Selection of Experts to Establish a Database of Experts in Blue Economy, Aquatic Biodiversity and Environmental Management

Background

The African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) is a specialized technical office of the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Rural Economy, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (DARBE) of the African Union Commission (AUC). AU-IBAR’s mandate is to support and coordinate the sustainable development and utilization of animal resources (including livestock, fisheries, aquaculture and wildlife) to enhance nutrition and food security and contribute to the wellbeing and prosperity of the people in the member states of the African Union. AU-IBAR is also currently supporting the implementation of African Blue Economy Strategy.

Rationale

The African continent is adjacent to highly productive marine ecosystems including the seven African Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) viz., Agulhas Current LME, Benguela Current LME, Guinea Current LME, Canary current LME, Mediterranean Sea LME, Red Sea LME and Somali Current LME. The continent is also endowed with networks of rivers and lakes, including Lakes Victoria, Tanganyika, River Nile etc. The seas, oceans, lakes and rivers inhabit significant number of biodiversity, and the ecosystems provide sources of livelihoods, food security and wealth. These African aquatic ecosystems inhabit living and non-living resources; however, the unsustainable exploitation of these resources is threatening biodiversity, resources and environmental sustainability.

Several factors are threatening aquatic biodiversity in Africa aquatic ecosystems. These include overexploitation of living species, pollutions from several sources (land-based municipal and agricultural activities), uncontrolled introduction of exotic species in aquaculture systems, effluents from mining activities. Consequently, important aquatic resources are becoming increasingly susceptible to both natural and artificial environmental changes. Thus, conservation strategies to protect and conserve aquatic life are necessary to maintain the balance of nature and support the availability of resources for future generations.

The basis of African Union’s intervention in the governance of fisheries, aquaculture and aquatic ecosystems is guided by the AU-IBAR Strategic Plan, African Union endorsed Policy framework and reform strategy for fisheries and aquaculture in Africa (PFRS) and the Africa Blue Economy Strategy (ABES). These interventions are within the overall African Union development framework, Agenda 2063. The PFRS identified the conservation and sustainable use of aquatic resources as a key policy arena as well as enhancing human capacity development as key strategic pillar for creating an enabling environment to increase the sustainable contribution of the aquatic living resources and ecosystems to food security, livelihoods and wealth creation.

The Africa Blue Economy Strategy is consolidated based on the following five detailed thematic clusters:

1. Fisheries, aquaculture, conservation and sustainable aquatic ecosystems
2. Shipping/transportation, trade, ports, maritime security, safety and enforcement
3. Coastal and maritime tourism, climate change, resilience, environment, infrastructure
4. Sustainable energy and mineral resources and innovative industries
5. Policies, institutional and governance, employment, job creation and poverty eradication, innovative financing

The effective conservation of aquatic biodiversity and their ecosystems still poses significant challenge in Africa due to, among others, a paucity of experts to conduct studies/provide technical support and dedicated institutions to provide advanced training in the management of aquatic biodiversity and their ecosystems to enable rationale management decision making process. Management decisions and policies in the governance of aquatic ecosystems in continent needs to be supported by scientific evidence. This evidence should be generated by dedicated experts and research institutes or universities and interpreted by competent institutions mandated for aquatic ecosystems and environmental management. AU-IBAR is therefore looking for a more tangible solution to the problems of technical support in studies and training through the establishment of a database of pool of experts in blue economy related disciplines.

Towards, operationalizing the Africa Blue Economy Strategy, AU-IBAR, with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), is implementing a project on “Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in African Blue Economy”, for three year’s period. The overall objective of the project is to enhance the policy environment, regulatory frameworks and institutional capacities of AU member states and regional economic communities to sustainably utilize and conserve aquatic biodiversity and ecosystems.

The specific objectives of the project are as follows:

1. Ratify and/or align relevant international/regional instruments related to blue economy themes (with specific reference to protecting and conserving biodiversity)
2. Optimizing conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity while minimizing conflicts among blue economy sub-themes
3. Strengthening measures for mitigating the negative impacts of coastal and marine tourism, oil, gas, deep sea mining and climate change on aquatic biodiversity and environment
4. Strengthening gender inclusivity in aquatic biodiversity conservation and environmental management

In collaboration with Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway to the African Union, AU-IBAR has also been supporting African Union member states and Regional Economic Communities to respectively national and regional blue economy strategies for harness the inherent potential aquatic ecosystems for sustainable blue economy development.

The effective implementations of these various blue economy related projects require soliciting consultancy services by proven experts to conduct the numerous studies associated with these projects. The creation of database of a pool of experts in various disciplines would enhance the identification process of experts, firms and knowledge-based institutions to undertake consultancy services through a selective tendering procedure consistent with AU rules and Regulations. This has necessitated AU-IBAR to constitute a pool of experts in a database a bid to fast track the identification of suitable experts to support implementation of projects.

Objective

The purpose for this call for submission of applications (in areas of interest) is to request applications from suitably qualified experts, firms and institutions in the following blue economy related disciplines for qualification to be recruited in the respective field(s):

1. Blue economy development
2. Aquatic biodiversity conservation and management
3. Aquatic ecosystems and environmental protection
4. Gender policy studies in conservation of aquatic biodiversity and environmental management
5. Maritime law and related studies
6. Ocean governance
7. Policy and institutional studies in aquatic biodiversity conservation and ecosystems management (or related studies)
8. Socio-economics studies in aquatic biodiversity conservation and ecosystems management
9. Financing of blue economy (Blue financing)

The selected experts, institutions in the above fields of studies would constitute a pool of expert database from which selection would be made for identification of suitably qualified experts and institutions for consideration for recruitment.

Qualifications

The successful candidates, for selection as expert for the database of pool of experts (and expert institutions), should have a minimum of Master’s degree in the above fields of studies (or elated disciplines). A PhD degree qualification in the relevant field would be an added advantage.

Experience

General Experience

1. Familiarization with national and relational institutions with mandates in blue economy, fisheries management, aquaculture development, aquatic biodiversity conservation and environmental management
2. Familiarization with functions of regional economic communities (RECs) and specialized regional institutions with mandates in fisheries, aquaculture, aquatic biodiversity and environmental management
3. Knowledge of continental and global instruments related to blue economy development, fisheries and aquaculture development, aquatic biodiversity conservation and environmental protection
4. Record of experience on the governance issues of Africa large marine ecosystems (LMEs) and freshwater ecosystems, transboundary situations, familiarization of challenges and opportunities therein.
5. Strong analytical skills and ability to present information in a concise and understandable manner,
6. Experience in planning, implementing training and facilitating stakeholders’ consultative workshops

Specific Experience

1. Proven evidence of familiarization of key sectors of African blue economy and stakeholders in the blue space
2. At least 5 year working experience in blue economy related sectors and specific selected fields for which application is submitted
3. Record of knowledge or familiarization of issues in the management of African marine and freshwater ecosystems
4. Evidence of conducting research and capacity building in the indicated fields for which application is application are submitted
5. Demonstrated evidence of performing tasks related to the disciplines above either as an individual consultant or as part of a firm in the last 5 years.
6. Expert knowledge on policy processes and regulatory frameworks related to natural resources, gender, human rights, climate change, and environmental sectors.
7. Evidence of formulating policies, strategies, enhancing institution collaboration in Africa in the indicated fields for which application is submitted

Other Essential Skills and Experience

1. Diplomacy and good interactive skills necessary for dealing with senior officials in Government, RECs, specialized religion institutions, and donor/development organizations in Africa.
2. Very strong writing, analytical and communication skills are necessary.
3. Excellent computer proficiency,
4. Ability to meet tight deadlines,
5. Excellent reporting skills,
6. Proficiency in at least 2 AU languages

Evaluation & Award Criteria

The applications will be evaluated on the basis of the relevant technical qualifications, experience and competence of the candidates. Applications received will be reviewed on the basis of the criteria below:

Criteria Scores (%)

Qualifications 15

General Experience 25

Specific Experience 50

Other skills 5

Proficiency in at least 2 AU languages 5

Gender Mainstreaming

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.