Summary
Date Posted: Wednesday, March 13 2024, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
We rebuild tropical fisheries with coastal communities
Blue Ventures is a marine conservation organisation that puts people first. We support
coastal fishers in remote and rural communities to rebuild fisheries and restore ocean life.
Our work began two decades ago in Madagascar’s remote coastal communities and is
growing globally.

Across a dozen countries, we’re partnering with traditional fishers and community
organisations to design, scale, strengthen, and sustain fisheries management and
conservation at the community level. We bring partners together in networks to advocate
for reform and share tools and best practices to support fishing communities across the
globe.

Summary project description:
We are currently recruiting a consultant to support our partners in developing and
implementing improved value-addition measures for key fisheries. Reporting to the
Regional Partner Support Coordinator, this is a remote consultancy based in Kenya, with
regular travel to field sites.

This work will focus on identifying potential marine resource value chains (e.g., mangrove
products, octopus, shellfish, lobster, and sardines) that are relevant and offer opportunities
to the communities our partners work with. This work will involve the viability assessment,
mapping, and selection of value chains, the identification of stakeholders, the
implementation of value chain roadmaps, with a particular focus on the role and
empowerment of women in these value chains, the identification of revenue collection

opportunities for management linked to the identified value chains, and training and
monitoring on correct and regular documentation of income and expenditure.

Background
Blue Ventures (BV) has updated its organisational strategy. This new model is built around
working with local institutions that fully represent fishers to deliver secure tenure, effective
community-based management, accessible grants, savings, and loans, and an equitable
return on fishing.

The primary means to achieve better returns on fishing within the strategy is reducing
post-harvest losses. These losses could be physical, quality, nutritional, or market, and
achieving improvements for small-scale fishers across these categories implies developing
community-supported fisheries, maintaining product quality, and increasing value chain
transparency through data-driven livelihood upgrades. By reducing post-harvest losses,
aquatic foods harvested by small-scale fishers will continue to produce accessible,
affordable, and nutritious foods.

Responsibilities
• The consultant will be expected to deliver the following activities:
• Assess coastal products market systems
• Map selected coastal products to diversify community value chains
• Engage with national buyers, processors and exporters of the prioritised value
• chains
• Define value chain roadmaps via Participatory Market Systems Development
• workshops gathering value-chain actors and locally relevant authorities
• Implement value chain roadmaps at the community level
• Document the situation of women and their main constraints in the key value chains
• prioritised
• Develop and deliver women-specific economic empowerment training sessions
• In close collaboration with the Technical Knowledge team, document employed
• methodologies and case studies for future replication In Lamu and Kwale counties in Kenya:
• Conduct study on value addition, markets, equipment and infrastructure needs for
• selected communities for identified fish species (i.e. sardines and octopus)
• Conduct training for selected communities on value addition, processing, packaging
• and marketing.
• Procure equipment and improve processing and packaging infrastructure for
• selected communities

Deliverables and timeline
We expect the consultant to undertake the work with a completion date of 31st September
2024.

Description of tasks by month:
Month 1: - Assess coastal products market systems
Map selected coastal products to diversify community value chains
Engage with national buyers, processors and exporters of the prioritised value
chains

Month 2: - Define value chain roadmaps via Participatory Market Systems
Development workshops gathering value-chain actors and locally relevant
authorities

These workshops will bring together value-chain actors and local authorities to
collaboratively identify strategies for value chain development. Through interactive
discussions and stakeholder engagement, clear and actionable roadmaps will be developed
to guide future interventions and investments in the target communities.

Month 3: Implement value chain roadmaps at the community level
This will involve working closely with community members and stakeholders to execute the
identified strategies and initiatives. By translating the roadmaps into concrete actions, the
consultant will contribute to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of community value
chains.

Month 4: Document the situation of women and their main constraints in the key
value chains prioritised

Develop and deliver women-specific economic empowerment training sessions -
conduct a detailed assessment of the situation of women in the key value chains
prioritised. This assessment will identify the main constraints faced by women and
inform the development of targeted economic empowerment training sessions.
In close collaboration with the Technical Knowledge team, document employed
methodologies and case studies for future replication, ensuring knowledge sharing
and sustainability

Month 5: Conduct training for selected communities on value addition,
processing, packaging and marketing
Procure equipment and improve processing and packaging infrastructure for
selected communities - the consultant will oversee the procurement of equipment
and infrastructure improvements to support value chain activities within the
communities.

Month 6: Report submission
● Submit a report for internal review. The consultant will compile and submit
comprehensive reports documenting the project's outcomes and achievements.

● Contribution to East Africa Value Chain Synthesis Report - the consultant will
contribute insights and findings to the East Africa Value Chain Synthesis Report,
providing valuable knowledge and perspectives for regional stakeholders.
The consultant is anticipated to work 18.75 hours a week exclusive of lunch breaks over 6
months including days in the field. The consultant must have their own laptop to work from
during the project.

Structure of the technical and financial proposal
1. Proposals must include complete and accurate information. The proposal has to
include, but is not limited to, the following items:
a. Description of how the consultant will address each item outlined in the
description of the tasks of this Request for Proposal (maximum 3 pages).
b. Share a work plan specifying the tasks to be performed, approximate
durations, location site, logistical requirements and ensuring the key
requirements are deliverable (maximum 2 pages).
c. Provide a financial proposal with estimates of the cost of the consultancy
d. Include references of other projects undertaken by the consultant, with
particular emphasis on projects of similar scope and effort (maximum
include 3 references).

2. Cost of services
a. The financial proposals of the service will include consultant fees,
accommodations, and logistic costs related to travel. Please specify
consultancy rates.

Skills and Experience Required
• Graduate-level qualification in fisheries science, marine ecology/biology, conservation or a relevant business-related field
• Substantive experience working in a field relating to fisheries value chains and markets
• Substantive experience working with communities in East Africa
• Experience in developing partnerships with businesses, government agencies, and non-governmental organisations
• Excellent research, analytical and technical writing skills
• Experience in value chain analysis and market research
• Highly organised with an eye for detail
• Ability to take initiative and solve problems quickly
• Experience providing coaching or mentoring in technical areas
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Good communication and diplomacy skills
• Willingness to travel and spend time in remote and challenging environments for work

We would also love to see
Experience of traceability in small-scale fisheries / working with fisheries supply
chain actors to drive more equitable and sustainable practice/ developing storied
seafood and gaining better prices for fishers
Experience in Monitoring & Evaluation for value chain projects, and/or
gender-sensitive data analysis and research skills
Experience in developing training materials

Previous NGO experience
We encourage applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion or
sexual orientation and evaluate all candidates based on merit. We welcome candidates from countries in
which Blue Ventures operates. We offer a supportive environment for professional development and

competitive salary.
Gender equality and equity are key priorities for Blue Ventures and its mission to secure more
sustainable fisheries management and conservation for communities. It is the responsibility of all
employees to ensure that equal opportunities are available and accessible for all and that no one is
excluded or further discriminated against due to the multiple identities they may hold, including sex,
gender, age, ethnic origin, disability, religion or belief, socio-economic status or geographical location.

Blue Ventures is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young and vulnerable people and expects all staff members to share this commitment. We take a zero-tolerance approach to anyone who contravenes our safeguarding and protection policies. All candidates will be asked questions on safeguarding and child protection.
Any conduct that prevents the promotion of equality and equity will be dealt with in accordance with BV's policies and procedures, and we encourage all colleagues, partners, trustees and communities to report violations to our code of conduct via the email report@blueventures.org or +44 7950 182475.

This job description details the main duties and responsibilities of the position. However, team members are required to show flexibility in their approach to work and be willing to undertake other tasks that are reasonably allocated to them but which are not part of their regular job description.
We are a mission-driven organisation, and senior staff in particular, are expected to show willingness to adapt to unexpected changes that come with growth − this may include occasional work whenever or wherever requested by their line manager. Where any task becomes a regular part of someone’s responsibilities, the job description will be updated in consultation with the team member.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 24

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure

Applicants should apply online via Blue Ventures’ website by 26th March 2024.
Financial and technical proposal packages should be attached to the online
application form.
All shortlisted candidates will be contacted within two weeks of the closing date.

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