MYANMAR - Fisheries Consultancy - Rakhine State

Solidarités International is a French humanitarian organization which provides aid and assistance to victims of war or natural disaster. For over 30 years the association has focused on meeting three vital needs - water, food and shelter - by carrying out emergency programmes followed by longer-term reconstruction projects. Whilst fully respecting the assisted populations’ customs and culture, Solidarités International’s programmes are implemented through the joint expertise of around 180 expatriates and 1500 local managerial staff and employees. Solidarités International is currently present in Africa (Central African Republic, Southern Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, Liberia, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, Zimbabwe), in Asia (Afghanistan, Thailand, Bangladesh, Myanmar) and in Haiti.

CONTEXT OF INTERVENTION

SI’s operations in Myanmar started in May 2008 after cyclone Nargis struck the country, which included a DFID-funded emergency project. Since then SI has implemented 17 projects in the country, with five in livelihoods including DFID-funded LIFT.

Cyclone Giri, a category 4 cyclone, hit Rakhine State on 22 October 2010 with total damage affecting approximately 260,000 people. Myebon, Kyaukpyu, Minbya and Pauktaw were the most affected townships. The disaster completely destroyed 30,000 hectares (ha) of paddy fields and partially damaged another 68,000 ha, causing the loss of 112,538 tons of rice in the process. This would have been enough to feed 474,000 people for a year, according to FAO1. It also destroyed over 1,800 boats and 5,230 sets of fishing gear2. Importantly, the cyclone also wiped out the network of dykes and embankments which protect villages, paddy fields, and fish and shrimp ponds.

After Giri, SI focused on emergency relief and limited interventions to restore and strengthen livelihoods. The livelihood recovery interventions focused exclusively on the rehabilitation of embankments, the provision of paddy seed and asset replacement in the fishery sector. The funds allocated to this response were not sufficient to rehabilitate or begin addressing longer-term needs in the livelihoods sector which suffered from low levels of production and high levels of poverty prior to the Cyclone.

The Giri affected area in Rakhine State is situated in a vulnerability context induced by macro level factors. The scheme in place has led to a depletion of household assets, as a result of high levels of unemployment, minimal health and education access, and limited infrastructure. Long term consequences also include social fragmentation and limited good health for the population.

Rakhine coastal areas are well-known for producing fisheries and sea food products with 43% of the population relying on fishing or a combination of fishing/aquaculture and agriculture3. Within the area there is a limited knowledge of the dynamics of the market and value chain in the Giri affected area. Indeed the market linkages do exist for products that can be sold outside the state but the remote coastal communities benefitted relatively little from this trade due to the lack of preservation and storage at village level. The fishing activities are classified into the freshwater fishery (aquaculture) and open fisheries. The area relies more on inshore fisheries and aquaculture and prawn farm which are not always managed in a suitable way to provide substantial income or sustained labour opportunities.

Moreover the key constraint for households engaged in fishing is the lack of access to fishing grounds. Large fishing areas are covered by expensive licenses allocated (i.e. sold) at the state level at a high price to large traders. Local fishers are often excluded from fishing in these areas.

The integration of the communities to the market chain if the access to fishing ground will improve will enable them to produce, store and trade higher value produce.

OUTLINE OF CONSULTANCY

The main purpose of this consultancy is for SI to have a better analysis on the market and value chain existing in the fishery sector in Giri affected area. The Fishery Consultant will conduct a general assessment to gain a better understanding of how the fishery sector is organized; to identify existing market linkages in this sector; to gain an improved understanding of the aquaculture and its potential for development; to identify how to increase profit for small-scale and medium fishermen.

The consultancy should lead to the formulation of clear technical and methodological recommendations to implement future long-term projects.

Key aspects that this assessment will have to include are: 1. The Consultant will conduct an in-depth assessment of the fishery sector in Myebon Township to understand how the fishermen are organized. This will include (but not be limited to) the constraints faced to access to fishing ground, the price of each license, and an analysis of the fishing regulations. 2. The Consultant will analyze the market linkages that currently exist in the remote coastal area, the organization of the fishery market from the small-medium scale fisherman at village level to the consumer. These analyses will include an analysis of linkages and relationship between fishermen and brokers/traders and as well between traders and wholesalers, with particular attention given to the “middle-man”. 3. Identify constraints to adequate fish and fish products processing, and make recommendations to improve processing techniques at the local level 4. Identify constraints to adequate fish and fish products packaging, transport and marketing, and make recommendations for improvement, including assessing the village level capacity for packaging on-site. 5. The consultant will identify new opportunities to increase income for the small and medium scale fishermen through a value chain approach. This includes the identification of new job opportunities by enhancing input supplies and services in the fishery sector. 6. Identify a few key fishery products that have the potential to be commercialized beyond Myebon. 7. The consultant will analyse and proposed alternative to capture fish that preserve the fish stock through small scale aquaculture which can be develop in the area and define awareness campaign on fisherman right, on the fishery regulation and restricted types of net.

METHODOLOGY

The methodology will be defined by the consultant and proposed to SI’s Programme Coordinator based in Yangon.

The Consultant will be based in Myebon field office, Rakhine State. He/she will report on a regular basis to the Field Coordinator at Sittwe office and the Programme Coordinator at Yangon office. The consultancy will encompass extensive field visits to project sites in a representative sample of villages where SI already implemented fishery activities and will also include considerable time coordinating with field staff (Fishery team working on the current livelihood programme).

The consultant will lead the Fishery assessment activity in close coordination with the Fishery Expert based in Myebon.

The consultant’s work will initially focus on the understanding of the organization of the fishery sector. The consultant will also liaise with key market actors in Myebon and Rakhine state (such as traders, wholesalers and local chamber of commerce and industries) and if needed in other Townships / States to support market linkages activities. Field visit reports, weekly progress reports are expected from the consultant on a timely basis with emphasis on key learning. The consultant will also attend regular meetings at Sittwe office to brief the Field Coordinator and support the strategic planning process.

RESULTS

• 1 presentation of the main conclusions of the assessment with the team at Myebon level
• 1 debriefing session with SI Programme Coordinator at Yangon level
• 1 written report

CONDITIONS

Salaried post : salary will vary according to experience.

Solidarités International will cover accommodation and travel expenses from the consultant’s home country to the site of the assignment.

All domestic travel (travel authorizations, flights, boats, pick-ups) will be provided and arranged.

DURATION : Field visits (estimated at one month) to be conducted during November 2011.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send us a CV and cover letter, either through our website or via the following link: https://emea2.recruitmentplatform.com/syndicated/private/syd_apply.cfm?I....