CEFAS24-142 Contract for NOC as Tier 2 Partner in the Sustainable Blue Economies (SBE) Platform

The Sustainable Blue Economies Platform Programme is funded through official development assistance (ODA). Through the SBE platform, the UK government and partners will work with ODA-eligible SIDS to deliver technical assistance to support tangible and positive impacts on the livelihoods and climate resilience of coastal communities that depend on healthy marine ecosystems. Working alongside local partners, the SBE platform partners will facilitate better ocean management through targeted data collection and analysis; building local capacity and capability enabling greater use of nature-based solutions; boosting blue economy planning and development leading to poverty reduction and improved livelihoods.

Requirement:

Cefas requires the involvement of Tier 2 partners in the platform management and technical assistance proposal development and delivery in SIDS as follows. Terms of Reference for the group will be created.

Tier 2 Management requirement:

• attendance and input at SBE platform review meetings, held online initially fortnightly (frequency may change).
• attending technical advisory group circa 2x/yr (format to be confirmed in Terms of Reference)
• reporting & financial administration requirements to ODA standards1

Proposal Development and Delivery Requirement:

1. FCDO Programme Operating Framework - GOV.UK

11

V4 December 2023 Classification: OFFICIAL

• Support development of SIDS project proposals from concept note to full Project Initiation Document, as allocated by the Technical Advisory Panel. To be managed remotely.
• Delivery of technical assistance to SIDS in line with the SBE thematic areas (see annex 2) as per proposals approved by the technical advisory panel and agreed with the supplier. Some delivery may be required in country but this is unknown at this stage. For example, technical assistance may include:
• oSupport for ocean acidification monitoring
• oClimate change related coastal flooding risk evaluation
• oAssessing risk to offshore seabed infrastructure from lahars
• oEvaluating options for end-of-life utilisation of fishing gear
• oSeafloor and environmental research and advice for sustainable blue economic development and climate resilience of small island developing states.

Deliverables:

Deliverable

Indicative timeframe

Attendance and input at platform meetings and technical advisory panel (s)

Ongoing

Reporting and financial administration to ODA standards

Ongoing

SIDS proposal development during soft-launch

December 2024 - January 2025

Tier 2 delivery of Technical Assistance to SIDS (Soft Launch)

As per proposal dates, commencing Feb 2025

SIDS proposal development during full-launch

March 2025 - April 2025

Tier 2 management and delivery of Technical Assistance to SIDS (Full Launch)

As per proposal dates, commencing May 2025

Location for services to be delivered: The SBE platform will engage with partners in the UK and deliver technical assistance in ODA-eligible SIDS