Individual consultant to carry out final assessment and evaluation of the regional component of the project "Sustainable Fishery Development in Red Sea and Gulf of Aden"-SFISH

Terms of Reference

Individual Consultant for Final Review of the “Sustainable Fisheries Development in Red Sea and Gulf of Aden” Project (SFISH Project)

Program/Project Number:

P178143

Activity Code:

PERSGA-2403-CS-INDV

Type of contract; and expected start/end dates of assignment Lump-sum, based on linked deliverables; During October 2026 -February 2027

Background

1.1. Context

The Regional Organization for Conservation of the Marine Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA) is an intergovernmental organization established since 1995. PERSGA institutional framework is based on the Regional Convention for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environment (Jeddah Convention 1982), which joins seven member states, including Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Rational use of marine resources and the protection of coastal marine environment from pollution and overexploitation are central objectives of Jeddah Convention (1982) and its derived Action Plan Regional Protocols and Action Plan. PERSGA runs regional programs and projects that support regional capacities and coordination to achieve these objectives. This consultancy is carried out in the framework of the implementation of the regional project “Sustainable Fisheries Development in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden”, referred to hereafter as SFISH project. The project is financed by the World Bank (WB), and executed by PERSGA for its regional component. In accordance with the M&E policies and procedures of WB, a Final Evaluation of the SFISH project is required. The project has started on August 2022 and is approaching its closing by March 2027. This TOR sets out the prospect for the project Final Evaluation. 1.2 Background on SFISH project (Regional Component) PERSGA is executing the SFISH project Regional Component, which composes the subject of this Final Evaluation TOR. This Component aims to strengthen regional collaboration in management of marine fisheries and aquaculture in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Its focus is to improve and sustain regional collaboration through further development of PERSGA’s capacities for monitoring, assessment, knowledge management and sharing to support science-based management of fisheries in the RSGA. It supports the development of a regional platform for coordination of policies, legislation, management plans and measures for responsible fisheries and aquaculture and use of ecosystems approaches. It also supports regional level capacity building and technical assistance program on management of living marine resources responding to both anthropogenic and climate induced changes. This would include training, providing technical guidelines, support the development of policies, legislation, management plans and completion, ratification and implementation of relevant regional conventions, action plans and protocols. The project regional component interventions were designed to be through the following interlinked subcomponents: PERSGA Regional Information Management System (RIMS), monitoring network and institutional capacity . This subcomponent aims to strengthen the capacity of PERSGA, as a regional organization, to compile fisheries and related data collected or received from the countries and make this information available to all member states. It provides goods and services to improve IT hardware and software of the RIMS housed in PERSGA, and networking to allow it to perform integrated functions. The subcomponent also supports PERSGA system capacity for monitoring marine environment, including on climate change impact in the RSGA area, tracking pollution spills, and coordination of emergency response that have implications to protection of fisheries and their critical habitats. It also supports updating PERSGA institutional guidelines as needed, such as for finance and procurement policy and procedures, project cycle management, and environmental and social risks assessment and management. Regional platforms for capacity building and regional coordination of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in the regional management mechanism . This subcomponent supports capacity development, technical assistance and setting up of platforms for effective coordination on fishery management at the regional level. It supports PERSGA to develop technical manuals for cost-effective approaches of harmonized fisheries data and information collection and management adapted to the region, incorporating supplementary guidelines for monitoring, and assessing IUU fishing, fish stock status etc., and a regional mechanism to share information with member states on fishery statistics and knowledge. It will also support PERSGA to develop technical guidelines to promote capacities to effectively coordinate efforts for fisheries management, policies, and legislation; protection and restoration of critical fish habitat; environmental and biosecurity best practices in aquaculture, building climate resilience and regional mechanism to interact with relevant international efforts. The activity will also include support to PERSGA in developing a Regional Plan of Action for combating IUU fishing (RPOA-IUU), and other specific action plans concerning conservation of vulnerable non target species such as sharks, turtles, seabirds and marine mammals. These action plans would provide an umbrella mechanism for cooperation and coordination of measures to combat IUU fishing, and other conservation measures related to RSGA fisheries. Enhanced knowledge management, communication strategies and awareness for citizen, private sector and development partner engagement in the regional sustainable fishery mechanism . This subcomponent includes technical assistance, consultations, and operating costs for supporting citizen, private sector and development partner engagement and raising awareness through effective communication on regional cooperation actions, including improved activities tha