Framework for Establishing Modern, Price-Efficient Monetary Mechanism for Sustainable Monitoring, Management, Surveillance and Enforcement Programs for Conservation of Aquatic Biodiversity and Environmental Safety in Shared African Aquatic Ecosystems
Background
The Africa Blue Economic system Technique (ABES) was endorsed on the highest political degree of the continent. The Technique incorporates key important vectors for selling blue financial system improvement of the continent, together with fisheries, aquaculture and ecosystem conservation; delivery, maritime security and commerce; local weather change, environmental sustainability and ecotourism; sustainable vitality and extractive mineral sources; governance, establishments and job creation.
The target of the Africa Blue Economic system Technique is to information the event of an inclusive and sustainable blue financial system that turns into a big contributor to continental transformation and development, by advancing information on marine and aquatic biotechnology, environmental sustainability, marine ecosystem utilization, administration and conservation and carbon sequestration, the expansion of an Africa-wide delivery trade, the event of sea, river and lake transport, the administration of fishing actions on these aquatic areas, and the exploitation and beneficiation of deep sea mineral and different marine sources.
The Africa Blue Economic system Technique is consolidated based mostly on the next 5 thematic areas:
- Fisheries, aquaculture, conservation and sustainable aquatic ecosystems;
- Transport/transportation, commerce, ports, maritime safety, security and enforcement;
- Coastal and maritime tourism, local weather change, resilience, marine ecosystem, atmosphere, infrastructure;
- Sustainable vitality and mineral sources and revolutionary industries; and,
- Insurance policies, institutional and governance, employment, job creation and poverty eradication, revolutionary financing.
The African continent is adjoining to extremely productive marine ecosystems that embrace the seven African Giant Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) viz., Agulhas Present LME, Beguile Present LME, Guinea Present LME, Canary Present LME, Mediterranean Sea LME, Pink Sea LME and Somali Present LME. The seas, oceans, lakes and rivers inhabit vital variety of biodiversity and the ecosystems that present sources of livelihoods, meals safety and wealth. The African marine ecosystems inhabit residing and non-living sources; nonetheless, the unsustainable exploitation of those sources is threatening the biodiversity, sources and environmental sustainability. A number of components are threatening aquatic biodiversity and ecosystems in Africa. These embrace overexploitation of residing species, air pollution from a number of sources (land-based municipal and agricultural actions). As well as, dumping of poisonous wastes, mining actions, gasoline exploration, tourism improvement amongst others. Consequently, vital aquatic sources have gotten more and more inclined to each pure and synthetic environmental modifications. Thus, conservation methods to guard and preserve aquatic life are obligatory to keep up the stability of nature and help the provision of sources for future generations.
Subsequently, AU-IBAR, with help from the Swedish Worldwide Improvement Cooperation Company (SIDA), is implementing a 3-year venture on “Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in African Blue Economic system’ whose general goal is to boost the coverage atmosphere, regulatory frameworks and institutional capacities of AU Member States and Regional Financial Communities to sustainably make the most of and preserve aquatic biodiversity and ecosystems.
The precise aims of the venture are as follows:
- Ratify and/or align related worldwide/regional devices associated to blue financial system themes (with particular reference to defending and conserving biodiversity);
- Optimizing conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity whereas minimizing conflicts amongst blue financial system sub-themes;
- Strengthening measures for mitigating the damaging impacts of coastal and marine tourism, oil, gasoline, deep sea mining and local weather change on aquatic biodiversity and atmosphere; and,
- Strengthening gender inclusivity in aquatic biodiversity conservation and environmental administration.
Rationale
The IUU (Unreported, Unregulated and Unreported) fishing actions in Africa are of main considerations with regard to sustainability of aquatic biodiversity, that embrace unauthorized fishing in closed areas/seasons, unlawful fishing, fishing with cast and fraudulent licenses or vessel registrations, unreported and misreported catches, fishing Threatened, Endangered and Protected (TEP) species, dumping of poisonous wastes, ecosystems and environmental degradation, air pollution amongst others. Africa’s annual share of the worldwide IUU catch has just lately been estimated at 4.7 million tons of fish at a conservatively estimated value worth of $10 billion. Weak governance is a significant factor liable for IUU fishing in coastal states.
Weak MCS methods have contributed to elevated incidences of unsustainable practices and discount in aquatic biodiversity in African massive marine ecosystems and inland waters. Typically the present transboundary MCS methods are weak and require institutional strengthening and capability improvement. The problem of sustainability is a key problem in regional efforts to ascertain and operationalize regional MCS methods in Africa. Largely, regional MCS Programs have collapsed or operations not sustained on account of unsustainable monetary mechanisms in Africa. At nationwide ranges, funding from MCS methods are primarily from public sector annual subvention or price range allocation. Varied different approaches have been carried out Some AU Member States have tried non-public sector led MCS methods.
Efficient Monitoring, Management and Surveillance (MCS) of human actions is important for the conservation and sustainable use of the aquatic ecosystems, not least in Africa the place extremely productive waters foster robust fishing strain. A number of commercially exploited fish species in African Unique Financial Zones (EEZs) are both migratory or straddling and most of those species are focused by unlawful fishing vessels. Additionally, a lot of the unlawful practices which are threats to aquatic biodiversity and environmental administration in freshwater and aquatic ecosystems are transboundary in nature. A single state answer to combating these transboundary unlawful practices throughout Member States’ territorial waters can’t be efficient.
The SIDA (Swedish Worldwide Improvement Cooperation Company) venture ‘Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in African Blue Economic system’ explores methods to boost the conservation and sustainable use aquatic biodiversity and ecosystems in Africa coastal waters by enhanced regional governance, together with the strengthening of MCS measures.
Sustaining efficient MCS methods is pricey however obligatory for the efficient conservation of fisheries, aquatic biodiversity and safety of atmosphere. Nonetheless, the present regional MCS initiatives have been fraught with critical challenges, paramount of which have concerned lack of or insufficient funds for sustainable funding for operations of the regional MCS Items or Centres. Regional MCS methods have been established primarily by regional cooperation agreements amongst AU member states sharing or adjoining to the aquatic ecosystems; marine or freshwater. The primary funding sources have normally come from contribution or subscription by the AU Member States to the regional entities (e.g. Regional Fisheries Organizations, Water Basin Authorities) overseeing the operations of the regional MCS centres. Complementary funding sources, although not common, have additionally come from fines imposed on vessels engaged in infractions of EEZs who’re caught and prosecuted.
Subsequently, there’s a have to conduct evaluation of financing mechanisms for MCS methods. This course of will help in figuring out classes and finest practices essential to suggest a framework for establishing sustainable financing mechanisms. The mechanisms are helpful for regional MCS methods to make sure efficient monetary dedication for cover of fish sources, aquatic biodiversity and ecosystems in African territorial waters.
To actualize the above, AU-IBAR is implementing the venture “conservation of aquatic biodiversity underneath the Africa Blue Economic system Technique. A part of this venture is to strengthen Sustainable MCS Programs for efficient conservation and safety of biodiversity. On this regard, AU-IBAR is in search of consultancy providers from an appropriate short-term professional to undertake the task. This task has been clustered for ease of execution and will probably be undertaken within the West, Central and Northern areas of Africa.
Goal
The general goal of this consultancy is to conduct a evaluation of present monetary mechanisms for Monitoring, Management and Surveillance (MCS) methods in African shared aquatic ecosystems (marine ecosystems and freshwater ecosystems) at nationwide and regional ranges with the purpose of creating a framework for establishing revolutionary cost-effective financing methods or mechanisms for sustainable and practical regional MCS methods. AU-IBAR seeks to interact one advisor for the Western, Central and Northern areas of Africa.
Duties & Deliverables
The advisor will probably be required to undertake the duties listed under in the course of the task.
- Enterprise briefing with related AU-IBAR employees to agree on expectations and offering readability on any excellent points;
- Making ready inception report inside 5 days of signature to the contract outlining methodology, strategy, work plan with achievable milestones and proposed places for area visits;
- Conducting interviews with Regional Financial Communities (REC), specialised regional establishments, different related stakeholders on funding mechanisms for fisheries MCS methods at nationwide and regional;
- Figuring out present or ongoing transboundary (regional) MCS initiatives in shared aquatic ecosystems, present protocols and sources of funding the initiatives;
- Conducting evaluation of financing or funding methods and preparations for chosen regional initiatives on MCS methods to find out classes and finest practices for sustainable, cost-effective monetary mechanisms for practical MCS regional methods in shared aquatic ecosystems;
- Determine challenges, weaknesses or gaps within the regional institutional preparations or protocols amongst cooperating African Union Member States for funding the MCS regional initiatives;
- Primarily based on the findings of this task, develop a framework for cost-effective and revolutionary sustainable financing mechanisms for functioning regional MCS methods and or initiatives;
- Creating a funding mechanism for increasing the scope of regional fisheries based mostly on regional MCS initiatives to incorporate or combine safety of aquatic biodiversity ‘hotspots, together with Marine Protected (MPAs), Coral reefs, air pollution detection, monitoring, response and abatement;
- Primarily based on the findings of the task, develop acceptable suggestions on necessities to help cost-effective revolutionary funding methods for sustainable MCS initiatives in recognized transboundary aquatic ecosystems (for nationwide and regional ranges);
- Suggest mechanisms for integrating community-based methods into nationwide and regional MCS;
- Assist stakeholders’ consultative workshop on the consultancy; and,
- Develop a complete report on the finish of task.
The consultants will probably be anticipated to submit the next deliverables:
- Inception report ready outlining methodology, strategy, work-plan and briefing session with related employees at AU-IBAR;
- Checklist of recognized present or ongoing transboundary (regional) MCS initiatives in shared aquatic ecosystems, present protocols and sources of funding initiatives;
- Define of Classes and finest practices for sustainable, cost-effective monetary mechanisms for practical MCS regional methods in shared aquatic ecosystems in Africa;
- Recognized challenges, weaknesses or gaps within the regional institutional preparations or protocols amongst cooperating African Union Member States for funding MCS regional initiatives;
- A framework for cost-effective and revolutionary sustainable financing mechanisms for functioning regional MCS methods or initiatives developed;
- A funding mechanism for built-in aquatic biodiversity conservation and atmosphere administration in fisheries-based regional MCS initiatives;
- Stakeholders’ validation workshops in respect of the consultancy supported; and
- Complete report of the consultancy developed and accredited
Period
The task must be accomplished inside 45 working days over a two-month interval from the date of graduation of the contract.
Supervision and Reporting
The advisor will probably be underneath the direct supervision of the venture workforce chief with oversight supervision by the Director of AU-IBAR. The workforce chief can have the duty of approval of experiences.
Obligation Stations
The consultants will probably be home-based. Any journey on a particular task arising out of this contract will probably be agreed between the events in writing and the prices of such journey will probably be borne by AU-IBAR in accordance with its journey coverage.
Remuneration
The skilled charge for the consultancy is USD 13,500. No different fee will probably be made in respect of this consultancy. Bills for missions will probably be coated individually in accordance with the relevant African Union Fee guidelines and laws.
Minimal Necessities
Qualification
- A sophisticated diploma in enterprise administration, fisheries, or pure useful resource economics, fisheries planning and administration or aquatic ecosystems conservation biology.
- A PhD diploma will probably be an added benefit.
Expertise
Common Expertise
- Familiarity with capabilities of nationwide and regional establishments with mandates in fisheries administration and conservation of aquatic biodiversity and atmosphere administration;
- Information on and expertise of Africa Giant Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) and freshwater ecosystems governance methods, transboundary points, challenges and alternatives;
- Familiarization of present approaches, classes and finest practices for efficient regional MCS methods;
- Information of processes and formulation of regional protocols for establishing AU Member States’ pushed regional organizations, together with regional fisheries our bodies, Regional Sea Conventions, Water Basin Authorities, RECs; and,
- Familiarization of continental and world devices or frameworks supporting fisheries administration, aquatic biodiversity conservation and environmental administration.
Particular Expertise
- File of expertise of regional cooperation preparations for present or ongoing regional MCS methods or initiatives in Africa;
- Familiarization of funding sources and mechanisms for present or ongoing regional MCS methods or initiatives;
- Demonstration of expertise in formulating revolutionary, cost-effective, financing methods in pure sources administration methods, with explicit reference to fisheries;
- Expertise on mechanisms for useful resource mobilization and self-financing mechanisms; and,
- Proof of conducting related institutional and capability assessments for MCS methods or associated methods for regulating fishing or safety of aquatic biodiversity.
Different Important Abilities and Expertise
- Diplomacy and good interactive abilities obligatory for coping with senior officers in Authorities, RECs, different regional organizations, donor/improvement organizations, cultural variety in Africa;
- Very robust writing, analytical and communication abilities are obligatory;
- Proficiency in 2 AU languages.
Analysis Standards
The purposes will probably be evaluated on the premise of the related technical {qualifications}, expertise and competence of the candidates.
Standards Scores (%)
{Qualifications} 15
Common Expertise 25
Particular Expertise 45
Different Abilities 15
Gender Mainstreaming
The AU Fee is an equal alternative employer and certified girls are strongly inspired to use.
Purposes
A advisor is required to conduct this task as for the West-Central and Northern areas of Africa.
The way to apply
Purposes ought to embrace the next:
- Temporary (3-5 pages) technical proposal detailing the strategy, methodology and work-plan for the task
- Curriculum vitae with particulars of comparable assignments or related expertise
- Copy of identification paperwork
- Copies of academic {and professional} certificates
- Signed declaration on exclusion standards (format connected).
Purposes must be submitted on or earlier than sixteenth October 2023 at 17.00 hours, Nairobi native time to [email protected] with the subject material clearly said.
Terms of Reference (English Version)