Project Name: Ghana Fishery Recovery Activity (GFRA)
SOW Title: Fisheries Socioeconomics Consultant

1.0 Background

• On May26,2021,the United States Agency for International Development(USAID) awarded Tetra Tech the Feed the Future Ghana Fisheries Recovery Activity (GFRA), a 5-year $17.88 million contract to mitigate the near collapse of Ghana’s small pelagic fisheries sector and establish adurable basis for its ecological recovery.

• To fulfill this purpose, a balanced and strategic approach will be implemented that reduces fishing overcapacity and increases controlled access over Ghana’s small pelagic fisheries sector to encourage ecological sustainability while also enhancing socio-economic well-being and local resilience of artisanal fisher folk and their communities.

GFRA activities will be implemented under an over arching framework using an eco system approach to fisheries management(EAFM)inclusive of relevant strategic interventions to collectively achieve GFRA’s five interdependent strategic approaches, as follows:

• Strategic Approach 1: Align fisheries capacity with ecological carrying capacity of the small pelagic fisheries while enhancing the socio-economic well-being and resilience of artisanal fisher folk.
• Strategic Approach 2: Increase the quality and value of artisanal fish products to maintain household income and enhance availability of nutritious foods for local and regional markets.
• Strategic Approach 3: Strengthen transparency, accountability, and co management in governance practices for fisheries policy making, regulation, and enforcement.
• Strategic Approach 4: Strengthen constituencies to promote and implement sustainable fisheries management.
• Strategic Approach 5: Improve use of science and research for policy and management decisions.

An integral component to GFRA’s success is the development of its Activity Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan (AMELP) and the development of the project’s monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems. The AMELP presents twenty-two indicators that GFRA must report to USAID on an annual basis. GFRA is seeking a consultant to support the development of the project’s M&E system, focusing on establishing the procedures and tools needed to collect data and report against the AMELP indicators.

2.0 Objective/Purpose of the SOW

The objective of this assignment is to assess the short-term socio-economic impact - positive, neutral, or negative - of the 2022 closed season on artisanal fishers including canoe owners and crew, and fish processors and marketers. Specifically, the assignment seeks to:

• Assess the short-term (i.e., 5 months) impact of the 2022 closed fishing season on the socio-economic conditions of households in costal fishing communities in Ghana, focusing on changes in the livelihood, income, food security, dietary diversity, and nutrition within the households.
• Identify the adaptation strategies of the fishers in response to closed fishing seasons since 2019.
• Work closely with the Fisheries Commission to implement the assignment, including identifying opportunities to build their capacity to conduct regular socio-economic assessments in the future.
• Based on these findings, present recommendations for actions the regulator (i.e., Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and Fisheries Commission) can take to mitigate the socio-economic impacts of the closed fishing season, as well as facilitate fisher adaptation strategies.

3.0 Scope of Work/Activities/Tasks

Working in close collaboration with the Fisheries Commission (FC) and GFRA, the consultant will:

• Develop a detailed workplan for the assignment, including various stages from literature review, methodology development, data collection, data analysis, data validation, report write up, and validation. and training of officers of FC. The workplan should detail how the consultant will work with the FC to carry out each activity under the assignment. The workplan should also include a draft table of contents for the socio-economic assessment report.
• Conduct a literature review of previous socio-economic assessments of fishing closed seasons since 2019.
• Develop a research methodology appropriate to assess the socioeconomic impact of the 2022 closed season. The research methodology must be mixed methods, which is combining both quantitative household level survey research with qualitative research methods such as focus group and in-depth interviews. The methodology must also describe how the data will be analyzed. The research methodology must also outline how the research will include Fisheries Commission staff during community entry and selection of research participants.
• Collect data in two stages. The first will be prior to the implementation of the closed fishing season, during June 2022. The second stage will be after the implementation of the closed fishing season during July and August 2022. Sample size and data collection sites will be determined in consultation with GFRA and the FC. The consultant is expected to work with the FC zonal officers to identify the respondents and administer the survey instruments to them.
• Analyze the data to investigate the impact of the closed fishing season based on the agreed methodology.
• Produce a draft report on the socioeconomic impact of the closed fishing season. The report must summarize the literature review and include identification of adaptation strategies of the fishers during closed fishing seasons since 2019 till date.
• Organize a validation workshop on the socioeconomic impact assessment report.
• Conduct one training of Fisheries Commission staff to undertake similar socioeconomic assessments in the future.

4.0 Deliverables and Due Dates

• Detailed workplan for the assignment, including table of contents for the report.
• The data collection and analysis methodology for conducting the socio-economic assessment. The methodology should describe the research methods that will be used, provide the survey instrument, and include a data collection schedule.
• A draft report on the socioeconomic impact of the 2022 closed fishing season on artisanal fishing households. The report should be validated by the GFRA, FC and the fishers.
• Validation workshop with key stakeholders, in collaboration with the Fisheries Commission.
• Final report, incorporating feedback from FC, GFRA and validation workshop.
• Training report from FC staff training on socioeconomic assessments, including signed participant list.

5.0 Assignment will be completed between June 1, 2022, and October 31, 2022.

Activity/Deliverable               Date
Submission of draft workplan and table of contents Upon signing of contract
Design and submission of detailed methodology 23rd May, 2022
Data collection (Fieldwork) June 1 – August 31, 2022
Draft of socioeconomic impact assessment report on the 2022 closed season for the artisanal fisheries (first draft) Sept. 30, 2022
Validation workshop on the assessment report Oct. 7, 2022
Final assessment report, incorporating GFRA and validation workshop feedback. Oct. 21, 2022
Capacity building training and report for FC Technical officers on socioeconomic assessment. Oct. 31, 2022

Qualification Required & Experience

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Master’s degree in Fisheries Science, Public Policy.
• Minimum 10 years of experience working in fisheries, with specific experience working on socioeconomic impact of fisheries management measures in Ghana
• Experience in scientific research, data collection and modelling in the fisheries sector
• Knowledge of the fishing sector, key stakeholders, and enforcement agencies.

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

Kindly apply through:

GFRA.Applications@tetratech.com with a cover letter and current curriculum vitae (CV) in reverse chronological order format.

Closing Date: 23 May, 2022