IUCN: Request for Proposals
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Request for Proposals (RfP) for an
African Consultant to Assess Scientific
and Technical Capacities and
Development of a Capacity-Building
Programme for BBNJ Implementation in
Africa
Eastern and South African Regional Office, Accelerating Ratification and Implementation of
BBNJ Treaty in Western Indian Ocean Project
RfP Reference: IUCN-25-01-G-25-2140764 and CLB-2638
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: daniel.lekuroito@ext.iucn.org
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
22/07/2025 Publication of the Request for Proposals
28/07/2025 Deadline for submission of questions
01/08/2025 Planned publication of responses to questions
08/08/2025 Deadline for submission of Proposals to IUCN (“Submission Deadline”)
11/08/2025 Clarification of Proposals (if relevant)
15/08/2025 Planned date for contract award
18/08/2025 Expected contract start date
IUCN: Request for Proposals
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’s 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 Must be a national of an African country
3 Confirm that you have all the necessary legal registrations to perform the work
4 State your annual turnover for each of the past 3 years
5 How many employees does your organisation have who are qualified for this work?
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. Approach and methodology detailed in the Inception Report
● A clear, methodological and coherent approach to delivering the four components: situational analysis/literature review, needs assessment, capacity-building programme design, and recommendations for science-policy interface. (15 pts)
● Demonstrate ability to anticipate challenges especially related to data gaps, limited data accessibility, political sensitivities, and institutional coordination bottlenecks. Subsequently, then propose realistic, context sensitive solutions to address them. A detailed workplan timeline for delivering the outputs
within the consultancy period. (15 pts)
2 Cv
● Applicants should demonstrate experience in marine science, the science–policy interface, capacity development, technology transfer, and regional coordination. A minimum of a master’s degree in environmental science, marine science, environmental law, or a closely related field is required. (15 pts)
● Demonstrate familiarity with the implementing Agreements of the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (‘1994 Agreement/ ISA, UNFSA and BBNJ, ocean governance frameworks and bodies (ISA/RFMOs), CBD, and related frameworks. (10 pts)
3 Cover letter
● Demonstrate a clear understanding of the BBNJ Agreement, the challenges facing African states in meeting its obligations, and the importance of building scientific and technical capacity. (10pts)
● Explain interest in the role, availability, and summary of qualifications. (10 pts)
4 Work samples
● Provide evidence that the consultant/team has conducted similar research or policy-oriented
work across Africa/on a continental scale on ocean governance, science-policy interfaces, or
capacity building including:
– Summary of similar projects undertaken (especially regional or continental in scope). (7 pts)
– Experience with science-policy platforms (e.g. Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, The Intergovernmental
Oceanographic Commission of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Africa Union’s Science, Technology and Innovation etc.). (6 pts)
– Knowledge of institutional landscape in African science and marine governance. (6 pts)
– Participation in peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, commissioned studies, policy briefs, or participation in regional or continental initiatives. (6 pts)
Total: 100%
4.5. Financial Proposal
4.5.1. The Financial Proposal must be a fixed and firm price of 15,000USD for the provision
of the goods/services stated in the Rfp in their entirety.
4.5.2. Prices in 4.5.1. should include all miscellaneous 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.
4.6. Additional information not requested by IUCN should not be included in your Proposal and will
not be considered in the evaluation.
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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%.
IUCN: Request for Proposals
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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.
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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 procurement@iucn.org. Such complaints or concerns
will be treated as confidential and are not considered in breach of the above restrictions on
communication (Section 2.1).
IUCN: Request for Proposals
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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)
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Terms of Reference for IUCN
Consultancy
Title: Consultant to Assess Scientific and Technical Capacities and Development of a
Capacity-Building Programme for BBNJ Implementation in Africa
Objective of the Consultancy
IUCN ESARO is conducting a project to support the ratification and early implementation of the
Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement by African States. The BBNJ Agreement
sets out new global obligations that will require countries to develop and apply scientific and technical
expertise across a range of areas, from marine genetic resources (MGRs), to the establishment and
management of area-based management tools (ABMTs), environmental impact assessments (EIAs),
and the monitoring of cumulative impacts in the high seas, inter alia. Thus, a key enabler to BBNJ
implementation is robust scientific and technical capacity. At the same time, the BBNJ Agreement
also provides a catalytic opportunity to galvanise African marine science systems, foster regional
collaboration, and strengthen the science-policy interface needed to manage biodiversity both within
and beyond national jurisdiction effectively and equitably.
The objective of this consultancy is to assess the current scientific and technical capacity of African
coastal and island states to implement the BBNJ Agreement and to develop a roadmap for a fit-forpurpose
capacity-building programme to address identified gaps and BBNJ Readiness. This includes:
1. Conducting a situational analysis of national and regional scientific expertise, infrastructure,
and institutions relevant to the BBNJ Agreement;
2. Identifying and categorising the types of expertise and resources (eg deep-sea ecology, spatial
planning, marine genetic science, oceanographic data collection) needed to meet BBNJ
obligations, whilst also identifying cross-cutting scientific skills and institutional capabilities that
are applicable to both BBNJ implementation and other blue economy and ocean governance
priorities;
3. Evaluating the interface between science and policy at national and regional levels, including
links between scientific institutions and decision-making bodies and needs; and
4. Mapping potential centres of excellence across the continent that could contribute to regional
leadership and collaboration in BBNJ implementation, and designing a regionally grounded
capacity-building programme and pilot activities for the centres of Excellence.
We’re inviting expressions of interest from individuals or institutions with strong scientific expertise in
marine research and ocean science, especially as it relates to the BBNJ Agreement. We’re looking
for partners who can help strengthen regional capacity and connect science with policy.
Background
Project Reference: IUCN Project Number from Project Portal – AVKE-00127, PA04745.06
Donor reference: DR04745.04
About IUCN
IUCN: Request for Proposals
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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
The adoption of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS) in June 2023 marks a historic milestone in advancing the conservation and sustainable
use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), commonly referred to as the
BBNJ Agreement. This landmark treaty addresses critical issues such as the fair and equitable sharing
of benefits from marine genetic resources (MGRs), the establishment of area-based management
tools (ABMTs) including marine protected areas (MPAs), the application of environmental impact
assessments (EIAs), and the enhancement of capacity building and the transfer of marine technology
(CBTMT).
In preparation for the Agreement’s entry into force, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
adopted Decision 78/560, which calls for two sessions of the Preparatory Commission (Prep-Com) in
2025—scheduled for 14–25 April and 18–29 August 2025, whilst the 3rd Preparatory Commission has
been slated for March 2026. These sessions are critical opportunities for UN Member States to
prepare for the implementation phase of the Agreement. The 3rd UN Ocean Conference, which took
place on 8-13 June 2025 in Nice, France, preceded by the One Ocean Science Congress, saw a wave
of ratifications, pushing the BBNJ Agreement close to reaching the threshold of 60 ratifications to
trigger its entry into force.
In response to this urgency, IUCN’s Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO), through
its Coastal and Ocean Resilience (COR) Programme, is working with global and regional partners to
support 11 African countries—Angola, Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique,
Namibia, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, and Tanzania—in ratifying and implementing the BBNJ
Agreement. It is furthermore engaging with the African Union Commission and relevant partners to
ensure continental engagement and coherence.
IUCN-ESARO serves as a trusted convenor, guiding a regional approach to implementation through
four core pillars:
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– Awareness and capacity building
– Strengthening legal and institutional frameworks
– Fostering regional and continental coordination
– Enhancing local scientific capacity, including site identification, threat analysis, and
sustainable financing methods.
This consultancy is commissioned under IUCN’s Great Blue Wall Initiative. The BBNJ Africa
Programme is also part of a wider initiative funded by the Bloomberg Ocean Fund and the Minderoo
Foundation, covering the period 2024–2026. The project aims to empower African States to actively
engage in and benefit from the BBNJ regime through targeted technical assistance, stakeholder
engagement, and strategic partnerships.
The initiative also supports broader continental ambitions for ocean governance as articulated in the
African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Great Blue Wall initiative. It complements existing efforts under
regional frameworks such as WIOMSA, the Nairobi Convention, and the Africa Group of Negotiators,
reinforcing a unified continental voice in global ocean governance processes.
Description of the Assignment
IUCN is seeking a consultant to support efforts to strengthen Africa’s scientific and technical capacity
for effective implementation of the BBNJ Agreement. The consultant may come from academia, a
research institution, consultancy, or operate independently, but should have strong expertise in
science-policy interface, marine science and/or capacity development; particularly in relation to the
BBNJ Agreement.
With the BBNJ Agreement moving toward implementation, building scientific and technical capacity is
more important than ever. While African states played an active and constructive role during the
negotiation phase of the Agreement, many continue to face significant scientific, technical, and
institutional challenges in preparing for its implementation. These include gaps in research
infrastructure, limited technical expertise in key thematic areas of the Agreement, and a lack of
structured mechanisms for connecting scientific evidence to policy decision-making. It is also noted
that many of these capabilities could be interoperable with ocean governance within national
jurisdiction.
This consultancy aims to address these challenges through a structured and consultative process
focused on four core components:
– First, the consultant will undertake a situational analysis/literature review to map existing
scientific, academic, and technical capacities across Africa relevant to the four pillars of
the BBNJ Agreement, namely marine genetic resources (MGRs), area-based
management tools (ABMTs), environmental impact assessments (EIAs), and capacity
building and transfer of marine technology (CBTMT), and their implementation.
– Second, a comprehensive needs assessment will be carried out to identify critical capacity
gaps and opportunities to strengthen institutional readiness for implementation of the BBNJ
agreement, identifying potential centres of excellence. This assessment will engage a
broad range of stakeholders, including government agencies, research institutions,
regional bodies, and civil society organisations.
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– Third, the consultant will design a regionally tailored capacity-building programme that
builds on existing assets, responds to identified needs and priorities, and aligns with key
continental and regional frameworks. The programme should be scalable, inclusive, and
rooted in principles of equity and knowledge co-production.
– Finally, the consultancy will propose a functional model for a science-policy interface that
enables African scientists, institutions, and networks to effectively engage with and
contribute to the STB of the BBNJ Agreement. This interface should be informed by best
practices in existing global and regional science-policy platforms and tailored to Africa’s
institutional and political landscape. The goal is to support regular, meaningful input from
African experts into decision-making under the Agreement.
Through this assignment, IUCN aims to ensure that African states are not only ready to implement the
BBNJ Agreement but are also equipped to influence global ocean governance by strengthening their
scientific voice and regional coordination.
Duration of the Assignment
Four (4) months, from 18/08/2025 to 18/01/2026
Deliverables and Activities
The Consultant will undertake the following activities:
# Deliverable Description Deadline(2025)
1. Inception report Outlining the consultant’s understanding of the assignment, refined methodology, stakeholder engagement plan, and detailed work plan.18th August
2. Situational Analysis/Literature Review Report Mapping of Africa’s current scientific and technical
landscape relevant to BBNJ (institutions, capacities, networks, infrastructure, gaps). A science literature review conducted and regional and subregional perspectives must be reflected.16th September
3. Needs Assessment Matrix Consolidated findings from stakeholder consultations, surveys, and interviews highlighting technical, policy, and institutional gaps and priorities for action. 7th October
4. Draft Capacity Building Programme Proposed programme design, including curriculum areas, implementation pathways, and alignment with AU-STI and other regional strategies. 28th October
5. Science-Policy Interface Framework concept short paper on identifying science to policy gaps using BBNJ as a good case study Framework and roadmap for establishing or strengthening a science-policy interface that supports African engagement in the BBNJ STB and other relevant fora. 18th November
6 Final Synthesis Report A consolidated report integrating the above deliverables, including actionable
recommendations for phased implementation and partnerships. 4th December
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 – 25%
Deliverables 2-3 – 30%
Deliverables 4-5 -30%
Deliverable 6 -15%
Skills and Experience
The consultant(s) must have the following skills, education and experience as a minimum:
● Educational Background: Demonstrate experience in marine science, the science–policy
interface, capacity development, technology transfer, and regional coordination. A minimum of
a Master’s degree in environmental science, marine science, environmental law, or a closely
related field is required.
● Relevant Experience: A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in conducting
situational analyses, needs assessments, or designing capacity-building initiatives in the fields
of marine biodiversity, ocean governance, or science-policy interfaces. Prior work across
multiple African regions is essential.
● Technical Skills: Demonstrated expertise in science-policy interface development; research
capacity and institutional landscape analysis; stakeholder mapping and engagement (including
government, academia, and regional bodies); and designing training programmes. Confident
in analysing and understanding both quantitative and qualitative data sets.
● Knowledge Requirements: Strong understanding of the BBNJ Agreement, UNCLOS, and
other multilateral environmental agreements. Familiarity with African Union science and
technology frameworks, regional marine governance initiatives, and the role of the Scientific
and Technical Body (STB) in global environmental governance.
● Soft Skills and Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including
report writing and presenting findings to diverse audiences. Demonstrated ability to collaborate
with a range of stakeholders in multicultural and multidisciplinary settings, including
policymakers, and technical experts.
● Adaptability and Commitment: Ability to work independently and meet deadlines under
minimal supervision. Willingness and availability to participate in online and in-person
consultations, workshops, and stakeholder validation processes across Africa.
● Language: Fluency in English is required. Fluency in French, Arabic, Spanish, Swahili and
Portuguese is preferred. The consultant can opt to hire translators if needed and can
incorporate the costs into the budget/proposal.
Supervision and coordination
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The consultant(s) will report to and work under the supervision of the Senior Programme Officer BBNJ
Treaty.
The consultant(s) will meet with the COR programme team at least once a week and through emails,
team meetings and other relevant channels to coordinate and collaborate through this consultancy.
NB: The email to be used exclusively for this consultancy is daniel.lekuroito@ext.iucn.org.
How to apply
Step 1: Acquire Tender Documents
Obtain the relevant tender documents.
Step 2: Review Requirements
Thoroughly read the tender specifications, terms, and conditions.
Step 3: Prepare Proposal
Prepare your proposal as guided, ensuring all the required information is included.
Step 4: Submission
Submit your completed proposal by 08/08/2025 via daniel.lekuroito@ext.iucn.org.
NB: The email to be used exclusively for this consultancy is daniel.lekuroito@ext.iucn.org.