Operationalizing the Revised African Fisheries Reform Mechanism (AFRM) 281 views0 applications

Implementing Recommendations of the 2019 Specialized Technical Committee Meeting on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment (STC-ARDWE)

Background

The African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), a specialized technical office of the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA) of the African Union Commission (AUC), is mandated to support and coordinate the utilization of livestock, fisheries, aquaculture and wildlife as resources for both human wellbeing and economic development in the Member States of the African Union. The Vision of the AU-IBAR Strategic Plan 2018-2023 is an Africa in which animal resources contribute significantly to integration, prosperity and peace. AU-IBAR’s intervention in the fisheries and aquaculture sector is guided by the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for fisheries and aquaculture in Africa (PFRS) which is aimed at improving governance of the sector for increased sustainable contribution to food security, livelihoods and wealth creation. Also within the framework of the African Union Agenda 2063, the Africa Blue Economy Strategy environed an inclusive and sustainable blue economy that significantly contributes to Africa’s transformation and growth.

The fisheries and aquaculture sector gained high political attention after the first dedicated summit of African Heads of States and Governments in Abuja 2005, dubbed the ‘Abuja Fish-for-all’ Summit. This was in recognition of the immense potential of the fisheries and aquaculture sector to contribute to food security, livelihoods and sustainable blue economic growth in African Union Member States. The importance of the sector was also underscored by the First Conference of African Ministers in Charge of Fisheries and Aquaculture (CAMFA) in 2010, Banjul, the Gambia and the Joint Ministerial Conference on Agriculture, Rural Development, Fisheries and Aquaculture in 2014, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

With support from the GEF (Global Environmental Facility)/World Bank, AU-IBAR in collaboration with FAO and WWF, implemented the project “Strategic Partnership for Fisheries Investment Fund” (SPFIF) between 2005 and 2011. The project aimed at promoting the sustainable management of fisheries resources in selected African Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) towards achieving the fisheries and poverty reduction targets set at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable development (WSSD). The project laid the foundation for the establishment of Africa Fisheries Reform Mechanism (AFRM), facilitated the development of realistic fisheries policy, legal and institutional frameworks through dissemination of best practices and contributed to establishment of an AU policy organ for African fisheries – Conference of African ministers of fisheries and aquaculture (CAMFA).

The First Conference of African Ministers of fisheries and aquaculture (CAMFA) in 2010 recognized lack of or weak coordination, poor collaborative frameworks and inadequate regional international cooperation are some of the challenges that have beset African fisheries and aquaculture sector.

The Ministers therefore recommended that:

1. the African Union Commission develop and implement a coordination mechanism among RECs (Regional Economic Communities) and RFBs (Regional Fisheries Bodies) to ensure coherence of fisheries policies and initiatives with regional economic integration agenda;
2. the African Union Commission put in place a mechanism for broad-based participatory policy dialogue and fisheries management, particularly for the non-state actors.

Consequently the architecture of the African Fisheries Reform Mechanism (AFRM) was developed during the stakeholders’ partnership coordination meeting in February 2012, Nairobi, Kenya, attended by representatives from AU-IBAR, World Bank, FAO, WWF, RFBs, other stakeholders and experts from Africa, Europe etc. The African Union AU-based continental partnership platform – the African Fisheries Reform Mechanism, AFRM – was therefore established with the prime aim of facilitating coordination and coherence in the governance of fisheries and aquaculture sector. Specifically the AFRM was to support information sharing on lesson and best practices, enhance communication, foster institutional collaboration, promote partnerships, strengthen evidenced-base policy formulation and promote integration or mainstreaming of the sector in AU policy process, increase common African positions in regional and global fora. The AFRM comprised of constituent bodies that include i. the expert working groups ii. Think Tank Executive Committee which is a forum for stakeholders’ consultations iii. CAMFA Secretariat at AU-IBAR for supporting ministerial meetings, liaising with partners, regional institutions and the iv. Advisory Council which interfaces between Think Tank Executive committee and the Ministers.

The 2014 Joint Ministerial Conferenced also requested AU, RECs Member States and partners to support operationalization of the African Fisheries Reform Mechanism as the continental platform for coordinating coherent intervention and investments in fisheries and aquaculture.

The Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for fisheries and aquaculture in Africa (PFRS) was formulated within the framework of the AFRM. The 2014 Joint Conference of African Ministers endorsed the PFRS as a blue print to support the sustainable development of the fisheries and aquaculture sector in Africa. The African Ministers further recommended that the AU should put in place a mechanism to monitor the implementation of the policy framework and report regularly to Member States.

Rationale

Though AFRM has contributed greatly to enhancing coordination mechanisms and institutional collaboration in the governance of the fisheries and aquaculture sector, supported evidence-based development of fisheries and aquaculture policies, strategies, awareness enhancing and elevating the profile of the sector etc the AFRM faced considerable challenges in fully realizing its objectives on strengthening coordination, coherence, effective functioning of its constituent bodies, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture development through evidence-based policies. The constituent bodies of the AFRM were not fully operationalized and not entirely functional to be able to discharge their roles effectively. There still remains much to be done in order to fully achieve the objectives of the AFRM.

Therefore, with support from the World Bank, AU-IBAR in 2018/2019 implemented a project to strength the AFRM and the Secretariat of CAMFA, hosted at AU-IBAR. The support was within the World Bank’s flagship project on Regional Partnership for African Fisheries Policy Reform (RAFIP). After a year of implementation, the following were achieved: i) A Revised Structure of the AFRM; ii) Draft Mechanism for resource mobilization iii. Draft Mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of ministerial decisions on fisheries and aquaculture iv. Draft report on progress of implementation of AU Ministerial Decisions.

The revised AFRM structure was endorsed by 2019 meeting of the African Union Specialized Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment (STC-ARDWE) and the ministers further recommended to AU to put mechanisms in place for effective operationalization of the Revised AFRM.

A key challenge to effective operationalization of the AFRM has been the absence of mechanism or strategy for mobilization of resources to ensure effective and sustainable functioning of the various constituent bodies of the AFRM, including the AFRM expert working groups’ functions on existing and emerging issues; the Think Tank Executive Council that provides space for stakeholders’ consultative mechanisms for policy adoption; and the Advisory council meeting that synthesizes policy recommendations for the attention of the STC-BUREAU for onward transmission to the STC-ARDWE.

The CAMFA Secretariat has been performing expected functions, including monitoring the implementation of AU Decisions, promoting partnerships for fisheries and aquaculture development, engaging with stakeholders (AU member states, RECs, RFBs, Non-State Actors) for institutional strengthening, facilitating development and dissemination of best practices in AU MS and RECs. The Secretariat however needs to be strengthened for sustainable and effective implementation of technical, administrative and financial roles at AU-IBAR within the revised AFRM.

Also, several AU decisions have been made in the past by various AU Ministerial Conferences on fisheries and aquaculture but absence of cost-effective mechanisms for regular monitoring the progress of implementation of these decisions continues to a serious challenge. In addition, though the Guide to support implementation of PFRS was developed, it is important to develop cost-effective mechanism for regular monitoring of the progress of implementation of PFRS. Therefore there is a need to build upon the work undertaken by AU-IBAR, supported by GEF/World Bank in 2018/2019 by continue the implementation of activities that would support the recommendations of the 2019 STC-ARDWE meeting.

In light of the above, AU-IBAR seeks the services of suitable consultants to develop effective mechanisms for operationalizing the revised AFRM, develop mechanisms for cost-effective monitoring of AU ministerial decisions on fisheries and aquaculture and mechanisms for monitoring the progress of implementation of PFRS. The consultancy areas also include the evaluation and updating data / information on the status of implementation of past AU Ministerial decisions. The study areas are classified into two LOTs, with respective consultancy areas listed under each Lot, as outlined in the Tables below.

Consultancy No. 1Develop mechanisms for effective operationalization of the revised AFRM; develop cost-effective resource mobilization strategy for sustainability in functions of the revised AFRM and its constituent bodies. The study entails review of current functions, working modalities of the revised AFRM and associated bodies.2Review, update existing studies and information/data on i. status of implementation of past AU Ministerial Decisions on fisheries and aquaculture highlighting high performing areas and lagging areas in the Decisions and ii. the progress of implementation of PFRS3Develop realistic, cost-effective mechanisms for monitoring implementation of AU Ministerial Decisions on fisheries and aquaculture and make concrete recommendations for implementation4Conduct in-depth review, consultations and develop cost-effective mechanism for monitoring progress of implementation of the PFRS and make concrete recommendations for implementation

Objective of the Consultancy

The objective of this suite of consultancies is therefore to develop realistic mechanisms for operationalization the revised AFRM, cost-effective mechanisms for monitoring implementation of AU ministerial decisions on fisheries and aquaculture and for monitoring progress of implementation of PFRS. The consultancy also entails updating data/information on progress of implementation of the PFRS by AU member states and regional institutions.

Specific Objectives

• To develop realistic mechanisms for effective operationalization of the revised AFRM including development of cost-effective resources mobilization strategies, including review and development of realistic terms of reference, re-evaluate criteria for memberships and working modalities of the constituent bodies of revised AFRM
• Review, evaluate, consult stakeholders and develop cost-effective mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of the AU Ministerial Decisions on fisheries and aquaculture.
• Undertake consultations and develop cost-effective mechanism for monitoring the progress of implementation of PFRS.
• Review, conduct studies, consultations and update existing data / information on the status of implementation of AU ministerial decisions
• Develop concrete recommendations for each of the above study areas for effective implementation of outcomes of studies
• Support stakeholders’ consultation processes on each of the above or combination of the above studies

Methodology of Conducting the Assignment

The consultants are expected to:

• Liaise and hold briefing with relevant staff of AU-IBAR for clarifications on each of the consultancy areas
• Identify sources of information, reports of relevant projects, programmes on the continent
• Gain access to, and be thoroughly conversant with, relevant institutions at national level, regional and continental levels for sourcing relevant documents
• Identify stakeholders on the continent for consultations that are crucial for adequate delivery on the assignment
• Conduct extensive desk research, consultations and source information on examples of existing mechanisms (e.g. within AUC) for monitoring progress of implementation of regional and continental instruments, frameworks or implementation of high-level policy decisions
• Conduct online consultations with stakeholders, beneficiaries, AU member states, RECs, partners, AFRM Working Groups etc.
• Consult electronically and/or virtually with relevant staff at AUDA-NEPAD and other AUC departments
• Support consultative workshops for validation of the respective consultancy outcomes
• Successful consultants to produce comprehensive reports for each assigned consultancy area

Deliverables

For each consultancy,

• A draft inception report within five (5) calendar days of signing the contract. The inception report should demonstrate a clear understanding of the assignment by the consultant. The report should also include a detailed work plan, timelines and deliverables for each of the respective consultancy areas in the Tables
• A first draft report on each of respective consultancy areas listed in the Tables
• A final report, incorporating comments from stakeholders, for each of the consultancy areas in the Tables.
• Recommendations for each of the study areas on effective implementation of the outcomes highlighting challenges and solutions
• Support to facilitation of stakeholders consultations and high level meetings (where applicable) for adoption of each of the outcomes from each of the respective consultancy areas.

Qualifications

The consultant(s) selected for the assignments should possess advanced degree in policy and planning, socio-economics, fisheries management and aquaculture development or related disciplines. A PhD degree in relevant disciplines would be an added advantage.

General Experience

The successful consultants are expected to have the following experiences:

1. Record of familiarization with institutions with mandates in fisheries, aquaculture or related disciplines at national, regional and continental levels in Africa
2. Familiarization of relevant regional and continental development priorities, instruments, policies and agenda
3. Demonstrated knowledge on global initiatives, instruments relevant to fisheries, aquaculture and related disciplines
4. Proven record of supporting institutional building and of extensive interaction with stakeholders in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, including partners, stakeholders’ associations (e.g. networks, platforms) etc.
5. Knowledge on past and ongoing projects and programmes in African fisheries and aquaculture sector at national, regional and continental levels

Specific Experience

1. At least 5 years’ combined experience and familiarization with issues in Africa fisheries and aquaculture sector
2. Record of extensive experience and knowledge on chosen consultancy areas
3. Proven evidence of designing mechanisms and strategies for improved governance of fisheries and aquaculture sector
4. Familiarization of functions of African Union policy organs and existing mechanisms for monitoring implementation of AU instruments or initiatives
5. Proven record of research planning experience, critical analysis of information data and production of reports, especially in the fisheries and aquaculture sector

Other Essential Attributes

1. Record of good writing skills and scientific publications in relevant fields in policies, institutions and governance
2. Good experience of facilitating workshops in related fields in Africa
3. Record of delivery assignment within tight schedules
4. Proficiency in at least two AU official languages

Application Procedures

Individual consultants can apply:
Applications can be submitted for: the consultancy Service she/he is interested

Duration for this consultancy

30 Days

Technical and Financial Proposal

The proposal should be divided into a technical and a financial part.

A technical proposal indicating the approach to the assignment, including the proposed methodology and work plan, objectives, activities to be carried out, expected outputs, outline of the content and a clear timeframe to carry out the assignment.
A financial proposal for the consultancy should be all inclusive (consultancy fees, and any other cost).

Supervision and Approval of Report

The successful candidate will work under the supervision of the Senior Fisheries Officer at AU-IBAR, who will also have the responsibility of final approval of reports.

Equipment

The consultant will use his/her own laptop and other data capturing equipment deemed necessary during execution of the assignment.

Insurance Cover

The consultant will be responsible for his/her own medical and life insurance cover for the duration of the assignment.