Consultant

Job description

Background :

Global Fishing Watch is an international nonprofit organisation committed to advancing ocean sustainability and stewardship through increasing transparency. We do this by offering, for free, data and near real-time tracking of global commercial fishing activity, supporting new science and research, and boosting global cooperation on ocean transparency. A key component of our 2030 strategy is targeted collaboration with a set of 30 countries (in cohorts of approximately 10 countries, referred to as “core countries” on an engagement cycle of 3-4 years per cohort) to adopt transparency as a principle and share their ocean data more widely. This increased transparency and our technology enable these countries to address threats to the ocean, implement specific actions and policy shifts, and become international advocates for transparency. We work with governments and other stakeholders to co-develop solutions and develop capacity and expertise to tackle IUU fishing and strengthen marine protection. GFW’s tools and capacity development program are meant to enable the team to transition to a new cohort of core countries on a 3-4 year cycle. Currently, the organization is working with a set of 12 core countries, deemed the first cohort, with the intent to be able to exit in 2-3 years.

Purpose and Objectives:

GFW is seeking a consultant to create a module / manual to guide the successful implementation of the preparatory and engagement phases of the cohorts of countries. The consultant will lead in the gathering, analysing various available materials, tools, reports, outputs and cases in its first cohort of core countries; articulate clearly GFW’s Core Country Engagement Framework; develop a GFW Core Country Engagement implementation manual/ guidance document, ready for test and use for the initial engagements with the upcoming second cohort of core countries

Scope of Work:

The consultant will be responsible for the following

1. Consolidate and review various materials, tools, outputs, reports and various cases within GFW’s engagements with its first cohort of core countries:

   1. Gather various documentation and relevant materials that GFW employed and utilised in its engagements with its first cohort of core countries;
   2. Properly document and organize the materials and documents gathered;
   3. Determine the common themes, trends, learnings, insights and considerations from the materials and documents gathered.

2. Facilitate and conduct one to two design sessions and consultation meetings with GFW’s working group to determine and articulate the following:

   1. Assess and solidify GFW’s overall framework for core country engagement and regional engagements;

   2. What are the key factors and enabling conditions in the engagement of GFW teams with its first cohort of core countries? Some considerations:

      1. The major challenges, opportunities, risks and considerations that GFW teams have to deal with in their engagements with its first cohort of core countries;
      2. Decisions made and impact of decisions or timing of those decisions;
      3. Key learnings and feedback from partners and stakeholders.

   3. What conditions and resources need to be present for these key factors and enabling conditions to take place and be successful?

3. Develop an implementation manual/ guidance document for GFW’s Core Country Engagement outlining the process and steps in the Preparatory and Engagement Phase, including:

   1. A draft and final report that synthesises items 1 and 2; this includes two presentations of the versions of the report;

   2. A draft and final document of the implementation manual / guidance document for the GFW Core Country Engagement, which narrates the following

      1. Steps in the Preparatory Phase, with catalogued tools, materials and templates and examples
      2. Steps taken in the Engage Phase, with catalogued tools, materials and templates

   3. A detailed plan for a pilot test of the GFW Core Country implementation manual/ guidance document that can be implemented and monitored

Roles and Responsibilities:

The consultant will be responsible for delivering the scope of work that satisfies the descriptions set above. GFW will provide the consultant with the relevant documents and time from the working group to ensure the development of the Implementation Manual/  Guidance Document for the GFW Core Country Engagement informs and contributes to the fulfillment of GFW objectives and goals. The consultant will report to GFW’s Senior Manager for Program Strategy and Execution. Further requirements regarding regular communication about progress on the reports is specified in the Quality Assurance section.

Quality Assurance:

The consultant will be responsible for ensuring that the process utilized is rigorous and the outputs produced are reliable, credible and fit for purpose. Written products are to be to a high standard, using clear prose. This may include developing appropriate information and data collection and validation methods and tools, ensuring that information and data is collected and analysed in a consistent and transparent manner, and using appropriate statistical and qualitative analysis techniques, where appropriate.

Materials should be produced and submitted using google docs. Each final report should include a table of contents, a list of acronyms, an executive summary, appropriate organization of the main text, a conclusion and cited references.

Close engagement, including weekly calls with GFW working group and others as appropriate, is expected so as to provide real-time guidance to the consultant. Submission of an initial outline for each report and one or more drafts of each report are expected. Prompt comments and feedback from GFW will be provided. Revisions of drafts based on comments received and additional research are expected.

GFW reserves the right to reject work not meeting its standards. The consultant is to make every effort to deliver interim and final products on time, according to the agreed schedule.

Ethics and Confidentiality:

The consultant will be required to adhere to GFW’s ethical standards and ensure that all data collection and analysis activities are conducted in a manner that protects the confidentiality and privacy of GFW partners’ data where necessary.

Timeline and Budget:

Below is the timeline for this consultancy

• Aug 2025-  Sourcing and Procurement
• Sep - Nov 2025 Engagement, including weekly calls with the leads of the Working Group
• Nov - Dec 2025- Delivery of Final Reports that are acceptable to GFW

The consultant will be responsible for developing a detailed timeline and budget breakdown that clearly identifies the resources required and expected outputs for each activity. Travel is not anticipated.

Budget: up to USD 30,000 to be paid in milestone-based installments, upon receipt of a satisfactory invoice

GFW Point of Contact

Sol Emmanuel Badoy

Senior Manager, Program Strategy and Execution