Consultant for "Aquaculture Expert for Model Farm Monitoring -SNV/MAM2 Project"

TERMS OF REFERENCE
AQUACULTURE EXPERT FOR MODEL FARMS MONITORING IN CA MAU PROVINCE
Project: Scaling up Mangrove EbA in the Mekong Delta (MAM2 project)

I.  Background

SNV Netherlands Development Organisation has been working in Vietnam since 1995, and is committed to reducing poverty by catalysing environmentally sustainable solutions for the poor in agriculture, energy, water & sanitation, and REDD+. SNV is engaged in the agriculture sector implementing Value Chain, Inclusive Business and Climate Change adaption and Mitigation activities.

Southeast Asia has lost half their mangroves over the past 30 years, primarily as a result of clearing for shrimp ponds.  This has serious consequences such as mangroves protect against tidal waves and storm surges. They are vital fish nursery-grounds, provide timber, honey, and other products and raise land level by trapping sediment.  They also sequester carbon faster than any other forest type.  Healthy mangroves thus make important contributions to both climate change adaptation and mitigation and form the basis of coastal ecosystem-based adaptation. 

Scaling up Mangrove EbA in the Mekong Delta (MAM2), funded by Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), implemented by SNV and IUCN in coordination with Ca Mau PPC. This project has tried to build capacity for local stakeholders (Aquaculture/forestry sectors, local authority, private companies, and farmers); improve livelihood of mangrove – shrimp farmers on degraded mangroves by promoting shrimp certification and restoration; recommend for policy makers for Payment for Ecosystem Services on Aquaculture; and create enable conditions for accessing climate change fund, REDD+. Project focused sites will be in Ngoc Hien district for these activities. The MAM2 project, SNV-Vietnam Agriculture programme is cooperating with Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee/Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, seafood enterprises, Forest Management Boards and shrimp households in Ca Mau province.

The MAM2 project (SNV/IUCN) is now seeking national specialist on aquaculture expert for model farm monitoring in Ca Mau province, in order to find out best solution model for agriculture shrimp forest in Mekong Delta in general, especially in Nhung Mien, Ca Mau province.

II.        Consultancy service description:
1.    Objectives

Project is looking for aquaculture expert with following purpose:

• Increasing knowledge of forest household farmers in Ca Mau coastal area;
• Monitoring of model farms study, in order to improve shrimp farming practices which have responsibility with environment and certification standard.

2.    Scope of work

MONITORING MODEL FARMS TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY OF MANGROVE SHRIMP FARMING:

• Contribute to monitor of established model farms, in order to improve productivity mangrove shrimp farming that is conducted by project, such as, survival rate of post larvae, nutrient ponds, improved farmer’s practices for sustainable development and markets;

3.    Methodology/Tasks
MONITORING MODEL FARMS TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY OF MANGROVE SHRIMP FARMING:

• Responsible for organizing/monitoring of model farms at project sites as project study’s designs of model farms as scheduled, in collaborated with project consultants and project members. Model farms included:
  
  • To test harvesting methods (release water from shrimp ponds as usual; limited water release) that try to reduce environmental risks, disease spread and possible of nutrient ponds improvement practices;
  • To test Probiotic and photo bacteria for improving nutrient ponds for improved survival rate and productivity (2);
  • To test nursing techniques for post larvae in (2) different schedule periods;
  • To test combined stocking densities and nursing techniques for best productivity (2);

4.    Deliverables:

All deliverable in Vietnamese and English with contents as below:

• Content and design of discussion, suggestion of working material in order for interesting and high spreading of community.
• Suggestion of improved model farms for further years.

5.    Timeline:  From September to 31 December 2017

Extension will be considered after 31 Dec, 2017, as the model farms study will be finished Sep, 2018

III.      Qualifications, skills and experience required

Consultant has to adapt requirement as below:

• Specialist need to prove knowledge and experience in theory and practices of poly- aquaculture techniques, mangrove value chains, good knowledge and integrated with forest shrimp farming in Ca Mau provinces and/or other coastal area;
• Intensive practical experiences, communication skill, community in countryside at least 7 years’ experience;
• Good communication and training skills;
• Having good communication skill in Vietnamese and report summarization, contact in English.

IV.       How to apply:

Interested consultants/ firms are requested to submit:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV); Updated experience working document.
• Detail of proposal demonstrating the ability to deliver on this assignment, included financial, area survey, logistic support etc. during implementation of this assignment; Estimate working days with above detail (with supporting from Field Coordinator, partners in Provinces, FMBs).
• Deadline for proposal submission: September 21st, 2017
• Proposal is requested to send email to: [email protected]

Components of the technical proposal:

• Understanding of the assignment
• Proposed assignment approach, methodology and tools
• Work plan and resource arrangement
• Team roles and specific tasks

Annexes: CVs of team members, relevant publications or other evidence of relevant capacities

Components of the budget proposal:

• Package rate of the work and daily rate of each member
• Operational and support costs
• Total estimated costs