Duration: February 2024 to April 30, 2024

Activity: Conducting Baseline Site Assessment of Amogues Fisherfolk Association and Conducting study on Investment Readiness of the Seaweed production in Sitio Amogues, Barangay Calawag, Taytay, Palawan

Project Location: Taytay, Palawan, Philippines

BACKGROUND

The Philippines is in the Coral Triangle, home of the most diverse coral reefs in the world. Considering that the entire country sits within the Triangle, the province of Palawan is considered an ecological hotspot. The island’s coral reefs and mangrove forests comprise 42% and 36% respectively of the Philippine total. ts fisheries generate twice the yield of land-based agriculture at Php1.2B (USD27 million) a year. Among 81 provinces in the Philippines, Palawan is the highest producer of national fishery overall at 551,641 MT or 12% of the total fishery with a production value twice of the next province in rank. It has high rankings in various categories and sectors. For example, in 2019, it is on the top 10 richest provinces in the country per CEO bWorld, it has the biggest fishing area and the biggest Marine Protected Area, #1 in annual average fishery production, #1 in annual average aquaculture production, #1 in seaweed production, biggest offshore natural gas reserve, among others. However, per the National Competitiveness Council of the Philippines (NCCP), Palawan ranked 72nd out of 76 provinces in 2019 in terms of overall competitiveness comprising of economic dynamism, infrastructure and government efficiency and resiliency. Despite its richness in natural resources, it is the 12th poorest province, an irony for its almost 800,000 inhabitants. 

WWF has been working in Palawan since 1991, providing technical assistance in establishing several protected areas, most notably the Tubbataha Reefs, a world-renowned dive site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS), and touted as the best-managed Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the country. What began with a USD2,000 research grant for the Live Reef Fish Food Trade (LRFFT) paved the way for a USD3 million program under the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF). This program, however, ended in 2013 and WWF Philippines continues to build on its successes and pursue its work on MPAs and fisheries.

To further institutionalize the management of coastal and fishery management, another initiative entitled “Marine Protected Areas for Improved Fisheries in Palawan, Philippines implemented between May 2016 to June 2019. The long-term goal of the project is to secure livelihoods and food security in Palawan, Philippines through an effectively managed network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that supports the Reef Food Fish (RFF) industry. Also, the Conservation of Marine Protected Area Network was implemented between June 2020 to August 2023, covering the Northeastern Cluster 5 MPAs. It holds that the Northeast Palawan MPA Network habitats are protected while supporting people's livelihoods and food security. The project also aims at contributing to two ACAIs of the Oceans Practice on: 1. Resilient Coastal Habitats- by setting up an enforcement mechanism in the MPA Network within one million hectares of co-managed marine area. 2. Working with Coastal Communities to Secure their Ocean Futures by effective local MPA management of spawning sites.

Sustainable Seaweed Project

In 2023, WWF-Philippines was selected by the Nature-based Solutions Accelerator, an initiative of WWF-UK, WRI and HSBC, to lead a project on sustainable seaweed production in the marine protected areas of Taytay, Palawan. The project is geared towards achieving environmentally sound ecosystems, attaining food security, and improving the economic conditions of coastal communities. Its aim is to be a viable nature-based solution that does not only provide conservation efforts, but also boosts the seaweed farms towards investment readiness with primary focus on the establishment of a seaweed nursery and the formulation of a feasibility and business plan for raw dried seaweeds which in the long run will attract investors and generate higher income.  

This project will be implemented to the existing NEP-MPAN project which is piloted to the municipality of Taytay, Palawan and the primary beneficiary of this project is Amogues Fisherfolk Association, existing and established People’s Organization (PO). This is also a great opportunity for the municipality of Taytay, as it is seen to be a viable nature-based solution that does not only provide conservation efforts, but also as an enterprise that can attract investors and generate income for the seaweed farmers. 

The project is aligned with the national seaweed roadmap of the Philippines. Expected outcome includes improved planning for seaweed production resulting in an increase in seaweed production by 2% growth annually for 5 consecutive years (2022-2026), a decrease in poverty incidence of coastal communities, and zero net loss in marine habitats.  

Seaweed Production and Market Consultant

WWF-Philippines is seeking a seaweed production and market consultant to provide technical expertise and insight for this project. There is a need to understand the feasibility and potential for sustainable seaweed farming in Taytay, focusing in particular on the Amogues Fisherfolk. The scope of work below lays out the specific tasks the consultant would be required to complete. 

SCOPE OF WORK

A preliminary assessment of commercial and scalability potential will include:

1. A definition or mapping of  “route to market”, including:
   1. Detail of the end-to-end supply and value chain of seaweed farming in Taytay
   2. How and in what volume seaweed is farmed, collected, processed and sold and distributed to market. 
   3. The types of organisations (community, public, private commercial, and regulatory authorities) involved at each stage.
2. Feasibility study, including:
   1. Existing policy, laws and enabling conditions, which provides opportunities and/or threats for the project.
   2. The current and projected seaweed revenue and cashflows, including pricing, fixed and variable costs, volume and types of capital required.
   3. The current channels which farmers use to finance their seaweed farming activities (e.g. is it personal bank loan, P2P. etc)
   4. Consideration of climate vulnerability as assessed in separate consultancy, sharing of data to be facilitated by WWF.
3. Scaling potential, including:
   1. How current practices of seaweed farming can be improved and scaled up using better technology and in a sustainable manner. Including looking into sustainable seaweed farming benchmarks. Certification such as ASC can be an option/target.
   2. The extent to which the intended operating model at the nursery site can be replicated at other sites, with the aim of creating an investment scale single business.High level/summary recommendations on scalability i.e. how to produce more efficiently, capture bigger market, and attain higher commercial and funding interests.
   3. Assuming scaleup can occur, what is the size of the overall market and will it be able to accommodate the increase in seaweed supply consistent with the planned scale-up? (To include potential for non-food seaweed product i.e. raw dried seaweed)
   4. What organisational structures and institutions are needed to enable the above scaling or expansion, for example either by the original (non-WWF) project implementation organisation expanding its operations (if permitted by regulation and capacity), or by forming a joint venture or network with other implementation organisations in other districts.
4. Desk-based literature reviews and data analyses.
5. Collection and review of appropriate Municipal and National data and records.
6. Focus-Group Discussions (FGDs) involving all relevant stakeholders such as, but not limited to government, NGOs, private sectors, etc.

DELIVERABLES

1. Feasibility Study
2. Report on commercial and scalability potential
3. Presentation of the draft and the final report findings to the project team
4. All documentation, records review, photos will be included to the submission to WWF-Ph

SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS

LOGISTICAL ARRANGEMENTS

• KKP shall provide transportation, meals and accommodation of the Consultant’s Team during travel/field activity.

CONSULTANT CREDENTIALS AND EXPERTISE

The opportunity is open to consulting firms and organizations with available experts that have technical experience in nature-based solutions, socio-economic and ecological baselining, seaweed production, policy, and stakeholder engagement.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements:

1. Commercial Eligibility Requirements
   1. SEC Registration or equivalent legal document
   2. BIR Registration
   3. Valid Business Permit
   4. Overview of average annual revenue for the last three financial years (2020-2022)
   5. Average number of employees for the last three years (2020-2022)
2. Technical Eligibility Requirements
   1. 1. Competencies 
         1. Relevant experience on seaweed production, supply chains, and sustainability.
         2. Relevant experience in developing and writing feasibility studies
         3. Ability to conduct a market analysis and elaborate a marketing strategy
         4. Good knowledge of theoretical business concepts and models
         5. Research and analytical skills, including data gathering and analyzing information using both qualitative and quantitative methods. 
         6. Ability to establish rapport and work in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams. 
         7. Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write in a clear and concise manner, and to communicate effectively. 
      2. Qualifications and Experience 
         1. Demonstrated previous experience in conducting feasibility studies, route to market mapping, focus group discussions, assessment of scalability potential and report writing.
         2. Experience working with NGO clients.
      3. Updated Company / Organization Profile with years of experience and description of services offered
      4. List of clients from various organizations
      5. List of all on-going and completed contracts related to engagement
         1. Name and location of project
         2. Client organization
         3. Type of consultancy services rendered, with date of engagement / contract