Request For Proposal: Facilitation Consultant: Albania-GFW collaboration and the Buna (Bojana) River Transboundary MPA Dialogue

Proposals should be submitted by 7 November 2026 at 17:00 CET. Please see submission requirements at the bottom of this posting. Submissions should not be submitted via email. Who we are Global Fishing Watch is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing ocean governance through increased transparency of human activity at sea. By creating and publicly sharing map visualizations, data and analysis tools, we aim to enable scientific research and transform the way our ocean is managed. We believe human activity at sea should be public knowledge in order to safeguard the global ocean for the common good of all. Within our global strategy, the biodiversity pillar and our regional work in the Mediterranean focus on supporting evidence-based decision making for marine conservation measures, including fisheries management measures, marine protected areas (MPAs), and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs). Context Albania is subject to obligations under the European Union accession process, including alignment with the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), and to regional frameworks including the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) and the Barcelona Convention. Effective monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) and well-designed biodiversity conservation measures are central to meeting these commitments. The government of Albania and Global Fishing Watch (GFW) hold regular exchanges to support fisheries management and marine spatial planning, and to provide science-based tools for MCS and spatio-temporal measures such as in the context of the GFCM. The Buna/Bojana River forms part of the Albania-Montenegro border and connects the Lake Shkodra/Skadar system to the Adriatic Sea. Building on previous exchanges, GFW plans a bilateral workshop on cooperation toward a potential transboundary marine protected area (MPA) in the river mouth and adjacent coastal and marine area. Its geographical scope, links to existing protected areas and national designation pathways will be discussed with the competent authorities. A transboundary MPA at the Buna River would contribute to national, EU and regional area-based protection commitments in both countries. GFW is planning a workshop to move this dialogue forward. This consultancy will work primarily with Albanian authorities and stakeholders to help GFW design and deliver the Buna River process, with targeted conversations with Montenegro to keep the bilateral dialogue on track. The dialogue should build on the 2023 bilateral agreement on joint sustainable fisheries management of Lake Shkodra/Skadar and the Buna/Bojana River and the 2015 Integrated Resources Management Plan for the Buna/Bojana Area. The consultant will confirm the current implementation status and relevant coordination bodies with both countries, and identify how the proposed dialogue can complement them. Relevant GFCM references include its 2030 Strategy; the Regional Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries (RPOA-SSF, 2018-2028); and Recommendations GFCM/46/2023/16 and GFCM/47/2024/1 on European eel. These provide entry points for cooperation on fisheries, habitat connectivity, participation and monitoring, to be screened for relevance to the agreed area. Where possible, the consultant will also help advance a VMS data-sharing MoU framework between GFW and Albania. Overall Objective Consultancy period 15 November to 31 December 2026 The assignment will prepare and facilitate a bilateral workshop before 15 December and deliver a short report and practical roadmap for continued cooperation by year end. GFW is looking for a facilitation partner who joins planning discussions, holds relationships with Albanian counterparts, maintains contact with Montenegrin counterparts, and can deliver on the Buna River designation workshop. Buna River Workshop and Dialogue (approx. 75%) Objective 1: Preparation and dialogue for the Buna River MPA designation workshop - Review records of previous GFW workshops and bilateral exchanges, available ecological and fisheries evidence, existing protection measures and relevant national procedures. Summarise each country's position and the information still needed. - Prepare an overview of key actors and identify the role each is expected to play in the lead-up to, during, and after the workshop. Include the main Montenegrin counterparts for the bilateral process. Identify common interests, differences, participation needs and realistic workshop outcomes. - Hold pre-workshop consultations with priority Albanian stakeholders, and preparatory conversations with Montenegrin counterparts, to understand expectations and potential points of agreement. - Identify where GFW data, tools and expertise can support the designation process. - Facilitate exchanges between GFW and the Albanian authorities on the Buna River process, and periodic exchanges with Montenegrin authorities/consultants to keep both sides aligned. - Recommend practical ways to sustain dialogue, including focal points, follow-up meetings and an action matrix. Assess links to existing bilateral bodies before proposing new arrangements; identify with GFW whether GFCM or UNEP/MAP regional centres could provide relevant technical input, subject to their agreement. Objective 2: Agenda and Talking Points - Prepare workshop materials, including briefing notes, background papers and discussion materials, guided in close collaboration with GFW. These should draw on using and highlighting GFW data and tools such as Marine Manager to support the Buna River designation process. - Identify shared objectives, a possible scope for the transboundary MPA, governance options and the next procedural steps toward designation. Objective 3: Concept and facilitation of the event - Co-design the workshop concept in guidance from GFW, including its purpose, expected outcomes, format, and participant list. - Act as co-lead facilitator during the event (together with GFW), managing sessions, guiding discussion toward agreed outcomes. - Capture discussions and agreements in real time, and close the event with clear, shared next steps. - Dialogue on a potential MoU between GFW and Albania (approx. 25%) Dialogue on a Potential MoU Between GFW and Albania (approx. 25%) Objective 4 – GFW–Albania cooperation - Facilitate dialogue between GFW and the relevant Albanian authorities on cooperation in data sharing and capacity development. - Help move forward a potential Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between GFW and Albania, including a framework for VMS data sharing, supporting conversations toward an agreed draft. - Across both workstreams, the consultant will keep GFW regularly updated on developments, emerging opportunities, risks and changes in the political or institutional context. The consultant will also recommend strategies for GFW's engagement, including follow-up actions and opportunities for longer-term cooperation with Albania (and Montenegro). Deliverables The consultant is required to deliver the following products. Timings are indicative and should be confirmed in the work-plan of the consultant. 20 November Workplan and arrangements: activities, estimated working days, effort split, roles, consultation plan, confirmed workshop date and venue, and language and logistics requirements. 23 November Preparation note: concise stakeholder and policy briefing, workshop concept, proposed participants, draft agenda and intended outputs. Identify options to strengthen bilateral dialogue. 30 November Workshop pack: agenda, talking points, facilitation guide and discussion materials incorporating GFW-approved technical inputs. Complete final adjustments with GFW by 4 December. By 14 December One in-person bilateral workshop facilitated and documented. Preferred window: 8-13 December; exact date agreed with both countries and GFW at inception. 18 December Draft short report, including the workshop outcomes, recommended roadmap/action matrix and a brief MoU progress section. Main text approximately 5-7 pages, with agenda and participant list as annexes. 23 December Final report incorporating one consolidated round of GFW comments and factual corrections received from counterparts; online debrief with GFW. All remaining contractual work completed by 31 December 2026. Required Qualifications: - Academic or professional qualification in fisheries science, marine biology, environmental science, or related discipline. - Experience and working relationship with Albania and Montenegrin authorities in the context of fisheries mgmt and MPAs. - Knowledge of GFWs technological platforms and data for marine management and capacity development. - Knowledge of EU procedures for fisheries monitoring, MPA management, or equivalent regulatory contexts. - Experience facilitating stakeholder workshops and engaging with government authorities in the Mediterranean or European context. - Experience working with international organizations in fisheries or marine management projects. Submission Requirements Interested parties should submit a proposal with a descriptive plan via email as a Word or PDF attachment to [email protected] and [email protected]. The budget should be submitted in spreadsheet form. The proposal should consist of: - A cover letter explaining the provider’s interest and qualification for the consultancy including a description of previous experience with the types of work proposed in the RFP. - A narrative proposal outlining how the provider intends to fulfil the responsibilities outlined in the previous section. - A descriptive budget outlining the total cost of fulfilling the terms of the RFP. Submission Deadline Proposals should be submitted by 7 November 2026 at 17:00 CET. Equal Opportunities: Global Fishing Watch is an equal opportunities employer. Global Fishing Watch is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within our organization and in the greater ocean management and conservation community. We believe that diverse backgrounds, skills, knowledge and viewpoints make us a stronger organization. Bringing together professionals who possess broad experiences and a spectrum of perspectives will enable us to reach our goal of improved ocean governance faster. We hire and promote qualified professionals without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or parental status, national origin, age, physical or mental disability or medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Our organizational goals match the urgent challenges facing our global ocean, and our mission is designed to help secure a healthy ocean for all. We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of humanity’s diversity, by providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all employees of Global Fishing Watch and for our partners, vendors, suppliers and contractors.