BACKGROUND

Tropical tuna harvested in the Western Central Pacific Ocean account for 60% of the global tuna trade. One of the most valuable tunas is yellowfin tuna that supports livelihood, employment and generates considerable GDP share for coastal nations through export sales (Indonesia, Philippines and Pacific Island states), and vessel day sales (Pacific islands). Small scale fishers account for about 40% of yellow fin tuna catches in the Philippines, (STP Assessment Report 2020, Tambuyog), Malaysia and Indonesia. Collapse of this fishery will have far-reaching implications to the livelihood of small-scale fishers, as well as employment in the commercial seafood industry in the region. WWF has been working with small scale fishers for a more sustainable harvest of yellowfin tuna in the Western Central Pacific region.

Since 2011, WWF-Philippines has been active in advancing and implementing Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPS) in the tuna fisheries in Lagonoy and Mindoro Strait, Philippines to ensure sustainable production while improving the welfare of small- scale handline fisherfolk. The Fishery Improvement Projects WWF-Philippines supported in Lagonoy Gulf and Mindoro have been awarded the Marine Stewardship Council Certification (MSCC), the first fishery in the country to attain such certification. The MSCC is the most widely used sustainable seafood certification globally, and has become the gold standard in fisheries environmental sustainability certifications. Consumer preference for sustainably sourced seafood has steadily been growing, and provides an opportunity for conscientious fisheries producers such as the small-scale tuna fishers of Occidental Mindoro and other key stakeholders to ensure sustainable production whilst meeting increasing market demand for such seafood products.

However, the MSC Certification requires its proponents and other key stakeholders to continuously uphold sustainable fisheries principles, failing them would risk discontinuance of the fishery’s certification. To improve operations efficiency further, communities need to develop processing facilities and sanitary procedures, thereby reducing post-harvest losses, and raising production quality. Through extensive consultations with the communities, WWF- Philippines identified the lack of such facilities and services as the primary barrier in sustaining the communities’ opportunities in the export market. Lack of diverse alternative livelihood sources, including sustainable aquaculture products, not only limits the competitiveness of Occidental Mindoro but also risks food and economic insecurity.

Mindoro Strait, a major tuna fishery area in the Philippines, also forms part of the wider Sulu-Sulawesi Seascape, a mega-diverse marine ecoregion that stretches towards Palawan. The project goals are two-fold: Maintain MSC certification to ensure sustainable harvest of YFT whilst supplementing fishing livelihoods to ease pressure on dwindling wild capture fish stocks.

OBJECTIVES

Among the outputs of the Mindoro Strait Sustainable and Equitable Tuna for Bankability (MS-SETB) Project is a portfolio of bankable blue projects, facilitating the unlocking of private and public investment to ensure better management and protection of coastal and marine resources. This will in turn improve income opportunities and resilience of the target beneficiary communities.

In particular focus are micro and small enterprises meet environmental, social and economic goals for sustainable business that comprise over 99% of all businesses in the country operated in the communities by local entrepreneurs, and new businesses set up precisely to offer alternative livelihood and income sources for poor fishing communities.

The objectives of this consultancy are to provide technical support to micro and small enterprises in the fisheries and ancillary industries in the target sites to 1) initiate business planning, including cash flow and financial modelling, and market development, and 2) develop proposals for submission to obtain funding, or specialized technical support necessary for their enterprises’ growth. The consultant will need to consider ecological, economic and social bottom lines for the businesses. The consultancy shall also provide inputs and feedback to the development of financial structures under Phase 2 as may enable the sustainable financing of said projects.

NOTES TO THE STUDY

Another consultancy has been engaged that will support in informing the design and delivery of this consultancy: identifying, screening, and aggregating a pipeline of bankable projects supporting fisheries production supplying markets, and subsequently, with developing appropriate financial structures to support said pipeline.

It is envisioned that the consultancies will interact and create feedback loops with their co-consultancies to create synergies and optimize respective deliverables under the Project; e.g. provide inputs and feedback to the development of financial structures as may enable the financing of said projects, particularly micro and small enterprises.

SCOPE OF WORK

1. While WWF shall engage the organization, it shall remain the overall in charge of the project and undertake activities that are within its scope and expertise. Specifically, WWF is responsible for carrying out the following:
   1. Review and approve consultancy outputs;
   2. Conduct briefing sessions for the consultancy;
   3. Assign staff to coordinate the requirements of the consultancy; and
   4. Partake in the analysis of results, review the results thereof, and provide inputs.
   5. Ensure sustainability criteria are met in developing value chains and business operations and logistics.
      
2. Consultant/ Consultancy Firm
   The consultant, in providing the technical expertise required in planning and execution, shall have the following qualities and functions:
   1. Engages with micro- and small enterprises, including women’s associations, (in)formal grassroots organizations, and groups engaged in small-scale fisheries and ancillary industries for institutional and technical capacity building for business planning and relevant aspects related thereto;
   2. Submit a work and financial plan for approval of WWF. This document should contain various elements of the assignment including specific activities, objectives, design and methodology of field research, implementing staff, budget, duration, and how specific component activities will be managed;
   3. With inputs from co-consultancies, to identify, screen, and aggregate a range of bankable projects by micro and small enterprises. Considerations for project ticket size, proponent entity, nature of business, geographical location, etc. shall be made with a view to minimizing risk of final portfolio;
   4. Develop business planning pedagogy outline given prioritized needs of said enterprises after due consultation along with WWF team;
   5. Assist WWF in organizing training and workshop roadshows (clustering 2 adjoining municipalities) and to act as resource person in facilitating business planning and proposal development;
   6. Coordinate and work closely with MS-SETB Community Enterprise Specialist on the status of preparations and other concerns related to the assignment; and
   7. Submit to WWF the following deliverables:
      1. Inception report with detailed step-by-step process, methods, tools and timelines for development and validation of the learning pedagogy to be utilized
      2. Eight (8) business plans/feasibility studies based on new and existing livelihood systems and raw materials available in the community distributed as follows: two (2) for Sablayan, two (2) for Mamburao, one (1) each for Rizal, Calintaan, Sta. Cruz and Paluan;
      3. Pedagogy outline for business planning workshop, with prior stakeholder consultation and feedback
      4. Outline for proposal development workshop
      5. Terminal report of workshop roadshow, with business profiles and relevant business date of supported small and micro enterprises

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in business administration, finance, economics, or a related field;
• Minimum of three (3) years’ experience in developing sustainable business plans for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs);
• Demonstrated experience in conducting market research, financial analysis, and creating financial projections;
• Strong understanding of sustainable business practices and principles;
• Knowledge of relevant industry trends, regulations, and best practices;
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills;
• Ability to work independently and within a team;
• Proficiency in using relevant software and tools for business planning and financial analysis;
• Experience in working with international organizations and/or donors is an asset.
• Experience in owning or operating their own business is preferred, as their practical experience in facing the challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurship is highly valued.

DURATION

The implementation of this consultancy shall be twelve (12) months.

TERMS OF PAYMENT

The consultancy firm shall be paid after the required outputs are submitted. Payment will be in three tranches, which are as follows:

Schedule of payment

First payment (30%) – upon signing of the contract and submission of proposed inception report containing work and financial plan with detailed timelines and deliverables, covering the entire duration of the contract

Second payment (50%) – upon submission of outline of business planning pedagogy and proposal development workshop

Third payment (20%) – upon submission of draft terminal report and approval by WWF