Opening Ceremony Programme

Agenda

Information Note

Preliminary Damage Assessment for Antigua and Barbuda's Fisheries Sector caused by Hurricane Irma

Institution: The University of the West Indies, Mona

Country: Regional

Project: Investment Plan for the Caribbean Regional Track of the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience

Sector: Environment and Natural Disasters- Climate Change Adaptation Policy

Abstract: Fishery-Related Ecological and Socio-economic Impact Assessments and Monitoring System

Loan/Credit/Grant No.: ATN/SX-14696-RG

Contract/Bid No.: CF13/C4.02-1

Deadline: 17 July 2017

The University of the West Indies, Mona has received financing from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), toward the cost of the Investment Plan for the Caribbean Regional Track of the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include:

1. The conduct of ecological and socio-economic assessments of the impacts of climate change and variability on the fisheries resources and sector;
2. Developing and implementing suitable analytical tools and methods for fisheries and marine ecosystem analyses and assessments to quantify the impacts of climate change and variability on fisheries production, post-harvest and marketing systems and associated livelihoods and to predict likely future impacts and provision of training in the use of the tools and methods;
3. Developing a fisheries and environment database and the associated meta-database, as well as, the supporting database manual and data and information policy and provision of training on database management/usage; and
4. Development and implementation of a stakeholder engagement proposal to build stakeholder awareness on the impacts of climate change and variability on the fisheries resources and sector, and to engage stakeholders in identifying feasible recommendations for climate-smart fisheries management decision-making. 

The Fishery-Related Ecological and Socio-economic Impact Assessments and Monitoring System are expected to improve the information base and its usage for climate-smart fisheries planning and management decision-making, as well as, risk management in the fisheries sector. The consultancy is expected to be delivered over 25 months beginning September 2017.

The work is expected to be carried out by a consulting firm with at least five (5) years of proven experience assessing the ecological and socio-economic impacts of climate change and climate variability on the fisheries resources and fisheries sector, with specific experience in the conduct of fisheries and marine ecosystem analyses and assessments to quantify past, and predicted, climate change and climate variability impacts on fisheries production, post-harvest and marketing systems and associated livelihoods. The consulting firm is also expected to have at least ten (10) years of experience working with the fisheries sector, addressing issues that include risk management, and to have experience working in data-limited situations. Knowledge of, and experience in, the management of fisheries in Small Islands Developing States, with specific experience in the Caribbean region, are highly desirable.

The experts comprising the consulting team may be international or national consultants and should include: (i) one Fisheries and Marine Ecosystem Assessment Expert; (ii) one Natural Resource Economist; (iii) one Climate Change/Climate Variability Expert; (iv) one Fisheries Management Expert; (v) one Database Design and Development Expert; (vi) one Value Chain Management Expert with experience in food and nutrition security issues; (vii) one Social Science Expert with expertise in Fisheries Extension; and (viii) one Communications and Media Expert. The team should have proven experience in project management and working with a range of stakeholders, including governmental and non-governmental organizations. Knowledge of climate change issues and disaster risk management in the fisheries sector is required.   

It is expected that the experts in Fisheries and Marine Ecosystem Assessment, Natural Resource Economics, Climate Change/Climate Variability and Database Design and Development would each either have a Ph.D. and at least five (5) years proven practical experience in the respective fields, or a Master’s Degree with at least ten (10) years proven practical experience in the respective fields.

The experts in Fisheries Management, Value Chain Management, Social Science and Communications and Media are expected to have at least a Master’s Degree with at least five (5) years proven practical experience in the respective fields. In addition, the Social Science expert is required to have experience working with the fishing sector in small-island developing states.

The University of the West Indies, through its Mona Office for Research and Innovation, now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

Short lists shall comprise six firms with a wide geographic spread, with no more than two firms from any one country.

Consultants will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the Inter-American Development Bank: Policies for the Selection and Contracting of Consultants financed by the Inter-American Development Bank GN-2350-9 and is open to all eligible bidders as defined in the policies.

Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub-consultancy to enhance their qualifications. For the purpose of establishing the short list, the nationality of a firm is that of the country in which it is legally incorporated or constituted and in the case of Joint Venture, the nationality of the firm appointed to represent it.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality- and Cost-Based Selection method set out in the Consultant Policies.

Expressions of interest must not exceed 20 pages and submitted online via www.gojep.gov.jm  by 17 July 2017 at 2 p.m. Jamaican time.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Caribbean Regional PPCR Project Office-MORI

Attn: Erica Haughton- Procurement Officer

Electronics Building, Department of Physics

The University of the West Indies

Mona Campus, Kingston 7

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CRFM News - Management Issue April 2017

The CRFM Secretariat is accepting Expressions of Interest for the following three consultancies:

1. Technical support to facilitate adaptive management for eastern Caribbean Flyingfish fisheries

2. Technical support to implementation of management / stress reduction measures in the Eastern Caribbean Flyingfish fishery

3. Technical support to facilitate Long-term Enhancements of Livelihoods and Human Well-being for Eastern Caribbean Flyingfish fisheries

Expressions of Interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person or by mail) by 19 May 2017 at 4:00pm (GMT -6) and addressed to:
           The Executive Director
           CRFM Secretariat
           Princess Margaret Drive
           P.O. Box 642
           Belize City
           Belize, C.A.
           Telephone: (501) 223-4443
                      (501) 223-4444
                      (501) 223-4445

NOTE: Inquiries pertaining to this solicitation are to be directed to the attention of: The Executive Director, CRFM Secretariat, Belize (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) and copied to The Deputy Executive Director, CRFM Secretariat, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) and include the EOI reference.

Dr. Einar Hjörleifsson, visiting data expert from the United Nations University –Fisheries Training Programme (UNU-FTP), Iceland, finished his short-term assignment on fisheries data usage on 3 March 2017. During his wrap-up meeting with the CRFM Secretariat, continued support through CRFM’s partnership with the UNU-FTP was discussed. Summarizing his observations and recommendations, Dr. Hjörleifsson said that “There are already a lot of fisheries data collected by CRFM countries, although one could always ask for more. The approach I took in this short assignment was to attempt to lay a foundation for use of commonly collected data and applying the R software. The R software has already been endorsed by the CRFM scientific working groups, and once the basics of the software is mastered, it opens up new ways to efficiently explore, visualize and summarize fisheries data. R has a steep learning curve, but after the basics are mastered, R opens up myriads of doors for users to analyze other types of data, such as biological, socio-economic and VMS data with only a few additional technical skills”.

While the wrap-up meeting recognized that data management remained an area of continuing weakness for CRFM countries, CRFM’s Deputy Executive Director, Susan Singh-Renton, pointed out that “We identified sensible approaches to support continued capacity building for CRFM’s fisheries data experts, taking into account working conditions and constraints experienced both at the national and CRFM regional levels.” She explained further that “Specifically, the solutions identified as having the most potential for success were: establishing a pool of national experts who could work regionally also, as needed; accommodating for at least two main user preferences in terms of software packages for data analysis, i.e. R and Excel; and, using the CRFM Dgroup space for peer networking “

Additionally, during the 2-month visit, Dr. Hjörleifsson had developed a website (http://www.hafro.is/~einarhj/crfmr/) for sharing advice, ideas and case studies on data usage to satisfy CRFM fisheries reporting and management needs, with a special focus on using R, which is free, available online statistical and computing software. This website is expected to be maintained for a while, and especially if CRFM data users find it helpful and are also willing to contribute further to its development as part of our learning process.

In February, Dr. Hjörleifsson also visited Suriname and Dominica, where, in close collaboration with two identified national fisheries data experts, Mr. Mario Yspol (Suriname) and Mr. Derrick Theophille (Dominica), he studied the specific operational situations in these two countries. In reflecting on the Suriname visit, Mr. Yspol said that “Dr. Hjörleifsson examined the systems and procedures for data entry and analysis. We also looked at data that were being gathered but not being analysed, such as vms data. The visit was very short but Dr. Hjörleifsson was able to demonstrate another way of doing things, using the tools of the R software. Since Dr. Hjörleifsson’s visit, I have found the R software and tools to be very effective for improving the quality of data analysis outputs. After a review of the basics of R, the whole system seems so logical and clear. Now it is a question of practice.”  

In the case of Dominica, Mr. Theophille noted that “Dr. Hjorleifsson's visit, while brief, was useful for assessing already progressing R-based projects, such as the national fisheries statistics report that I am tailoring to run automatically when needed. I've since begun revision of the methodology and source code after Dr. Hjorleifsson's input.” Mr. Theophille then went on to point out that “Dominica is primed to utilize R at an even greater level than before, making data analysis easier and reporting more reproducible. A number of R projects are already underway locally and soon it is hoped these products may be shared with the region.”

The country missions, as well as consultations with national fisheries data experts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, helped greatly to provide Dr. Hjörleifsson with insight concerning country-level challenges and good practices as well, and these were considered carefully in the wrap-up meeting discussions. Dr. Hjörleifsson’s written report of his assignment will become available to the UNU-FTP and the CRFM by the end of March 2017.

Photo Caption: “Mr. Shamal Connell (left) from the Fisheries Division in St. Vincent and the Grenadines seen explaining fishing operations to Dr. Einar Hjörleifsson (right)  at Barrouallie landing site on the west coast of St. Vincent.”