The African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), a specialized technical office of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) of the African Union Commission (AUC), is mandated to support and coordinate the utilization of livestock, fisheries, aquaculture and wildlife as resources for both human wellbeing and economic development in the Member States of the African Union. The Vision of the AU-IBAR is an Africa in which animal and fish resources contribute significantly to integration, prosperity and peace. AU-IBAR’s intervention in the fisheries and aquaculture sector is guided by the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for fisheries and aquaculture in Africa (PFRS) which is aimed at improving governance of the sector for increased sustainable contribution to food security, livelihoods and wealth creation. Also, within the framework of the African Union Agenda 2063, the Africa Blue Economy Strategy environed an inclusive and sustainable blue economy with fisheries and aquaculture being one of the significant contributors to Africa’s transformation and growth.

The Africa Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture is a multilateral document formulated with an aim of facilitating coherent policy development for the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture resources in the member states of the African Union to optimize benefits from their natural resources. Furthermore, it guides on good governance principles considered as best practices in fisheries management. Strategically the objectives of the PFRS include; (i) elaborating essential guiding principles for the good governance of Africa’s fisheries for increased coherence and coordination of the sector; (ii) assisting the AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Regional Fisheries Organizations (RFBs) to develop realistic fisheries and aquaculture policies by suggesting standards and best practices for the sector’s benefits, in terms of food security, employment, and income; (iii) helping facilitate regional collaboration and integration in shared fisheries and aquaculture resources management; (iv) providing appropriate guidance on how to implement reforms for fisheries and aquaculture development; (v) facilitating the adoption of relevant provisions in international fisheries management instruments; (vi) facilitating advocacy for increased investment in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

Several high-level initiatives on the continent recognized the challenges and opportunities in the sector. Prominent among these initiatives are the 2004 Sirte Summit Declaration, the Abuja 2005 fish- for- all declaration, the 2010 Banjul Conference of African Ministers for Fisheries and Aquaculture (CAMFA I) and the 2014 Addis Ababa CAMFA II. Subsequently, they have underscored the need for sectoral policy and institutional governance reforms that can catalyze increased sustainable contribution to the socio- economic development of the continent. The CAMFA recommended that the African Union (AU) put in place a mechanism for broad-based participatory policy dialogue and fisheries management to ensure coherence of fisheries policies and initiatives. This recommendation was later adopted through an Executive Decision by the African Heads of State and Government (Doc. EX. CL/627(XVIII). Thus, the process of formulation of the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa (PFRS) started in earnest in 2012 and was subsequently endorsed as a blueprint for the sustainable positive reform of Africa’s Fisheries and Aquaculture sector for increased benefits to Member States.

This was followed by development of the guiding principles for the implementation of the PFRS which recommended alignment of regional and national policies and strategies to the PFRS and specifically assist AU member states, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Regional Fisheries Bodies (RFBs) to develop realistic fisheries and aquaculture policies by suggesting standards and best practices that will realize benefits such as food security, employment and income.

Considering the above, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) being one of key RECs of the African Union implementing the PFRS, dedicated support to customize and align its Fisheries and Aquaculture Policies to the African PFRS to best harness the sector potential as guided by COMESA Mid Term Strategic Plan (MTSP).

The AU-IBAR, is thus planning to provide assistance to COMESA towards formulation of their Regional Policy Framework and Reform strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture and corresponding framework to ensure sustainable implementation. In this regard an individual consultant with relevant qualifications, expertise and experience in Fisheries and Aquaculture policy, regulation, strategies, implementation plans and guidelines will be required to undertake this technical assistance.

Objectives of the Assignment

The objective of this assignment is to recruit a suitably qualified individual consultant with diverse expertise on issues that are critical to the formulation of regional Policy Framework and Reform Strategy, a corresponding implementation plan and guiding principles to implementation.

The specific objectives will be:

• To conduct a review of existing instruments, institutions relevant to fisheries and Aquaculture policies, regulation and strategic planning in the COMESA region and align them to the African Policy Framework and Reform Strategy
• To design regional coordination mechanisms between COMESA, RFBs, Regional Sea Conventions and COMESA member states
• Facilitate stakeholders’ consultative workshops, virtual or physical to allow for maximum participation of the member states and relevant stakeholders
• Develop Draft Policy framework and reform strategy for fisheries and aquaculture for the COMESA Region
• Facilitate stakeholder’s validation of the draft COMESA regional Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture, implementation plan and guiding principles to implementation in the COMESA region
• To prepare a report on the consultancy, including lessons and best practices.