Company Profile
Oxfam is a rights-based global development organization with more than 70 years of experience in more than 90 countries worldwide. Oxfam’s mission is to end the injustice of poverty and inequality through systemic change and the advancement of political, economic and social rights. Oxfam has been working in Ghana since 1986, managing programs related to food security and livelihoods, universal access to education and healthcare and transparency and accountability in extractive industries (mining, oil and gas).
Oxfam’s experience in Ghana and strong partnerships with government institutions, Ghanaian civil society organizations and NGOs supports the delivery of active and innovative programs and advocacy work seeking to improve the livelihoods of Ghanaians and strengthen citizen accountability. Oxfam in Ghana currently works in 11 out of Ghana’s 16 administrative regions.
Job Description
Terms of Reference for Analysis of the Adverse Impacts of Capacity Reduction Strategies on the Livelihoods of Smallholder Fishers in Ghana
Background
Oxfam, CARE and Friends of the Nation have secured a grant from the European Union (EU) towards implementing a four-year project dubbed Protecting Fisheries Livelihoods (Far Ban Bo) in selected coastal (27) and inland (3) fishing districts in Western, Central, Greater Accra, and Volta regions of the Republic of Ghana. The project aims at contributing to sustainable fisheries resources management for improved food and nutrition security and livelihoods of smallholder fishers and other users of fishery resources. The project specifically aims to ensure that smallholder fishers and processors benefit from equitable and sustainable rights-based fisheries resources management. The consortium intends to apply part of the grant for research consultancy services.
The Far Ban Bo project aims to address the key challenges of overfishing and unsustainable fishing practises also known as Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU), weak capacity for monitoring and enforcing relevant laws, and lack of secure tenure rights and grievance mechanisms. The project is also working towards strengthening the capacity of fishery associations to engage in equitable fisheries governance and ensure safeguards for poor, vulnerable smallholder fishers in the context of fishing capacity reduction programs.
As part of the efforts towards tackling the challenges of overfishing and unsustainable fishing practices, government and other stakeholders in the industry introduced capacity reduction strategies such as close seasons among others in marine and inland fishing communities. While acknowledging this noble intention of government to prevent or end overfishing, rebuild stocks of fish, or achieve measurable or significant improvements in the conservation and management of the fisheries resources, it is important to ascertain the relative adverse impact of capacity reduction strategies on the life and livelihoods of marine and inland fishing communities to enable evidence-based decisions regarding introduction of safeguards and alternative livelihoods for those affected by these strategies. It is against this background that the Far Ban Bo project Consortium is launching this research to build evidence on the likely adverse impact of capacity reduction strategies on the life and livelihoods of marine and inland fishing communities.
Objective Of The Study
- The purpose of this consultancy contract is to conduct analysis of the adverse impacts of capacity reduction strategies on the life and livelihoods of smallholder women and men fishers along the coastal regions of Ghana.
Scope Of Work
- The work will comprise site specific research and analysis (selected marine and inland) of the adverse impacts of different strategies for implementing capacity reductions on the life, livelihoods and nutrition of fishing communities, particularly women and children. The consortium and successful consultancy team will collaborate with government specialists and departments in the fisheries sub-sector, health services and education in the design and data gathering. The study will analyse and generate evidence on the likely impact of capacity reduction on the livelihoods and nutrition security of fishing communities using participatory assessment tools. The study will generate gender-disaggregated data, and reflect views and impacts of capacity reduction, as experienced by women and other vulnerable group directly and indirectly engaged in the fisheries value chain.
- While acknowledging that is not only capacity reductions, which have significant implications for the livelihood and food security of fishing communities, the adverse impact of climate change in the form of e.g. rising tidal waves will also be considered in the study and adaptation actions recommended.
- The findings of the analysis will be validated through public consultations and ideas collected for recommended actions. The validation meetings will also serve to make the local communities aware of the current and future impact of capacity reduction on their livelihoods and nutrition security. The research report will form the basis for formulating recommendations and policy proposals to mitigate the adverse impacts of capacity reductions on poor and vulnerable groups and communities. The findings and recommendations will feed into national sector review meetings and production of policy briefs.
Methodology
The consultant is expected to undertake analysis of the adverse impacts of capacity reduction strategies on the life and livelihoods of smallholder women and men fishers in as rigorous manner as possible to produce information and make recommendations that are sufficiently valid and reliable based on data and analysis. It is expected that the consultant will conduct a participatory approach that will involve consortium members and project participants (target beneficiaries) in all key tasks. Existing project and other relevant fisheries sector documents will be shared with the successful consultant to facilitate completion of the tasks.
Working closely with the Far Ban Bo Project Team (Oxfam, FoN and CARE), the consultant(s) will produce the following:
- Develop the research and analytical framework and methodology together with the project Consortium
- Develop implementation work plan
- Develop the data collection and analysis instruments and conduct validation and field-testing of same.
- Prepare the report and present the findings in a workshop to be organized for validating and disseminating results to intended audience
Secondary data review
- Interviews with key fisheries associations including Women’s National Fish Processors and Traders Association (NAFPTA), Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC), National Inland Canoe Fishermen’s Association (NICFA), Ghana Inland Fisheries Associations (GIFA), government departments, staff from NGOs, EU, and other relevant institutions.
- Engage fishing communities/households (to be conducted in collaboration with consortium field project facilitators and Oxfam).
Timetable And Deliverables
Within a 30-day consultancy period, the consultant is expected to complete the above-mentioned scope of work. The deliverables are as follows:
- Research and analytical framework/design and implementation plan agreed with Oxfam and other consortium members
- Analytical instruments developed and validated
- Data collection and analysis
- First draft of report
- Presentation of the report at stakeholder workshop
- Finalization of the report
- A reader friendly report (briefing paper) that can be “published”.
Duration
- 30 days depending on daily fees. The assignment shall be undertaken during the period from 4th December to 28th February 2018.
Management
- The consultant will be under the direct supervision of Oxfam, led by the Economic Justice Program Lead. In the field, the consultant will work closely with the project Consortium Team Field Officers.
Terms Of Payment
The payments shall be made as follows:
- 40% upon signing of consultancy agreement
- 60% upon submission of the final report accepted by Oxfam and the project consortium
