Request for Facilitator to Guide Consultative Workshop to Developing – African Union – InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources

Introduction
Africa’s total fish production does not meet it’s food fish requirements for its population that is estimated to be 1.6 billion people. The continents current food fish supply is approximately 9 kg per capita per annum while the global average has risen to about 20 kg capita per annum. The likelihood that capture fishery production can significantly be increased over the next 20 years to meet demand is low because most of the commercially important fish stocks are reported to be fully exploited or overexploited (FAO 2009). It is not a surprise therefore that over past five years Africa has become a net importer of fish.
The Joint Conference of Africa ministers of agriculture, rural development and fisheries and aquaculture in 2014 recognized the potential of the aquaculture sector to generate wealth, social benefits and contribute to the development of the African economy. This recognition stems from Africa’s natural resource potential for aquaculture and the rapidly increasing demand for fish amid declining fishery yields. Aquaculture currently provides the most sustainable option for the continent to expand is fish production.
However there are still several challenges that need to be overcome if the benchmarks to attain aquaculture’s sustainable contribution to fish supply and socio-economic development are to be met. Among the factors hampering the full realization of the continents aquaculture production potential are inadequate skills and technical know-how, inappropriate policies and insufficient knowledge and experience in commercial aquaculture. Africa’s aquaculture production is largely undertaken on small-holder subsistence farms using extensive methods of production. As a result, despite positive trends in growth, aquaculture production is still low and contributes to only 2% of the continents 10 million mt total. Transforming aquaculture into a sustainable contributor to the Continent’s socio-economic development goals entails a shift in approach from largely smallholder subsistence production that focuses at meeting household requirements to commercial production that meets the needs of a wider market.
Consequently, the Policy Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Africa’s blue print for the sector, seeks to create an enabling environment that shall lead to the transformation Africa’s aquaculture into a sustainable market-oriented private-sector led commercial agricultural activity that can meet the CAADP objectives. The example of Asian aquaculture shows this goal is achievable where a conducive environment exists. Asian aquaculture contributes to about 50% of Asia’s total fish production, is increasingly supplying international markets including Africa’s and contributes to economic growth. African aquaculture on the other hand contributes only 0.15 % to the Continent’s GDP.

Rationale
Unlocking Africa’s aquaculture’s potential and transforming the sector into a globally competitive source of aquatic animal products entails that appropriate approaches hinged upon the private-sector in an environment that ensures sustainability, growth and equitable distribution of benefits are promoted and adopted. The CAADP advocates equitable benefits from agricultural activities that have positive impacts on economic growth, rural development, livelihoods and food and nutrition security.
This shift in approach requires transformation of the aquaculture value chain whereby enterprise viability, market access and the competitiveness of aquaculture products, goods and services become key performance indicators. Within the scope of the PFRS, accomplishing this entails the creation on an enabling environment that supports the development and the expansion of viable integrated value chains right from primary the producer to the consumer. Furthermore, the rich natural resources of the continent provide an unparalleled opportunity for Africa’s aquaculture in that a wide array of species, products and technologies can be adopted. The sector therefore has the potential to supply different commodity markets (both food and niche markets) and thus also create an array of additional direct and indirect business and employment opportunities.
Progress in the commercialization of aquaculture has been registered on the continent. However, high rates of enterprise failure across the value chain continue to be common due to lack of guidance in business management. The competence of producers and service providers in aquaculture business is limited.
Bearing in mind that at continental level, each country has different opportunities and capabilities for commercial aquaculture, achieving the PFRS goals for sustainable commercial aquaculture development further entail regional integration whereby aquaculture goods and services are produced and supplied to markets within a framework that ensures the sustainable utilisation of shared resources. This demands that standards, traceability and trade protocols are taken into account.
An enabling environment for private-sector led market-oriented aquaculture business is essential. Stakeholders of the value chain also need to be equipped with the appropriate knowledge and skills. Generic business models as guidelines to support commercialisation and sustainable development across the value chain underscored by strong extension services are therefore among the critical pre-requisites to guide this change. The availability of appropriate business and extension models would provide guidance for investment, the operation of aquaculture enterprises, and the delivery of services to the sector from the private and public domains. This information would also clarify what the roles and responsibilities of the different stakeholders should be if meaningful change is to be achieved in the sector.

Justification for the Consultancy
In light of the above, the Fisheries Governance project has consequently proposed a consultative meeting to develop guide aquaculture business models and guidelines to enhance extension services for sustainable commercial aquaculture development.

The objectives of this consultative workshop are:
1. Review and identify the key constraints and factors of success for commercial aquaculture and the provision of extension services for aquaculture in Africa.
2. Map value-chains and develop appropriate business models as guidelines to support development of commercial aquaculture value-chain(s).
3. Assess the status and efficacy of the various extension models that have been implemented to promote commercial aquaculture on the continent and elsewhere.
4. Propose business models, extension mechanisms and develop guidelines for these bearing in mind regional dimensions.

In order that the objectives of the workshop are achieved, the workshop needs to be informed on:
1. The status and nature of aquaculture enterprises on the continent with case studies of both successful and failed aquaculture investments and operations
2. The extension mechanisms that have supported successful commercialisation of aquaculture at different scales on the continent elsewhere where this has occurred.
3. The factors, support services and drivers that have stimulated successful commercial development on the continent and elsewhere.
This information shall provide the background and case studies of Best Practices to facilitate discussions during consultative workshop.
Expected Outputs and Outcomes of the Consultancy
1. Overview of the status and nature of aquaculture enterprises and extension models on the continent.
2. Evaluation of the potential of various continental and global aquaculture business and extension models to promote and support sustainable commercial aquaculture development in Africa (with case studies of successes and failures).
3. Inform and facilitate the consultative meeting to develop guide aquaculture business models and guidelines to enhance extension services for sustainable commercial aquaculture development.
4. After the meeting compile the ‘Consultative Workshop to Developing Aquaculture business Models and Enhancing extension services’ report.
Scope to Work
1. Undertake a desk review to prepare a position paper to inform the workshop with respect to:
1. Provide an overview of the status, nature and performance of aquaculture enterprises and extension models on the continent indicating success, nature of success and factors that have favoured success where applicable (and failure too).
2. Comparative assessment of the potential of various continental and global aquaculture business and extension models to promote and support sustainable commercial aquaculture development in Africa (with case studies of successes and failures).
2. In preparation for the consultative workshop, assist AU-IBAR design the workshop (ie. Draw up workshop schedule, go over models and other information, draft position paper, be involved in selection of participants for the workshop).
3. Inform and facilitate the consultative workshop.
4. Compile best practices that include generic business models for sustainable aquaculture development in Africa.
5. Compile guidelines and models for extension services to support sustainable commercial aquaculture development in Africa.
Expected Outputs of the Consultancy
The following outputs are expected from the consultancy:
1. Best practices and Guidelines for to support commercial aquaculture enterprise development in Africa.
2. Guidelines for the provision of extension services to support sustainable commercial aquaculture development in Africa
3. Regional consultative meeting conducted.
4. Position paper presented to guide the workshop.

Duration and Content of the Assignment
Location and Field Mission
This activity will be implemented through the engagement of an individual consultant. The exercise shall mainly comprise a desk study, consultations with AU-IBAR and stakeholders, and facilitation of the validation workshop.
Commencement & Duration of Assignment
The duration of this consultancy is for a total of 20 man-days days (including 3 workshop days, 10 days preparation of workshop materials and developing position paper, and 5 days finalising the guidelines and the workshop report at a daily rate of USD 300). The target participants to the workshop shall be drawn from relevant private and public sector institutions involved in commercial aquaculture from among the 54 member states of the African Union.

Remuneration
The total amount available for this consultancy is USD 6,000 comprising the professional fees at the rate of USD 300 per day.

Requirements
Qualifications
The successful candidate(s) should have advanced degree in aquaculture or any related field, agri-business, agricultural extension.
General Experience
1. At least 7 years working experience in the fisheries and/aquaculture sectors, agri-business or agricultural extension.
2. An additional experience of 5 years’ experience engaged in aquaculture business or development or the development of similar commodity-based agricultural value-chains.
3. Demonstrated knowledge and experience of aquatic animal production on the continent.
Specific Experience
1. Demonstrated knowledge of developing and running successful aquaculture production of service provision enterprises.
2. Demonstrated knowledge on operation and evaluation public sector enterprises for service provision on the continent.
3. Demonstrated knowledge of the different aquaculture production, training and extension systems on the continent.
4. Demonstrated knowledge on the status of aquaculture production and/or provision inputs and other services for aquaculture on the continent.
Languages
The consultant must have professional working knowledge in English, French or both.

Reports
The selected Consultant will be required to prepare the following technical reports in English/French:
Inception Report (IcTR)
Preliminary inception report of not more than ten pages on the methodology and approach.

Draft reports
A draft report submitted three weeks before the expected workshop date to permit review by stakeholders prior to the workshop.
The draft report should comprise:
• Draft Best practices and Guidelines for to support commercial aquaculture enterprise development in Africa.
• Draft Guidelines for the provision of extension services to support sustainable commercial aquaculture development in Africa
• Draft Position paper.

Final Report
The final report that comprises:
• Best practices and Guidelines for to support commercial aquaculture enterprise development in Africa.
• Guidelines for the provision of extension services to support sustainable commercial aquaculture development in Africa
• Position paper.
• Workshop report.

That should include comments and inputs stakeholders consultations and from the workshop.
Submission & Approval of Progress Reports
The progress reports must be written in English or French. The Chief Animal Production Officer is responsible for approving the progress reports.

Submission of the Technical Proposal
For this consultancy, the applicants should submit only technical proposals that should include:
1. Outline the proposed methodology for conducting the proposed activities.
2. A profile and CV indicating relevant experience and contribution to these.
3. Other relevant information showing past experiences and current assignments of similar nature.
4. Contact addresses (Postal, email and telephone) of at least three referees or any other information that may show the consultant’s ability to carry out the assignment to satisfaction.

Selection of the Consultant
The selection of the consultant will be based on the technical evaluation. The Consultant with the highest technical score will be selected.

HOW TO APPLY:
Submission of Proposals
Applications should be sent to: applications@au-ibar.org with mention “Consultative Workshop to Developing Aquaculture business Models and Enhancing extension services”.
The deadline for application is 15 February 2017 at 15h00 (Nairobi time).

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