Consultancy Service for Review Assessment

Aquaculture Programme - WWF Vietnam
Call for proposal

Review of the project: “Promoting certification & better Management practice among small scale shrimp farmer in Vietnam”

Terms of Reference

I.Introduction and background

WWF Greater Mekong Programme Office (GMPO) is implementing its FY2011-15 strategic plan, as well as facilitating the access for global WWF initiatives in the region. The three focus areas for the 2nd phase of the Danida programme; shrimp aquaculture, ecotourism and low carbon development, are all fully aligned to the GMPO strategic plan and/or other WWF global programme priorities, as well as the strategic principles of the Danida Programme. These intervention areas are characterized by having significant socio-economic importance, proven potential for poverty alleviation, high actual or projected growth rates, but also with considerable environmental/climate change related impacts. Geographically, the programme will continue the strong focus in Vietnam, but now also includes field interventions in Cambodia, and where appropriate, seeks to have wider regional impacts (disseminate best practices, advocate for regional agreements/commitment etc).

Shrimp Aquaculture

The Mekong Delta is one of the important landscapes of the Mekong Complex. It is home to one fifth of the Vietnamese population with population densities that are amongst the highest in the country. Agriculture and fisheries are the major sources of income for the large majority of the people. The area is known as the ‘rice bowl’ of Viet Nam contributing 46% of the total national food production.

Vietnam's total export turnover of shrimp in 2013 exceeded US$2 billion; white-leg shrimp had an export turnover of $952 million and giant tiger prawns accounted for the remainder (data from VASEP). Apart from the economic value that the shrimp aquaculture industry generates for Vietnam, this business also provides hundred of thousands of jobs for local communities. However, it also poses several threats to the environmental health of the region including:

• Ecological consequences from conversion of natural ecosystems, particularly mangroves, for construction of shrimp ponds;
• Salinity intrusion into the ground water and onto agriculture land;
• Pollution to coastal waters due to pond effluents;
• Biodiversity issues arising from collection of wild brood and seed;
• Introduction of pathogens, leading to major shrimp disease outbreaks and significant economic losses;
• Use of unsustainably sourced fish meal to feed shrimp.

To help protect the environment and maintain conservation values, as well as to promote the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta, the WWF Greater Mekong programme has set specific targets for the region in its recent strategic plan. Specifically, in direct relation to shrimp aquaculture, it is planned that “By 2015, 1,000 hectares of the shrimp production in the Mekong delta is certified as compliant to the Shrimp Aquaculture Dialogue/ASC standards”. In February 2012, DANIDA approved the second phase of the project: “Promoting certification & Better Management Practice among small scale shrimp farmers in Vietnam” from March 2012 to December 2014 with the long term goal for the WWF DK 2nd phase Thematic Programme being:

Contribute to a sustainable development and to sustainable use/management of natural resources, with a view to improve the livelihood of poor segments of society and the equitable sharing of benefits and costs of the natural resource use.

The Danida program has been designed with two immediate objectives:

Immediate Objective 1: (Sustainable Production, Trade and Investments)

• Economically, socially and environmentally sustainable productions, trade and investments related to key natural resources are gaining momentum in the three regions.

Immediate Objective 2: (Governance and Empowerment)

• The transformation of governance structures, frameworks and practices for key natural resources have made considerable progress with active involvement of civil society organizations and private sector

The project Promoting certification & Better Management Practice among small scale shrimp farmers in Vietnam is to build capacity on sustainable shrimp farming through better management practices (BMP) based on the Shrimp Aquaculture Dialogue (ShAD/ASC) for 30 farmer groups and cooperatives; and for local government officers in 3 provinces of Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau, including related CSOs. The project also connects international buyers with national processors to trade sustainable shrimp in the project sites.

The project’s proposed activities are grouped into 2 components include:

• Component 1: Sustainable productions, trade and investment. In this component the proposed project is designed to support the implementation of best management practices in the shrimp aquaculture sector in the Mekong Delta, via activities including training on BMPs, group management and traceability systems provided to both government officials and farmer groups. These interventions will be strengthened and disseminated via the development of an online learning platform for sharing ASC related information and experience. Furthermore support will be provided to ensure an increased market demand for sustainable commodities through engaging at least 5 international seafood buyers to purchase ASC certified shrimps from the Mekong delta with premium price.

• Component 2: Empowerment and governance. For this component, the project facilitates the government to formally provide support to farmers in implementing ASC certification. It is reflected in its expected outputs that “government formally supports ASC certified shrimp aquaculture” and also seafood buyers commit to buy the products with premium price. Expected MoUs should also describe how to share the benefit of ASC certified shrimp products amongst related parties. 15 new small-scale shrimp farmer groups will be established and strengthened organizationally and technically. Component, key CS partners have also been strengthened to work on linkages between natural resource management, voluntary sustainability initiatives and livelihoods improvement which make sure their role and influence towards sustainability. In addition, at least local NGO will be linked strengthened to support and multiply successes of project to the others and increase sustainable of project outcomes.

In order to accomplish these goals, a review of the project has been set to evaluate and review the implementation and progress so far and to ensure that the objectives of the project are achieved by end of 2014 with recommendations for future programme potential and development.

II.Objective of the Review Assessment

The objective of the review is

1.to assess against Danida programe objectives , how the sustainable production of shrimp based on the Shrimp Aquaculture Dialogue (ShAD/ASC); livelihood improvement; gender mainstreaming; social aspects; and conservation effects/outcomes of project activities over the last 2 years have:

• Contributed to or benefited to biodiversity conservation outcomes under this project and at what scales;
• Resulted in the sustainable use of natural resources;
• Improved livelihoods for poor segments of society;
• Contributed to greater inclusion of local stakeholders (communities, CSOs) in conservation and sustainable management of the natural ecosystems;
• Helped strengthen civil society at local and national levels to voice their issues with decision makers;
• Enhanced national and regional governance frameworks and policies related to livelihood improvements and inclusion in natural resource management and land rights;
• Addressed issues related to gender equity and equality;
• Addressed issues related to indigenous people’s rights, where relevant;
• Complied with the relevant WWF policies, frameworks and positions;
• Made quantitative links between livelihood improvement and improved conservation outcomes.

2.to provide recommendations for any change, revise and improvement for project to ensure the most efficient and effective implementation and linkage between livelihood improvement (including gender mainstreaming strategy/ies) and conservation, as well as sustainability of the results for the remaining period and the next phase.

III.Methodology and Activities

The review mission will adopt a consultative and participative approach. This will include field visits to project sites and meetings with selected communities / farmer groups/cooperatives in  3 provinces to collect information and data. The review mission will also meet with the Project team, relevant government agencies / partners at provincial/district level, the mission may also meet with other organizations / projects engaged in similar interventions as necessary. The review mission will start with a meeting at WWF Vietnam Office to agree on the workplan, time line and methodologies and conclude with a debriefing meeting with WWF Vietnam and other project partners, if any.

The review consists of three phases, including: (i) Preparation phase, (ii) implementation phase, and (iii) analysis and reporting phase. It is expected that the review will include the following methodologies:

(i) Preparation phase:

During the preparation phase a description of the specific methodology to be applied and a detailed implementation plan must be developed and submitted to and approved by the Aquaculture Programme, WWF Vietnam before starting the implementation phase of the review.

(ii) Implementation Phase, including:

• Meetings with WWF Vietnam Aquaculture Programme in both Hanoi and in Mekong Delta (including orientation of next phase);
• Interviews with local stakeholders (CSO,) and national government officers;
• Field visits to project areas, including interviews/meetings with relevant external stakeholders (community representatives, implementing CSO partners and private & public sector stakeholders, project staff, local Government Officers, farmers in 3 project provinces of Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau);
• Fieldwork with target groups will be carried out at a number of selected sites based on a mix of data collection and group discussion techniques.

(iii) Analysis and reporting phase:

• Results from the implementation phase will be further analysed using appropriate tools.
• References to best practice examples in or outside the region should also be incorporated.

IV.Team Composition

The team should consist of a team leader plus 1 or 2 other experts with relevant experience and background on conservation/ sustainable aquaculture (including BMP and ASC) and gender and community development. All members of the review team should have substantial work experience as well as knowledge of the Mekong region and its environmental governance. Members of the team should furthermore have expertise in the fields of development evaluation and appraisal missions, transboundary natural resource management, policy analysis, organizational and institutional capacity building.

The Team Leader should document a proven record of successful team leading of similar evaluations and appraisals.

WWF Vietnam will support this by allocating management and staff time to participate in meetings, interviews and field visits.

V.Time Frame

The review must be finalized and final reporting concluded no later than 30 August  2014

VI.Expected Outcome and Reporting

VI.1. Expected Outcomes:

Main outcomes of the review are expected to cover the follow aspects:

• Analysis on project implementation and its achievements against desired outcomes, outputs and indicators, including things needing improvement, lessons-learned, strengths and weaknesses (including reasons and how these can be addressed), and how to improve and expand.
• how sustainable production based on the ShAD, BMP have impacted conservation and development issues in the project areas;
• How the project activities have impacted livelihood and gender equality in the farmer groups and local communities;
• Recommendations for future orientation of Shrimp project development and implementation in line with environmental and social responsibility.

VI.2. Reporting : main final report should not be longer than 30 pages to cover all items required in section VI.1.

VII.Review Budget

Funding from Shrimp Project, WWF Vietnam and WWF Denmark

VIII.Proposal required

• Profile of service provider must be required
• Proposed methodology, workplan, activities, timeframe and budget included
• Profile of team leader and members of the review team
• Proposal package in English should be sent to: Aquaculture Programme, WWF Vietnam at D13 Thang Long International Village, Cau Giay District, Hanoi, Vietnam, or via email: [email protected] no later than 17:30 on the 25 July 2014.