East Africa Government Engagement Consultant at Blue Ventures

Specific Objectives

• Needs analysis: Outline the specific policy and thematic issues identified by coastal communities and partner organisations in Kenya and Tanzania.
• Sector and stakeholder analysis: Evaluate civil society's current government engagement landscape by working on related issues core to BV’s approach—securing stronger legal recognition of community-based fisheries management and transparency, and limiting industrial destructive fishing.
• Government engagement opportunities: Identify and provide recommendations for Blue Ventures’ government engagement approach in the region, including:
• Focus areas that reflect the results of the stakeholder analysis
• Key stakeholders (government agencies, NGOs, community groups, etc.)
• Recommendations on strategies and tactics to engage with government at local, national, and regional levels.

Deliverables

• The project plan will outline the methodology, timeline, and any preliminary findings from the situational analysis.
• Results of consultations with communities and local partners outlining their priorities and challenges
• Draft government engagement strategy document for review.
• The final strategy document incorporates feedback from Blue Ventures.
• Presentation of the final strategy to key staff members

Evaluation

• The consultant’s success will be measured by delivering a government engagement strategy that identifies thematic focus areas and objectives for government engagement regionally and nationally, and the scope for partnerships with current and prospective civil society organisations working on related issues.

Scope of Work

• Engaging with coastal communities and key stakeholders to gather insights on challenges and opportunities for policy progression.
• Conducting an analysis of the current marine conservation and community-led fisheries management landscape in East Africa, including policy frameworks, stakeholder mapping, and existing government engagement efforts.
• Developing a comprehensive strategy that includes:
• Clear objectives
• Target audiences and key messages
• Strategies for building alliances

Who will you work with?

The Key Stakeholders you will engage with are as follows:

Internal

• Blue Ventures: Regional Director East Africa.
• Director of Advocacy, Head of Global Advocacy.
• Head of Partnerships East Africa.
• East Africa Partnership Network Team.

External:

• East African Coastal communities.
• Community-Based Organisations.
• Current Blue Ventures partners are in Kenya and Tanzania.
• Prospective partners working on government engagement relating to community-led marine conservation. Government departments in Kenya and Tanzania.

Requirements

• Proven experience in government engagement and policy development, particularly in marine conservation or related fields.
• Strong understanding of the political landscape and environmental policies in East Africa.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
• Prior experience in engaging and working with coastal communities will be an added advantage.