Consultor para un projecto de conservación ambiental en Africa

Study on potential economic value and ecosystem services of colonial breeding coastal seabirds sites in West Africa (Mauritania, Senegal and Guinea-Bissau) as part of the Alcyon Programme: Conservation of coastal seabirds and their key sites along the West African coast

Consultant Application deadline: Friday, 10th July 2019 – 23:45pm

Period: (August-September 2019)

Terms of Reference

Context

The Coastal Seabird Project (CSP) aims to ensure that priority sites are well-managed with thriving populations of coastal waterbirds, especially terns and gulls. It aims to achieve this through ensuring that land use is compatible with the conservation management of priority sites, that loss of breeding habitat is stemmed, and that direct mortality and disturbance by human activities are minimised. Building on Alcyon I, the project aims to fill important knowledge gaps through a programme of applied ecosystem research and monitoring focused on breeding terns and gulls and their breeding and at-sea habitats. We are building up knowledge on population dynamics, ecological interactions and conservation implications through a comprehensive monitoring programme with population assessments and trend analyses, as well as investigating the dynamic system of breeding islands and associated threats. Links will also be established with fisheries operations and marine spatial planning through investigating relations of priority sites with wider seascapes, including bird diet and foraging analyses and seabird-fisheries interactions. In order to promote long-term sustainability, the project will ensure that there is enough research and monitoring capacity at national and site level through support of MSc positions and the new francophone MSc course in ornithology plus on-site training at key sites, especially for protected areas (PA) personnel.
BirdLife also has a long track record of working with and building up national environmental NGOs / CSOs; the project will maintain and enhance this approach and ensure that key partner CSOs are capacitated to effectively advocate coastal wetland conservation through taking on responsibilities related to coastal zone conservation and implementing public support and engagement. The project will further promote that public and populations appreciate values of coastal wetlands / birds, and are supportive of conservation actions through communication, awareness tools and site-based initiatives.
The project will support partner countries to establish collaborative networks towards sustainable land- and seascapes by contributing to valuation of coastal resources, whilst it will also support site protection through contributing to put management plans in place for priority sites. In this respect, the key project role will be to build capacity for managing seabird colonies and building protocols for this properly into management plans. In addition, working with local PA agencies to improve surveillance and with local communities to discourage illegal actions (such as egg and chick harvesting), the project will ensure that detrimental use of land/seascapes and natural resource use is stopped, with alternatives developed and regulations enforced.

Scope of work

The below scope of work provides further details on the Services to be delivered by the Consultant to BirdLife during the term of this consultancy.
The main objectives of the study are to establish the potential economic value and ecosystem services of colonial breeding bird sites for West Africa mainly in Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia and Guinea-Bissau and to improve the knowledge /access to information on ecosystem values and services at the site level and enhance communication.
These Services are summarised as:
Assess the potential economic value and ecosystem services of colonial breeding bird sites for the region (Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia and Guinea-Bissau);
Improve knowledge and access to information on ecosystem values;
Improve knowledge and access to services at the site level and enhance communication messages;
Investigate risk/opportunity of corporate entities operating in the region, particularly oil & gas companies;
Determine the perceptions and levels of knowledge of local communities and different stakeholders on economic value and ecosystem services of colonial breeding bird sites for the region;
Describe and classify the economic value and ecosystem services of colonial breeding bird sites for each country regarding the short, medium- and long-term benefits for local communities and PA management.
During the course of the development of this study, the Consultant will work closely with BirdLife and its partners working on the project in particular the PA agencies, local universities through support to students and CSOs of Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.

Expected results and deliverables

The results of this study contribute to the establishment of a collaborative networks towards sustainable land and sea scapes in West Africa through the following:
A regional analysis to inform governments and strategic planning is produced;
An assessment on natural coastal ecosystem values for their better understanding and valorisation is available;
A corporate stakeholder engagement strategy and guidelines for West Africa is developed.

Consultant’s profile

The study will be conducted by a regional consultant who will work in close coordination with PA agencies, local universities through support to students and CSOs of Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia and Guinea-Bissau and in close collaboration with the coastal seabird project team based in Dakar. The consultant must have the following profile:
University degree in ecology, environmental and/or relating subjects, with a specialization in ecosystem services assessment or coastal resources conservation;
Significant work experience in the field and shall have successfully completed a study of a similar nature to that requested in this study within the last five (5) years;
Good analytical and writing skills with demonstrate excellent capacity in verbal and written communications in English, French and Portuguese;
Good knowledge of the countryside environment in Mauritania, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal
Good knowledge of the challenges related to ecosystem value assessment in Africa;
Good knowledge of West Africa, the coastal seabirds and coastal biodiversity conservation and protected areas management.
Final report should be produced in French or English.

Application

Interested Consultants are invited to submit a proposal (not exceeding 2 pages, excluding CVs) including the following elements:
A brief proposal based on a clear understanding of the terms of reference, detailing the methodology to be used;
A clear and logical approach that will produce a comprehensive, well-informed and in- depth report on the potential economic value and ecosystem services of colonial breeding bird sites in West Africa;
The background of the consultant and relevant experience in performing similar work, including links to any reports or other documents produced;
A preliminary financial offer, including daily rates for consultancy services and proposed expenses, as well as the number of days required to carry out the work.

Organizational Setting

The consultant shall be hired under the project “Coastal Seabirds Conservation Project”, a project funded by MAVA Foundation.

Closing date: 10th July 2019.

See the full terms of reference

Consultants meeting the specific requirements should email their tender to BirdLife International at recruitment-west-africa@birdlife.org