Request for Proposal (RFP) - Vietnam Research Partnerships Engagement Consultant

Who we are

Global Fishing Watch is an international, non-profit organization committed to advancing ocean governance through increased transparency. We use cutting-edge technology to create and publicly share knowledge about human activity at sea, promoting fair and sustainable use of our ocean.

Our main focus is on commercial fishing, which is the most widespread and impactful human activity at sea, vital to global livelihoods and food security. By 2030, we aim to monitor and visualize the impact of both industrial and small-scale vessels responsible for most of the global seafood catch.

Global Fishing Watch works with governments and other stakeholders – including organizations, academe, scientists, journalists and civil society – to co-develop solutions and build local capacity to tackle IUU fishing and enhance marine protection.

 

What we are looking for

Since 2019, Global Fishing Watch has collaborated with the Vietnamese government to advance data-driven fisheries management with support provided by local partners, as well as strengthening technical vessel tracking analysis, monitoring measures, and fostering sustainable fisheries management.

 

Global Fishing Watch is seeking to engage an individual consultant or institution — including universities and non-consulting entities — with relevant expertise and experience in advancing our efforts to reduce illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUUF) and destructive fishing practices, better enforce and protect the rights of small-scale fishers, and improve effective designation and management of marine protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures. This ideal candidate will have a solid knowledge of various in-country research institutions and technical non-government organizations, and the demonstrated ability to gather relevant information needed to support and advance these efforts on the ground and deliver tangible outcomes. 

 

The engagement will play a key role in developing a research partnership pathway in Vietnam by providing in-depth insights into the local fisheries science and technology landscape. The focus will be on scoping potential technical partners for Global Fishing Watch with an emphasis on leveraging their expertise to support Global Fishing Watch in creating impactful contributions that benefit stakeholders in the country. 

 

Description of work

The consultant/institution will identify and assess research institutions, individual researchers, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Vietnam that utilize or could benefit from Global Fishing Watch’s products and vessel tracking and detection data to address key issues related to fisheries management and marine ecosystems. The objective is to establish potential collaborations that align with Global Fishing Watch’s mission and foster data-informed decision-making in the region. 

 

While familiarity with Global Fishing Watch data and tools is preferred, consultants/institutions with relevant expertise in fisheries transparency and technology are also encouraged to apply. Global Fishing Watch can provide basic training to ensure adequate understanding of the tools and platforms needed for the assignment.

 

Scope of Work

Specifically, the consultant/institution will be responsible for:

 

1. Stakeholder Identification and Mapping

• Conduct research to identify institutions, researchers, and non-government social and environmental NGO / CSOs working on fisheries management, marine conservation, and related fields in Vietnam.
• Assess their current use or potential interest in vessel tracking and detection data.

 

1. Institutional Assessment

• Develop an evaluation framework in collaboration with Global Fishing Watch to assess identified institutions and researchers based on:
1. Alignment of goals and interests with Global Fishing Watch’s mission.
2. Technical and analytical capacity to utilize Global Fishing Watch products, data, and tools.
3. Past experience in partnering with international organizations.
4. Engagement with government agencies in data-driven decision-making.
• Gather insights through a review of available materials and discussions or interviews with key resource persons.

 

1. Stakeholder Engagement and Webinar Coordination

• Assist in organizing virtual webinars (maximum 3) to introduce Global Fishing Watch’s mission, data, and tools to selected organizations in Vietnam.
• Support outreach and advertisement of the webinar(s) to maximize participation.
• Help facilitate discussions and translation of technical information during webinar events to ensure effective knowledge sharing and engagement.

 

Support from GFW

Global Fishing Watch will equip the selected consultant/institution with all relevant background materials and information required to effectively carry out the consultancy.

 

Timeline and deliverables

Deliverables

• A report summarizing identified institutions, their potential relevance to Global Fishing Watch, and an assessment based on the agreed criteria.
• A stakeholder engagement plan, including key contacts and recommendations for future collaboration.
• Successful organization and facilitation of virtual webinars with targeted Vietnamese institutions.

Materials should be produced and submitted using Google Docs. Each report should include a table of contents, a list of acronyms, an executive summary, appropriate organization of the main text, a conclusion and cited references. 

 

Close engagement, including weekly calls with the Global Fishing Watch working group and others as appropriate, is expected so as to provide real-time guidance to the consultant/institution. Prompt comments and feedback from Global Fishing Watch will be provided. Revisions of drafts are based on comments received, and additional research is expected.   

 

Global Fishing Watch reserves the right to reject work that does not meet its standards. The consultant/institution is to make every effort to deliver interim and final products on time, according to the agreed schedule.

 

Please note that all findings will be treated as confidential and used strictly for internal and strategic purposes. 

 

Timeline

Deliverables	Expected completion
An inception report summarizing the agreed report content	1st week
A progress report outlining data collection methods and containing updates on the list of relevant research institutions and non-government organizations based on assessment criteria	2nd week
A progress report containing updates on the different options for engaging and networking	4th week
Facilitate virtual outreach events to introduce Global Fishing Watch to research institutions in Viet Nam	7th - 9th week
A final report on the institutional scoping and assessment, and the recommended engagement pathways with potential partners.	July 31, 2025

Vendor qualification requirements

Subject-matter expertise

1. Familiarity with Global Fishing Watch’s data, tools, and analyses.
2. Familiarity with key stakeholders, research institutions, civil society organizations and technical non-government organizations working on fisheries and marine conservation in Vietnam.
3. Strong knowledge of fisheries management, marine conservation, and vessel tracking technologies.
4. Proven ability to effectively engage with key stakeholders and gather relevant information from a variety of sources, including research institutions, academic bodies, and NGOs in Vietnam.
5. Capacity to assess how Vietnamese institutions can integrate Global Fishing Watch’s products into their research and policy initiatives.

Communication and project management

1. Experience in organizing and facilitating technical knowledge-sharing activities, such as workshops, training sessions, and webinars.
2. Excellent written and verbal communication skills - including the ability to communicate with technical and non-technical peers in Vietnam.
3. Excellent written and oral communication in English.
4. Provide regular progress reports and updates on project milestones, including key challenges and achievements, ensuring effective stakeholder communication.
5. Strong adherence to agreed-upon reporting processes and timelines, with the ability to follow established progress-tracking procedures and issue resolution, ensuring the project stays on course.

Submission requirements

Interested parties should submit a proposal via email, including a detailed plan and budget, to rollan.geronimo@globalfishingwatch.org. 

 

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 (Word document).
• A descriptive budget (max US$5000 in an Excel file) outlining the cost for all deliverables.
• A proposed timeline noting that the work should be carried out over 9 weeks.
• Resumes/CVs of key project personnel.

Submission deadline

Proposals should be submitted by 28 April 2025