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• This RFP closes December 31, 2025 at 11:59pm CEST, however GFW reserves the right to close the posting early depending on the volume of qualified submissions so we urge you to submit your proposal as soon as possible.

• 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.
• Africa is seen as a key region for implementing Global Fishing Watch’s vision and mission, with our work encompassing three core countries: Senegal, Gabon, and Madagascar. The Global Fishing Watch program team in Africa is focused on demonstrating the value of transparency in fisheries and biodiversity by generating visibility, identifying opportunities for transparency to add value, and obtaining support from our government constituencies. While Global Fishing Watch's work is concentrated on three core countries, our ambition is to leverage that work to influence transparency outcomes in multiple countries across the region.

• Global Fishing Watch is a dynamic, rapidly evolving organization that values creativity and innovative thinking and fosters strong teamwork

• Project background
• In 2025, Global Fishing Watch signed a memorandum of understanding with Gabon, in which GFW committed to support the Gabonese government in ocean governance, in the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and to strengthen compliance with the country’s international commitments. For its part, the Gabonese government has committed to greater transparency in these three areas.
• While this partnership is underpinned by the MOU, it is being implemented through a workplan approved by both parties. Among the objectives of this work plan are effecting policy changes to increase transparency, particularly with regard to vessel monitoring, ownership, and identification. This project has two components, the basis of which are described below.
• Regulation text to support implementation of AIS on industrial vessels
• With regard to vessel monitoring, Gabonese legislation already stipulates that all industrial fishing vessels must use AIS. However, this requirement is set out in a decree and there is currently no implementing regulation to specify all the technical details that will ensure the proper application of this requirement.
• Policy opportunities assessment
• Improvements in ocean governance and fisheries policies often follow national and international agendas, making it essential to recognize and assess moments when change is possible. At the national Gabonese policy level, these moments, called policy opportunities, arise when the political climate is receptive, when the timing is right (such as during a law review, new administration, or global summit), and where there is evidence that a dialogue, combined with networking and science-based legitimacy, is possible and can improve the process. Identifying these policy opportunities and leveraging these “policy windows” enables meaningful dialogue and advances GFW objectives, such as the approval of an AIS implementing regulation and its formal adoption.
• GFW is seeking a consultant(s) to support both an assessment of policy opportunities (2026-2027) and to draft a regulation text to help implement AIS on industrial fishing vessels. As part of the policy assessment, the consultant will also be expected to identify when are the best policy windows to promote the adoption of the AIS implementing regulation.
• Activities

This assignment will be conducted in collaboration with Global Fishing Watch and build on the consultant’s engagement with relevant international organizations, governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders. It will include the following outcomes

Finalize a Policy opportunities assessment, including

• Mapping policy opportunities
• A policy opportunity is any moment, process, or event in Gabon that GFW can use to influence decision-making to advance its objectives. A policy opportunity is when the “policy window” opens, meaning the political climate is receptive, and the timing is right (e.g. a law under review, a new administration, a global or national summit).
• Mapping policy calendars
• Compiling timelines of major political and legislative events (e.g., elections, parliamentary sessions, budget announcements, treaty conferences, UN meetings etc.).Developing an annual or multi-year “policy opportunity calendar” highlighting windows for influence — e.g., review periods for fisheries laws or fisheries strategies
• Mapping upcoming policy revisions and consultations
• Identifying, where possible, the upcoming timing of official consultations, public hearings, and calls for comment (e.g., draft fisheries laws, marine/ocean policy reviews).Identifying government gazettes, Gabonese registers, or ministry newsletters.
• Mapping existing Gabonese commitments to global and regional treaties and/or conventions including relevant cycles and deadlines
• Identifying relevant multilateral environmental agreements to which Gabon is a signatory or has ratified or is a party (e.g., CBD COP, IUCN World Conservation Congress, UNOC, OOC, FAO agreements, BBNJ, UNCLOS, etc)Identifying timelines (2026-2027) for developing (i.e., having the opportunity to contribute to ) pre-meeting policy briefs and advocacy positions in advance (CBD COP, IUCN World Conservation Congress, UNOC, OOC, FAO agreements, BBNJ, UNCLOS, etc)
• Mapping national election cycles and/or activities
• Identifying cycles when new or existing governments or parliaments set legislative priorities.Understanding when fisheries policy asks or scorecards for political parties should be submitted in relation to election cycles, parliament working days, etc.Understand when to engage with new ministers or general directors early in their mandate Identify Gabonese policy advisers, committee staff, and government focal points who can flag upcoming developments.Mapping advisory councils or stakeholder working groups to stay informed
• Mapping fisheries funding cycles
• Tracking national and international budget cycles, e.g., when ministries or donors allocate fisheries funds.Understanding when budget recommendations or project proposals aligned with those cycles should be submitted.
• All of the information collected above should be organized in one or more policy opportunities matrices to help identify alignment and overlaps

Draft of a regulation text to implement AIS on industrial vessels

The existing obligation mandating AIS for all industrial fishing vessels is contained in a decree implementing the Gabonese Fisheries Code. The decree only stipulates that AIS is mandatory for all industrial fishing vessels; it does not specify the conditions of implementing the AIS requirement. As such, a regulation is necessary that prescribes the application of AIS including, but not limited to (the installation of the AIS, its operation, the obligations of the captain, the shipowner, and the owner, the penalties incurred etc). It is intended that this draft regulation will be provided to the fisheries administration, who can use it to have a final version to be signed by the Minister of the Sea, Fisheries, and Blue Economy. The benefit of this legislation will be to provide the tools needed to implement the AIS requirement. Furthermore, as fishing licenses are issued at the beginning of the year, this will make it possible to make the granting of licenses conditional on the effective installation of AIS on all industrial fishing vessels. As such, it will be necessary for the consultant to draft the regulation text (arrêté) by

• ensuring that the preamble includes all relevant international and national policies and regulations, and that the arrêté aligns with and is supported by them.
• ensuring that all essential technical elements (agreed with GFW) are incorporated and structured as a list of articles.
• The Consultant will propose a plan of work that includes desktop studies, interviews, if needed, that will be provided to Global Fishing Watch staff. The proposed plan of work will need to identify the outputs and timing of those deliverables.
• Deliverables
• Policy opportunities assessment, organized in one or more policy opportunity matrices to help identify alignment and overlaps, and supported by policy timelines and calendars
• Draft regulation that will be submitted to Fisheries administration

Ethics and Confidentiality

• The consultant will be required to adhere to GFW's relevant policies and ensure that all data collection and analysis activities are conducted in a manner that protects the confidentiality and privacy of GFW partners data where necessary.
• 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.