Careers

BACKGROUND
The Fisheries Sectors of many developing countries are faced with challenges such as IUU fishing, human trafficking, forced/bonded labour, unsustainable fishing practices, and weakened enforcement measures. These challenges stifle the socio-economic benefits of local communities and citizens, as well as expected national revenues. Also, the marine environment and its supporting ecosystems are compromised through the effects of unsustainable fishing practices and management. While countries of the West-Africa-Atlantic region chart their respective development paths, it is essential to pay attention to the conservation and sustainable management of fisheries and other living resources in their maritime space. As a matter of fact, this is intricately linked to their ability to achieve the deliverables of interventions such as the Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and marks the milestones in the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which is the blueprint for socio-economic transformation and political stability.

Key Factors Undermining Fisheries Governance
The lack of transparency, accountability and good governance in the sector has contributed to a suite of fisheries management challenges that pose an existential threat to the Gulf of Guinea’s fisheries sector. Prevailing transparency, accountability and governance gaps risk
pushing ocean ecosystems towards total collapse, with devastating consequences for the marine environment and the many millions of people who depend on it for food and income. Lack of transparency, accountability and good governance invariably undergirds attendant
crimes such as IUU fishing, forced/bonded labour, human rights abuses, safety and security threats, and many other fisheries sector-related infractions.

Information-sharing is most often non-existent and where it does exist, it remains scanty thereby resulting in serious gaps in the implementation of mitigating mechanisms and programmes. Transparency dark spots and information-sharing deficit cut across many facets of the fisheries sector decision-making process and activities’ profile including access arrangements, licensing regimes, corporate partnerships, beneficial ownership, flags of convenience, approved fishing areas, monitoring and enforcement measures, and imposition of penalties and sanctions. Equally critical to address are concerns of the general skirting of rules, international norms and best practices (binding and non-binding) that are meant to enhance fisheries sustainability and stewardship.

Transparency and information-sharing gaps contribute to weak enforcement regimes and mechanisms. In some instances, the capacity to enforce laws and regulations is weak while in others it is severely compromised.

OBJECTIVES
CEMLAWS Africa, with funding from the Vibrant Oceans Initiative, a programme of Bloomberg Philanthropies, is undertaking a project aimed at promoting transparency in the fisheries sector of West Africa, with particular focus on Benin, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal. The Project identifies lack of transparency, accountability, and good governance in the fisheries sectors of developing countries as major setbacks in the growth and management of the fisheries sector. The Project therefore builds on three objectives, aimed at addressing the
overarching goal of promoting transparency. These objectives focus on the following:

• – Improving transparency and accountability in the fisheries sector of target countries;
• – Ensuring functional information-sharing mechanisms;
• – Enhancing governance of fisheries policy frameworks and enforcement mechanisms.

PHASES OF THE PROJECT
Three (3) distinct phases of the Project are set to guide deliverables. The phases are:

Phase 1 – Data Collation & Report Writing: collect and evaluate data/information and conduct an assessment of transparency, accountability and information-sharing mechanisms in the fisheries sectors of respective countries under the study, as well as an examination of governance and enforcement of fisheries laws and policies.

Phase 2 – Visits and Stakeholder engagements in Benin, Ivory Coast, and Senegal by CEMLAWS Africa and other project team members. Two visits per country to be interspersed by data handling and report drafting will be designed to familiarise with unique situations regarding set objectives in the respective countries and to meet other relevant stakeholders at a roundtable deliberation on the way forward to resolve issues identified. There will also be stakeholder engagements in Ghana.

Phase 3 – Final Report & Dissemination utilising information gathered in Phases 1 and 2.

It should be noted that some activities within the Phases are expected to run concurrently.

SCOPE OF WORK (SOW) FOR CONSULTANT AND EXPECTED DELIVERABLES
The consultant shall research, contribute to information and data gathering to meet the Project’s objectives. The consultant shall produce a report on the three sub-objectives culminating into a final report for all project countries. As facilitator and liaison in the home country, the consultant shall lead the coordination of activities relating to the Project’s stakeholder engagements, interviews, workshops, virtual
meetings, and other activities in the country.

Specific Deliverables

• Deliverable 1: A country assessment report covering the Project’s three sub- objectives described below.

Deliverable 1 must be due by Tuesday 31st March 2022.

Objective 1 – Primary and secondary sources of data/information to be gathered on the state of legal and policy framework on transparency and accountability in the fisheries sector and accompanying gaps and challenges.

The report/analysis should cover (but not limited to):

• – Identification of transparency & accountability arrangements in the fisheries sector of the respective country;
• – Compilation and analyses of legal and policy frameworks on transparency & accountability related to the fisheries sector, including national fisheries laws and regulations; company laws and regulations; fisheries licenses/access regulations/laws or guidelines and other accountability and transparency legal and policy frameworks applicable or capable of being applied to the fisheries sector;
• – Assessment of applicable international conventions, norms and practices on fisheries transparency and accountability and the extent to which that has been incorporated into fisheries governance in the country;
• – Analysis of the level of adherence to the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) in the country;
• – Identification of transparency & accountability challenges in the fisheries sector (incl. beneficial ownership, fronting companies, flag of convenience, fishing licensing regimes, etc.);
• – Evaluation of stakeholders’ involvement and engagement in fisheries governance norms and best practices, and the promotion of transparency and accountability in the fisheries sectors.

Objective 3 – Primary and secondary sources of data/information on the effectiveness of enforcement of fisheries laws, regulations.

The report/analysis should cover but not limited to:

• – Examination of existing institutional and legal framework of fisheries governance;
• – Analyses of law and policy formulation/regulatory procedures in the fisheries sector;
• – Identification of challenges and gaps within existing enforcement mechanisms;
• – Highlight measures to improve collaboration/cooperation in regional fisheries management organisation (RFMO) programmes.

Deliverable 2: Facilitation of stakeholder engagements, meetings, country visits, workshops etc., and render the reports.
Deliverable 2 is due by Wednesday 31st August 2022.

The expectation under Deliverable 2 is to facilitate country visits to the countries of the study. The three objectives under Deliverable 1 will be supplemented by these country visits. Activities during these visits will include, but not limited to, formal and informal meetings, stakeholder engagements, workshop sessions and roundtable discussions in each of the countries of the study. Through these processes, the
findings of both the desk review and field study shall be presented to key stakeholders for inputs and comments.

The role of the consultant during this Phase 2 will be to facilitate the stakeholder engagements as well as serve as liaison between the Project team lead (CEMLAWS Africa) and relevant agencies and stakeholders in the consultant’s home country. The consultant may also be required to obtain collaborative letters, permits or authorisations to facilitate the work under the project. The consultant will actively participate in the various engagements in the home country and provide a written report on said activities as part of the deliverables.

Deliverable 3: Participation in the final drafting of a comprehensive report on outcomes of Phases 1 and 2.
Deliverable 3 is due by Friday 31st March 2023.

The consultant will contribute to the writing and production of the final project report.

REMUNERATION
Remuneration will be disbursed in tranches on successful completion and timely submission of deliverables. Total payments due consultants are as follows:

– Benin: 40,000 USD
– Cote d’Ivoire: 40,000 USD
– Senegal: 30,000 USD

QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE
A. The Expression of Interest and Application should be submitted by the interested institution (NGO, CSO, Research Institute, etc.), whose expertise aligns with the ToR.

This includes experience in:

• – National fisheries issues in the respective country;
• – Planning and design of fisheries regulations, policy formulation, stakeholder participation programmes, information-sharing and data management;
• – Implementation of fisheries sector development initiatives, policies and programmes relating to fisheries management, and interagency collaboration;
• – Monitoring & evaluation of set performance goals;
• – Accountability and transparency-related issues;
• – Writing/production of project reports, reviews or studies.

B. The Application should include at least one person in the team with the following qualifications and experience:

• – Master’s degree or equivalent in Fisheries Governance/Science/Resource Management, Environmental Resources Management, Natural Resource Management, Maritime Law or relevant discipline;
• – Minimum 5 years of work experience on issues related to fisheries regulation, policy formulation, governance or data management, information-sharing and/or institutional arrangements;
• – Excellent communication, analysis and writing skills in English and French – communications and reports will be conducted in English;
• – Good interpersonal skills and ability to coordinate meetings and stakeholder engagements;
• – Working experience within the West-African sub region;
• – Experience with international projects will be an added advantage.

APPLICATION PROCESS/REQUIREMENTS
The following must be submitted via email to info@cemlawsafrica.com by 24th November 2021:

Letter of Interest and statement of availability to begin work on the stated date;

Institutional Profile;

Proposal (4-5 pages), including:

• • – A proposed methodology addressing the elements mentioned under deliverables;
  • – A summary of the key questions/issues of transparency to be studied/assessed in the context of the relevant country;
  • – A workplan indicating how the assignment will be undertaken;
• CVs of at least two persons, one of which should meet the qualifications and experience as outlined in G(B) above.

Note: Any enquiries about the consultancy can be directed to CEMLAWS Africa via info@cemlawsafrica.com by 15 th November 2021.

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT
The hired consultant will work under the close supervision of the Executive Director of CEMLAWS Africa, Dr Kamal-Deen Ali, and the CEMLAWS Africa team.