REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

Immeuble CCIA, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

African Natural Resources Centre

E-mail : M.HARRATHI@AFDB.ORG        Telephone : +225 20 26 32 13

Department issuing the request : AFRICAN NATURAL RESOURCES CENTRE (ANRC)

Position :  CONSULTANTS : AUTHORS – ‘TOWARDS A BLUE ECONOMY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR AFRICA’

Place of assignment : Home based

Duration of the assignment :  40 Days

Tentative Date of commencement : 20^th May 2020

Deadline for applications : 5th May 2020

Applications to be submitted to : Maali Harrathi (M.HARRATHI@AFDB.ORG)

Any questions and requests for clarifications may be sent to : MAALI HARRATHI (M.HARRATHI@AFDB.ORG)

INTRODUCTION :

The African Natural Resources Centre (ANRC) is a non-lending entity of the African Development Bank (AfDB). The AfDB established the Centre to support Regional Member Countries (RMCs) to maximize development outcomes from their natural resources. The ANRC generates high quality knowledge and conducts impactful policy dialogue on harnessing natural resources for accelerated sustainable development in Africa. It also provides technical support to RMCs on natural resources planning, investment and governance, with a focus on land, forestry, fisheries, water, oil, gas and minerals. The ANRC also informs the Bank’s operational work in the natural resources sector.

The ANRC now seeks to generate knowledge to help inform public debate, policymaking, planning and investment in blue economy strategies for accelerated sustainable development in Africa. The ANRC seeks to recruit Authors to write background papers for an ANRC publication: Towards a Blue Economy Development Strategy for Africa: Opportunities and Challenges. The ANRC seeks individual Authors to write background papers in the following areas :

1. Marine Extractive Resources Endowment in Africa: An Economic, Technological and Environmental Feasibility Assessment ;
2. Harnessing Ocean Energy for Sustainable Development: Assessing the Science and Economics of Blue Energy in Africa ;
3. The Future of Marine Fisheries in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges ;
4. Blue Ports in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges ;
5. Towards Climate Resilient Ocean Economies in Africa: Policies, Institutions and Investment Models.

THE CONSULTANCY:

By filling this position, the ANRC seeks to consolidate its contribution to the implementation of Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy by fostering the harnessing of natural resources for inclusive and green growth in Africa through :

• Strengthened knowledge generation in the economics of natural resources and sustainable development; Enhanced policy analysis and dialogue on the economics of natural resources and sustainable development ;
• Improved technical assistance on natural resources planning, investment and governance ;
• Enhanced operational effectiveness of the Bank through improved ‘feedback loop’ between, to and from, country diagnostic analyses, project design, implementation and evaluation.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

Under the general supervision of the Director of the ANRC, the Authors’ duties and responsibilities will be to conduct research and policy analysis, and to write and submit a background paper not exceeding 10,000 words on one of the following areas :

• Marine Extractive Resources Endowment in Africa: An Economic, Technological and Environmental Feasibility Assessment ;
• Harnessing Ocean Energy for Sustainable Development: Assessing the Science and Economics of Blue Energy in Africa ;
• The Future of Marine Fisheries in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges ;
• Blue Biotechnology: What Options, Opportunities and Challenges for Africa?
• Blue Ports in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges ;
• Towards Climate Resilient Ocean Economies in Africa : Policies, Institutions and Investment Models.

SELECTION CRITERIA : (including desirable skills, knowledge and experience) :

1. A Master’s Degree in a relevant Social Sciences or Natural Sciences discipline or related fields. A PhD is a strong advantage ;
2. A minimum of ten (10) years’ experience in natural resources research, policy analysis and/or practice ;
3. A strong publication record on blue economy and related fields in international peer reviewed journals and other peer reviewed publications ;
4. Established reputation in leading research and or development networks and ability to broker knowledge through partnerships and collaboration ;
5. Proficiency in English and/or French ;
6. Proven skills and experience as Lead or Contributing Author to high profile international and or regional scientific assessments and or knowledge products ;
7. Experience in communicating research results to policy makers.

V. CONSULTANT (AUTHOR) SELECTION :

The Consultants (Authors) will be selected in accordance with the African Development Bank’s Implementation Manual relating to the Procedures for Acquisition of Consulting Services funded by the Administrative or Capital Expenditure Budget of the Bank Group. Candidates shall be evaluated based on the following technical criteria:

Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, copies of academic certificates and transcripts, and a technical proposal (3 pages max.) (a) identifying a topic of interest from the list above (section 111) and (b) outlining a proposed approach to the background paper. Applicants should also submit three (3) samples of written work. Appendix 1 gives a template for submission of CVs. Only the best candidates earning 70% and above will be shortlisted.

TIMEFRAME :

The consultant will work on a fulltime basis for a period of 40 days starting in May 2020.

VII.  REMUNERATION :

The Consultant will be hired for forty (40) working days and paid a contract lump sum based on the AfDB over a maximum period of six (6) months Consultants’ remuneration scale and the schedule and conditions to be negotiated with the ANRC. This consultancy will be home based. Where field missions are required, cost of travel and per diem will be covered in line with AfDB rules.

VIII. Service Conditions

The African Development Bank conditions for retaining short-term consultants will apply.

Appendix 1 :

Please attach an updated Curriculum Vitae on the basis of the template below :

MODEL CURRICULUM VITAE – AFDB BAD PDF