Fishery Research & Development Specialist

Company Description

SNV is a not-for-profit international development organisation, working in Agriculture, Energy, and Water, Sanitation & Hygiene. Founded in the Netherlands in 1965, we have built a long-term, local presence in more than 30 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Our global team of local and international advisors works with local partners to equip communities, businesses and organisations with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to increase their incomes and gain access to basic services – empowering them to break the cycle of poverty and guide their own development.

SNV is seeking qualified Nepalese national consultant for the position of  Fishery Research & Development Specialist for Paani Project assignment "Assessment of aquatic resource based livelihoods, practices, and ecotourism development in nepal’ selected river basins".

Paani Program

The USAID Paani Program, also known as the पानी परियोजना, is a 5 year, $25 million project in Nepal. Water is the single most important natural resource underpinning Nepal’s economy and livelihoods. The sustainable management of water resources in Nepal depends on addressing climate change and protecting healthy, biodiverse ecosystems. Paani aims to enhance Nepal’s ability to manage water resources for multiple uses and users through climate change adaptation and the conservation of freshwater biodiversity. Paani focuses at the watershed, basin, and national scales.  Its goal will be reached by meeting the following objectives: 

• Reduce threats to freshwater biodiversity in the Karnali, Mahakali, and Rapti river basins.
• Increase the ability of targeted human and ecological communities to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change through improved water management.

These objectives will be accomplished through 11 strategic approaches and supporting activities, as defined in Section C, Statement of Work (SOW) of the Paani Contract and annual work plans, which provide the framework and overall guidance for all Paani team members.    

About the assignment

The present assignment will review current fishery knowledge for rivers in Nepal and design a multi-disciplinary and participatory assessment survey of Nepal’s fisheries and aquaculture to plug key knowledge gaps, in light of the following:

• Fishery knowledge for rivers and wetlands in Nepal is patchy and lacking in many subject areas, including best practices;
• A recent Paani fisheries report recommended upgrading the knowledge base, essential for future planning and interventions;
• There are a range of various on-going fisheries projects (through Paani and others), with topics, data, and/or information types to be confirmed;
• Fisheries governance (policy, law, fisheries management) in Nepal is weak but could be strengthened by drawing on and learning from international best practices and Nepal’s own community-based forest and water management experience; and 
• Issues within and between sectors with regard to competing uses of river “space” and open access resources— including freshwater biodiversity and associated knowledge of fishery husbandry, ecological, economic and cultural values—are not well understood.

Given the above, the methodology for future fishery work in Nepal needs to be defined carefully.  The present assignment will carefully consider the questions of what information to collect and for what purpose.  It will focus on detailed analysis (going “deep”) in selected sites, rather than covering all of Nepal (spreading “thin”).  It will carefully consider trade-offs between and among cost, timing, representativeness and relevance of data.

The assessment survey will be designed to contribute mainly to Paani’s Strategic Approach 1a, Improve local management of capture fisheries, and to Strategic Approaches 1b, Improve local capacity for water management; 2a, Improve basin level resource management; and 4a, Fill knowledge gaps on freshwater fish diversity.  In addition, the assessment will contribute to two priority initiatives: (a) restoration of aquatic species, and (b) river stretch co-management.  Through these approaches and site-based initiatives, it will help inform and help strengthen multi-stakeholder vision and platforms for river basin management and thereby influence the planning of hydropower, gravel mining, roads, irrigation, and other human activities that affect river ecosystems and aquatic biodiversity. The assessment to be designed is a significant part of Tasks 1.1.1 (Assess capture fisheries) and 4.1.2 (Conduct freshwater biodiversity inventories), as described in the Year 3 Annual Work Plan (AWP). Together with other studies, it will characterize habitats and their carrying capacity for capture fisheries. It will also identify alternative livelihood options, including ecotourism and aquaculture, and analyze important factors relevant to developing an effective fisheries governance framework.  These Year 3 AWP tasks were designed in response to an initial value chain assessment that described issues, opportunities and trade-offs that need to be considered if fisheries are to contribute further to local and national economies.

The present assignment includes notional support for initial piloting of the design. Following review and approval of the design, support for piloting as described herein will be adjusted in light of the approved design.  

Job Description

The overall purpose of this assignment is:

1. To consolidate present fishery knowledge and best practices in Nepal;

2. To analyze fishery governance and market-related issues;

3. To design and pilot methodologies:

• For generating additional fishery knowledge and further exploring best practices;
• For analysis and strategic planning for establishing an appropriate and effective fisheries governance framework for Nepal;

4. To design a pilot policy scenario analysis to inform strategic planning for integrating local economies and enterprises that are “friendly” to-and help reduce threats to-aquatic biodiversity and sustainable fisheries. 

The specific purpose is to design and implement a multi-disciplinary and participatory assessment survey of Nepal’s fisheries and aquaculture to plug key knowledge gaps. 

The assessment and pilot survey will: 

• Update and collect data, information and knowledge concerning the key characteristics of Nepal’s fish stocks and fisheries. This will include integrating research results to characterize fish stocks and the current “carrying capacity” of the Karnali river, with special focus on sustainable capture fishery;
• Analyze key factors relevant to the development/establishment of an effective fishery governance framework inclusive of research, conservation and extension; and

Analyze the fishery industry and fishery livelihoods.  This will also include coordinating and, if and as feasible, contributing to and collaborating with a proposed economic valuation/analysis of river basin ecosystem services. 

Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in Aquaculture and Fisheries, or related subjects and a minimum of 10 years of experience in Aquaculture research.
• Extensive knowledge on Aquaculture in context of Nepal
• Experts with International experience are preferred. 
• Team members having experience working with multi-stakeholders, communities and private sectors preferred;
• Team members must have demonstrated exploration and analytical skills;
• Team members should be in good physical condition, able and willing to walk if necessary for field confirmation of indications or understandings gathered from background documentation and discussions; able to cope agreeably with field conditions that may include limited amenities and logistic support;
• Excellent spoken and written English.

Additional Information

Contract Type: Consultancy Contract (25 working days)

Duty Station : Paani Program office, Kathmandu

Level of Effort : 25 days

Period of Performance: December 2018 to March 2019

How to Apply: If you are interested, we invite you to apply by uploading your CV and cover letter at following link by 25 November 2018.

http://smrtr.io/QtgS

ONLY SHORTLIST CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED.

For more information on SNV, please refer to our website: www.snv.org