Request for Proposal (RFP) - Mediterranean MPA Analysis

GLOBAL, remote- closes February 26 at 11:59pm 

About the Company

Global Fishing Watch is an international, non-profit organization committed to advancing ocean governance through increased transparency. We create and publicly share knowledge about human activity at sea to enable fair and sustainable use of our ocean. Founded in 2015 through a collaboration between Oceana, SkyTruth, and Google, GFW became an independent non-profit organization in June 2017. Using cutting-edge technology, we create and publicly share map visualizations, data, and analysis tools to enable scientific research and drive a transformation in how we manage our ocean. By 2030, we aim to monitor and visualize the impact of ocean-going vessels, both industrial and small-scale, that are responsible for the vast majority of the global seafood catch. We believe human activity at sea should be common knowledge in order to safeguard the global ocean commons for the common good of all.

Global Fishing Watch is working to enhance fisheries management by promoting transparency, building analytical capacity, and fostering regional collaboration. Through open data, satellite technology, and partnerships with governments and stakeholders, we aim to equip decision makers with the tools needed to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, support small-scale fishers, and improve marine conservation. Our program focuses on sharing insights, capacity development and the integration of advanced monitoring and evaluation techniques to drive evidence based policy and sustainable ocean governance. 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

The Mediterranean Sea is subject to a complex mosaic of legal and policy frameworks related to marine conservation and fisheries management, involving European Union law, non-EU national legislation, regional fisheries management through the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), and regional environment agreements (e.g. the Barcelona Convention and its Regional Activity Centres, including SPA/RAC).

Global Fishing Watch is strengthening its regional strategy in the Mediterranean, with a particular focus on its core countries (Morocco, Albania and Montenegro) and on the role of transparency data in supporting marine biodiversity protection and the reduction of destructive fishing practices. To position our work and partnerships effectively, GFW requires a clear, synthesised understanding of:

• current MPA-related legal and policy frameworks (EU and non-EU),
  
  
• regional and international agreements on marine conservation,
  
  
• the relationship between MPAs, destructive fishing, OECMs and GFCM Fisheries Restricted Areas (FRAs), and
  
  
• emerging challenges and future directions for marine protection in the Mediterranean.
  
  

This consultancy will inform GFW’s biodiversity strategy and regional engagement in the Mediterranean.

Objectives

The objective of this consultancy is to produce a clear, structured and action-oriented analysis of MPAs and area-based conservation and fisheries management tools in the Mediterranean, by providing:

1. 1. A concise synthesis of the legal and policy framework governing MPAs and marine biodiversity conservation in the Mediterranean i.e. covering EU and non-EU contexts and integrating key international and regional agreements and processes, including but not limited to the Barcelona Convention and SPA/BD Protocol (SPA-RAC), the CBD and Global Biodiversity Framework, and relevant GFCM measures. 
   2. A focused analysis of priority countries for GFW – Morocco, Albania and Montenegro – highlighting national frameworks, implementation challenges and opportunities for GFW.
2. Assess current GFW biodiversity work in the Mediterranean. Identify opportunities for the team to align future efforts with existing processes and activities, and priority areas where we can make actionable outcomes for MPAs/OECMs/marine conservation in line with national, regional and international agreements and processes.
3. Creating a list of all existing and/or planned (ideally) MPAs/OECMs for GFW priority countries along with georeferenced data and their sources.
4. Review existing GFW biodiversity training module sessions and draft content on the subject of the institutional and policy frameworks that govern MPAs and OECMs and how open data and transparency can facilitate national biodiversity goals. This will be a 1-hour session that sits in a wider course and will cover the topic of using open data and GFW Marine Manager to support MPA designation, monitoring, and management across global, regional, and local scales. 
5. Including in the final report a specific section on the relationship between MPAs, OECMs and GFCM Fisheries Restricted Areas (FRAs) and destructive and over- fishing in the Mediterranean context.

Guidance and timeline

The consultant will be expected to:

• Hold initial meetings with the GFW EU-Mediterranean and related biodiversity teams to clarify expectations, scope and priorities.
  
  
• Refine the proposed outline and methodology for the report in consultation with GFW teams.

The report should incorporate the following key components.

1. Brief legal and policy framework synthesis
   
   
   1. Review key EU and non-EU legal and policy frameworks governing MPAs, OECMs and other conservation marine biodiversity measures in the Mediterranean, including EU legislation frameworks and directives, national MPA laws, and regional action plans.
      
      
   2. Map main international and regional agreements and processes relevant to MPAs and OECMs, including the Barcelona Convention / SPA-RAC, CBD/GBF targets (including 30x30), and GFCM measures.
      
      
   3. Assess how these frameworks are implemented and how they interact in practice, including their links to destructive fishing practices and spatial fisheries management measures.
      
      
2. Country-level focus: Morocco, Albania, Montenegro

1. 1. Provide a country snapshot for each of the three core countries, including:
      
      
      1. national MPA and marine conservation legal framework;
         
         
      2. relevant regional and international commitments;
         
         
      3. Key fisheries and environment authorities and roles/mandate;;
         
         
      4. main implementation challenges and opportunities.
   2. Highlight synergies and gaps where transparency data and GFW tools could support policy implementation and monitoring.
   3. Identify synergies and gaps where transparency data and GFW tools could support policy implementation, monitoring, and actionable outcomes.

3. Inventory

1. Compile a georeferenced inventory of all MPAs, OECMs and FRA in the priority countries, including data sources

4. Review GFW’s current biodiversity efforts in the region and proposed biodiversity modules

1. 1. Review current GFW’s internal strategy,  biodiversity modules, and activities relevant to the Mediterranean.
   2. Identify opportunities and provide actionable interventions for the EU Med team to align future efforts with existing frameworks, regional processes, and national priorities.

1. 1. 1. how GFW’s current and planned work in the Mediterranean fits into this landscape;
      2. potential avenues for collaboration with regional processes and national authorities;
      3. priority opportunities and risks for GFW’s biodiversity pillar.

5. The role of MPAs OECMs and FRAs in supporting biodiversity targets and sustainable use of resource
Analyse the relationship between area-based management tools, biodiversity targets (including 30x30) and fisheries management in the Mediterranean by:

1. 1. defining the role of MPAs/OECMs and GFCM FRAs in addressing destructive practices (e.g., bottom trawling in sensitive habitats), overfishing and broader sustainability pressures; 
   2. assessing how these instruments can complement each other—including through connected networks—to deliver biodiversity outcomes while balancing sustainable resource use; and
   3. identifying how data transparency can support designation, monitoring and effective management of these measures.

6. Deliverables

1. 1. Written report (approx. 20–30 pages, excluding annexes) covering the objectives described above, in English, including:
      
      
      1. Executive summary (max. 3 pages);
         
         
      2. Main chapters as per the scope above;
         
         
      3. Annexes with key legal references and instruments.
   2. Leading the drafting text for the Biodiversity Modules session - 1 hour training session which will form part of a wider course -  which will include: 
      1. Slide deck
      2. Talking points document to accompany the slide deck
      3. Session plan
   3. At least two (2), as many as four (4), coordination meetings with GFW’s team during the course of the consultancy (online).
   4. One (1) final online seminar (max 2 hours) to present key findings and discuss implications for GFW strategy and programming.

Indicative timeline

• Start date: March 9, 2026
• Draft report delivered: May 8, 2026
• Final report and seminar completed by (and no later than): May 18, 2026

Submission requirements

Interested individuals should submit a proposal including a detailed plan and budget. The proposal should consist of:

• A cover letter explaining the provider’s interest and qualifications for the consultancy, including a description of previous experience with the types of work proposed in the RFP.
• Resume/CV of the all project members
• A narrative proposal outlining:
  • the proposed approach and methodology to address the scope and objectives;
  • the structure of the report;
  • the plan for engaging with GFW's Mediterranean and biodiversity teams (meetings, feedback mechanisms, seminar)
  • a proposed timeline for completing the consultancy, consistent with the indicative timeframe
• A descriptive budget outlining the total cost of fulfilling the terms of the RFP, including
  • daily rates and the estimated number of days
  • any other relevant costs

Submission deadline

Proposals should be submitted by 11:59pm GMT February 26, 2026

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.