As part of the implementation of its Strategic Action Plan (SAP) 2021-2030, the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) has partnered with the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) to obtain funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), to carry out the "Use of Marine Spatial Planning in the Gulf of Guinea for the Implementation of the payment for ecosystem services and nature-based marine and coastal solutions" project. This project, planned for a period of three (3) years, from 2024 to 2027, is being implemented in a pilot phase in three of the FCWC countries, namely Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and Togo. It aims to strengthen cooperation and transboundary management of coastal and marine resources and associated ecosystems to improve food security, enhance climate change resilience, and promote sustainable livelihoods in the FCWC region.

 

Four (04) components will be implemented to achieve this development objective, namely:

Component 1: Marine Spatial Planning (MSP).

Component 2: Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES).

Component 3: Nature-Based Coastal and Marine Solutions (NBS).

Component 4: Capacity-building, regional coordination, and knowledge management.

 

As part of the development of a geolocation system for ecosystems, sensitive areas, and areas of economic interest in the marine and coastal environment, the FCWC Secretariat is seeking to recruit a national consultant specialising in Geographic Information System (GIS), in each of the following countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo.

 

The Consultants will work under the authority of the Project Coordinator, and under the supervision of the International MSP Consultant and a National MSP Consultant.

 

II- MAIN MISSIONS

The consultant's responsibility is to:

 

1 - Set up a Geographic Information System for the project

  1. Carry out an inventory of the existing GIS and databases related to the project;
  2. In conjunction with the consultants in MSP, PES, NBS as well as the national focal point of the project, carry out the inventory of all ecosystems, sensitive areas, vulnerable areas, areas of economic interest in which the project will be implemented.
  3. Design and define the project's GIS architecture.
  4. Propose a methodology to be followed to the consultants in MSP, PES, NBS as well as to the project’s national focal point for the implementation of a geographic information system adapted to the integrated management of marine and coastal resources as well as for the development of thematic maps of economic areas of interest according to the projects’ objectives;
  5. Strengthen the national consultants' capacities and the project focal point on the use of GIS adapted to the integrated management of marine and coastal resources and the development of thematic maps of use and areas of economic interest.
  6. Organise, control, and produce technical tools for the collection of information from the field;
  7. Ensure standardised integration of information into the project database;
  8. Assist national consultants in the transfer and digitisation of spatial data (maps, aerial photographs, etc.) on topographic backgrounds.
  9. Create, update, and edit all the thematic maps of the project;
  10. Conduct hands-on training with national consultants and the focal point on the handling and use of GPS;
  11. Assist the national consultants and the project focal point in data collection and their transfer from one mapping software to another.
  12. Carry out a marine and coastal spatial analysis showing the baseline situation for future comparisons based on relevant environmental monitoring indicators to assess and evaluate factors related to progress made during the project period.

2 - Set up a monitoring plan for the project's GIS system

  1. Implement a protocol for continuous GIS updates throughout the project, including frequency, responsibilities, and data backup.
  2. To support the national consultants and the project focal point with practical training to ensure autonomy in the updating, use, and transfer of geospatial data at the GIS level.

 

III- DELIVERABLES

The following deliverables are expected from the National Consultant.

 

Deliverable 1: State of the marine and coastal space

  • An assessment of current uses (fishing, transport, tourism, etc.).
  • Thematic cartographic atlas of current uses at a scale of 1:200,000 in digital format.
  • Mapping and descriptions of sensitive ecosystems, critical habitats, biodiversity areas, and mangrove areas that specify their sensitivity, vulnerability, size, possible sources of stress, those capable of providing ecosystem services, and analyses that indicate their health status
  • Georeferenced database of natural resources and economic activities, including structured GIS layers (SHP, GEOJSON, or equivalent) on sensitive or vulnerable marine and coastal ecosystems, mangrove areas, ecosystems capable of providing economic services, areas of anthropogenic pressure, etc. The relative metadata must be well documented according to a typology that makes it possible to map the ecosystems of the environment.

Deliverable 2: Prospective analysis and development scenarios

  • Modelling of the evolution of marine ecosystems and habitats, and economic activities;
  • Identification and mapping of potential conflicts of use;
  • Mapping of the compatibilities and incompatibilities of current uses and the development of marine and coastal space.

Deliverable 3: Future spatial zoning plan for marine and coastal activities

  • Zoning maps for future uses of marine and coastal areas;
  • Thematic cartographic atlas of projects and developments for future uses at a scale of 1:200,000 in digital format.

Deliverable 4: GIS User Manual

A GIS user manual containing procedures for accessing, updating, exporting, and parsing, table structure, software used, and scripts used.

 

Note: All data and collection tools (documents, raw database, etc.) used in the preparation of the various reports should be made available to the national consultants and the Project Management Unit in the form of a well-structured archive provided on an external hard drive.

 

IV- DURATION OF THE CONSULTANCY

The duration of the consultancy is 50 days, including the preparation and production of the final reports, divided into two (02) years.

 

V- QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS REQUIRED

  • Hold a degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in one or more of the following fields: marine ecology, marine biology, marine environment, spatial planning, natural resource economics, environmental law, cartography, and/or geographic information systems, oceanography or equivalent;
  • Have a proven track record in marine biodiversity and coastal ecosystems (coral reefs, mangroves, seagrasslands, etc.)
  • Have proven experience in ecosystem assessment, environmental management of Ecologically or Biologically Significant Areas (EBSA), fishery resources that are at least five (5) years old;
  • Have a mastery of GIS tools for the mapping of habitats, marine resources, and coastal uses, as well as for the development of marine and coastal spatial zoning plans;
  • Have expertise in the socio-economic systems of coastal communities’ analysis, in particular the impact of human activities (fishing, tourism, resource exploitation) on the marine environment

VI- COMPOSITION OF THE APPLICATION FILE

The application file consists of a technical proposal and a financial proposal:

  1. A Technical Proposal including:
  • A cover letter providing the consultant’s comprehension of the Terms of Reference;
  • A brief presentation of the methodological approach (with a timetable) and the organisation of the planned consultancy.
  • A CV not exceeding three (03) pages, including experience gained in similar projects and at least 3 references;

Candidates may be contacted to provide the diplomas, certificates and testimonials cited in their CVs.

  1. A financial proposal

Submitted based on the lump sum approach, the financial proposal provides for a lump sum and specifies the terms of payment based on precise and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) products/deliverables, even if the payments will be made in instalments or a single instalment at the full completion of the contract. It must be denominated in local currency.

Applicants should indicate/detail the fees, per diem (if applicable), and the number of working days foreseen in their financial bid.

In addition, applicants should note that payments can only be made based on the outputs delivered, i.e., upon presentation of the results of the services specified in the terms of reference and after acceptance by the Project Management Unit.

 

V- SUBMISSION OF TENDERS

Anyone interested in this consultation is invited to submit their application by email to the following address: jobs@fcwc-fish.org, with a copy to adjihinto@yahoo.fr, kahoedo@fcwc-fish.org, and avitabisa@fcwc-fish.org, no later than 17:00 GMT on 19 August 2025.