72062424RFI00002_IllegalUnreportedandUnregulatedFishingActivity.pdf

RFI Number: SOL 72062424RFI00002 Issuance Date: June 10, 2024 Response Due Date and Time: September 09, 2024, 17:00 hours Accra time Response email address: rtawonezvi@usaid.gov and vhollosy@usaid.gov

Dear Prospective Offerors:

Pursuant to FAR 52.215-3 “Request for Information (RFI),” the United States Government represented by the United States Agency for International Development, West Africa Regional Mission (USAID/West Africa or USAID/WA) is seeking information to support a potential activity to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and associated human rights and labor abuses, particularly focused on the Gulf of Guinea as outlined in this RFI.

Through this RFI, USAID/West Africa aims to deepen our understanding of key threats and drivers of IUU fishing and associated labor abuse across West Africa. We are also interested in advancing collaborative discussions among USG partners, local organizations, and other leading experts to inform future USAID programming and coordination by: 1) Clarifying the underlying incentive structures behind IUU fishing by industrial, semi-industrial, and small-scale fleets in West Africa; 2) Investigating the types of strategies and interventions that can shift these incentives toward legality and sustainability under the different circumstances present in West Africa; and 3) Considering the types of regional organizations, partnerships, or coordination mechanisms that could implement effective strategies and achieve impact at a regional scale.

USAID/West Africa envisions that any IUU fishing programming will focus on collaborating with local stakeholders and regional organizations to bolster fisheries management in the region.

This would help to ultimately contribute to the Mission’s vision of improving regional fisheries management by strategically shifting marine fisheries toward legality and sustainability.

Finally, all information gathered through this RFI will support fisheries management activities globally.

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes, and so it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), a Request for Quotation (RFQ), an Invitation for Bids (IFB), or a Solicitation. Responses to this RFI are not proposals and will in no way be deemed to form any mailto:rtawonezvi@usaid.gov mailto:vhollosy@usaid.gov binding agreement with the RFI issuing authority. Not responding to this request does not preclude participation in future solicitation, if such is issued.

Responses to this RFI will not be returned, and respondents will not be notified of the result of the review. There will be no debrief or evaluation letter to responders. It is the potential contractor’s responsibility to monitor the site for the release of any further information. It should be noted that responding to this RFI will not give any advantage to any organization in any subsequent procurement.

This RFI does not restrict the Government’s approach on a future Solicitation. Information from this RFI may lead to one-on-one market research discussions and other recommended approaches to industry engagement.

Interested parties wishing to respond to this request must submit their response via email, in Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat formats are acceptable. Please email responses to: Viktoria Stott Hollosy at vhollosy@usaid.gov and to Ruby Tawonezvi at rtawonezvi@usaid.gov no later than the closing date as referenced above. Please reference the subject title “Contractor’s Name, Response to RFI No.”

PLEASE NOTE THAT USAID WILL ONLY REVIEW RESPONSES DIRECTLY RELATED TO THIS RFI

AND RESPONDING TO THE QUESTIONS AND AREAS SPECIFIED BELOW. ANY PROMOTIONAL

MATERIAL, RESUMES, OR FUNDING REQUESTS OF ANY KIND WILL NOT BE OPENED AND

REVIEWED. PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT SUCH COMMUNICATION IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE.

Thank you for your interest in partnering with USAID to deliver development technical assistance.

Sincerely

Viktoria Stott Hollosy Contracting Officer

I. RESPONSE GUIDELINES & REQUIREMENTS

Cover page, not to exceed one (1) page that includes:

1. Organization name and address

2. Size and type of organization, including if applicable U.S. business, or other status

3. Geographic Scope: Where does your organization have geographic experience and expertise?

4. A brief statement of interest that indicates the organization's interest in applying.

5. Optional: If a team, or consortium is envisioned, please provide the names of other potential partner organizations.

6. Point of contact name, phone, and email address.

7. If you have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued by the U.S. government, please enter it here. This is not required to respond to this RFI

II. BACKGROUND

One quarter of West Africa’s population relies on small-scale marine fisheries for their food security and livelihood1. Historically, the region has had some of the most productive and diverse fisheries in the world, with its marine ecosystems containing a diverse range of species vital for the small-scale, semi-industrial, and industrial fishing sectors2. However, most stocks are now considered to be over-exploited as a result of: IUU fishing, over-capacity across all fleets, and unsustainable fishing practices. West Africa is also known as a global hotspot for IUU fishing, with one study estimating that 40 percent of global IUU fishing takes place in the region. This corresponds to financial losses of up to USD $9.4 billion each year 2 for West African coastal States3. Of particular concern is IUU fishing in the small pelagic fishery, which makes significant food security contributions across the region and provides livelihoods for communities along the coast4.

Decreased ecosystem productivity jeopardizes the economic, food and nutritional security and cultural values of coastal fishing communities across West Africa. Additionally, a lack of a coordinated regional approach towards fisheries management has resulted in low economic returns as compared to other regions that manage fish stocks at regional levels. Recent economic analysis suggests that current licensing arrangements offer low (~2-3%) economic benefit for coastal states West Africa. For example, West African coastal states receive a much smaller percentage of catch value than Pacific Islands countries, which negotiate access agreements as a block and make approximately ~25% from total catch value5. Analysis reveals that unsustainable fishing practices, including IUU fishing, poses significant risks to the well being of millions of communities throughout West Africa.

III. CONTEXT ANALYSIS

[See the Visual Context Analysis on page 8]

Figure One (1) summarizes the current context related to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and associated labor abuse in West Africa. The right side of the diagram summarizes the human well-being and ecological focal interests relevant to the region's fisheries. USAID’s

1 Takyi, R. et al. “Marine fisheries management in the Eastern Central Atlantic Ocean.” Ocean and Coastal Management 244.

2 Fallier, 2020. Overview and trends of CCLME fisheries. Environmental Development 36, 100573.

3 Daniels, A., M. Kohonen, N.Gutman, & M.Thiam. 2022. Fishy networks: Uncovering the companies and individuals behind illegal fishing globally. Financial Transparency Coalition. Boston, USA. 35pp.

4 Okafor-Yarwood, Ifesinachi, et al. "Survival of the Richest, not the Fittest: How attempts to improve governance impact African small-scale marine fisheries." Marine Policy 135 (2022): 104847.

5 Virdin, J. et al. 2018. West Africa’s coastal bottom trawl fishery: Initial examination of a trade in fishing services. Marine Policy, 100: 288-297.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0964569123003095 https://financialtransparency.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/FTC-fishy-Network-OCT-2022-Final.pdf https://financialtransparency.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/FTC-fishy-Network-OCT-2022-Final.pdf https://financialtransparency.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/FTC-fishy-Network-OCT-2022-Final.pdf https://financialtransparency.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/FTC-fishy-Network-OCT-2022-Final.pdf

Human Well-being Interests surround livelihoods, food and economic security, and regional security. Interests include:

● Food security & fishing livelihoods: An estimated one quarter of West Africans rely on small-scale marine fisheries for their food security and livelihoods. Small-scale fisheries are critical to coastal communities, supporting livelihoods, nutrition, and social well-being6. Small pelagic fisheries have historically been harvested by men and processed (dried, smoked, etc) by women as part of an expansive small-scale fishery that serves as the main source of animal protein and makes substantial contributions to food security in the region. The overall decline of vital fish stocks due to IUU fishing activities and the harvesting of small pelagics for fishmeal and fish oil for export has significant food security and livelihood implications across the region7.

● Economic growth: Fish is a major commodity traded regionally and globally, providing millions of jobs across West Africa. At a regional level, it is estimated that IUU fishing contributes to financial losses of up to USD $9.4 billion each year2 for West African coastal states, and recent economic analysis suggests that current licensing arrangements offer low (~2-3%) economic benefit for coastal governments in West Africa. African countries receive a much smaller percentage of catch value than Pacific Islands countries, which negotiate access agreements as a block and make approximately ~25% from total catch value8.

● Coastal protection: Coastal flooding, erosion, and habitat degradation can compound the impact of overfishing and IUU fishing. Protecting and conserving key habitats, such as mangroves, seagrass beds, and other estuary ecosystems, which serve as vital nursery grounds for fish species, are key to rebuilding fish stocks and to building communities resilient to coastal change.

● Marine biodiversity: IUU fishing activities often include the use of destructive fishing methods including bottom trawling, which can cause long lasting damage to the marine environment, high rates of by-catch, and the unintentional capture of non-target species including sea turtles, sharks, and dolphins. By destroying the ecosystems that enable fish and other marine species to survive, IUU fishing activities are a clear threat to marine biodiversity, as well as to fishing livelihoods and cultures across West Africa.

6 Okafor-Yarwood, Ifesinachi, et al. "Survival of the Richest, not the Fittest: How attempts to improve governance impact African small-scale marine fisheries." Marine Policy 135 (2022): 104847.

7 Thiao, D. and Bunting, S.W. 2022. Socio-economic and biological impacts of the fish-based feed industry for sub-Saharan Africa.

8 Virdin, John, et al. "A snapshot of the economic benefits from foreign bottom trawling in coastal West Africa: A mutually-beneficial trade in services, no winners or extractivism?." Fish and Fisheries 23.5 (2022): 1070-1082.

● Cultural values: West Africa has long had strong social ties to fisheries. Fish is a much loved food and is a key part of diets across the region. The value of fisheries across the region goes far beyond economic value to encompass social, relational and historical networks9. The decline and collapse of fish stocks will threaten these networks and ways of living.

● Peace and security: IUU fishing erodes regional and national security, undermines maritime law and the rights of coastal states to exercise their sovereignty over, and right to benefit from, their marine resources.

USAID’s Ecological Interests focus on key fisheries, species and habitats including:

● Small pelagic fisheries: The small pelagic fishery is currently believed to be in steep decline due to illegal and destructive harvesting by industrial and semi-industrial trawlers, over-harvesting by small-scale fishers as a result of destructive fishing methods and over-capacity of the fleet, and localized harvesting for fishmeal and fish oil10 11.

● Higher-value exports: Bottom-trawl fisheries for snapper, grouper, and other demersal fish by industrial trawlers are mostly exported to Asia. Industrial trawlers are licensed to harvest deep-water fish in the region; however, evidence suggests they are illegally harvesting the small pelagic fisheries targeted by domestic small-scale and semi-industrial fleets, contributing to the decline of a stock vital for local food security.

Industrial trawlers have also been implicated in the abuse of crew working on board12.

While the true owners of these trawlers are often foreigners, they are frequently licensed to West Africans in countries that require owners to be nationals.

For many observers, the conflict between foreign industrial and small-scale fleets is a critical issue that, if not addressed, poses a constraint in achieving legality, sustainability, and equity in West African fisheries. These conflicts are often centered around destructive practices by industrial and semi-industrial bottom trawlers13.

Trawlers are typically licensed to fish for bottom-dwelling species beyond the range of

9 Asiedu, Berchie, et al. "Fishers’ lives matter: social issues in small-scale fisheries migration of Ghana." Marine and Fishery Sciences (MAFIS) 36.2 (2023): 119-

135.

10 FAO 2018. Report of the FAO Working Group on the Assessment of Small Pelagic Fish off Northwest Africa. Rome. 336 pp.

11 Thiao, D. and Bunting, S.W. 2022. Socio-economic and biological impacts of the fish-based feed industry for sub-Saharan Africa. FAO

Fisheries and Aquaculture Circular No. 1236. Rome, FAO.

12 EJF. 2020. Fear, hunger and violence: Human rights in Ghana's industrial trawl fleet. London. 52 pp.

13 EJF. 2022. The Ever-Widening Net: Mapping the scale, nature and corporate structures of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing by the

Chinese distant-water fleet. London. 56 pp.

https://ejfoundation.org/resources/downloads/EJF_Ghana-human-rights-in-fisheries_2020_final.pdf most small-scale fishers. However, when they fish illegally, trawlers impact domestic small-scale and semi-industrial fleets. Trawlers also illegally encroach into fishing areas reserved for small-scale, artisanal fleets, which can result in physical collisions and damage to fishing nets14 15. When no enforcement action is taken in response to destructive practices by trawlers, it fuels negative perceptions toward fisheries management institutions and non-compliance with fishing rules and regulations. In essence, as small-scale fishers perceive they are being robbed by industrial vessels, incentives for stewardship are lost in a race to catch the last fish16 17 18.

● Mangroves and wetlands: provide essential fish habitat and shellfish.

● Charismatic species including sharks, rays, and other marine mammals: there is a need to increase knowledge surrounding the illegal harvest, trade, and use of endangered, threatened, and/or protected species in West Africa including the cultural and economic drivers leading to harvest; trade dynamics; and the reasons leading to poor law enforcement.

The ‘threats and stresses’ section of the diagram shows how the impacts of illegal and unsustainable fishing are compounded by coastal development and, increasingly, by climate change negatively impacting habitats and species. The left side of the diagram identifies six drivers that incentivize illegal and unsustainable fishing, which provide the basis for potential programming interventions. Drivers include:

● Lack of incentives for industry self-regulation lead to insecure tenure rights; limited market incentives for legal, sustainable seafood; as well as few requirements, or risks from coastal, or importing governments.

● Low transparency enables corruption; limits management, enforcement, and market incentives; decreases supply-chain traceability.

14 Issifu, Ibrahim. "Mapping competition between domestic and distant water fishing fleets in West Africa." (2023).

15 Sumailia R. et al. 2022. A systematic characterization of the activities of DWF reveals conflict areas with domestic fisheries. USAID. 1-217.

16 Sumaila R. et al. 2022. Final Draft Report: A systematic characterization of the activities of DWF reveals conflict areas with domestic fisheries. USAID. Washington, DC. 221 17 Ayilu, R., et al. 2023. “Industrial and small-scale fisheries relations in Ghana: A political ecology perspective on blue economy exclusion.” Journal of Rural Studies 102 (2023): 103-185.

18 Okafor-Yarwood, Ifesinachi, et al. "Survival of the Richest, not the Fittest: How attempts to improve governance impact African small-scale marine fisheries." Marine Policy 135 (2022): 104847.

● Low political will and stakeholder engagement has created an environment where fisherfolk and fisher associations are not advocates for sustainability; civil society is not influential; political leaders make decisions based on risk as opposed to political gain;

and malfeasance.

● Ineffective enforcement, partially due to lack of trained staff, infrastructure, and coordination, has created an environment where there are few convictions and low penalties for IUU fishing and where there are both political and financial benefits for not enforcing the rules.

● Limited alternatives for livelihoods and nutrition: Limited alternative livelihoods paired with poor processing of fish and fish products further limits the rural poor, creating debt traps despite the desire for safe, profitable fishing options.

● Weak national to regional governance and management: Another management challenge for many West African coastal states surrounds how fishing fleets are characterized and classified. The use of limited and often ambiguous characterizations has created numerous management challenges. This context has led to disputes and conflict because it can exclude subsistence fishers or enable larger scale vessels to be included within the small-scale fleet19. Further, domestic small-scale and semi-industrial fleets are frequently not regulated to achieve sustainability and there is a widespread perception of low compliance with the management rules that do exist.

19 FAO, Duke University & WorldFish. 2023. Illuminating Hidden Harvests – The contributions of small-scale fisheries to sustainable development. Rome.

Figure 1: Draft situation model for harvesting and labor practices associated with IUU fisheries and associated activities in West Africa.

IV. VISION & STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

Vision: USAID’s investments in regional West Africa fisheries management aim to meaningfully reduce IUU fishing activities and to shift marine fisheries toward legality and sustainability, while promoting resilience of marine ecosystems and fostering an equitable fishing society.

Strategic Objective 1: IUU fishing decreased by meaningful deterrence Illustrative Strategic Approaches:

● Facilitate targeted, multi-partner investigations that identify the ultimate owners of industrial vessels operating illegally and deliver meaningful consequences

● Engage high-level political leadership and stakeholders in Monitor, Control, and Surveillance efforts being implemented by regional and national organization

● Improve enforcement mechanisms at multiple scales to deter IUU fishing

Strategic Objective 2: Fishers and national stakeholders who benefit from legal, sustainable fisheries are empowered and incentivized to advocate for effective enforcement and management Illustrative Strategic Approaches:

● National and regional fisher associations are effectively engaged in management and enforcement, including West African owners of industrial and semi-industrial trawlers

● Civil society and academic organizations that support fisher organizations at national and regional scales are strategic and effective

● Regional organizations are empowered to support local efforts to improve fisheries management

Strategic Objective 3: Strategic management reforms enable stronger enforcement and strengthen ecological resilience and productivity, while facilitating decent work and improved livelihoods Illustrative Strategic Approaches:

● Licensing and access agreements for industrial vessels strengthened across all countries in the region

● Regional closed season for small pelagics continued and expanded across all countries in the region

● Fishery practices and value chains are strengthened to optimize sustainability and profitability for West Africas, with a focus on small-scale fishers

● Effective social safety nets are expanded to support West African fishing communities in adapting to new fishery management reforms and climate change impacts

Strategic Objective 4: Licensing, enforcement, and management actions are informed by credible and transparent science Illustrative Strategic Approaches:

● Fisheries data and modeling are strengthened at regional to national levels to provide relevant, credible information to stakeholders

● Fisheries licensing and management decisions reflect best available science and accurate fleet definitions

V. REQUESTED INFORMATION

USAID is specifically interested in feedback and comments on the following questions.

To allow for USAID/West Africa to review all responses, we ask that you please keep answers concise (bullets and/or narratives are acceptable). Please note the following:

● Review all provided material and provide feedback on the questions presented in this

RFI

● Responses should not exceed 2-4 pages

● Submitted responses can be in English or French

● All responses are voluntary and it is not a requirement for submissions to respond to all questions

Situation model: Please reflect on and share any feedback you may have on the draft situation model focusing on the focal interests, threats, and drivers of IUU fishing, as well as the causal links between these elements. For example:

● Are there any key elements missing that need to be refined, or removed in the model?

Please explain.

● Please comment on the causal links depicted in the model and description. Has USAID missed, or wrongly depicted any of these causal links?

● Any other comments or inputs you may have on the situation model.

Vision and strategic objectives: Please reflect and share any feedback you may have on the four strategic objectives, including the illustrative strategic approaches, highlighting areas that need improvement, or clarity. For example:

● Which Strategic Objective (1-4) do you think would have the greatest impact and the highest likelihood of facilitating transformative change across the fisheries sector in West Africa?

● What do you think should be the priority activities and intermediate results that this program should focus on to deliver this change?

● Do you think that there are other strategies, or activities that are needed to combat IUU fishing activities, while fostering sustainable fisheries management and the conservation of biodiversity across the West African marine environment?

● What other local actors or local organizations are working to improve fisheries management anywhere across West Africa?

West African regional entities and policies please refer to Section VII to answer the following questions:

● What West African regional entities do you believe USAID should engage with to combat IUU fishing activities at a regional level? Please explain.

● Are there key policies or initiatives missing from the inventory of regional programs and agreements provided in Section VII?

● What approaches or technologies would you recommend for empowering crew on fishing vessels to counter forced labor and deliver decent work in African fisheries?

● What strategies or activities do you think could improve coordination and communication between regional organizations, coastal states, the private sector, and USAID to address key issues related to IUU fishing?

● How are the threats and drivers of IUU fishing similar and differ from country to country in West Africa?

VI. USAID/WEST AFRICA GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE

Figure 2: Map of countries included in USAID West Africa’s geographic scope including presence, non-presence, and limited presence countries. Any intended activity would occur in select coastal states in the Gulf of Guinea, with the hopes of scaling successful interventions to other coastal states.

VII. REGIONAL POLICIES AND ENTITIES

Initial Summary of West Africa Regional Initiatives Related to Fisheries Management & Enforcement

Policies

Name Geography Focus

Yaoundé Code of Conduct Concerning the Prevention and Repression of Piracy, Armed Robbery against Ships, and Illegal Maritime Activities in West and Central Africa

Member States include:

Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo-Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe, The Gambia, and Togo.

The Yaoundé Code of Conduct is an intra-regional agreement between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC) to tackle maritime crime, including IUU fishing, in the Gulf of Guinea. Adopted in 2013, its objective is to enhance cooperation among 25 signatory states.

It is implemented through a regional framework, known as the Yaoundé Architecture. An Interregional Coordination Centre (ICC) shares information among the Regional Maritime Security Centre for West Africa (CRESMAO) and the Regional Maritime Security Centre for Central Africa (CRESMAC). The maritime sphere is divided into five operational zones, each with a separate Maritime Multinational Coordination Center (MMCC). At the state level, Maritime Operational Centers (MOC) act as a hub for bringing together the different stakeholders in charge of state activity at sea. Recent evaluations credit the Yaoundé Code of Conduct with reductions in piracy and offer recommendations or further strengthening its implementation: An evaluation of the Yaoundé Architecture, by GoGMI; United Nations https://www.gogin.eu/en/maritime-domain-news/an-evaluation-of-the-yaounde-architecture-by-gogmi-2/ https://www.gogin.eu/en/maritime-domain-news/an-evaluation-of-the-yaounde-architecture-by-gogmi-2/ https://www.gogin.eu/en/maritime-domain-news/an-evaluation-of-the-yaounde-architecture-by-gogmi-2/ https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15331.doc.htm https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15331.doc.htm

Abidjan Convention for Cooperation in the Protection, Management, and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Atlantic Coast of the West, Central, and Southern Africa Region

Covers the marine environment, coastal zones and related inland waters within the jurisdiction of the States of the West, Central, and Southern African Regions--from Mauritania to South Africa

The Abidjan Convention is a framework agreement which came into force in 1984. The Convention provides a framework for cooperation on marine and coastal environments, knowledge, environmental hazards, pollution, habitats, biodiversity, sustainable resource use and other activities that may have a negative impact on the health of ecosystems. The Convention promotes scientific and technological collaboration (including exchanges of information and expertise) as a means of identifying and managing environmental issues.

African Union 2050 Africa's Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS)

AU Member States

Published in 2012, the 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime (AIM) Strategy, recognizes that Africa’s Maritime Domain (AMD) has vast potential for wealth creation and that AU Member States have common maritime challenges, opportunities, and responsibilities. It is structured to address contending, emerging and future maritime challenges and opportunities in Africa, taking into account the interest of land connected countries, with a clear focus on enhanced wealth creation from a sustainable governance of Africa’s inland waters, oceans and seas

Regional Entities

Name Geography Focus

Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea

(FCWC)

Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Togo

The Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) was established in 2007 to facilitate cooperation in fisheries management among member countries. The countries have several shared fish stocks and identified a need for cooperation and shared management of these resources.

https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/oceans-seas/what-we-do/working-regional-seas/regional-seas-programmes/west-and https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/oceans-seas/what-we-do/working-regional-seas/regional-seas-programmes/west-and https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/oceans-seas/what-we-do/working-regional-seas/regional-seas-programmes/west-and https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/oceans-seas/what-we-do/working-regional-seas/regional-seas-programmes/west-and https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/oceans-seas/what-we-do/working-regional-seas/regional-seas-programmes/west-and https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/oceans-seas/what-we-do/working-regional-seas/regional-seas-programmes/west-and https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/oceans-seas/what-we-do/working-regional-seas/regional-seas-programmes/west-and https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/oceans-seas/what-we-do/working-regional-seas/regional-seas-programmes/west-and https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/oceans-seas/what-we-do/working-regional-seas/regional-seas-programmes/west-and https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/oceans-seas/what-we-do/working-regional-seas/regional-seas-programmes/west-and https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/oceans-seas/what-we-do/working-regional-seas/regional-seas-programmes/west-and https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/oceans-seas/what-we-do/working-regional-seas/regional-seas-programmes/west-and https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/oceans-seas/what-we-do/working-regional-seas/regional-seas-programmes/west-and https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/oceans-seas/what-we-do/working-regional-seas/regional-seas-programmes/west-and https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/oceans-seas/what-we-do/working-regional-seas/regional-seas-programmes/west-and https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/oceans-seas/what-we-do/working-regional-seas/regional-seas-programmes/west-and https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/11151/2050_aims_srategy.pdf https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/11151/2050_aims_srategy.pdf https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/11151/2050_aims_srategy.pdf https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/11151/2050_aims_srategy.pdf https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/11151/2050_aims_srategy.pdf http://fcwc-fish.org/ http://fcwc-fish.org/ http://fcwc-fish.org/ http://fcwc-fish.org/

West Africa Task Force

Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Togo

The West Africa Task Force (WATF) is the MCS arm of FCWC. The WATF was established in 2015 following a recommendation from the 2012 FCWC Ministerial Conference to create a regional working group to address IUU fishing and related issues. Key features of the WATF are its bi-annual meetings regrouping heads of MCS and fisheries directors from the region, its National Working Groups aimed at strengthening inter-agency cooperation and its online communication platform for timely information sharing between enforcement agencies. By routinely sharing information on vessels active in the region, by sharing intelligence on high-risk vessels and operators, and by sharing challenges and successes, the WATF has provided operational monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) support at a national and regional level. The FCWC Secretariat works in partnership with a Technical Team that includes TM-Tracking and Stop Illegal Fishing, with funding from NORAD.

Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission

(SRFC)

7 member states: Cabo Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal and Sierra Leone. Its headquarters is in Dakar, Senegal.

The Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (CSRP) is an intergovernmental fisheries cooperation organization established by the Convention of March 29, 1985, amended on July 14, 1993 in Praia (Cabo Verde). The objective of the CSRP is to harmonize the national policies of Member States in matters of preservation, conservation and exploitation of fishery resources, and to strengthen cooperation for the benefit of the well-being of populations https://fcwc-fish.org/about-us/west-africa-task-force https://fcwc-fish.org/about-us/west-africa-task-force https://www.tm-tracking.org/ https://www.tm-tracking.org/ https://stopillegalfishing.com/ https://stopillegalfishing.com/ https://stopillegalfishing.com/ http://www.spcsrp.org/ http://www.spcsrp.org/ http://www.spcsrp.org/

Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic

(CECAF)

33 Member States:

Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo, Côte D’Ivoire, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, European Union, France, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Liberia, Mauritania, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Romania, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, Togo, and the United States of America.

The Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF) was established as an advisory body, within the framework of Article VI of the FAO Constitution, by the FAO Council in its 48th Session in 1967. CECAF´s purpose is to promote the sustainable utilization of the living marine resources of its area of competence, which includes high seas and national waters, by the proper management and development of the fisheries and fishing operations. The Committee regularly assesses the status of more than 50 fish stocks and provides management advice for between 20 and 30 fisheries. The CECAF database presents annual statistics allocated by countries or areas, species items, and/or statistical divisions, of capture production (i.e. catches expressed as live weight equivalent of landings) in the Eastern Central Atlantic region for calendar years starting with 1970.

Regional Commission of Fisheries for the Gulf of Guinea

(COREP)

6 Member States: Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, and São Tomé and Príncipe

An intergovernmental organization and a specialized institution of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), responsible for coordinating, harmonizing, and promoting aquaculture and the development of the exploitation of fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the internal waters of Member States.

https://www.fao.org/cecaf/en/ https://www.fao.org/cecaf/en/ https://www.fao.org/cecaf/en/ https://www.fao.org/cecaf/en/ https://www.fao.org/cecaf/en/ https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/organization/corep https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/organization/corep https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/organization/corep https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/organization/corep

Ministerial Conference on Fisheries Cooperation among African States bordering the Atlantic Ocean

(ATLAFCO/COM

HAFAT)

Also see this FAO link

22 Member States:

Angola, Benin, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte D’Ivoire, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea- Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

The Ministerial Conference on Fisheries Cooperation Among African States Bordering the Atlantic (ATLAFCO; better known by its French acronym, COMHAFAT, Conférence ministérielle sur la coopération haleutique des États Africains riverains de l’Océan Atlantique) is a regional fisheries advisory body founded in 1989 gathering 22 countries from Morocco to Namibia.

The ATLAFCO Constitutive Convention, "the Regional Convention on Fisheries Cooperation among African States bordering the Atlantic Ocean", adopted on July 5, 1991 in Dakar, Senegal, sets out the areas and modalities of Regional Fisheries Cooperation between Member States and entered into force in July 1995.

ATLAFCO provides advice for more than 50 fisheries. It is one of the oldest fisheries cooperation conventions in Africa. The main goal of ATLAFCO is the effective and active cooperation between Member States for the preservation of fishery resources and the sustainable development of fisheries in the region. It promotes the adoption of an integrated regional approach to solve common problems. Its slogan "Exploit today without compromising tomorrow…"

African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources AU-

IBAR

continent-wide

AU-IBAR's mandate is to support and coordinate the improved utilization of animals (livestock, fisheries and wildlife) as a resource for human wellbeing in the Member States of the African Union (AU), and to contribute to economic development, particularly in rural areas. AU- IBAR's main clients are the African Union (AU) Member States and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to which they belong. Their regional fisheries work includes the FishGov and FishGov 2 projects and their work focuses on https://www.atlafco.org/en/ https://www.atlafco.org/en/ https://www.atlafco.org/en/ https://www.atlafco.org/en/ https://www.atlafco.org/en/ https://www.atlafco.org/en/ https://www.atlafco.org/en/ https://www.atlafco.org/en/ https://www.atlafco.org/en/ https://www.atlafco.org/en/ https://www.atlafco.org/en/ https://www.atlafco.org/en/ https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/organization/atlafco https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/organization/atlafco https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/organization/atlafco https://www.au-ibar.org/au-ibar-projects/enhancing-sustainable-fisheries-management-and-aquaculture-development-africa https://www.au-ibar.org/au-ibar-projects/enhancing-sustainable-fisheries-management-and-aquaculture-development-africa https://www.au-ibar.org/au-ibar-projects/enhancing-sustainable-fisheries-management-and-aquaculture-development-africa https://www.au-ibar.org/au-ibar-projects/enhancing-sustainable-fisheries-management-and-aquaculture-development-africa https://www.au-ibar.org/au-ibar-projects/enhancing-sustainable-fisheries-management-and-aquaculture-development-africa https://www.au-ibar.org/au-ibar-projects/enhancing-sustainable-fisheries-management-and-aquaculture-development-africa both aquaculture and sustainable fisheries but for livelihood purposes.

International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas

(ICCAT)

52 members

A regional fisheries management organization responsible for the management and conservation of tuna and similar species in the Atlantic and adjacent seas. ICCAT focuses include monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS), other data collection, science, and stock assessments.

Economic Community of West African States

(ECOWAS)

15 Members: Benin, Burkina Faso (suspended), Cabo Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea (suspended), Guinea- Bissau, Côte D’Ivoire, Liberia, Mali (suspended), Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

An economic community of the African Union for promotion of regional economic cooperation in West Africa. It aims to establish collective self-sufficiency for its members.

Name Geography Focus

African Confederation of Small-scale Fisheries Professional Organisations

(CAOPA)

Africa

The African small-scale fisheries professional organisations defend the material and moral interests of their members; their legitimacy to fulfill this role is recognised by governments as well as national and international institutions;

they are involved in defining policies for responsible and sustainable fisheries which contribute in fighting poverty, but also in improving women’s working conditions and https://www.iccat.int/en/ https://www.iccat.int/en/ https://www.iccat.int/en/ https://www.iccat.int/en/ https://www.iccat.int/en/ https://www.iccat.int/en/ https://www.ecowas.int/ https://www.ecowas.int/ https://www.ecowas.int/ https://www.ecowas.int/ https://www.ecowas.int/ https://caopa.org/en/welcome/ https://caopa.org/en/welcome/ https://caopa.org/en/welcome/ https://caopa.org/en/welcome/ https://caopa.org/en/welcome/ https://caopa.org/en/welcome/ https://caopa.org/en/welcome/ involvement in decision-making; small-scale fisheries are recognised as a powerhouse of economic development in Africa and a priority sector of investment to primarily ensure food security and jobs for the most vulnerable groups (women and young people).

AFRICAN

WOMEN FISH

PROCESSORS

AND TRADERS

NETWORK

(AWFISHNET)

Africa

AWFISHNET is a non-profit, non-political, and non-religious continental network of women who process and trade fish in Africa. The organization aims to strengthen the position and contribution of women fish workers to the continental agenda of ending hunger in Africa and halving poverty, given their vital role as active players in the fisheries sector and African society. AWFISHNET was established in April 2017 with the support of AU-AIBAR and other partners, following a request from its members in late 2016.

The West African Association for the Development of Artisanal Fisheries

(ADEPA/WADAF)

West Africa

WADAF is an NGO created by four NGOs: INADES- Formation (Côte d’Ivoire), CEASM (France), CUA (Ghana) and CREDETIP (Senegal). Headquartered in Dakar, it's one of the few professional artisanal fishing organizations that supports local fishers on a regional scale. It consists of 13 professional artisanal fisheries organizations and covers 16 countries in West Africa. WADAF aims to strengthen the political, professional, and organizational capacities of artisanal fisheries professional organizations so that they can better contribute to public fisheries policies in West Africa. They promote sustainable artisanal fisheries and strive to improve the working and living conditions of artisanal fisheries professionals in the region.

https://awfishnet.org/about https://awfishnet.org/about https://awfishnet.org/about https://awfishnet.org/about https://awfishnet.org/about https://www.adepawadaf.org/ https://www.adepawadaf.org/ https://www.adepawadaf.org/ https://www.adepawadaf.org/ https://www.adepawadaf.org/ https://www.adepawadaf.org/ https://www.adepawadaf.org/ https://www.adepawadaf.org/

The Centre for Maritime Law and Security Africa

(CEMLAWS

Africa)

The Centre for Maritime Law and Security Africa (CEMLAWS Africa) is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organisation that seeks to promote ocean governance and maritime security in Africa. CEMLAWS Africa combines research expertise, policy understanding and practical insights to deliver responses to maritime issues through law and policy analysis and advice, training and capacity-building, collaboration, and guided deliberations.

Name Geography Focus

Fisheries Law Enforcement Academy (FishFORCE)

With support from Norad, The Centre for Law in Action at Nelson Mandela University established the Fisheries Law Enforcement Academy (FishFORCE Academy), the first ever in Africa, which provides training programmes for fisheries law enforcement officers and actors in the fisheries-related criminal justice system. The model promotes the use of traditional policing methods and tools adapted to the specific circumstances affecting the fisheries sector, with the ambition to become a platform for building a network of highly trained fisheries law enforcement officers across Africa. In 2022, the FishFORCE Academy developed a virtual law enforcement game specifically designed for law enforcement officers in the sector. The game allows users to learn through experience and the use of a virtual platform, while leading them to approach problem-solving through critical thinking.

https://cemlawsafrica.org/ https://cemlawsafrica.org/ https://cemlawsafrica.org/ https://cemlawsafrica.org/ https://cemlawsafrica.org/ https://fishforce.mandela.ac.za/ https://fishforce.mandela.ac.za/ https://fishforce.mandela.ac.za/ https://fishforce.mandela.ac.za/ https://www.norad.no/globalassets/publikasjoner/publikasjoner-2023/havrapport-2022-i-mal.pdf https://www.norad.no/globalassets/publikasjoner/publikasjoner-2023/havrapport-2022-i-mal.pdf

This is a courtesy language translation of this document. The official text is the English language version. Any discrepancies or differences created in translations are not binding and have no legal effect for compliance or enforcement purposes. USAID accepts no responsibility and disclaims any and all liability for damages that may occur due to outdated or incorrect translations. No warranty of any kind, either express or implied, is made as to the accuracy, correctness, or completeness of any translation.

Numéro de la RFI : SOL 72062424RFI00002 Date d'émission : 10 juin. 2024 Date et heure limites de réponse : 09 septembre 2024, 17 h 00, heure d'Accra Les réponses doivent être soumises aux adresses suivantes : rtawonezvi@usaid.gov et vhollosy@usaid.gov

Avis aux soumissionnaires potentiels :

Conformément aux FAR 52.215-3 « Demande d'informations (RFI) », le gouvernement des États-Unis (représenté par l'Agence des États-Unis pour le développement international, Mission régionale de l'Afrique de l'Ouest - USAID/Afrique de l'Ouest ou USAID/WA) recherche des informations à l'appui d'une activité potentielle visant à lutter contre la pêche illicite, non déclarée et non réglementée (INN). Cette activité devra également aborder les violations des droits de l'homme et du travail qui y sont associées, particulièrement dans le Golfe de Guinée, comme indiqué dans cette RFI.

Au moyen de cette RFI, le bureau de l'USAID/Afrique de l'Ouest cherche à approfondir ses connaissances quant aux menaces et aux facteurs clés liés à la pêche INN et à l'exploitation de main-d'œuvre qui en résulte à travers l'Afrique de l'Ouest. Les discussions collaboratives entre les partenaires du Gouvernement des États-Unis (USG), les organisations locales et d'autres spécialistes réputés sont également envisagées, afin d'éclairer les futurs programmes et les activités de coordination de l'USAID. Pour ce faire, il convient de : 1) clarifier les structures incitatives qui sous-tendent la pêche INN pratiquée par les flottes industrielles, semi-industrielles et artisanales en Afrique de l'Ouest, 2) examiner des stratégies et des interventions susceptibles de favoriser la légalité et la durabilité de ces mesures incitatives dans les différents contextes en Afrique de l'Ouest, et 3) identifier les organisations régionales, les partenariats ou mailto:rtawonezvi@usaid.gov mailto:vhollosy@usaid.gov les mécanismes de coordination qui peuvent faciliter la mise en œuvre de stratégies efficaces et contribuer à l'obtention de résultats à l'échelle régionale.

L'USAID/Afrique de l'Ouest prévoit que tous les programmes relatifs à la pêche INN seront axés sur la collaboration avec les parties prenantes locales et les organisations régionales, afin de renforcer la gestion des pêches dans la région. En fin de compte, cela permettrait de contribuer à la réalisation de la vision de la Mission, consistant à améliorer la gestion des pêches à l'échelle régionale, en ajoutant de manière stratégique des dimensions juridiques et durables aux pêches maritimes.

Enfin, les informations recueillies dans le cadre de cette RFI appuieront les activités de gestion des pêches à l'échelle mondiale.

Cette RFI est émise uniquement à des fins d'information et de planification ; elle ne constitue donc pas une demande de proposition (RFP), une demande de devis (RFQ), une invitation à soumissionner (IFB) ou un appel d'offres. Les réponses à cette RFI ne sont pas des propositions et elles ne doivent pas être interprétées comme une formation d'un accord contraignant avec l'autorité délivrant la RFI. La non-réponse à cette demande n'exclut pas la participation à un appel d'offres futur, le cas échéant.

Les réponses à cette RFI ne seront pas renvoyées, et les parties intéressées ne seront pas informées du résultat de l'examen. Il n'y aura pas de compte-rendu ou de lettre d'évaluation préparés pour les parties intéressées. Ces dernières doivent régulièrement consulter le site, pour s'assurer de ne pas manquer de nouvelles informations. Il convient de noter qu'une réponse à cette RFI ne donnera aucun avantage à une organisation dans toute procédure de passation de marché ultérieure.

Cette RFI ne limite pas l'approche du gouvernement en ce qui concerne un futur appel d'offres.

Les informations fournies dans le cadre de cet appel d'offres peuvent donner lieu à des discussions individuelles portant sur des études de marché et des approches recommandées pour favoriser une participation accrue des parties prenantes du secteur.

Les parties intéressées souhaitant répondre à cette demande doivent soumettre leur réponse par e-mail, en format Microsoft Word ou Adobe Acrobat. Veuillez soumettre les réponses par e-mail à : Viktoria Stott Hollosy à l'adresse vhollosy@usaid.gov et Ruby Tawonezvi à l'adresse rtawonezvi@usaid.gov avant la date de clôture indiquée ci-dessus. Le titre de l'objet doit être indiqué comme suit : « Nom du contractant, réponse à la demande d'informations n°... »

VEUILLEZ NOTER QUE USAID N'EXAMINERA QUE LES RÉPONSES DIRECTEMENT LIÉES À CETTE

RFI ET RÉPONDANT AUX QUESTIONS ET DOMAINES SPÉCIFIÉS CI-DESSOUS. TOUT MATÉRIEL

PROMOTIONNEL, CURRICULUM VITAE OU DEMANDE DE FINANCEMENT DE QUELQUE

NATURE QUE CE SOIT NE SERA PAS CONSIDERÉ. VEUILLEZ NE PAS SOUMETTRE DE TELLES

COMMUNICATIONS EN RÉPONSE A CETTE PRÉSENTE ANNONCE.

Merci de votre intérêt pour un partenariat avec l'USAID, en vue de fournir une assistance technique aux activités de développement.

Cordialement, Viktoria Stott Hollosy Agent contractant

I. LIGNES DIRECTRICES ET EXIGENCES APPLICABLES À LA SOUMISSION DES RÉPONSES

Une page de couverture, qui ne doit pas dépasser une (1) page, contenant les informations suivantes :

1. Le nom et adresse de l'organisation

2. La taille et le type d'organisation, y compris, le cas échéant, le statut d'entreprise américaine ou autre.

3. La portée géographique : quels sont les domaines d'expertise et d'expérience géographique de votre organisation ?

4. Une brève déclaration indiquant l'intérêt de l'organisation.

5. Facultatif : si…