Program Strategy and Management Consultant

Job description

Background :

Global Fishing Watch (GFW) 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, across 5 Regions (Africa, Asia, Europe-Mediterranean, Latin America and the Pacific),  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.

GFW works 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.

GFW is executing on all these through a globally distributed team of professionals, represented by different cultures and different native languages, bringing together a variety of proficiencies and backgrounds, residing in more than a dozen countries, across multiple time zones, and operating fully remote.

Purpose and Objectives:

GFW is seeking a consultant to help review and assess current Global Programs practices in managing and coordinating program work and resources; provide recommendations, using existing tools and platforms; facilitate the development and roll out of a program management and coordinating framework and a program management framework manual to improve operational efficiency and programmatic effectiveness of the Global Program units toward achieving organizational goals and objectives.

Scope of Work:

The consultant will be responsible for the following:

1. Conduct a review and rapid assessment of the current practices and tools used by the various Global Program units in managing and coordinating their work plans, deliverables and resources. These include but are not limited to the following:

   1. Gather and assess current practices and tools of GFW Global Program units in managing and coordinating their work plans, deliverables and resources;
   2. Submit and present a report on the review and assessment of Global Program units in managing and coordinating their work plans, deliverables and resources, including recommendations on tools and approaches, utilising existing GFW tools and platforms.

2. Facilitate the development and presentation of the following documents, using existing GFW tools and platforms, to improve operational efficiency and programmatic effectiveness of the Global Program units toward achieving organizational goals and objectives:

   1. Program Management Framework- to define key concepts, policies and processes that determine how Global Programs and its units manage, monitor and coordinate work, deliverables and resources;
   2. Program Management Framework Manual - to guide Global Programs department and its units in implementing and practicing the Program Management Framework;
   3. Program Management Framework Roll Out Plan - A plan to roll-out the Program Management Framework Manual.

3. Facilitate the implementation of Program Management Framework Roll Out Plan through but not limited to the following:

   1. Coordinate scheduling for learning sessions with the Global Program Units;
   2. Facilitate the various learning sessions ( online or in-person, as may be necessary and feasible) with with the Global Program Units;
   3. Submit a post roll-out report highlighting key learnings, insights, recommendations and proposed next steps.

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  and the Global Program Units to ensure the development and roll out of a program management and coordinating framework, accompanying systems and implementation manual 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

• August 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 may be discussed if determined necessary or feasible.

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