in the Elol Etas (Etas Gardens) Subdivision in Greater Port Vila.
About the Subdivision
Elol Etas is a pilot, government-led subdivision providing affordable, resilient serviced lots for low- and lower-middle-income households, and a model that private developers can replicate. It has 136 lots: 130 residential and 6 non-residential (market, parks and reserves). Six residential lots have already gone to the three customary landowner families, leaving 124 residential lots for sale through the Elol Etas Subdivision Marketing, Allocation and Sale Process (ESMASP).
- Typical lot size: 400 m², with pedestrian laneways, drainage and green spaces
- Tenure: standard derivative lease
- Sale price: VT 1.71 million per lot, regardless of size or location
Scope of the Assignment
The Project handles marketing, applications, eligibility checks and lot allocation, and a Real Estate Agent manages purchaser engagement and deposits. The Conveyancing Lawyer will:
- prepare and manage the legal documents needed for the sale of subdivision lots;
- complete settlements after Sale and Purchase Agreements are signed;
- make sure each transaction is legally compliant, properly documented and clearly explained to the purchaser; and
- register all derivative lease transfers with the Department of Lands.
The work is largely standard and repetitive: the same documents and steps repeat across many lots at the same fixed price. It is procedural rather than complex advisory work and well suited to a qualified local practitioner. Many purchasers will be entering the formal property market for the first time, so the legal process must be explained clearly to each one.
The Conveyancing Lawyer reports to MoLNR through the VARS Project Management Unit (PMU) and works closely with the ESMASP Manager and the appointed Real Estate Agent. The duty station is the PMU, MoLNR, Port Vila, and the assignment runs for approximately 18 months.
Minimum Qualifications
- Admitted and authorised to practise law in Vanuatu, with a current practising certificate.
- At least 5 years' post-admission experience in property law and conveyancing, held personally by the applicant, whether as a sole practitioner or within a law firm.
- Demonstrated experience with leasehold land registration and subdivision transactions in Vanuatu.
- Working knowledge of the procedures of the Department of Lands, the Land Records Office and the VFSC.
- Able to explain legal processes clearly and simply to purchasers in English and Bislama.
Desirable: experience with government agencies or donor-funded projects (including World Bank-financed projects); multi-lot or high-volume conveyancing, such as residential subdivisions or housing schemes; and explaining legal processes to first-time or lower-income purchasers, including preparing plain-language materials.
The selected lawyer is personally responsible for delivering the services. Sole practitioners are encouraged to apply.
What to Submit
- Expression of interest
- CV demonstrating the qualifications and experience above
Selection and Submission
A consultant will be selected using the Individual Consultant Selection (INDV) method under the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (Seventh Edition, September 2025). Applicants should note the World Bank's conflict of interest policy (Section III, paragraphs 3.15–3.17).
Expressions of interest and CVs must be received by 2:00 pm, Tuesday 17 November 2026 (extended from 2:00 pm, 30 October 2026; originally 8 October 2026), by email to
Further information, including the detailed Terms of Reference, is available from the VARS Project in person or by email, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday.