Location: Remote Base
Application Deadline: 30 April 2021 or until filled
Type of contract: Consultant
Language(s) required: English (native/fluent writing and oral skills)
INTRODUCTION
CGIAR Research Program on Fish Agri-Food Systems (FISH)[1], is seeking the services of a consultant to prepare and lead a Think Tank Event in order to contribute to strengthening policy focus on nutrition, food security, post-harvest management and water nexus in the African Great Lakes Region (AGLR). The event will guide how to move forward the FISH research work across the AGLR in order to deliver on the SADC Protocol on Fisheries as well as core deliverables of the FISH partnership.
The consultant should have:
The consultant will prepare a concept note for the Think Tank Event as outlined below and contribute to the technical contents of workshop organization, and the event itself. The Think Tank event is expected to take place in late November 2021 (on or around World Fisheries Day 21 November). Work is expected to be initiated prior to the event, with planning and organization, and post-event, with production of a report on the Think Tank.
BACKGROUND
The fourth SADC Regional Strategic Action Plans (RSAP)[2] embeds Nexus approach aims to secure food security by strengthening synergies and reducing trade-offs among various resources. At the same time, fisheries community institutions in the AGLR, such as the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO), aims to promote Sustainable Management and Development of Fisheries and aquaculture in the East African Community for Food Security and Wealth creation3
The CGIAR Research Program on FISH fosters impact-driven research innovations across the whole spectrum of aquaculture and fisheries production systems and value chains, with the goal of achieving sustainable increases in the gender and socially-inclusive production and equitable distribution of nutritious fish to those most in need. FISH research on Sustaining small-scale fisheries focusses on securing and enhancing the contribution of small-scale fisheries to poverty reduction, food and nutrition security, seeking to deliver more-inclusive economic benefits and improved safety nets for marginalized groups and resilience to external shocks. NRI is the key partner of FISH, working in partnership with the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) and the CGIAR Center, WorldFish, to better understand the role of capture fisheries, and particularly small pelagic fish (SPF), in the food systems of the African Great Lakes region. By doing so, this collaboration aims to support enabling policy, appropriate investment and strengthened capacities which would ensure both the public and private sector are optimizing the contribution of SPF to human health and livelihoods particularly for those who need it most, whilst minimizing the impact of the fisheries and environment.
PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE THINK TANK EVENT
The purpose of the Think Tank Event is to enhance awareness about the importance of the SPF, what has been referred to as Small But Mighty[3] in the AGLR and to ensure internalization of the principles of the FISH’s small-scale fisheries within the SADC’s nexus of water-food security in order that the research recommendations will be used to change policy and practice, thus reducing post-harvest losses, maximizing economic contribution and realizing the full nutritional potential of the superfood, SPF. The Think Tank Event will aim to strengthen and focus attention on policy that optimizes the supply of fish in the AGLR of the SADC, without trade-offs among water, fisheries, aquaculture, post-harvest handling and trade by: