Request for Proposals (RfP) Consultancy to develop a regional LMMA toolkit for the Western Indian Ocean IUCN ESARO, WIO LMMA ALLIANCE, Coastal and Ocean Resilience Team RfP Reference: IUCN-25-08- P05126-02 Welcome to this Procurement by IUCN. You are hereby invited to submit a Proposal. Please read the information and instructions carefully because non-compliance with the instructions may result in disqualification of your Proposal from this Procurement. 1. REQUIREMENTS 1.1. A detailed description of the services and/or goods to be provided can be found in Attachment 1. 2. CONTACT DETAILS 2.1. During the course of this procurement, i.e. from the publication of this RfP to the award of a contract, you may not discuss this procurement with any IUCN employee or representative other than the following contact. You must address all correspondence and questions to the contact, including your Proposal. IUCN Contact: Jolly Chemutai Job title: IUCN ESARO, Procurement and Operations Assistant Email:
[email protected] 3. PROCUREMENT TIMETABLE 3.1. This timetable is indicative and may be changed by IUCN at any time. If IUCN decides that changes to any of the deadlines are necessary, we will publish this on our website and contact you directly if you have indicated your interest in this procurement (see Section 3.2). DATE-ACTIVITY 14 August-Publication of the Request for Proposals 19 August-Deadline for expressions of interest 21 August-Deadline for submission of questions 25 August-Planned publication of responses to questions 27 August-Deadline for submission of Proposals to IUCN (“Submission Deadline”) 1 September-Clarification of Proposals 3 September-Planned date for contract award 5 September-Expected contract start date 3.2. Please email the IUCN contact to express your interest in submitting a Proposal by the deadline stated above. This will help IUCN to keep you updated regarding the procurement. 4. COMPLETING AND SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL 4.1. Your Proposal must consist of the following four separate documents: Signed Declaration of Undertaking (see Attachment 2) Pre-Qualification Information (see Section 4.3 below) Technical Proposal (see Section 4.4 below) Financial Proposal (see Section 4.5 below) Proposals must be prepared in English. 4.2. Your Proposal must be submitted by email to the IUCN Contact (see Section 2). The subject heading of the email shall be [RfP Reference – bidder name]. The bidder name is the name of the company/organisation on whose behalf you are submitting the Proposal, or your own surname if you are bidding as a self-employed consultant. Your Proposal must be submitted in PDF format. You may submit multiple emails suitably annotated, e.g. Email 1 of 3, if attached files are too large to suit a single email transmission. You may not submit your Proposal by uploading it to a file-sharing tool. IMPORTANT: Submitted documents must be password-protected so that they cannot be opened and read before the submission deadline. Please use the same password for all submitted documents. After the deadline has passed and within 12 hours, please send the password to the IUCN Contact. This will ensure a secure bid submission and opening process. Please DO NOT email the password before the deadline for Proposal submission. 4.3. Pre-Qualification Criteria IUCN will use the following Pre-Qualification Criteria to determine whether you have the capacity to provide the required goods and/or services to IUCN. Please provide the necessary information in a single, separate document. Pre-Qualification Criteria 1. 3 relevant references of clients similar to IUCN / similar work 2. Confirm that you have all the necessary legal registrations to perform the work 3. State your annual turnover for each of the past 3 years 4. How many employees does your organisation have who are qualified for this work? 5. Demonstrated evidence of experiences in marine conservation, community support or developing toolkits and guidelines 4.4
. Technical Proposal The Technical Proposal must address each of the criteria stated below explicitly and separately, quoting the relevant criteria reference number (left-hand column). Proposals in any other format will significantly increase the time it takes to evaluate, and such Proposals may therefore be rejected at IUCN’s discretion. Where CVs are requested, these must be of the individuals who will actually carry out the work specified. The individuals you put forward may only be substituted with IUCN’s approval. IUCN will evaluate Technical Proposals with regards to each of the following criteria and their relative importance: Description-Information to provide-Relative weight 1 Clarity and completeness of the Proposal and annexes- 5pt Completed proposal and annexes 2 Approach and Methodology 2.1 Methodological approach-5pt Description of the methodological and delivery approach. 2.2 Operationalisation of the approach and Methodology-20 pt Ability, proven by the experience/previous assignment, of the consultant to implement the proposed methodology (5 pt.) Working programme / working schedule for delivery of outputs (5 pt.), Staffing schedule and task assignment descriptions aligned with team members expertise/experience (5 pt.), Quality control of deliverables (5 pt.) 3. Consultants Competencies-50 pts Composition of the Team: The team should be led by a highly qualified Technical Team Leader with proven expertise in marine science, natural resource management, or related fields, and should include a multidisciplinary team comprising communication specialists (graphic designer and video producer), a GIS expert, and a gender specialist. CVs and experiences of each team member is required (15 pts) Proven experience in developing toolkits , guidance documents, or training materials, especially in a participatory or community-led context (10 pts) Excellent communication and coordination skills, with professional expertise in graphic design and video production. Proven ability to engage and collaborate with diverse stakeholders. A portfolio of the communication team is required. (10 pts) Report Writing and Analytical Skills Demonstrated ability to input into high-quality reports and strategy, synthesize data, and provide constructive recommendations (5 pts) TOTAL 100% 4.5. Financial Proposal 4.5.1. The Financial Proposal must be a fixed and firm price for the provision of the goods/services stated in the RfP in their entirety. 4.5.2. Prices include all costs Submitted rates and prices are deemed to include all costs, insurances, taxes (except VAT, see below), fees, expenses, liabilities, obligations, risk and other things necessary for the performance of the Terms of Reference or Specification of Requirements. IUCN will not accept charges beyond those clearly stated in the Financial Proposal. This includes applicable withholding taxes and similar. It is your responsibility to determine whether such taxes apply to your organisation and to include them in your Financial Proposal. 4.5.3. Applicable Goods and Services Taxes Proposal rates and prices shall be exclusive of Value Added Tax 4.5.4. Currency of proposed rates and prices All rates and prices submitted by Proposers shall be in USD 4.5.5. Breakdown of rates and prices For information only, the price needs to be broken down as follows: Description-Quantity-Unit Price-Total Price 1 Team lead consultant daily rate-60 days 2 Communication specialist daily rate (graphic designer and videomaker)- 45 days 3 Technical Assistant daily rate-45 days 4 GIS officer consultancy daily rate-10 days 5 Gender specialist daily rate-20 days 5 Internet and communication-NA As per IUCN policy-As per IUCN policy 6 TOTAL 4.6. Additional information not requested by IUCN should not be included in your Proposal and will not be considered in the evaluation. 4.7. Your Proposal must remain valid and capable of acceptance by IUCN for a period of 90 calendar days following the submission deadline. 4.8. Withdrawals and Changes You may freely withdraw or change your Proposal at any time prior to the submission deadline by written notice to the IUCN Contact. However, in order to reduce the risk of fraud, no changes or withdrawals will be accepted after the submission deadline. 5. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS 5.1. Completeness IUCN will firstly check your Proposal for completeness. Incomplete Proposals will not be considered further. 5.2. Pre-Qualification Criteria Only Proposals that meet all of the pre-qualification criteria will be evaluated. 5.3. Technical Evaluation 5.3.1. Scoring Method Your Proposal will be assigned a score from 0 to 10 for each of the technical evaluation criteria, such that ‘0’ is low and ‘10’ is high. 5.3.2. Minimum Quality Thresholds Proposals that receive a score of ‘0’ for any of the criteria will not be considered further. 5.3.3. Technical Score Your score for each technical evaluation criterion will be multiplied with the respective relative weight (see Section 4.4) and these weighted scores added together to give your Proposal’s overall technical score. 5.4
. Financial Evaluation and Financial Scores The financial evaluation will be based upon the full total price you submit. Your Financial Proposal will receive a score calculated by dividing the lowest Financial Proposal that has passed the minimum quality thresholds (see Section 5.3.2) by the total price of your Financial Proposal. Thus, for example, if your Financial Proposal is for a total of CHF 100 and the lowest Financial Proposal is CHF 80, you will receive a financial score of 80/100 = 80% 5.5. Total Score Your Proposal’s total score will be calculated as the weighted sum of your technical score and your financial score. The relative weights will be: Technical: 70% Financial: 30% Thus, for example, if your technical score is 83% and your financial score is 77%, you will receive a total score of 83
70% + 77 30% = 58.1% + 23.1% = 81.2%. Subject to the requirements in Sections 4 and 7, IUCN will award the contract to the bidder whose Proposal achieves the highest total score. 6. EXPLANATION OF PROCUREMENT PROCEDURE 6.1. IUCN is using the Open Procedure for this procurement. This means that the contracting opportunity is published on IUCN’s website and open to all interested parties to take part, subject to the conditions in Section 7 below. 6.2. You are welcome to ask questions or seek clarification regarding this procurement. Please email the IUCN Contact (see Section 2), taking note of the deadline for submission of questions in Section 3.1. 6.3. All Proposals must be received by the submission deadline in Section 3.1 above. Late Proposals will not be considered. All Proposals received by the submission deadline will be evaluated by a team of three or more evaluators in accordance with the evaluation criteria stated in this RfP. No other criteria will be used to evaluate Proposals. The contract will be awarded to the bidder whose Proposal received the highest Total Score. IUCN does, however, reserve the right to cancel the procurement and not award a contract at all. 6.4. IUCN will contact the bidder with the highest-scoring Proposal to finalise the contract. We will contact unsuccessful bidders after the contract has been awarded and provide detailed feedback. The timetable in Section 3.1 gives an estimate of when we expect to have completed the contract award, but this date may change depending on how long the evaluation of Proposals takes. 7. CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROCUREMENT 7.1. To participate in this procurement, you are required to submit a Proposal, which fully complies with the instructions in this RfP and the Attachments. 7.1.1. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have submitted a complete and fully compliant Proposal. 7.1.2. Any incomplete or incorrectly completed Proposal submission may be deemed noncompliant, and as a result you may be unable to proceed further in the procurement process. 7.1.3. IUCN will query any obvious clerical errors in your Proposal and may, at IUCN’s sole discretion, allow you to correct these, but only if doing so could not be perceived as giving you an unfair advantage. 7.2. In order to participate in this procurement, you must meet the following conditions: Free of conflicts of interest Registered on the relevant professional or trade register of the country in which you are established (or resident, if self-employed) In full compliance with your obligations relating to payment of social security contributions and of all applicable taxes Not been convicted of failing to comply with environmental regulatory requirements or other legal requirements relating to sustainability and environmental protection Not bankrupt or being wound up Never been guilty of an offence concerning your professional conduct Not involved in fraud, corruption, a criminal organisation, money laundering, terrorism, or any other illegal activity. 7.3. You must complete and sign the Declaration of Undertaking (see Attachment 2). 7.4. If you are participating in this procurement as a member of a joint venture, or are using subcontractors, submit a separate Declaration of Undertaking for each member of the joint venture and sub-contractor, and be clear in your Proposal which parts of the goods/services are provided by each partner or sub-contractor. 7.5. Each bidder shall submit only one Proposal, either individually or as a partner in a joint venture. In case of joint venture, one company shall not be allowed to participate in two different joint ventures in the same procurement nor shall a company be allowed to submit a Proposal both on its behalf and as part of a joint venture for the same procurement. A bidder who submits or participates in more than one Proposal (other than as a subcontractor or in cases of alternatives that have been permitted or requested) shall cause all the Proposals with the bidder’s participation to be disqualified. 7.6. By taking part in this procurement, you accept the conditions set out in this RfP, including the following: It is unacceptable to give or offer any gift or consideration to an employee or other representative of IUCN as a reward or inducement in relation to the awarding of a contract. Such action will give IUCN the right to exclude you from this and any future procurements, and to terminate any contract that may have been signed with you. Any attempt to obtain information from an employee or other representative of IUCN concerning another bidder will result in disqualification. Any price fixing or collusion with other bidders in relation to this procurement shall give IUCN the right to exclude you and any other involved bidder(s) from this and any future procurements and may constitute a criminal offence. 8. CONFIDENTIALITY AND DATA PROTECTION 8.1. IUCN follows the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The information you submit to IUCN as part of this procurement will be treated as confidential and shared only as required to evaluate your Proposal in line with the procedure explained in this RfP, and for the maintenance of a clear audit trail. For audit purposes, IUCN is required to retain your Proposal in its entirety for 10 years after then end of the resulting contract and make this available to internal and external auditors and donors as and when requested. 8.2. In the Declaration of Undertaking (Attachment 2) you need to give IUCN express permission to use the information you submit in this way, including personal data that forms part of your Proposal. Where you include personal data of your employees (e.g. CVs) in your Proposal, you need to have written permission from those individuals to share this information with IUCN, and for IUCN to use this information as indicated in 8.1. Without these permissions, IUCN will not be able to consider your Proposal. 9. COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE If you have a complaint or concern regarding the propriety of how a competitive process is or has been executed, then please contact
[email protected] . Such complaints or concerns will be treated as confidential and are not considered in breach of the above restrictions on communication (Section 2.1). 10. CONTRACT The contract will be based on IUCN’s template in Attachment 3, the terms of which are not negotiable. They may, however, be amended by IUCN to reflect particular requirements from the donor funding this particular procurement. 11. ABOUT IUCN IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together. Headquartered in Switzerland, IUCN Secretariat comprises around 1,000 staff with offices in more than 50 countries. Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,300 Member organisations and some 10,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards. IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development. Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being. www.iucn.org https://twitter.com/IUCN/ 12. ATTACHMENTS Attachment 1 Specification of Requirements / Terms of Reference Attachment 2 Declaration of Undertaking (select 2a for companies or 2b for self-employed as applicable to you) Attachment 3 Contract Template Terms of Reference for IUCN Consultancy Title: Consultancy to develop a regional LMMA toolkit for the Western Indian Ocean Objective of the Consultancy The main objective of this consultancy is to recruit a team of consultants, including a highly professional communication team composed of an experienced graphic designer and video producer with a strong portfolio of high-quality, relevant work in conservation, development, or community-based initiatives. The team should also ideally include a specialist in gender equality and inclusion. This team will develop a comprehensive and user-friendly WIO LMMA Toolkit (maximum 50 pages, all inclusive). In addition to the technical toolkit, the team will be responsible for producing a well-designed 10-page communication document summarizing the toolkit’s key messages, as well as a 5-minute video clip demonstrating how to use it. The toolkit should capture the history, regional experiences, and lessons learned from LMMAs in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO), while also defining the LMMA philosophy specific to the region. It should provide clear, step-by-step guidance for the effective establishment, expansion, and management of LMMAs. The target audience of the toolkit includes Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), government agencies, non-governmental organizations, private sector and technical and financial partners involved in LMMA-related work in the WIO region and beyond. It is intended to serve as a practical resource for strengthening community-based marine management, supporting sustainable livelihoods, and guiding investment and policy efforts. The toolkit and all associated communication products must be designed and implemented using an inclusive and rights-based approach, ensuring meaningful participation and leadership of women, youth, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities, with clear measures for accessibility (e.g., plain language, multiple languages, captions, audio description, alternative text) and safeguarding (PSEA/GBV risk mitigation). Co-creation of the toolkit should be undertaken with LMMA community leaders, Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs), and key community representatives from marginalized groups across the five ReSea countries (Comoros, Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Kenya). Background Project Reference: WIO LMMA Alliance: P05126 Resea: P04216 Donor reference: WIO LMMA Alliance: DR05126.06 Resea: DR04216.69 About IUCN IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together. Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 15,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards. IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development. Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well being. www.iucn.org https://twitter.com/IUCN/ About the Project In September 2024, the first Western Indian Ocean (WIO) Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA) Forum was held in Mahajanga, Madagascar, bringing together more than 200 participants from nine countries. The forum resulted in the adoption of the WIO LMMA Declaration and a strong collective call to establish a regional LMMA Alliance. This Alliance aims to address key regional challenges, including the absence of a shared understanding of LMMAs, uneven development across countries, and limited representation of LMMA communities in national, regional and global platforms. It also seeks to promote gender equity and inclusivity in LMMA management. The Alliance will build on existing networks and initiatives in the region, avoiding duplication of efforts and working as an umbrella platform to foster collaboration. It will also rely on Madagascar’s leadership and the lessons learned from MIHARI, the largest LMMA network in Africa to support the replication of successful models across the region. The broader vision is to establish a Pan-African LMMA Alliance, beginning with the WIO as a pilot region. In support of the establishment of the Alliance, Mission Inclusion (Mi) and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) implement the Regenerative Seascapes for People, Climate and Nature (ReSea) project in partnership with local feminist organizations in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar and Comoros. The project is funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) as part of the Partnering for Climate initiative. Its broader goal is to enhance the physical and socioeconomic resilience of coastal communities in these five countries by accelerating uptake of nature-based solutions and gender-responsive conservation practices to protect, restore, and sustainably manage marine and coastal ecosystems and unlock a regenerative blue economy. The ReSea project contributes to the Western Indian Ocean-led Great Blue Wall (GBW) initiative by supporting the establishment of a network of sustainable, resilient, and inclusive seascapes in the target countries through a people-centric approach. The GBW initiative is built around four key pillars that align with the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. Pillar 1: Blue Planet focuses on scaling and improving the management and governance of protected and conserved marine areas, with a strong emphasis on equity, gender-responsiveness, and local stewardship— supporting countries to achieve target 3 of the GBF. Pillar 2: Blue Nature aims to restore and conserve critical ecosystems through gender-responsive Nature-based Solutions (NbS), aligned with GBF Target 2, and guided by the IUCN Global Standard for NbS. Pillar 3: Blue People promote a regenerative and inclusive Blue Economy by empowering local communities especially women and youth in nature-based value chains for climate adaptation, aligned with GBF Target 9. Pilar 4: Blue Partnerships which is a cross-cutting pillar focussing on strengthening connectivity at all levels and of all nature, i.e. social, ecological, institutional, local, national, regional, international, cross-sectorial, etc. These pillars support the broader goal of establishing the WIO LMMA Alliance to drive transformative and inclusive ocean governance in the region, including the development of communication and advocacy campaigns to support LMMA development, recognition and expansion in the region. The overall aim of this initiative is to establish and support the WIO LMMA Alliance to drive transformative change in the region. The specific objectives include: A functional, inclusive Alliance with a shared vision, mission, and strategic objectives Increased number of LMMAs under effective and sustainable management Legal recognition of LMMAs across countries, including integration as OECMs and in national conservation frameworks Financial and technical self-sufficiency of LMMAs, including mechanisms for direct access to funding Strengthened local leadership, particularly of women and youth, through platforms for learning and exchange Research, data collection, and the development of a regional LMMA database Recognition and valuation of traditional knowledge through science-policy dialogue and community-led research Strengthened LMMA visibility and voice through targeted advocacy, storytelling, and communications, particularly in achieving the 30x30 global conservation targets measurable ecological and biological outcomes, including increased use of permanent and temporary closures within LMMAs Description of the Assignment The consultant will be expected to: 1. Foundational review and stakeholder engagement - Review and analyse all relevant LMMA documentation (reports, scientific papers, grey papers, existing frameworks, legal analyses, etc.) at both regional and national levels, including in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles and South Africa. - Consult key stakeholders and engage virtually (or in person where feasible) with relevant government departments and agencies (environment, tourism, fisheries, etc), LMMA practitioners, national focal points, community leaders, CSOs, NGOs, women’s organisations, and regional organizations (e.g., CORDIO, WIOMSA, WWF, MIHARI Network, WIOMPAN Network, CI, WCS, IUCN) to understand their ongoing initiatives and state of knowledge, align efforts, and assess community needs regarding a WIO LMMA Toolkit. - Peer learning : Engage with the LMMA Network in the Pacific (virtually) to learn from their experiences and frameworks used to develop and scale the LMMA concept. 2. Dedicated Gender Equality and Inclusion Analysis - Apply the LMMA Gender Strategy: Building on the LMMA Gender Strategy co-developed under ReSea by Mission Inclusion and women’s organisations, conduct a comprehensive intersectional gender-power and inclusion analysis of LMMA governance, tenure, and practice. - Scope of Analysis: a. Identify structural barriers (e.g., care economy, safety, mobility, disability, language, land/sea tenure, customary rights). b. Map risks (including GBV/PSEA) and propose mitigation measures. c. Align recommendations with national gender equality and disability frameworks, as well as international human rights and environmental agreements. - Practical Outputs: Provide clear, actionable recommendations, tools, and checklists to integrate gender equality and inclusion across LMMA establishment, governance, operations, monitoring, financing, and communications. 3. Drafting the WIO LMMA toolkit Based on the review, consultations, and gender/inclusion analysis, ,develop a draft the WIO inclusive LMMA Toolkit, which should include at a minimum: - Background emphasizing the purpose and relevance of the toolkits, along with a brief narrative on the evolution and advancement of LMMAs in the WIO. This includes how the model was replicated from the Pacific to the WIO region and its subsequent adoption. - Foundational concepts covering the definition of LMMA extents, the demarcation protocol, and key principles for LMMAs in the WIO. It should also present a comparative analysis of the various terminologies used in the WIO in relation to the LMMA concept, and conclude with a recommendation for a common term for adoption. - Implementation aspects, taking into account governance frameworks, management structures, and operational models inspired by other regions and case studies. This should include key criteria for site selection consistent with the LMMA philosophy, clear steps for establishing and scaling inclusive LMMAs, and recommendations for governance mechanisms suitable for LMMAs at both national and regional levels. - Challenges and issues of inclusive LMMAs in the WIO region, along with opportunities for expansion, scaling up, and future perspectives for ensuring functional, effective, and sustainable LMMAs. - Lessons learned and guidance for creating national LMMA networks, drawing from experiences of the Pacific LMMA Network and the MIHARI Network in Madagascar. - Legal and alternative pathways for LMMA recognition across WIO countries. - The role of LMMAs in marine conservation, including their social, economic, and ecological contributions, and their alignment with global targets such as OECMs and 30x30. - Key insights to inform the establishment of the regional WIO LMMA Alliance. 4. Produce a strong advocacy and communication package to support the WIO LMMA Toolkit, including: Develop a 10-page communication brief summarizing the key messages of the toolkit in a visually engaging and accessible format. Produce a 5-minute video clip to introduce and promote the toolkit, highlighting its purpose, key content, and practical use. Design high-quality infographics and visual elements that communicate core concepts of the toolkit, including steps for LMMA establishment, governance models, benefits, etc. Create summary bulletins or factsheets targeting specific audiences (e.g., policymakers, communities, donors). Define a communication and advocacy strategy outlining how the products will be disseminated and used to promote LMMA adoption across the WIO and beyond. 5. Facilitate a process to validate the toolkit through online or in-person workshop(s) to gather stakeholder feedback for refinement. 6. Provide recommendations on how to duplicate and disseminate the toolkit for greater adoption, while fostering regional collaboration. 7. Incorporate all stakeholder inputs and produce the final, publishable version of the toolkit including the communication materials Duration of the Assignment The assignment is expected to be completed within over a 3-month period, starting from the date of contract signature, until 31 December 2025. Deliverables and Activities The consultant will provide the following deliverables and carry out the following activities: Deliverable/Activity-Description-Deadline 1. Deliverable 1-20 September 2025 Inception report with clear description of the context, methodology, work plan and suggested outline of the toolkit and the communication piece Activity 1A-Conduct preliminary desk review of LMMA documentation across WIO and Pacific. Activity 1B-Develop and validate methodology and work plan in consultation with IUCN. Activity 1C-Propose a detailed outline for the WIO LMMA Toolkit and communication products. 2. Deliverable 2-30 October 2025 Submission and presentation of the first draft technical report including the draft toolkit and the draft communication piece, including the script of the 5mn video Activity 2A-Conduct stakeholder consultations. Activity 2B-Draft technical sections of the WIO LMMA Toolkit based on analysis and inputs. Activity 2C-Prepare a 10-page draft communication brief and a script for the 5-minute video. 3. Deliverable 3-20 November - Stakeholders’ online session for results presentation and feedback - Submission of the communication pieces, including the 5mn video Activity 3A-Organize and facilitate an online validation workshop with regional stakeholders. Activity 3B-Revise communication brief and finalize the 5-minute video based on feedback. Activity 3C-Develop infographics, factsheets, and other advocacy materials. 4. Deliverable 4-10 December 2025 Submission of final technical report including the communication and advocacy materials Deliverable 4A-Finalize the WIO LMMA Toolkit incorporating stakeholder feedback. Deliverable 4B-Integrate visual elements (maps, templates, case studies) and annexes. Deliverable 4C- Align content with communication outputs for consistency Deliverable 4D-Submit final technical report and packaged communication products. Payment Schedule The Timetable below summarises the chronological order of deliverables and indicates milestones at which IUCN will pay the Consultant. Deliverable-Milestone payment Deliverable 1-20% Deliverable 2-25% Deliverable 3-25% Deliverable 4-30% Skills and Experience We are seeking a group of consultants with demonstrated technical expertise in LMMAs or Community based natural resources management related, including strong experience in marine conservation, community-based management, and regional policy frameworks. The team must include a robust professional communication unit, comprising at minimum a graphic designer and a video producer with a strong portfolio in environmental communication and advocacy. Additionally, the consultancy team should include a qualified GIS officer to support the development of maps, spatial analyses, and other visual data products that will be essential for the toolkit and related communication outputs. Finally, the team must include a specialist in gender and inclusivity to ensure that gender equality and social inclusion principles are fully integrated into all aspects of the project. Technical skills - Advanced university degree in marine science, natural resource management, environmental studies, social sciences, conservation, communication, or a related field. - At least 7 years of proven experience in marine and coastal conservation, with demonstrated expertise in community-based natural resource management (CBNRM), areabased management tools and applications, LMMAs, OECMs, gender equity or related approaches. - Strong understanding of approaches for integrated coastal zone management, marine governance frameworks, community-based management, and legal and policy frameworks in the WIO region. Knowledge of the LMMA concept and its evolution from the Pacific to the WIO context is an asset. - Proven experience in developing toolkits, guidance documents, or training materials, especially in participatory or community-led contexts. - Demonstrated experience conducting stakeholder consultations, participatory research, and synthesis of multi-country or regional findings, with familiarity with the key stakeholders and their work in the WIO. - Proven expertise in GIS and spatial analysis to support the production of maps and spatially informed content, with the ability to visualize and communicate geographic data relevant to LMMA planning, governance, and implementation. - Proven expertise in gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), including the ability to apply gender-responsive and socially inclusive approaches in project design, implementation, and monitoring. - Strong understanding of, and proven experience in applying, cross-cutting ethical and safeguarding principles, including protection and safety of all participants and communities, prevention of exploitation and abuse, Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), do-no-harm approach, conflict sensitivity, and data protection and privacy across field activities, capacity-building processes, and stakeholder engagement. - Excellent analytical, writing, and synthesis skills with the ability to present complex information in a clear and user-friendly format. - Experience working in or with WIO countries (e.g., Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius, Seychelles, South Africa) and a solid understanding of regional networks and institutions. - Fluency in English is required; working knowledge of French, Swahili, or Portuguese is an asset. - Ability to deliver high-quality outputs on time and within budget, working independently and collaboratively. Communication Skills: Proven ability to design and deliver high-quality communication outputs, including graphic design, layout of publications, development of infographics, and production of advocacy videos. Demonstrated experience in producing short video content tailored for awareness raising and outreach in conservation and community-based initiatives. Skilled in transforming technical and scientific information into accessible, engaging, and visually compelling formats for a wide range of audiences, including communities, policymakers, and donors. Experience developing user-friendly, visually engaging communication products such as toolkits, summary bulletins, case studies, and policy briefs. Familiarity with communication strategies that support the scaling and replication of conservation initiatives, especially in a multi-country or regional context. Supervision and coordination The consultant will report to and work under the supervision of IUCN’s Regional coastal and ocean governance Manager. They additionally will have coordination with IUCN’s communication team and the 5 seascape governance officers of the COR program in Kenya, Tanzania, Comoros, Mozambique and Madagascar. DECLARATION OF UNDERTAKING IN RELATION TO Consultancy to develop a regional LMMA toolkit for the Western Indian Ocean I, the undersigned, hereby confirm that I am an authorised representative of the following organisation: Registered Name of Organisation (the “Organisation”): _______________________ Registered Address (incl. country): _______________________________________ Year of Registration:__________________________________________________ I hereby authorise IUCN to store and use the information included in the attached Proposal for the purpose of evaluating Proposals and selecting the Proposal IUCN deems the most favourable. I acknowledge that IUCN is required to retain the Proposal in its entirety for 10 years after then end of the resulting contract and make this available to internal and external auditors and donors as and when reasonably requested. Where the Proposal includes Personal Data as defined by the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), I confirm that the Organisation has been authorised by each Data Subject to share this Data with IUCN for the purposes stated above. I further confirm that the following statements are correct: 1. The Organisation is duly registered in accordance with all applicable laws. 2. The Organisation is fully compliant with all its tax and social security obligations. 3. The Organisation and its staff and representatives are free of any real or perceived conflicts of interest with regards to IUCN and its Mission. 4. The Organisation agrees to declare to IUCN any real or perceived emerging conflicts of interests it or any of its staff and representatives may have concerning IUCN. The Organisation acknowledges that IUCN may terminate any contracts with the Organisation that would, in IUCN sole discretion, be negatively affected by such conflicts of interests. 5. None of the Organisation’s staff has ever been convicted of grave professional misconduct or any other offence concerning their professional conduct. 6. Neither the Organisation nor any of its staff and representatives have ever been convicted of fraud, corruption, money laundering, supporting terrorism or involvement in a criminal organisation. 7. The Organisation acknowledges that engagement by itself or any of its staff in fraud, corruption, money laundering, supporting terrorism or involvement in a criminal organisation will entitle IUCN to terminate any and all contracts with the Organisation with immediate effect. 8. The Organisation is a going concern and is not bankrupt or being wound up, is not having its affairs administered by the courts, has not suspended business activities, is not the subject of proceedings concerning those matters, or in any analogous situation arising from a similar procedure provided for in national legislation or regulations. 9. The Organisation complies with all applicable environmental regulatory requirements or other legal requirements relating to sustainability and environmental protection. 10. The Organisation is not included in the UN Security Council Sanctions List, EU Sanctions Map, US Office of Foreign Assets Control Sanctions List, or the World Bank listing of ineligible firms and individuals. The Organisation agrees that it will not provide direct or indirect support to firms and individuals included in these lists. 11. The Organisation has not been, is not, and will not be involved or implicated in any violations of Indigenous Peoples’ rights, or injustice or abuse of human rights related to other groups or individuals, including forced evictions, violation of fundamental rights of workers as defined by the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Declaration on the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, child labour, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment. ______________________________________________________
How to Apply
[https://iucn.org/procurement/currently-running-tenders](https://iucn.org/procurement/currently-running-tenders)