Marine Spatial Planning Specialist – CARIBBEAN REGIONAL FISHERIES MECHANISM (CRFM)SECRETARIAT
CAF/FAO/CRFM/GEF – BE-CLME+ Project: Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities Through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Marine Spatial Planning Specialist
INTRODUCTION
According to the United Nations and the World Bank, the Blue Economy is seen as “both a concept and a practice that aims to promote economic development, social inclusion and equity, development of science and technology, and a continuous improvement of livelihoods. Moreover, the Blue Economy seeks to take into consideration the environmental protection of the ocean, seas and coastal areas, the health of the ocean and its ecosystems, and the sustainability of open ocean resources.” The growing interest of blue economy potential in the Caribbean provides a long-term and cooperative approach for addressing threats to the marine ecosystem and reversing losses of marine ecosystems services that underpin local and national economies.
CARICOM recognizes that blue economy opportunities is in line with the stated goal of ensuring food security having developed a regional food and nutrition security policy and that climate change impacts are a key issue to address for future development for all Caribbean SIDS. Among the key CARICOM priorities involving blue economy planning include: i) improve marine and coastal biodiversity and conserve ecosystem health; ii) scaling up SIDS Marine Protected Areas and Marine Management Areas Initiatives; iii) ecosystem restoration projects especially as it relates to mangroves, sea grass beds and coral reefs; and iv) building economic resilience in fishing communities and building capacity of communities to benefit from broader economic activities e.g. recreational activities, tourism-based activities.
One of the implementing agencies for this project is the Corporacion Andina de Fomento (CAF), also known as the Development Bank of Latin American. CAF is a development bank created in 1970, owned by 19 countries – 17 of Latin America and the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal- as well as 13 private banks in the region. CAF promotes a sustainable development model through credit, non-refundable resources, and support in the technical and financial structuring of projects in the public and private sectors in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Closely aligned with the broader CARICOM commitments is the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), one of the fisheries specialized institutions of CARICOM. CRFM was established in 2002 to coordinate and promote regional cooperation for sustainable use, management, and conservation of living marine resources and marine ecosystems and is the key regional fisheries body for the Caribbean. CRFM is an inter-governmental organization with its mission being to promote and facilitate the responsible utilization of the region’s fisheries and other aquatic resources for the economic and social benefits of the current and future population of the region. The CRFM has 17 Members States and three bodies – the Ministerial Council, the Caribbean Fisheries Forum, and the CRFM Secretariat. The CRFM has an extensive record of fisheries and marine conservation and management project implementation in the region and will be the Executing Agency of this project.
Another important regional player in fisheries is the Central American Fisheries and Aquaculture Organization (OSPESCA), the aim of which is to encourage the development and the coordinated management of regional fisheries and aquaculture activities, while helping to strengthen the Central American integration process, as well as strengthening global governance and the managerial and technical capacities of members, and leading consensus- building towards improved conservation and utilization of aquatic resources. The area of competence of OSPESCA extends to the national waters, inland waters and EEZs of its Member States, which are: Belize, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. Two of the countries participating in this project are members of
OSPESCA: Belize and Panama. The CRFM and OSPESCA work together under a Memorandum of Understanding and a joint action plan to guide cooperation and collaboration between the CRFM countries in the Caribbean and OSPESCA countries in Central America over the period 2020 to 2025.
Another integral regional partner to the successful implementation of this Project is the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC). The general objective of the Commission is to promote the effective conservation, management and development of the living marine resources of the area of competence of the Commission, in accordance with the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, and address common problems of fisheries management and development faced by members of the Commission. All of the above project countries are also members of the WECAFC. Consequently, in the course of implementation of this project, there may be some synergy activities with some projects that are being implemented under WECAFC intersessional work. The WECAFC also has MOUs with CRFM and OSPESCA.
The Project “BE-CLME+: Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities Through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus” was conceived to strengthen blue economy opportunities through sustainable healthy coastal and marine ecosystems, address drivers to protect habitats and species, and sustainable biodiversity and fisheries management. The project will be implemented in Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Panama, and Saint Lucia for a period of 4 years from 2023-2027. The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and is executed by the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) and the governments of the participating countries. The project’s objective is to promote blue economy development in the CLME+ through marine spatial planning and marine protected areas (MPAs), ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF), and sustainable seafood value chains. The three components are:
• Component 1: Implementing cross-sectoral Marine Spatial Planning (GEF: $3,844,119; Cofinancing: $26,461,550),
• Component 2. Inclusive Sustainable Fisheries Value Chains (GEF: $995,581; Co-financing: 7,746,046), and
• Component 3. Regional Coordination, Project Management & Knowledge Management (GEF: 1,168,300; Co-financing: 5,488,818)
A Marine Spatial Planning Specialist (MSPS) is needed to work under the supervision of the BE-CLME+ Project Regional Project Coordinator. He/she will have direct responsibility for the planning, execution, coordination, and oversight of all activities necessary for the delivery of the following project outcomes: (1) Governments and key stakeholders enabled to support the sustainable use of fisheries and key marine habitats; and (2) the protection of critical fish habitats has been established/expanded and informed by national marine spatial planning (MSP).
The Project Management Unit will consist of a Regional Project Coordinator, a Marine Spatial Planning Specialist, a Seafood Value Chain Specialist, and senior managerial and technical staff from the CRFM Secretariat. The MSPS will be engaged as a CRFM Project staff and will be based at the CRFM Headquarters in Belize City, Belize.
SCOPE OF WORK
Technical Functions & Tasks: (100% on Technical Components)
• Oversee the National data gap and needs assessments to inform MSP and MSP Protocol, including the preparation of relevant Terms of Reference for associated consultancies as may be applicable (Outcome 1.1, Outcome 3.1)
• Coordinate and oversee the successful implementation of all MSP related workshops, including those addressing Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measure (OECM), and Blue Economy Strategies (Outcome 1.2, Outcome 2.1)
• Oversee the development of decision-support systems in support of MSP and Blue Economy (Outcome 1.1, Outcome 3.1)
• Lead and oversee all processes and trainings in support of potential areas for new MPAs or OECMs, and for the expansion of MPAs (Outcome 1.2)
• Responsible for the overall delivery of project results, outcomes, and indicators relevant to Marine Spatial Planning, Marine Protected Areas, and Blue Economy Strategies. (Outcome 1.1, Outcome
1.2)
• Provide direct and tangible inputs to the Knowledge Management processes of the project (Outcome 3.3)
• Contribute to preparation of the project’s progress reports and Project Implementation Reports (PIRs) by providing technical inputs (Outcome 3.2)
• Participate in the project’s Mid-Term Evaluation and Terminal Evaluation as required by the external evaluators (Outcome 3.2)
• Assist with preparation of the Terminal Report.
Relationships
The Marine Spatial Planning Specialist (MSPS) will:
• Be accountable to the Regional Project Coordinator for the achievement of project objectives, results, and all fundamental aspects of project execution related to the functions described above.
• Present technical report to the Technical Advisory Committee when required by the Regional Project Coordinator.
• Maintain an excellent working relationship with the Technical Advisory Committee.
• Maintain regular communication with regional and national project partners interested in furthering the project outcomes under the responsibility of the Marine Spatial Planning Specialist.
• Maintain a productive and coordinated relationship with the Seafood Value Chain Specialist and other consultants hired by the project to ensure collective inputs across project components to optimize conditions for the delivery of planned results.
• Supervise the work of consultants and project partners relevant to MSP, MPAs, OECMs, and BE Strategies.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Outputs of Technical Functions & Tasks
• Timely and effective inputs to the elaboration of annual operational plans including procurement plan and annual budget of activities related to the functions described above.
• Timely and effective inputs to the elaboration of Quarterly and bi-annual technical reports (Progress Reports, Project Implementation Reports).
• Regional, National, local and site level workshops and other monitoring meetings convened as needed and directly necessary to deliver the functions described above.
• Terms of Reference for all consulting services to be outsourced in support of the MSP, MPA, OECM, and Blue Economy objectives of the project.
• Supervision of experts/contract institutions as required to undertake tasks under the project associated with MSP, MPA, OECM, and Blue Economy.
• Trainings in support of potential areas for new MPAs or OECMs, and for the expansion of MPAs
• MSPs, MPAs created or expanded, and BE Strategies developed, inclusive of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries.
• Decision-support systems in support of MSP and Blue Economy.
• Assist, as required, the Regional Project Coordinator and the independent evaluator (to be appointed by CAF) with the Mid-Term Evaluation and the Final Evaluation of the project.
QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE
Qualifications
Doctorate or Master’s Degree in Marine Management, Fisheries Science, Coastal Zone Management, or Marine Science
• Training in Marine Spatial Planning and/or Blue Economy will be a distinctive asset
• A good understanding of biodiversity, marine protected areas, climate change, marine spatial planning, fisheries management, ecosystems-approach to fisheries management, monitoring, and evaluation
General Professional Experience
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience as a senior technical expert in a marine field in regional/transboundary projects planning and implementation
• Minimum of 3 years practical experience in the elaboration of MSPs, MPA management plans, CZM plans
• Experience in facilitating regional stakeholder meetings or discussions
• Experience working with regional or international partners
• Experience working in multi-lateral projects in Latin America and the Caribbean
• Ability to work with senior government officials, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and local communities
• Fluency in written and spoken English and strong communication skills.
• Fluency in spoken Spanish will be an asset (this is important since Panama is one of the project countries)
• Experience working with resource users across multiple sectors, especially in the fisheries and protected areas sectors, etc.
• A good understanding of environmental and social safeguards and gender issues
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The successful candidate will be employed on a contractual basis and stationed at the CRFM Secretariat, Belize City, Belize. Employment will be over a four-year or 48 months period. The initial contractual period shall be for one year, with option for renewal for three years, based upon satisfactory job performance in accordance with the contractual and human resource policies of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) as Project Executing Agency.
APPLICATIONS
Applications should be submitted in English Language with full curriculum details, including nationality, date of birth, work experience, educational qualifications, summary of professional skills and/or expertise, language proficiency, list of professional publications, contact information (including email addresses) of three referees (at least two of whom must be familiar with the applicant’s work), and other relevant information, should be addressed to:
Executive Director, CRFM Secretariat
Belize City, P.O. Box 642, Belize and send by email to: secretariat@crfm.int
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