Background
The global fishing industry is characterized by a high level of illegality that has a negative impact on the economies, livelihoods and sustainable development. Crimes in the fisheries sector refers to a wilde range of criminal offences that occur at each stage of the fisheries value chain. These include fraud, forgery, corruption, tax evasion, etc. These crimes are different to Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, although they often occur at the same time.
In addressing crimes in the fisheries sector, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Environment Team bases its technical assistance on a “value chain” approach, which identifies the value chain stages, agencies involved, and possible entry points for different types of crimes. The purpose of adopting a value chain approach is a two-fold: firstly, it allows for the identification of the numerous points along the chain at which different types of criminal offences typically occur. Secondly, it allows for the highlighting of potential entry points for law enforcement interventions in identifying, investigating and prosecuting crime throughout the sector.
The UNODC Environment Team, under the framework of the “Enhanced Resiliency and Living Conditions for Vulnerable Communities Addressing Economic, Health, and Food Security Challenges due to Impacts of COVID-19 in Sierra Leone” project, will conduct a value chain analysis of the fisheries sector in Sierra Leone. The analysis will identify the different stages of the fisheries value chain specific to the context in these three countries, the different agencies involved in each of the stages of the value chain and the potential vulnerabilities/entry points for crimes in each of the stages. This analysis will help identify needs for potential technical assistance to address the vulnerabilities of the fisheries value chain to different forms of crime such as fraud and forgery, corruption, tax crime, etc. It will also sensitize the different agencies on the need for enhanced inter-agency cooperation to address crimes in the fisheries sector. The workshop organized for this purpose will contribute towards enhancing this collaboration.
To this end, UNODC Environment Team is seeking an expert consultant to carry out the necessary research, consultations and drafting of the value chain analysis for the fisheries sector in Sierra Leone. The analysis will be validated during a multi-agency workshop that facilitated by the consultant and UNODC staff. The consultant be responsible for organizing and leading the workshop and the drafting of the analysis report.
The assignment envisages approximately 30 working days spread between October and Novenber 2022.
The value chain analysis will serve as a basis for two related, targeted technical assistance planned under the same project, including a corruption risk assessments using UNODC’s Rotten Fish Guide on Addressing Corruption in the fisheries sector and capacity building activities for maritime law enforcement actors.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall supervision of the Regional coordinator for West and Central africa of UNODC’s Global Programme on crimes that affect the environment (GPCAE) the consultant consultant is expected to undertake and deliver the following specific tasks:
- Do a desk study to identify existing material and supplement as needed through research to complete a value chain analysis of the fisheries sector in Sierra Leone. Consult with the different government entities and community stakeholders engaged in each of the stages to complete the research. This research should also seek to dentify the entry points for different types of crimes.
- Prepare a draft value chain analysis reports to be validated at a multi-agency workshop organized in Sierra Leone in Q3 2022; that includes the following components: stages of the fisheries value chain, main activities in each of the stages, agencies involved and responsible for each of the activities/ stages, potential vulnerabilities and entry points for crimes in each of the stages identified with approximate ranking of the likelihood and magnitude of the different crime entry points;
- Provide substantive input to the agenda and the participants to be invited for the workshop and co-facilitate the workshop, together with UNODC staff and international experts; the objective of the workshop will be to valudate the value chain analysis report and further detail the potential crime entry points so that law enforcement capacity building programmes may be tailored to prevent and respond to these crimes through another activity under the overall UNODC programme in Sierra Leone; the workshop should engage both relevant government entities and representatives of fishing communities.
- Draft a revised report incorporating the workshop discussions, to include detail on crime entry points.
- Finalize the value chain analysis report based on feedback from UNODC, participants of the workshop and international experts who may review it.
Specific tasks of the consultant include:
- Conduct research and hold consultations with key agencies in Sierra Leone to inform on the value chain analysis;
- Preparation of draft value chain report based on conducted research and consultations held in the country;
- Participation and co-facilitation of the value chain analysis workshop;
- Provide support to the organisation and co-facilitation of other UNODC workshops within the framework of this project;
- Preparation of the last draft of the value chain report and incorporation of comments from UNODC, workshop participants and key stakeholders and experts;
- Submit final value chain analysis report for Sierra Leone to UNODC;
- After report approval, produce a 2-4-page report ‘brief” for use by a wide range of local partner that contains key information relevant to the persepctice of non-experts who work in fisheries sector management and for leaders of fishing communities.
The Reports in its entirety and the documentation collected under this contract will be the joint property of UNODC and the partners in this initiative. No part (s) of the Report including the documentation used or leading to the Report will be shared or made public to any other entity or person without the express written consent of UNODC GPWLFC and its partners.
Competencies
Functional competencies
- Strong analytical and organizational skills, including ability to digest, assess and keep track of a diverse range of information with a discerning sense for quality of data
- Good mastery of information technology required for organized presentation of information.
Development and Operational Effectiveness
- Adhere to the principle of confidentiality and ethical code of conduct during the evaluation
- Ability to work under pressure, multi-tasking skills with flexibility
- Ability to conduct required analysis in a timely manner, within the agreed timelines.
Corporate Competencies
- Familiarity with UNDP or UN work; and
- Ability to work in multicultural and multidisciplinary teams, acting with professionalism, diplomacy, tact and courtesy.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in international law, criminal law or related field is required. A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Professional Experience:
- A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in the area of crime prevention and criminal justice, including on crimes that affect the environment and/or crimes in the fisheries sector, is required;
- Knowledge of organized crime is required;
- Knowledge of the fisheries sector in Sierra Leone is required;
- Experience working for the United Nations or other international organizations is desirable.
Languages:
- English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in oral and written English is required.
Deliverables Target Due Dates Payment
Conduct research on the value chain in Sierra Leone and 7 october 2022 20%
the different agencies engaged in each of the stages,
including through consultations with key agencies
and stakeholders.
Provide substantive input to the agenda, identify the 18 October 2022 40%
participants for the workshop, co-facilitate the workshop.
Draft a report summarizing the findings of the consultations 15 November 2022 40%
and the workshop including the analysis of the fisheries value
chain in Sierra Leone and incorporate the comments provided
by UNODC experts and counterparts and submit final report.