Request for Proposal (RFP) - Data Coordinator Consultant - Panama

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.

 

Context

Global Fishing Watch has supported Panama to publish their vessel monitoring system data, enhance their administrative sanction process, enhance their implementation of marine protection measures and develop and adopt new policies around fisheries management.  

As an expansion of this support, GFW is looking to strengthen the due diligence process for issuance of licences with the consistent use of ultimate beneficial ownership (UBO) data of vessels. GFW is also working to improve public availability and transparency of vessel tracking and ownership information by designing interoperability solutions that could enable countries to automate their data sharing processes. 

 

The Authority of Aquatic Resources of Panama (ARAP) has identified the need to strengthen interoperability, enhance transparency, and ensure the effective use of ultimate beneficial ownership (UBO)  information. To achieve these objectives, it is essential to conduct an analysis of the current collection and data sharing landscape and   implement best practices in documentation systems and technological platforms. Strengthening these systems will enable ARAP to meet its commitments to Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) , the FAO Global Record of Fishing Vessels, Refrigerated Transport Vessels and Supply Vessels, and improve internal licensing processes.

 

Objectives

The data coordinator will work in close coordination with ARAP and will assist in digitizing, reviewing, and collating vessel ownership and UBO data, making adjustments to the ARAP databases to incorporate this field into the Panama national database and licensing process. 

Additionally, the selected data coordinator will be responsible for analyzing  the interconnection of the various existing databases of relevant ARAP Directorates and within existing platforms. This analysis will support improved data capture and the generation of reports that facilitate information sharing with RFMOs. 

 

Scope and timeline

The Data Coordinator will be responsible for the following deliverables:

 

Data Source Mapping ReportDeveloped in close collaboration with ARAP officialsComprehensive inventory of data sources relevant to licensing and due diligence process to capture and manage information related to fishing vessels, licensing, ultimate beneficial ownership (UBO), and other relevant regulatory requirements.

• Analysis of the type of information that ARAP must send to the different RFMOs and where this information is stored, as well as the frequency, format, and channels through which it is transmitted.

Estimated Delivery: 1 month after contract start date
UBO and Vessel Documentation Digitization Package

• Prepared through joint review and validation with ARAP
• Digitized and organized documentation for the Ultimate Beneficial Owners and vessel records of both the granted licenses and the infringing vessels, as per the Enforcement Department list. 
• Estimated Delivery: 2 months after contract start date

Vessel Database Documentation

• Developed collaboratively with ARAP and GFW
• Comprehensive database of vessel-related information, including registration details, ownership data, fishing activity records, and compliance status. 
• Description of current storage situation regarding RFMOs vessel compliance information databases. 
• Includes metadata, data collection methodology, and usage guidelines that describe the structure, format, and types of data stored within the vessel database.
• Implementation of necessary adjustments to the vessel database to incorporate the owner and ultimate beneficial ownership (UBO) field. 
• Estimated Delivery: 4 months after contract start date

Fishing Vessels Data Analysis Report

• Conducted in coordination with ARAP and Global Fishing Watch (GFW)
• Comprehensive analysis of the available vessel data, including essential information such as vessel identities, ownership details, fishing activity record,  compliance history, and other key variables. 
• Estimated Delivery: 5 months after contract start date

Data Governance and Improvement Recommendations Report

• Co-developed with ARAP officials
• Identifies:
1. Current data management processes
2. Challenges and gaps in existing systems (i.e. data quality issues, lack of interoperability between different systems and platforms used by ARAP, inconsistencies in reporting to RFMOs and barriers to data accessibility, limited access rights among others).
3. Recommended improvements for data exchange and management, including identifying opportunities to better integrate ARAP’s systems to GFW products. 
• Estimated Delivery: 7 months after contract start date

Data Exchange Optimization Proposal

• Collaborative recommendation for improving inter-departmental and external (i.e. RFMOs and GFW) data sharing.
• Conduct consultations with key stakeholders within ARAP, including the Directorate of Fisheries, Directorate of Inspection, Surveillance, and Control, and Fisheries Control and Monitoring Center, to understand their specific needs and challenges related to data sharing.
• Estimated Delivery: 8 months after contract start date

Workshop and Meeting Documentation

• Ongoing compilation of insights from collaborative sessions
• Summaries of key discussions, decisions, and action items
• Submitted within 5 days of each meeting or workshop

Final report

• Conclusions, key findings and recommendations to enhance the interoperability of ARAP’s data systems and improve the timeliness and accuracy of data exchanges with RFMOs and other international platforms such as FAO Global Record and GFW. 
• Short roadmap outlining the steps needed to enhance interoperability, streamline data collection and sharing, and improve data security to  be delivered for ARAP
• Estimated Delivery: 10 months after contract starts date. 

 

The Data Coordinator will be posted in ARAP main offices, coordinating with the designated point of contact in the institution and reporting to GFW. The contractor will produce a monthly progress report highlighting the main activities conducted. 

The duration of the assignment is 10 months, and it is expected to start on May 12th, 2025 and finish on March 12th, 2026. 

 

Vendor qualifications requirements

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in data management, ideally in regulatory or compliance environments.
• Systems Analyst experience.
• Familiarity with software development, preferably with knowledge of the PHP programming language with CodeIgniter 3.
• Ability to synthesize complex data and present it in a clear and concise manner.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in statistical software.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, in Spanish and English.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a range of stakeholders, including government officials and regulatory bodies.
• Knowledge in fisheries analysis and management is desirable.
• Knowledge of the fisheries sector in Panama and relevant policies is desirable.

 

Submission requirements

Interested parties should submit a proposal with a descriptive plan and budget via email as a Word or PDF attachment to mariana.blanco@globalfishingwatch.org. 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 detailed, itemized budget outlining the total cost of fulfilling the RFP requirements. The budget should include a breakdown of key cost components such as labor, materials, technology, and any other relevant expenses. We are considering proposals between $15,000 - $25,000.
• Resume/CV.

Submission deadline

Proposals should be submitted by Friday Apr 25, 2025.