CONSULTANCY - RFP to carry out a 'Research on Policy, Legislation and Stakeholder Landscape in Relation to International Exotic Pets Trade from Africa at World Animal Protection

Scope of Requirement

Introduction

World Animal Protection works directly with animals and with the people and organizations that can ensure animals are treated with respect and compassion and her campaigns effectively combat the world’s most intense and large-scale animal welfare issues. World Animal protection brings about lasting change by: helping people understand the critical importance of good animal welfare; encouraging nations to commit to animal-friendly policies and practices; building the scientific case for the better treatment of animals, and; encouraging a worldwide movement towards better animal welfare.
In our 2020 strategy, we target to improve the welfare of 100,000 wild animals globally through our wildlife campaigns. One of the projects under the Animals in the Wild Programme area addresses the suffering of wild animals traded as exotic pets from Africa. Everyday thousands of animals are being taken from the wild and bred in captivity to supply the booming international market demand for exotic pets. Animals suffer at every stage of the trade chain; during capture, handling, transportation, and to their destination not forgetting issues in breeding and the associated poor husbandry, with many pronounced dead along the chain. The trade not only raises animal welfare concerns but also threatens emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases like Ebola and Marburg viruses, in addition to impacting the biodiversity. Africa is playing a critical role in this trade chain, being the main source of these animals. Some of the animals most traded are Python regius (Ball pythons) from West Africa and Psittacus erithacus (African Grey Parrot); regardless of this species being up listed to Appendix 1 by CITES.

For that matter, Africa has an important role of disrupting the supply of exotic pets for international trade and World Animal Protection will set up campaign to educate, lobby and influence different stakeholders at national and regional levels, general public, Non-governmental Organizations and other relevant stakeholders. Africa regional economic blocks have been identified as one of key stakeholders of target in disrupting this trade. This consultancy is aimed at establishing baseline information from which to benchmark future efforts in eradication of exotic pet’s trade in Africa. To achieve this, there is need to understand the policy, legislation environment and existing regional agreements around the exotic pet’s trade at national and regional level and World Animal Protection seeks to understand the above together with the existing administrative frame works prevailing in East, West and Southern African regions. The Regional Economic Communities (RECs) blocks of focus are; 1. East Africa Community (EAC), 2. Common Market for Eastern & Southern Africa (COMESA) 3. Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) 4. Southern African Development Community (SADC) and these nationalities; 1. Togo 2. Ghana 3. South Africa 4. Kenya 5. Tanzania and 6. Nigeria.

Objectives

The general objectives of this study will be;

• To understand, describe and identify gaps in the policy, legislations and administrative frameworks surrounding wildlife (special focus to exotic pets) in the East, West and Southern African regions by analysing the position of the above-mentioned selected AU recognised regional economic blocks and the selected Sovereign states.
• To understand the political economy and the environment situation of reviewing the existing (if present) or including new exotic pets trade policies intended to stop international trade of Exotic pets.
• To identify the potential drivers of change through which World Animal Protection could push forward to eliminate trade of exotic pets from Africa, prioritising the areas of intervention.
• Identify and prioritise stakeholders in wildlife sector (especially exotic pets field) working in these regions and understand their constraints and opportunities, and identify potential partners for the World Animal Protection, Africa. The stakeholders list includes; public sector/government actors, non-state actors such as NGOs, CBOs and private sector.

Methodological approaches

This study will involve reviewing and analysing the primary and secondary data surrounding policy, legislation and different stakeholders involved in Exotic Pets Trade from Africa. The data sources will include but not limited to; 1. Regional and National policies and legislations 2. The Regional and National strategies, programmes and agreement documents to curb wildlife crimes 3. The documented administrative and institutional arrangements 4. National, Regional and International reports 5. Relevant studies and Publications. Other sources will include regional and national initiatives, debates and trends auspiced by big organizations like OIE, AU, RECs and other reputable regional and international organizations.

Upon commencement, an Inception Report will be developed to ensure mutual understanding between World Animal Protection and the successful consultant’s plan of action on the deliverables of this consultancy. This report will describe the methodology, data collection tools and timelines.

Expected outcome

• Comprehensive report containing
• Prevailing policy, regulatory and administrative frameworks, and the gaps relating to exotic pet’s trade in the selected RECs at regional and national levels.
• The roles which RECs can play to disrupt both legal and illegal trade in wildlife as pets.
• List of stakeholders in wildlife sector (especially exotic pets field) working in these regions and describing their constraints and opportunities
• Identify potential partners for the World Animal Protection, Africa.
• Entry points for engagement which World Animal Protection can venture into and key points to use to influence, nationals, regions and other institutions like CITES.

Other relevant information

The successful consultant(s) will report to the Wildlife Campaigns Manager, Africa, and closely working with the integrated team in exotic pet’s campaign;

• External affairs Manager and Campaign Mobilization especially in ensuring that the right stakeholders and the relevant policy issues are adequately covered.
• Global Investigation and Evidence team (Research Manager) for methodological and technical oversight.

Academic Qualifications of the Consultant:

The Consultant(s) being sought to undertake the research must have at least Master of Science degree in either of the following fields; Research Methodology; Wildlife; Veterinary Epidemiology; or Public Health from a recognized institution of higher learning. Experience in research or public policy will be an added advantage