Assessment of Nairobi Convention Supported Interventions in Comoros at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Duties and Responsibilities

• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP administers the Nairobi Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of Coastal and Marine Environment of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). The Contracting Parties to the Convention are Comoros, France (Reunion), Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, and United Republic of Tanzania. The Convention offers a legal framework, a forum for intergovernmental discussions and coordinates the efforts of its contracting parties in the protection, management and development of their coastal and marine environment.
• As part of its work programme, the Nairobi Convention is executing several projects namely: the “Western Indian Ocean Large Marine Ecosystems Strategic Action Programme Policy Harmonisation and Institutional Reforms (SAPPHIRE) and Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the Protection of the Western Indian Ocean from Land-based Sources and Activities (WIO-SAP), which are funded by the GEF as well as the Nairobi Convention - SWIOFC Partnership Project and the African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) Countries Capacity Building of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) project which are funded by SIDA and EU respectively.

The projects are supporting the following national priority activities in Comoros:

• Updating the national Marine Ecosystem Diagnostic Analysis (MEDA) for Comoros by identifying quality-controlled data and information from participating ministries, institutions, stakeholders and partners, significant priorities for MEDA data gaps and developing a national data portal for sharing, access and dissemination of updated National MEDA.
• Strengthening sectoral policy and co-management of natural resources for better conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems in Comoros. The activities are expected to realise (i) a strategy for the development of the Comorian fisheries, new sectoral policy and an operational implementation plan for the strategy, (ii) support leading to Comoros ratification process for international conventions on the fight against IUU fishing, development and implementation of a national plan to combat IUU fishing, and capacity building of local fishing stakeholders on fight against IUU fishing, (iii) fishermen's training on sustainable resource-use and exploitation through cost-effective fishing techniques, regulation of fishing gear and awareness of applicable legal texts, (iv) annual coastal cleanup and establishment of waste management mechanism, (v) effective implementation of new and existing natural resource co-management agreements, (vi) Community-led ecosystem conservation and protection activities in selected areas, and (vii) introduction and training in alternative income generating activities to the fisher communities
• Gap analysis for development of policy/legislation and associated regulatory and institutional mechanisms for the management and sustainable exploitation of the Comorian coastal and marine resources.
• The sustainable management of shallow marine habitats in the Comoros through improved management planning and rehabilitation of degraded sites through (i) development of conservation management plans for Mohéli National Park, Coelacanth National Park, Mitsamiouli-Ndroudé National Park and the Shisiwani National Park ii) rehabilitation of degraded mangrove and seagrass habitats, and (iii) awareness campaigns on the management and use of coastal and marine resources in the Country
• Strengthening management effectiveness and sustainable management of coral reef areas crucial to coastal livelihoods and ecosystems in Comoros through (i) awareness campaigns on the conservation, restoration, protection in priority marine protected areas (MPA), (ii) assessment of management effectiveness and development and implementation of responsive annual work plans and financing options for at least two MPA, (iii) map benefits and opportunities for improved or alternative sustainable livelihoods for communities associated with the MPAs in Comoros, and (iv) capacity building and training of reef rangers and MPA managers on monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS), in ecosystem-based management approaches, spatial planning tools, mapping of critical coastal and marine habitats and transboundary ecosystems in the exclusive economic zones, including in adjacent areas.
• Developing a marine litter management strategy and action plan for Comoros by (i) assessing the current state of marine litter and its management in Comoros and role of youth, women and communities in waste management, (ii) endorsement by stakeholders of a national marine litter management strategy and action plan for implementation, (iii) conducting awareness campaigns and training sessions on impacts of marine litter and microplastics, to the environment, and (Iv) developing value chains, and partnerships with private sector related to waste management/processing and potential income generating activities from waste amongst men, women and youth in Comoros.

Objective of the Consultancy

• The UNEP-Nairobi Convention seeks to hire a national consultant to assess progress in achieving outputs and impacts from Nairobi Convention supported interventions in Comoros.
• The assignment will be home-based in Comoros with a mandatory visit to different national stakeholders and project sites as guided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Environment and Tourism of Comoros and by the implementing partners of the interventions. The consultant will work closely with the Nairobi Convention Secretariat team in the execution of the consultancy.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Under the overall supervision of the Head of the Nairobi Convention Secretariat and direct supervision of the Project Manager, the consultant will be responsible of the following tasks and responsibilities:Assess the progress in the implementation of the 6 projects interventions in Comoros.
• For each of the 6 interventions, outline the scope of the intervention, status of achievement of the specified outputs, and the quality of the outputs/indicators against specific objectives, budget resources and timelines.
• Document the partnerships developed or enhanced, and synergies created arising from the interventions and with other related projects in Comoros.
• Review team satisfaction for each intervention undertaken and challenges encountered during the implementation.
• Gather feedback from stakeholders and recipients of the interventions and document how the impacts of the interventions match their expectations.
• If any gaps in the delivery of the milestones of the interventions are identified, provide timelines or alternatives to fast track implementation and reporting.
• Identify best practices from the 6 interventions that can be replicated and upscaled, and learning experiences that can be shared within the Western Indian Ocean
• Provide a succinct report with a summary of the results, data, and performance of the interventions, milestones achieved or not, tasks completed, deliverables and budget compliance.
• Provide an exit strategy (to include financing options, capacity development, ownership and, where appropriate, political expediency of the interventions) to ensure that the deliverables and impacts, at community and national level, continue to generate net benefits for an extended period of time.

Qualifications/special skills

• Academic qualifications: Advanced university degree (MSc or PhD) is required in marine science and/or other related disciplines (e.g., fisheries management, natural resources management, environmental economics, etc.) relevant to the assignment
• Minimum of 5 years of work experience is required in relevant fields and comprehensive knowledge of WIO regional natural resource management approaches, and associated policy, regulatory and institutional arrangements
• Experience working with international programmes, particularly natural resource management programmes and projects especially in the WIO region and Comoros in particular is an added advantage.

Languages

• English and French are the official working languages of the United Nations. For this consultancy, fluency in oral and written English and French is required.