Jobs at African Union - InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources

Objective

The overall objective of this consultancy is to conduct a continental review of existing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), document lessons, best practices and formulate guidelines, mechanisms and priority actions for strengthening their sustainable implementation and governance for conservation of aquatic biodiversity resources within the African Union member states and at regional levels in the West, Central and Northern Regions of Africa

Scope

• Review the institutional and governance arrangement or framework of all stakeholders involved in the management of existing Marine Protected Areas (MPA) in the West, Central and Northern Regions of Africa.
• Formulate harmonized guidelines/approaches for sustainable implementation and governance of MPAs for conservation of aquatic biodiversity resources in AU MS and regional levels in the West, Central and Northern Regions of Africa.
• Document lessons learnt and best practices, then make recommendations on further activities/best practices that need to be undertaken and mechanisms for implementation of same.
• Develop mechanisms and priority actions for support to strengthening identified MPAs

Detailed Tasks

• Liaise with the relevant persons at AU-IBAR for adequate briefing and clarification of tasks;
• Prepare inception report within 5 days of signature to the contract outlining the methodology and approach for undertaking the assignment, detailed work plan, timelines with deliverables and comments on the Terms of Reference if any (in brief);
• Review all the existing MPAs in AU-MS and at regional levels in the West, Central and Northern Regions of Africa and classify them according to IUCN categories for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs);
• Review and documents the mechanisms or approaches involved in their establishments, challenges, lessons and best practices
• Review the institutional framework and governance arrangement for the management of the identified MPAs within AU member states and regional levels;
• Document lessons learnt and best practices in the governance of MPAs within AU-MS and transboundary MPAs; in the West, Central and Northern Regions of Africa.
• Identify MPAs with endemic biodiversity (give their brief descriptions) hotspots
• Document the range of goods and services within the existing select MPAs in AU-MS and regional levels
• Identify gaps or weaknesses (SWOT analysis) including institutional capacity for the management of MPAs that need to be addressed;
• Formulate MPA guidelines for sustainable implementation and governance (harmonized approach) for conservation of aquatic biodiversity resources within the African Union member states;
• Develop guidelines and priority actions for support by the project for strengthening the establishment, implementation and governance of identified MPAs
• Suggest additional activities/best practices that need to be undertaken in the management of MPAs
• Develop comprehensive report at the end of assignment.

Deliverables

• Inception report: A draft version detailing the methodology and approach used to undertake the consultancy within 5 days of signing the contract. The draft report should demonstrate a clear understanding of the assignment by the consultant.
• Synthesis of institutional framework and governance management systems, arrangement of identified MPAs within AU member states and at regional levels (for transboundary MPAs);
• Report on review and classification of the existing MPAs in AU-MS and regional levels according to IUCN categories for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
• Report on MPAs with endemic biodiversity hotspots with brief descriptions;
• Document Lessons learnt and best practices in the management of identified MPAs within AU-MS and transboundary MPAs;
• Detailed note on a range of goods and services within the existing select MPAs in AU-MS and regional levels
• Gaps or weaknesses (SWOT analysis) including institutional capacity for the management of MPAs that need to be addressed;
• Develop guidelines on mechanisms and priority actions for intervention by the project to support strengthening of implementation and effective governance of identified MPAs for the conservation of aquatic biodiversity in AU member states and at regional levels for transboundary MPAs.
• Note on additional activities/best practices that need to be undertaken in the management of MPAs with the AU-MS and at regional levels for transboundary MPAs.
• Approved comprehensive final report on the consultancy in English detailing all work undertaken with recommendations.

Qualifications

• The successful candidate should have an advanced degree in disciplines related to MPA Planning and Management, Marine ecology and aquatic conservation biology, Marine Environmental Protection, Aquatic Environmental Sciences or Fisheries sciences. A PhD degree will be an added advantage.

Experience

General Experience

• Familiarization with national institutions with mandates in aquatic biodiversity conservation and environmental management.
• Familiarization with functions of regional economic communities and specialized regional institutions with mandates in fisheries, aquaculture, aquatic biodiversity and environmental protection.
• Knowledge of AU and global instruments related to aquatic biodiversity conservation and environmental management.
• Experience of governance issues in Africa large marine ecosystems and freshwater ecosystems, management systems, transboundary issues, challenges and opportunities.
• Record of experience working with multiple stakeholders across a wide range of disciplines in ocean governance and in facilitating stakeholders’ consultative workshops

Specific Experience

• At least 7 years working experience in research and development related institutions and of conducting research, assessment towards conservation of aquatic ecosystems.
• Demonstrated evidence of performing similar tasks related to this consultancy in the last 5 years.
• Record of experience on implementation and governance issues in Marine Protected Areas (MPA).
• Record of experience in enhancing institutional capacity on governance and implementation of MPAs for conservation of aquatic ecosystems and environments.
• Evidence of formulating policies, strategies for restoration of degraded ecosystems to enhance aquatic biodiversity conservation in Africa.

Other Essential Skills and Experience

• Diplomacy and good interactive skills necessary for dealing with senior officials in Government, RECs, other regional organizations, and donor/development organizations in Africa; Good networking skills and ability to maintain positive and constructive
• Very strong writing, analytical and communication skills are necessary.
• Proficiency in at least 2 AU languages

Closing: 22 July 2022

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Objective

The overall objective of this consultancy is to prepare a background document on priority issues and actions necessary for strengthening the role of women in conservation of aquatic biodiversity and environmental management, towards the development of a continental strategy for inclusion of gender in aquatic biodiversity and environmental management.

Tasks

• Liaise with the relevant persons at AU-IBAR for adequate briefing and clarification of tasks;
• Prepare inception report within 5 days of signature to the contract outlining an approach and methodology for the assignment, detailed work plan, timelines with deliverables, proposed locations for visit and comments on the Terms of Reference if any (in brief);
• Identify and document the roles of women in conservation of aquatic biodiversity and environmental management in AU Member States;
• Identify and document the main challenges and best practices with regards to the role of women in conservation of aquatic biodiversity and environmental management for AU Member States;
• Identify and document priority issues and actions necessary for strengthening the role of women in conservation of aquatic biodiversity and environmental management;
• Develop guidelines for a continental strategy on the empowerment and effective engagement of women in aquatic biodiversity conservation and environmental management programmes;
• Provide recommendations for the design and mechanism for providing technical support by project to selected African Union member states, to develop all-inclusive and deliberate biodiversity strategies for women’s empowerment and role in conservation of aquatic biodiversity and conservational management.;
• Identify and Map ongoing environmental based-NGOs focusing on conserving biodiversity and environment protection in Africa
• Facilitate consultation workshop for validation of the identified priority issues and actions for enhancing the role of women in biodiversity and environmental management.
• Develop a comprehensive report at the end of the assignment.

Qualification

• The successful candidate should have a minimum of a Master’s degree in disciplines related to Gender Studies and/or Life sciences, Environmental sciences, Social science, Policy Development studies with focus on Gender considerations. A PhD degree will be an added advantage.

General Experience

• A Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in at least one of the sectors - gender and climate change mitigation programmes; integrating gender considerations; and women’s empowerment in environmental programming;
• Familiarization with national and regional institutions with functions on environment management
• Knowledge and evidence of experience on processes, political and policy related issues in the governance of aquatic ecosystems;
• Proven experience of working with and mobilizing communities (including women and youth|) in riparian and coastal settlements;
• Familiarization of the role of and experience in working with grassroots organizations in environment management and community development in coastal locations

Specific Experience

• Evidence of  familiarization  with  and  supporting  or  promoting  implementation  of continental and global instruments, initiatives addressing environmental sustainability, gender considerations and sustainable development
• Record   of   performing   similar   consultancy   and   working   experience   in   gender mainstreaming activities and projects in the field of the environment and/or related development policies or strategies in Africa;
• Evidence of involvement in or formulation of policy, strategy development for strengthening gender equality considerations in natural resources governance in Africa;
• Familiarization or experience of working with NGOs on issues of environmental management and conservation of aquatic biodiversity.
• Experience with the practical challenges, opportunities and mechanisms for effective engagement of women in aquatic resources management or other natural resource systems in Africa

Other Essential Skills and Experience

• Diplomacy and good interactive skills necessary for dealing with senior officials in Government, RECs, other regional organizations, and donor/development organizations in Africa; Good networking skills and ability to maintain positive and constructive
• Experience in planning, implementing training and facilitating stakeholders’ consultative workshops
• Very strong writing, analytical and communication skills are necessary.
• Proficiency in at least 2 AU languages

Deliverables

• Inception report: A draft version detailing the methodology and approach to be used to undertake the consultancy within 5 days of signing the contract. The draft report should demonstrate a clear understanding of the assignment by the consultant.
• Report on the roles of women in conservation of aquatic biodiversity and environmental management in AU Member States.
• Report on the main challenges and best practices with regards to the role of women in conservation of aquatic biodiversity and environmental management for AU Member States.
• Report on the identified priority issues and actions necessary for strengthening the role of women in conservation of aquatic biodiversity and environmental management.
• Guidelines for a continental strategy on the empowerment and effective engagement of women in aquatic biodiversity conservation and environmental management
• Mechanisms or guide developed for piloting the above guidelines by the project to support selected member states for the empowerment and effective engagement of women in aquatic biodiversity conservation and environmental management programmes;
• List of NGOs working on environmental management and aquatic biodiversity conservation
• Report on stakeholder consultative workshop
• Approved comprehensive final report on the consultancy in English detailing all work undertaken, recommendations, lessons learnt and best practices.

Criteria for Scores

Gender Mainstreaming

• The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Duty Station

• The consultants will work from their home-country.

Duration

• The duration of this assignment is 30 days but can be accomplished within 45 calendar days from the date of signature of the contract.

Remuneration

• The professional fee for each consultancy is USD 9,000. No other payment will be made in respect of this consultancy.
• Expenses for approved missions (where necessary) will be covered separately in accordance with the applicable African Union Commission rules and regulations.

Closing: 1 August 2022