Request for Tender: Development of Online Training Modules to Strengthen Government Capacity for Investigation into Transnational Wildlife Trafficking between Mozambique and Viet Nam

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY – REQUEST FOR TENDER

Development of online training modules to strengthen Government capacity for
investigation into transnational wildlife trafficking between Mozambique and Viet Nam

Expressions of Interest Deadline: 7th January 2022

Background

WCS has worked to strengthen enforcement and judicial cooperation between Mozambique and Vietnam for the last five years, supporting the development of legal cooperation mechanisms, establishing contact points and initiating joint activities. Whilst these formal cooperation mechanisms are critical to transnational enforcement efforts, they are dependent upon the domestic investigating and prosecuting agencies having adequate capacity and commitment, resisting corruption, and having trust in their international counterparts.

In Vietnam and Mozambique, the primary agencies responsible for conducting investigations into people trafficking wildlife from Africa to Asia are ANAC, SERNIC and customs in Mozambique; and the Environmental Police and the Economic police, and customs in Vietnam. Within all of these agencies, there is an urgent need to improve capacity to conduct cyber surveillance and open-source intelligence gathering to identify persons of interest, targets for prosecution, and actionable intelligence that will support enforcement. WCS is expanding our program of work to establish capacity in Mozambique and Vietnam to gather, analyze and share intelligence on high-priority wildlife trafficking networks.

Scope of work

The contractor will lead the development of a series of online training modules to improve capacity of frontline officers from Mozambique and Vietnam in conducting cyber surveillance, and open-source intelligence gathering. It is expected that the training modules will adopt a blended learning approach, be interactive, conducted in local languages, include one-on-one instructor-student interactions, and consider the feasibility of an in-person event as part of the course. The contractor will work with intelligence and instructing experts and in-country partners who will be recruited to develop the courses.

It is anticipated that the contractor will lead the delivery of the course in both countries and the contract will be amended with additional days for that.

Reports to: Executive Director, CWT

Internal Coordination: The consultant will work in close coordination with the WCS country programs and relevant partners in Mozambique and Viet Nam, and with the CWT Coordinator for Greater Mekong.

Specific Deliverables / Work plan

• Report of Initial research (January 2021): 5 days
  The contractor will hold a series of discussions with WCS staff and partners to establish (i) what a useful level of competence (threshold level) is for these skills, (ii) how that competence is best measured, (iii) the learning steps and training duration required to achieve competence, (iv) current status of capacity in those skills and computer literacy in both countries, (v) suitable training platforms and (vi) groups providing training in these topics already.
• Coordinate development of training courses and digital training environment (February-April): 12 Days
  The contractor will, where needed recruit and select, and then coordinate a group of technical experts to design the training course and materials including both asynchronous and synchronous content, digital training environment, assessments, handbooks, and reference materials, all translated into national languages. This will also include selection criteria or course requirements to specify the types of officers and agencies this course is aimed at.
• Coordinate transfer of the training course in Viet Nam and Mozambique (May-July):
  The contractor will transfer the training course to WCS Viet Nam and Mozambique country programs for delivery to participants, the time required is unknown at present given the content has not yet been developed.

Required qualifications:

• Experience of instructional management and development of training programs (in-person and virtual)
• Demonstrated background in training law enforcement officials, preferably from Asia and/or Africa
• Excellent coordination and communication skills
• Experience working at the interface of NGO and Government on law enforcement

Desirable attributes:

• Knowledge of cyber surveillance and open-source intelligence gathering to support enforcement
• Previous experience with WCS

Applications:

Interested applicants/firms should submit:

(1) a statement of capacity (no longer than 2 pages) that demonstrates their capacity to undertake this contract including proficiency with similar projects, experience providing similar services, appropriate technical expertise and capability; (2) Brief proposal (no longer than 3 pages) of their proposed approach to this assignment, including a financial proposal; (3) two references from previous clients for related services.

Applications should be submitted via email by 1700 (BKK/ICT) on 7th January 2022 to [email protected]

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.