Vacancy: TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToR) - Project to “Ensure greater environmental sustainability and social equity in Ghana\'s fishing sector”

Date	27 Nov 2020

Job Type	Contractor/Consultant
Industry	NGO/IGO/INGO
Description	Company Profile EJF is a UK-based charity working internationally to protect the global environment and defend basic human rights. EJF is headquartered in London, with offices in Germany, Liberia, Ghana, Taiwan, Thailand and South Korea. EJF’s Oceans Campaign works to protect the marine environment, biodiversity and coastal communities by ending illegal fishing and slavery in seafood production, and promoting greater sustainability and equity in fisheries. EJF links grassroots investigations, capacity building, research and education to national and international advocacy to secure better fisheries governance and protection for our global oceans.Environmental Justice Foundation. Job Description TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToR) Project to “Ensure greater environmental sustainability and social equity in Ghana's fishing sector” - Far Dwuma Nkɔdo - Securing Sustainable Fisheries (FDN Project) 1) Background Ghana’s small-scale fisheries provide livelihoods for more than two million people or around 10% of the population and employ 80% of fishers in the country. Overfishing, illegal ‘pirate’ fishing and poor management are threatening the long-term sustainability of Ghana’s fisheries, hitting these small-scale fishers hardest. Incomes of Ghana’s artisanal fishers have dropped by as much as 40% in the last 10-15 years, and the country is now forced to import more than half of fish consumed. Faced with declining incomes and food insecurity, many are being driven to engage in illegal practices themselves. While some reforms have been carried out to address the situation, their full implementation and the future sustainability of fish stocks will rely on the participation and involvement of local fishers. Empowering local communities will help secure their tenure and access rights, enshrine co-management into strengthened fisheries policies and reduce fishing capacity by boosting alternative livelihood opportunities. The project to “Ensure greater environmental sustainability and social equity in Ghana's fishing sector” Far Dwuma Nkɔdo - Securing Sustainable Fisheries (FDN Project), Contract No. FOOD/2016/380-426 is a four year intervention (02/01/2017- 31/12/2020) , which aims to contribute to greater environmental sustainability and social equity through a reduction of illegal fishing and strengthened capacity to support legal, sustainable and co-managed fisheries. The project is implemented by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF, coordinator) in partnership with Hen Mpoano. The “FDN Project” aims to: Demonstrably improve sustainable fishing practices while effectively strengthening, monitoring and reporting on illegal fishing prevention efforts. Better empower small-scale fishers, vulnerable and marginalised groups to articulate their interests in fisheries tenure rights reforms and effectively implement fisheries co-management. Open up alternative livelihood options to small-scale fishing communities. The project activities, mixing communication and advocacy, community engagement and technological innovation, are designed around the above objectives and include the following activities: Promoting the participation of coastal communities to gather evidence and report on illegal fishing, providing evidence to government enforcement agencies and creating a sense of ownership in resource protection. Supporting evidence gathering and remote monitoring of illegalities by the industrial fishing fleet such as illegal trans-shipment (“saiko”) to back advocacy against these practices that undermine small-scale fishers’ livelihoods. Training key fisher associations in legal and policy processes, co-management and rights-based fisheries management, to strengthen capacity and ensure the representation of small-scale fisher interests. Promoting the inclusion of women and marginalized groups in tenure rights and proposed reform processes and encouraging self-organisation of these groups. Encouraging the participation of artisanal fishing communities in managing fisheries resources by promoting the fair and equitable allocation of tenure rights based on the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT) principles and identifying and strengthening traditional tenure rights into effective fisheries co-management associations. Identifying and promoting alternative livelihoods to broaden fisher communities’ economic opportunities. The guiding principles of the project intervention are set out in the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT) as well as the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (VGSSF). The project is also aimed at contributing to the achievement of the objectives of the Fisheries Management Plan of Ghana 2015-2019. The project is planned to take the following cross-cutting themes into consideration: preventing conflict, stimulating cooperation and making use of existing structures, the inclusion of minority groups, gender equality and minimisation of negative impacts on the environment. The main target groups of the Project are as follows: Small scale fishermen and semi-industrial fishermen, and their representative bodies at regional and national level, the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC), the Ghana Inshore Fishers Association (GIFA), and the clam fishers and processors of the Ada area (the Volta Estuary, Greater Accra Region). Artisanal fish processors and fish mongers and their representative bodies at local and national level: National Fish Processors and Traders Association (NAFPTA), local fish processors and fishmonger groups. Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) and its Fisheries Commission (FC) and relevant divisions, at regional and national level, including: Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) Division, Marine Fisheries Management Division (MFMD) and the Central and Western Regional Offices. Local and national stakeholders, including local and international NGOs and projects involved in the fisheries sector, development partners and universities and research institutes. Decision-makers and government authorities, including the Parliamentary Select Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, coastal MPs, local government authorities, the Land Use and Planning Authority (LUSPA). The media, at local, national and international level. The final beneficiaries are the coastal communities. More information on the project, including the structure, objectives, goals, components and activities, are provided in the Annexes (project document and updated logical framework). 2) Evaluation objectives and scope The objectives of the final evaluation of the “FDN Project” are to: Assess the design, implementation and achievements of the project Assess the management of the project Document the lessons learnt in terms of project approach, structure and implementation Assess the completed activities and how they contribute to the objectives of the project Provide suggestions, conclusions and recommendations to the project partners and donors for future actions. The evaluation will encompass the following: Evaluation of processes (including stakeholder integration and collaboration; workflows; participation and empowerment; division of labour of project partners and between project and stakeholders; changes in the institutional framework; conducive and hindering framework conditions). Evaluation of impacts and efficiency (quality assessment; input-output relation; range of addressed beneficiaries) including the achievement of project purpose. The evaluation will assess to what extent the intervention logic has been followed and if outputs and outcomes/project goals formulated in the Logical Framework Matrix (LFM) have been fulfilled. The evaluation will be undertaken in Ghana. The above-mentioned target groups will be addressed in the framework of the evaluation. Furthermore, communications and exchange of information should be established with the European Union Delegation in Accra, and the project Consortium. The project Consortium will assist the evaluators in identifying relevant contact persons in these organisations mentioned above if requested. 3) Evaluation criteria The final evaluation of the project will take into account the standard evaluation criteria of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability. The evaluation will be organised around a set of specific evaluation questions which will each address one or more of the criteria. The questions are intended to give a more precise and accessible form to the evaluation criteria and to articulate the key issues of concern to stakeholders, thus optimising the focus and utility of the evaluation. The evaluation questions will include in their coverage the main areas below, including assessment of cross-cutting issues. a) Relevance: to the needs and overall context, including beneficiary, country and global needs and priorities, as well as partner and donor policies. The relevance criterion concerns the appropriateness of the project design to the problems to be resolved at two points in time: when the project was designed, and at the time of the evaluation. This will include consideration of whether the project is relevant to the achievements of the government’s strategy, policies and plans as well as other relevant regional and global priorities in term of sustainable fisheries, in particular of the European Union, and the project’s relevance to the felt needs of the beneficiaries. The Consultant should assess how well the project complements and fits with other ongoing programmes and projects in the country, and the extent to which the project design and its implementation approach were valid and realistic. The Consultant should also examine whether any lessons learned from previous pilot projects were considered in the design and implementation of the project. b) Impact: assessment of actual impacts, as well as any unforeseen/unintended impacts, and comparison of these to intended impacts. c) Effectiveness: the extent to which the development intervention’s objectives were achieved, taking into account their relative importance, and indicating the major factors influencing achievement or non-achievement. The effectiveness criterion concerns whether the the project’s results were used or their potential benefits were realised, i.e. do they achieve the project purpose? The Consultant should assess the programme effectiveness and analyse the programme implementation with special emphasis on the perception of programme results and achievements by beneficiaries, local authorities and other stakeholders; the degree of participation of beneficiaries; the degree of ownership by beneficiaries; and the commitment of the District Assembly, Traditional Councils and relevant government agencies etc. in the implementation of the project. d) Efficiency: in terms of how far funding, personnel, regulatory, administrative, time and other resource considerations contributed or hindered the achievement of results. The efficiency criterion concerns how well the various activities transformed the available resources into the intended results in terms of quantity, quality and timeliness. In assessing the programme efficiency, the Consultant should analyse the programme implementation with special emphasis on: The achievement of the programme’s outputs in terms of quantity, quality and timeliness. A comparison of the intended results as stated in the Objectively Verifiable Indicators of the LFM and the actual output realized. Relevant constraints and bottlenecks should be identified, and solutions put in place evaluated. Whether the Programme produced value-for-money taking into account the specific context of the areas of implementation. The organization, management and follow-up of the programme, including the roles of all the stakeholders and the day-to-day management of the programme as regards: management of the budget; management of personnel and human resources; relations with all stakeholders and other partners in development, and respect of deadlines. e) Sustainability: The extent to which the results of the project and impact are being, or are likely to be, maintained over time. The sustainability criterion relates to whether the positive outcomes of the project are likely to continue after external funding ends, how well the project is integrated into the institutional context, and whether its longer-term impact on the wider development process can be sustained at the level of the sector or country. The Consultant should assess the sustainability of the Programme’s impact and outcome with regard to socio-economic viability, the extent of local ownership and ownership by beneficiaries of the programme objectives and achievements, and cooperation with other donors and consistency of approaches. This will include an assessment of the measures that have been implemented to ensure the sustainability of project results. 4) Structure of the evaluation The evaluation will adhere to the following steps. Desk Phase, including one or several inception meetings, and an analysis of all relevant key documentation and design of the methodology. The Desk Phase will identify assumptions remaining to be tested in the field and develop a workplan for data collection and analysis. The outcome of the Desk Phase will be documented in an Inception Report which will be approved by the Client prior to the start of the Field Phase. Field Phase during which the evaluation team will implement the workplan for data collection through specified techniques (e.g. interviews, questionnaires, focus groups and case studies) and test the assumptions. Synthesis Phase during which the findings will be analysed and documented in a Draft Final Report and subjected to feedback from the main stakeholders/beneficiaries. The Final Report will include all feedback, recommendations and lessons learnt. It is noted that all chosen methods of evaluation must be in line with the European Union’s methods for evaluating its external assistance. The Guidelines for Project and Programme Evaluations developed by the European Commission's Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development (DEVCO) should be considered throughout the entire evaluation process, see https://europa.eu/capacity4dev/evaluation_guidelines 5) Tender procedure The tender procedure commences in November 2020 and ends with a deadline on 9 December 2020 at 18:00 GMT. The tenders must be deposited at the Environmental Justice Foundation via email: [email protected]. The selection and contracting will be based on best quality for price principle. The evaluation of this project is planned to commence in December 2020. The evaluation results should be available in the form of a detailed report by 10 March 2021. For more details please consult the timeline below. The financing of the evaluation will be covered by the project funds. The budget should include all travel costs and daily allowances and including VAT, if applicable. The quality of the offer will be weighted with 70% and the price with 30%. 6) Expected outputs and timelines The table below provides an indicative timeline for the planned evaluation activities: The Consultants will be responsible for delivering a number of services, most notably to produce a final report and present the key results and findings to the Consortium and the EU Delegation in Ghana. The minimum outputs to be delivered by the Consultants are: Design of the evaluation plan including the identification and definition of appropriate methods in the form of an Inception Report. Analysis, interpretation, documentation and presentation of the evaluation results, with reference to the evaluation criteria and objectives, in a Draft Final Report. Presentation of key findings to be delivered to stakeholders at a validation meeting. Final Report incorporating feedback received from the Client and stakeholders in a validation meeting. The Inception Report should contain no more than 10 pages, and the Final Report no more than 35 pages excluding annexes. The Final Report will be scrutinised in light of the following questions: Are the Terms of Reference fulfilled and reflected within the report? Does the report contain a clear and comprehensive summary? Are the findings of the evaluation report methodologically substantiated and transparently argued according to scientific standards? Are the recommendations of the report clearly described and in a manner that they can contribute to the further implementation of the project? Do they follow a logical argumentation? Are the methods of the evaluation clearly explained within the report? Have all relevant stakeholders, i.e. not only the target groups, been included in the evaluation process? Have all relevant documents been included in the evaluation process? Are cross-cutting issues such as gender equality addressed in the report? Does the report analyse and comment on the Logical Framework? Is the final report structured in a comprehensive and appealing way? Is the report free of errors and spelling mistakes and can hence be disseminated as required? 8) Coordination and responsibility The Client will have overall responsibility for the supervision of the evaluation. This will include facilitating inputs from all relevant stakeholders into the evaluation process; holding an inception meeting to clarify the requirements of the evaluation; and providing feedback on the Inception Report and Draft Final Report. The Client will make available all relevant documents to inform the evaluation. Required Skills or Experience 7) Evaluation team A restricted tender procedure will be applied in order to find a suitable contractor for the evaluation. This contractor will be chosen by the consortium partners on a 'best quality for price'-principle basis. Tenders should demonstrate key qualifications by means of CVs and a list of previous evaluation activities (references). Tenderers should describe and explain in their written offers their evaluation approach, methodology and organisation. Eligible applicants should be able to demonstrate the following: Experience and expertise in the area of small-scale fisheries and fisheries policies in West Africa, and in particular in Ghana. Preferably specific experience and expertise in the following areas: fisheries co-management, the fight against illegal fishing, capacity building, advocacy, and the use of technology for development. Experience in conducting/managing evaluations, in particular of EU-funded interventions. Experience and expertise in Ghana and its specifics (language, history, socio- economic background and so forth) is an asset. The composition of the Evaluation Team will be proposed by the bidder but is subject to approval by the consortium. How To Apply 9) Application The application for this evaluation shall include the following documents: a significant description of the methods to be employed in the evaluation and the organisation of the evaluation, including an assessment of the risks and a risk management strategy; the CVs of the evaluators highlighting their relevant experience including a description of their division of labour and their specific assignments during the evaluation; a list of previous projects as reference (maximum of five); a detailed cost plan differentiating between labour costs, travel costs and other costs including an indication of the days foreseen for the implementation of the evaluation. 10) Selection A committee will be convened to select the best quality for price offer. The “quality”-“price” ratio is 70:30. Quality is assessed in terms of the: Proposed method and organisation of the evaluation under scrutiny (50 points maximum). References and CVs of the evaluators (20 points maximum). For the lowest price a maximum of 30 points can be achieved. 11) COVID-19 Risk Assessment Applicants will be required to provide a Covid-19 risk assessment identifying the specific measures that they will take ensure that contacts are neither infected nor spread infection. Safety and the well-being of all must be the first priority in the execution of this project. EJF will apply an additional budget of Euro 500 for this purpose. 12) Contact person for the tender procedure Mr. Steve Trent Environmental Justice Foundation 1 Amwell Street London EC1R 1UL United Kingdom Email: [email protected] The Contractor reserves the right not to place any order. Costs for necessary document preparation by the Applicants to this call for tender will not be reimbursed. 13) Useful links Project webpage: https://ejfoundation.org/what-we-do/oceans/ghana Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development of Ghana website: www.mofad.gov.gh Ghana Marine Fisheries Management Plan 2015-2019: https://www.mofad.gov.gh/fisheries-management-plan-of-ghana-2015-2019/ World Bank (2019), Implementation Completion and Results Report 4979-GH, TF010905‐GH, on an International Development Association Credit in the amount of SDR 31.1 million (US$50.3 million equivalent) and a Global Environment Facility Grant in the Amount of US$3.5 million to the Republic of Ghana for a Ghana Project under the First Phase of the West Africa Regional Fisheries Program (P14775). 28 March 2019: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/866911554409721545/pdf/Ghana-Under-the-First-Phase-of-the-West-Africa-Regional-Fisheries-Program-Project.pdf. Illegal saiko landings at Elmina port: https://ejfoundation.org/reports/illegal-saiko-landings-at-elmina-port Joint NGO letter to the President: https://ejfoundation.org/reports/call-for-urgent-action-to-end-saiko-to-save-the-livelihoods-of-over-2-7-million-ghanaians The “people’s” fishery on the brink of collapse: Small pelagics in landings of Ghana’s industrial trawl fleet: https://ejfoundation.org/reports/the-peoples-fishery-on-the-brink-of-collapse-small-pelagics-in-landings-of-ghanas-industrial-trawl-fleet Legal analysis of trans-shipment in Ghana: https://ejfoundation.org/reports/legal-opinion-on-transhipment-in-ghana and summary: https://ejfoundation.org/reports/legal-analysis-on-the-trans-shipment-of-fish-at-sea-from-industrial-trawlers-to-canoes-in-ghana Assessment of Ghana’s fisheries laws against global guidelines on tenure rights and sustainable small-scale fisheries: https://ejfoundation.org/reports/assessment-of-ghanas-fisheries-laws-against-global-guidelines-on-tenure-rights-and-sustainable-small-scale-fisheries Far Dwuma Nkodo project update: January – June 2019: https://ejfoundation.org/reports/far-dwuma-nkodo-project-update-january-june-2019 Stolen at sea: How illegal ‘saiko’ fishing is fuelling the collapse of Ghana’s fisheries: https://ejfoundation.org/reports/stolen-at-sea-how-illegal-saiko-fishing-is-fuelling-the-collapse-of-ghanas-fisheries Gender Analysis: Ghana's Artisanal Fisheries 2019: https://ejfoundation.org/reports/gender-analysis-ghanas-artisanal-fisheries-2019 The case for greater transparency in the management and governance of Ghana’s fisheries sector: https://ejfoundation.org/reports/securing-equitable-and-sustainable-fisheries-the-case-for-greater-transparency-in-the-management-and-governance-of-ghanas-fisheries-sector Far Dwuma Nkodo project update: July – December 2018: https://ejfoundation.org/reports/far-dwuma-nkodo-project-update-july-december-2018 Joint communiqué from the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC) and National Fish Processors and Traders Association (NAFPTA): https://ejfoundation.org/reports/joint-communiqué-from-the-ghana-national-canoe-fishermen-council-gncfc-and-national-fish-processors-and-traders-association-nafpta The problem with “Saiko” an ecological and human catastrophe: https://ejfoundation.org/reports/the-problem-with-saiko Principles of good governance for securing equitable and sustainable fisheries: https://ejfoundation.org/reports/principles-of-good-governance-for-securing-equitable-and-sustainable-fisheries Far Dwuma Nkodo Project Update January to June 2018: https://ejfoundation.org/reports/far-dwuma-nkodo-project-update-january-to-june-2018 Roundtable to discuss the international guidelines on the responsible governance of tenure and the relevance for Ghana’s fisheries sector: https://ejfoundation.org/reports/roundtable-to-discuss-the-international-guidelines-on-the-responsible-governance-of-tenure-and-the-relevance-for-ghanas-fisheries-sector Ghana: a fishing nation in crisis: https://ejfoundation.org/films/ghana-a-fishing-nation-in-crisis Ghana’s fishing sector and the Voluntary Guidelines on the Governance of Tenure: https://vimeo.com/261337744/2e79ace92d Ensuring social equity and sustainability in Ghana’s fisheries: https://ejfoundation.org/films/ensuring-social-equity-and-sustainability-in-ghanas-fisheries Annexes Annex 1: Project Document Annex 2: Logframe Matrix Note Please note, employers receive numerous applications per posting and will only shortlist the most qualified candidates. Also Jobsinghana.com is not involved in any decision made by an employer/recruiter and therefore does not guarantee that applications sent will result in a candidate being shortlisted/selected for that position.
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