CURRENT WORK OPPORTUNITY: Small Scale Fisheries Value Chain Consultant: Application deadline May 10th 2022

Reporting to WCS Tanzania Marine Program Director

Project Background

WCS and partners are tackling the issue of deteriorating marine environments in the Western Indian Ocean by working with coastal communities and MPAs on fisheries and marine management. The Western Indian Ocean is a socially and biologically diverse region that contains some of the world’s most extensive and most climate resilient coral reefs and mangroves, which are critical sources of protein, coastal protection, and income to coastal populations. Yet, the integrity of the region’s ecosystems is threatened by the overexploitation of fisheries, habitat clearing, and pollution.

WCS is currently leading a project on the proposed Trans-Boundary Conservation Area (TBCA) between southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. The project addresses these challenges by supporting improved intergovernmental coordination, small scale fisheries management, and MPA management.

For small-scale artisanal fisheries, fishing and fish trading are primary livelihoods and there are few options and sometimes low interest in livelihood diversification. Seeking ways to reduce fishing pressure while maintaining community livelihoods is a challenge. We are seeking to explore the history of and options for fisheries value chain additions in six focal communities (3 in each nation) on either side of the Kenya-Tanzania border. We are seeking two consultants to support the lead consultancy (MarFishEco) in this work – one Kenyan and one Tanzanian consultant. This is an opportunity to work with an international expert in socio-economic analyses.

The chosen consultants will be expected to identify and interview economic agents (production, distribution, marketing, sales) in value chains for TBCA reef and pelagic fisheries, hold community focal group discussions and lead meetings, and work with an international value chain expert and WCS teams to conduct value chain analysis of small scale fisheries (SSF) in 3 communities in northern Tanzania: Jasini, Moa, and Ndumbani.

Generally the consultant will (See details below):

• Gather information on value chains in the three focal communities using focal groups, interviews of core stakeholders, and coalition of existing data from WCS (e.g. livelihoods and fish catch/market data).

• Collect and verify landings data for reef and sardines (e.g. catch composition, volumes, prices, seasonality, etc).
• Document volumes and prices of reef fish complexes and sardines as they move to final buyers, identifying transactions and roles of actors along the chain

Expected Activities & Deliverables:

1. Translation of MFE presentations on SSF value chains into Swahili for community meetings
2. Hold inception meeting (1/2 day per community) describing project (WCS to support costs of hosting meeting and assist with coordinating participants). Provide meeting report on meetings (1 per community) including participant list (gender and job disaggregated) and notes on community questions/feedback. WCS to cover cost of hosting meeting and coordinate participants.
3. Conduct two focal group meetings (one for men and one for women) in each of 3 communities to understand dynamics of fishing and fish sales (questions to be provided by MFE). Translate data collected in focal group meetings and share results with MFE and WCS in word tables or Excel (format provided by MFE). Provide gender/job disaggregated participant lists. WCS to cover cost of hosting meeting and coordinate participants. 
4. Using format provided by MFE, document volumes and prices of reef fish complexes and sardines as they move to final buyers, identifying transactions and roles of actors along the chain. Enter data in spreadsheet.
5. Translate survey questions for individual surveys provided by MFE and WCS to Swahili. Perform individual interviews of 12-15 people in each of 3 communities including BMU leaders and lead people in each fisheries role (45 minutes to 1 hour each). WCS to cover community transport costs if any. Enter data into provided Excel spreadsheet and report on general findings.
6. Provide feedback to MFE presentation on results of interviews (MFE to develop presentation) to be shared with communities and translate PPT to Swahili
7. Present survey and focal group results to communities (1 day per each of 3 communities). Lead community discussions around potential ideas for value chain additions considering opportunities and constraints (as reviewed by MFE). Report in a specified framework (provided by MFE) detailing results of community discussions during the meeting (including participant lists with genders and occupations). WCS to cover cost of hosting meeting and coordinate participants.
8. Review final draft of MFE report on value chain analysis to ensure community views are represented

Translate final presentation to communities on recommendations provided by MFE/WCS. WCS will lead the final presentation.

Project Timeline:

Terms & Location

Desktop work can be done remotely, but all field work to be performed in focal communities in northern Tanzania. Consultancy fees will be inclusive of all costs including consultant time, travel, communications, etc.  However, WCS will cover the costs of holding community meetings and focal groups as noted above (e.g. hall rental, printing, community travel allowance, meals/snacks as applicable). The work is anticipated to take ~39 days over 2.5 months including approximately 20 days in the field. The consultant must have their own laptop to work from during the project.

Requirements:

• A minimum of 3-years experience working in fisheries including working with coastal communities.
• Demonstrated experience conducting social surveys and leading community focal group discussions, as well as leading community meetings and give presentations
• Excellent field note taking skills, data entry, and data backup skills
• Experience compiling reports summarizing field results (writing
• Experience working in remote field settings.
• Fluent spoken and written English and Kiswahili is essential
• Excellent in person and online communication skills including proficient use of email and video call
• Microsoft Excel and Word proficiency are essential
• Ability to trouble shoot and problem solve on the spot if organized meetings with communities do not happen as planned or new opportunities arise.
• Willingness to work long hours in the field to make use of limited time with each community
• Understanding the importance of power dynamics and cultural norms to ensure smooth field visits and engagements with each community.

Applications:

Send the following materials to HR WCS Tanzania (wcshrtanzania@wcs.org):

• CV that outlines your educational background, your professional work experience relevant to the post
• Brief (e.g. 1 page) cover letter about why you would suit this consultancy role and key skills/past experience
• Financial bid for work including daily rate and estimated travel costs for the project
• Certificate copies for TIN, VAT & business / profession registration (if applicable)
• Interested consultant should have capacity to issue EFD receipt.

Applications must be received by May 10, 2022. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed online by WCS and MFE.

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Jean Mensa: MARINE PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Abdallah Said Abdulla: MARINE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Abdalla joined WCS in 2018 and is now the principal researcher undertaking shark and ray data collection, as well as training and collating data from the project’s network of research assistants. He also participates in marine education efforts in schools and community forums. Prior to joining WCS, Abdallah worked at the Department of Agricultural Extension and Farmer Training and before that at UWAMWIMA helping organize farmer groups and provide horticultural training. He holds a Certificate and Diploma in General Agriculture from Zanzibar’s Kizimbani Agricultural Training Institute.

Neema Saburi: MARINE FINANCE AND LOGISTICS OFFICER
Neema joined WCS’s country program office in 2019 as a volunteer assistant to the finance director. She was then taken on as the marine finance and logistics officer in 2020. She holds a Foundation Level certificate of accountancy from the National Board of Accountants and Auditors (NBAA) and Diploma in Business Administration from St. John’s University of Tanzania. Prior to joining WCS, she worked for two years as accounts assistant for LULU SACCOS LTD.

Shabani Mkwavile: MARINE FIELD ASSISTANT

Faki Haji Faki: MARINE DATA COLLECTION ASSISTANT
Mzee Fakih joined WCS in 2018. He collects shark and ray data at Mkokotoni Landing site in Unguja which he submits weekly to Abdallah the marine research assistant.