Consultancy services to support the Development of Management Plans and bylaws for Collaboratives Fisheries Management Areas (CFMAs) within Mtwara Sea at International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), May 2026

Consultancy Services to Support the Development of Management Plans and Bylaws for Collaborative Fisheries Management Areas – IUCN Tanzania

Tender details

Tender title: Consultancy Services to Support the Development of Management Plans and Bylaws for Collaborative Fisheries Management Areas within the Mtwara Seascape
Organization: International Union for Conservation of Nature
Country office: IUCN Tanzania Country Office
Location: Tanzania
Project location: Mtwara Region, Tanzania
Posted date: May 17, 2026
Closing date: May 31, 2026
RfP reference: IUCN/TZ2026/05-01
Project title: Pamoja Tuhifadhi Bahari Yetu Project
Post level: National Consultant / Consultancy Firm
Languages required: English and Swahili
Assignment duration: 90 days
IUCN contact: tenders.tz@iucn.org

Invitation to submit proposal

The International Union for Conservation of Nature invites eligible bidders to submit a proposal for consultancy services to support the development and/or revision of management plans, action plans, and bylaws for Collaborative Fisheries Management Areas within the Mtwara Seascape.

Bidders are advised to read the procurement information and instructions carefully. Non-compliance with the instructions may result in disqualification of the proposal.

A detailed description of the services to be provided is included in Attachment 1 of the Request for Proposals.

Contact details

During the procurement process, from publication of the Request for Proposals to the award of contract, bidders must not discuss this procurement with any IUCN employee or representative other than the designated contact.

All correspondence, questions, and proposals must be addressed to:

IUCN contact: tenders.tz@iucn.org

Bidders are also requested to email the IUCN contact to confirm whether or not they intend to submit a proposal by the stated deadline.

Procurement timetable

The procurement timetable is indicative and may be changed by IUCN at any time. If changes to any deadlines are necessary, IUCN will contact bidders.

Key dates

• May 15, 2026: Publication of the Request for Proposals.
• May 18, 2026: Deadline for submission of questions.
• May 20, 2026: Planned publication of responses to questions.
• May 31, 2026: Deadline for submission of proposals to IUCN.
• June 8–9, 2026: Planned date for contract award.
• June 11, 2025: Expected contract start date, as stated in the procurement timetable.
• June 15, 2026: Estimated start date, as stated in the Terms of Reference.

Proposal submission requirements

Required proposal documents

The proposal must consist of the following three documents:

• Signed Declaration of Undertaking, as provided in Attachment 2.
• Technical Proposal.
• Financial Proposal.

Proposals must be prepared in either:

• English; or
• Kiswahili.

Submission method

Proposals must be submitted by email to the IUCN contact:

Email: tenders.tz@iucn.org

The email subject heading must be:

IUCN-2026-05- 01BAHARI YETU PROJECT -02– Development of Management Plans and bylaws for Collaboratives Fisheries Management Areas (CFMAs) within Mtwara Seascape (MNAMANA, MKINAI and MNASI)

The bidder’s name must be the name of the company or organization on whose behalf the proposal is submitted. For self-employed consultants, the bidder’s name should be the consultant’s own surname.

Proposal format

• Proposals must be submitted in PDF format.
• Bidders may submit multiple emails suitably labelled, such as “Email 1 of 3,” if attached files are too large for a single email transmission.
• Proposals must not be submitted through file-sharing tools.

Password protection requirement

Submitted documents must be password-protected so they cannot be opened and read before the submission deadline.

Bidders must:

• Use the same password for all submitted documents.
• Send the password to the IUCN contact after the submission deadline has passed.
• Send the password within 12 hours after the submission deadline.
• Not email the password before the proposal submission deadline.

This requirement is intended to ensure a secure bid submission and opening process.

Technical proposal requirements

The technical proposal must explicitly and separately address each of the evaluation criteria listed below.

Technical evaluation criteria

• Team composition and qualifications – 10%
  • Multidisciplinary team composition and qualifications.
• Competences – 20%
  • Minimum of seven years’ experience in marine and coastal resource management.
• Methodology – 30%
  • Description of the methodological approach to be used to deliver the assignment.
• Work plan – 20%
  • Working programme or working schedule for delivery of the required deliverables.
• Understanding of the local context – 20%
  • Knowledge of Tanzania’s coastal and marine sectors.
  • Understanding of existing dynamics of Collaborative Fisheries Management Areas.

Total technical score: 100%

Proposals submitted in any other format may significantly increase the time required for evaluation and may be rejected at IUCN’s discretion.

Where CVs are requested, they must belong to the individuals who will carry out the specified work. Proposed individuals may only be substituted with IUCN’s approval.

Financial proposal requirements

The financial proposal must present a fixed and firm price for the provision of all services stated in the Request for Proposals.

Financial proposal conditions

The financial proposal must include:

• Prices inclusive of all costs.
• Applicable Goods and Services Taxes.
• Currency of proposed rates and prices.
• Breakdown of rates and prices.

Submitted rates and prices are deemed to include all costs, including:

• Insurance
• Taxes, except VAT where applicable
• Fees
• Expenses
• Liabilities
• Obligations
• Risks
• Any other costs necessary for performance of the Terms of Reference or Specification of Requirements

IUCN will not accept charges beyond those clearly stated in the financial proposal. This includes applicable withholding taxes and similar charges. It is the bidder’s responsibility to determine whether such taxes apply to their organization and include them in the financial offer.

VAT and currency requirements

• Proposal rates and prices must be exclusive of Value Added Tax.
• Bidders must confirm whether they are registered for VAT.
• All rates and prices must be submitted in Tanzania Shillings only.

Price breakdown

For information purposes, the price must be broken down to include all related cost information, such as:

• Daily rates
• Transport
• Logistics fees
• Other costs to be used while conducting the study

The price quotes must be in Tanzania Shillings.

Additional information not requested by IUCN should not be included in the proposal and will not be taken into account during evaluation.

Proposal validity

The proposal must remain valid and capable of acceptance by IUCN for 90 calendar days following the submission deadline.

Withdrawals and changes

Bidders may freely withdraw or change their proposal at any time before the submission deadline by sending written notice to the IUCN contact.

However, to reduce the risk of fraud, no changes or withdrawals will be accepted after the submission deadline.

Evaluation of proposals

Completeness check

IUCN will first check each proposal for completeness. Incomplete proposals will not be considered further.

Technical evaluation

Each proposal will be scored against the stated technical evaluation criteria. Scores will range from zero to the maximum available score for each criterion.

Minimum quality thresholds

• Proposals that receive a score of zero for any criterion will be automatically disqualified.

Technical score

The score for each technical evaluation criterion will be multiplied by its respective relative weight. The weighted scores will then be added together to produce the proposal’s overall technical score.

Financial evaluation

The financial evaluation will be based on the full total price submitted.

The financial proposal will receive a score calculated by dividing the lowest financial proposal that passed the minimum quality thresholds by the total price of the bidder’s financial proposal.

For example, if a bidder’s financial proposal is CHF 100 and the lowest financial proposal is CHF 80, the bidder will receive a financial score of:

• 80 / 100 = 80%

Overall score

The overall score will be calculated as the weighted sum of the technical score and financial score.

The relative weights are:

• Technical score: 70%
• Financial score: 30%

For example, if a proposal receives a technical score of 83% and a financial score of 77%, the total score will be:

• 83 × 70% = 58.1%
• 77 × 30% = 23.1%
• Total score = 81.2%

Subject to the requirements in Sections 4 and 7 of the RfP, IUCN will award the contract to the bidder whose proposal achieves the highest total score.

Explanation of the procurement procedure

IUCN is using the Invitation Procedure for this procurement. This means only invited bidders may submit a proposal.

IUCN typically invites four to six bidders to submit proposals.

Bidders may ask questions or seek clarification by emailing the IUCN contact, while observing the deadline for submission of questions.

All proposals must be received by the stated submission deadline. Late proposals will not be considered.

All proposals received by the deadline will be evaluated only according to the evaluation criteria stated in the Request for Proposals. No other criteria will be used.

The contract will be awarded to the bidder whose proposal receives the highest total score. However, IUCN reserves the right to cancel the procurement and not award a contract.

IUCN will contact the bidder with the highest-scoring proposal to finalize the contract. Unsuccessful bidders will be contacted after the contract has been awarded and will receive detailed feedback.

Conditions for participation

To participate in this procurement, bidders must submit a proposal that fully complies with the instructions in the Request for Proposals and its attachments.

It is the bidder’s responsibility to ensure the proposal is complete and fully compliant. Any incomplete or incorrectly completed proposal may be deemed non-compliant and may prevent the bidder from proceeding further in the procurement process.

IUCN may query obvious clerical errors and may, at its sole discretion, allow correction only if doing so would not be perceived as giving the bidder an unfair advantage.

Eligibility conditions

To participate, the bidder must meet the following conditions:

• Be free of conflicts of interest.
• Be registered on the relevant professional or trade register of the country where the bidder is established, or resident if self-employed.
• Be in full compliance with obligations relating to payment of social security contributions and all applicable taxes.
• Not have been convicted of failing to comply with environmental regulatory requirements or other legal requirements relating to sustainability and environmental protection.
• Not be bankrupt or being wound up.
• Never have been guilty of an offence concerning professional conduct.
• Not be involved in fraud, corruption, a criminal organization, money laundering, terrorism, or any other illegal activity.

Bidders must complete and sign the Declaration of Undertaking in Attachment 2.

Joint ventures and subcontractors

If participating as a joint venture or using subcontractors, the bidder must:

• Submit a separate Declaration of Undertaking for each joint venture member and subcontractor.
• Clearly state in the proposal which parts of the goods or services will be provided by each partner or subcontractor.

Each bidder may submit only one proposal, either individually or as part of a joint venture.

In the case of a joint venture:

• One company may not participate in two different joint ventures for the same procurement.
• A company may not submit a proposal on its own behalf and also participate as part of a joint venture for the same procurement.

A bidder who submits or participates in more than one proposal, except as a subcontractor or where alternatives have been permitted or requested, will cause all proposals involving that bidder to be disqualified.

Ethical requirements

By taking part in this procurement, bidders accept the conditions set out in the Request for Proposals.

It is unacceptable to give or offer any gift or consideration to an employee or representative of IUCN as a reward or inducement in relation to the award of a contract.

Such action gives IUCN the right to:

• Exclude the bidder from this and any future procurements.
• Terminate any contract that may have been signed with the bidder.

Terms of reference

Project title

Pamoja Tuhifadhi Bahari Yetu Project

Position title

Provision of Consultancy Services to Support the Development and/or Revision of Management Plans and Bylaws for Collaborative Fisheries Management Areas (CFMAs) – MNAMANA, MKINAI, and MNASI – in the Mtwara Seascape

Office

IUCN Tanzania Country Office

Location

Mtwara Region, Tanzania

Estimated start date

June 15, 2026

Assignment duration

The assignment will run for 90 days, including:

• Desk review
• Stakeholder consultation
• Updating and/or facilitating the development of management plans
• Updating and/or facilitating the development of bylaws and regulations

Project description

The International Union for Conservation of Nature, through the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office, is implementing the Pamoja Tuhifadhi Bahari Yetu Project, funded by the European Union Delegation to Tanzania and the East African Community.

The project seeks to contribute to improved environmental protection and biodiversity conservation of coastal and marine ecosystems in Tanzania.

The project forms part of a broader European Union-supported Blue Economy Programme aimed at strengthening:

• Climate resilience
• Sustainable livelihoods
• Improved governance of coastal and marine resources in Tanzania

The programme focuses on three key areas:

• Conservation of coastal and marine ecosystems.
• Sustainable use of coastal and marine resources.
• Strengthened governance for coastal and marine management.

Within the Mtwara Seascape, Collaborative Fisheries Management Areas play an important role in promoting:

• Community-based fisheries governance
• Sustainable resource use
• Biodiversity conservation
• Participatory decision-making

However, several CFMAs require either the development of new management plans, action plans, and bylaws or the revision of existing instruments to reflect:

• Current ecological conditions
• Fisheries dynamics
• Socioeconomic realities
• National legal requirements

To address this need, IUCN intends to engage a qualified consultant or consultancy firm to facilitate the development and/or revision of management plans, action plans, and bylaws for three target CFMAs through an inclusive, participatory, and evidence-based process.

Project goal

The overall goal of the project is to contribute to improved environmental protection and biodiversity conservation of coastal and marine ecosystems in Tanzania.

This consultancy contributes primarily to the following project outcomes:

• Improved biodiversity conservation of marine resources.
• Strengthened community-led governance and management of coastal and marine resources.
• Enhanced institutional capacity for management, monitoring, and sustainable use of coastal and marine ecosystems.

About the assignment

Under Work Package 1 of the Bahari Yetu Project, IUCN seeks to strengthen community-based fisheries governance and biodiversity conservation through support to Collaborative Fisheries Management Areas in the Mtwara Seascape.

The assignment will focus on three target Collaborative Fisheries Management Areas:

MNAMANA CFMA

This CFMA comprises Beach Management Units from the following villages:

• Mkungu
• Naumbu
• Majengo
• Naumbu Kusini

MKINAI CFMA

This CFMA comprises Beach Management Units from the following villages:

• Mgao
• Kisiwa
• Namgogoli
• Imekuwa

MNASI CFMA

This CFMA comprises Beach Management Units from the following villages:

• Msangamkuu
• Namela
• Sinde

The target CFMAs require either the development of new management plans, action plans, and bylaws or the revision of existing governance instruments to align with:

• Current ecological conditions and biodiversity priorities.
• Fisheries and resource-use dynamics.
• Community development priorities.
• Existing governance and institutional arrangements.
• National and local legal frameworks.

The consultant will facilitate a participatory process involving:

• Beach Management Units
• Fishing communities
• Village leadership
• District authorities
• Marine Parks and Reserves Unit
• Fisheries institutions
• Other relevant stakeholders

Objective of the consultancy

Overall objective

The overall objective of the consultancy is to facilitate the development and/or revision of management plans, action plans, and bylaws for three Collaborative Fisheries Management Areas in the Mtwara Seascape through an inclusive, participatory, evidence-based, and legally compliant process.

Specific objectives

The consultancy will:

• Assess existing governance and management frameworks for the target CFMAs, including review of:
  • Management plans
  • Action plans
  • Bylaws
  • Governance structures
  • Ecological information
  • Institutional arrangements
• Facilitate participatory stakeholder consultations with:
  • Communities
  • Beach Management Units
  • Local government authorities
  • Fisheries institutions
  • Other relevant stakeholders
• Develop or revise CFMA management plans and action plans that define:
  • Conservation priorities
  • Governance arrangements
  • Zoning systems
  • Resource-use regulations
  • Monitoring mechanisms
  • Implementation frameworks
• Develop or revise CFMA bylaws aligned with:
  • Relevant fisheries legislation
  • Local government procedures
  • Community management needs
• Facilitate validation and endorsement processes for management plans and bylaws with relevant community institutions and government authorities.

Scope of work, tasks, and deliverables

The consultancy will be implemented through five phases.

Phase I: Inception and desk review

The consultant will:

• Conduct an inception meeting with:
  • IUCN
  • Marine Parks and Reserves Unit / MPRU-MBREMP
  • District authorities
  • Relevant partners
• Review:
  • Project documents
  • Existing management plans
  • Action plans
  • Bylaws
  • CFMA guidelines
  • Ecological information
  • Fisheries management frameworks
  • Legal requirements
• Prepare an Inception Report outlining:
  • Detailed methodology
  • Stakeholder engagement strategy
  • Work plan and timeline
  • Data collection methods
  • Consultation approach

Phase II: Stakeholder consultations and field assessments

The consultant will conduct participatory consultations and field visits to the target CFMAs.

Stakeholders will include:

• Beach Management Units
• Community fishers and resource users
• Village leadership
• District and local government authorities
• Fisheries departments
• Marine Parks and Reserves Unit
• Civil society organizations
• Other relevant stakeholders

Participatory methods may include:

• Focus group discussions
• Key informant interviews
• Village assemblies
• Participatory governance analysis
• Resource-use and threat assessment

Gender, youth, and vulnerable groups must be meaningfully represented during consultations.

Phase III: Development or revision of CFMA management plans and action plans

The consultant will prepare or revise three management plans.

Each plan must include:

• Background and contextual analysis.
• Ecological and biodiversity profile.
• Fisheries and resource-use assessment.
• Threat and vulnerability analysis.
• Vision, goals, and management objectives.
• Governance structure and institutional roles.
• Zoning framework and allowable activities.
• Compliance and enforcement mechanisms.
• Monitoring, evaluation, and learning framework.
• Financing and sustainability mechanisms.
• Climate resilience considerations.
• Gender and social inclusion considerations.

Phase IV: Development or revision of CFMA bylaws

The consultant will:

• Review existing bylaws where applicable.
• Develop or revise bylaws aligned with:
  • Fisheries Act and related regulations
  • Local Government laws
  • District approval procedures
• Facilitate community consultations.
• Prepare legally compliant draft bylaws for submission to relevant authorities.

Phase V: Validation and finalization

The consultant will:

• Facilitate validation workshops.
• Incorporate stakeholder comments.
• Finalize management plans and bylaws.
• Provide technical support for endorsement procedures.

Deliverables

The consultant must submit the following deliverables:

1. Inception report

The Inception Report must include:

• Detailed methodology
• Work plan
• Stakeholder engagement strategy

2. Stakeholder consultation report

The Stakeholder Consultation Report must include:

• Summary of meetings
• Participants
• Findings
• Consultation outcomes

3. Draft management plans and action plans

The consultant must submit:

• Three draft management plans, one for each target CFMA.
• Corresponding action plans for each target CFMA.

4. Draft bylaws

The consultant must submit:

• Three draft bylaws aligned with legal requirements.

5. Validation workshop report

The Validation Workshop Report must include:

• Summary of validation meetings.
• Stakeholder feedback.

6. Final management plans and bylaws

The consultant must submit:

• Final revised versions incorporating stakeholder and reviewer comments.

Deliverable format

All deliverables must be submitted in:

• Editable Microsoft Word format.
• Print-ready PDF format.
• English and Kiswahili versions where applicable.

Qualification and experience of the consultant

The consultant or consultancy team should possess the following qualifications and competencies.

Education

Applicants should have:

• Minimum of a master’s degree in:
  • Marine Science
  • Fisheries Management
  • Natural Resource Management
  • Environmental Governance
  • Biodiversity Conservation
  • A related discipline

A bachelor’s degree with substantial demonstrated experience may also be considered.

Experience

Applicants should have at least seven years of relevant experience in coastal and marine resource management.

They should also demonstrate experience in:

• Collaborative fisheries governance.
• Development of fisheries or marine protected area management plans.
• Drafting local governance bylaws.
• Participatory stakeholder engagement.
• Community-based conservation planning.

Technical competencies

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Strong knowledge of Tanzania Mainland Fisheries legislation.
• Understanding of district bylaw approval procedures.
• Excellent facilitation skills.
• Fluency in English and Kiswahili.

Deliverables, timelines, and payment schedule

Payments will be linked to approved deliverables as follows:

First payment – 30%

Payable upon approval of the Inception Report.

Timeline: Within 10 days after contract signing.

Second payment – 40%

Payable upon submission of:

• Consultation report
• Draft management plans
• Action plans
• Draft bylaws

Final payment – 30%

Payable upon submission of final approved deliverables.

Timeline: Within 20 days after reviewing draft reports.

Tax note

Applicable withholding tax shall be deducted in accordance with Tanzanian tax regulations.

Management arrangement for the consultancy

The consultant will report directly to the Project Technical Manager, Bahari Yetu Project – IUCN Tanzania.

Technical oversight will be provided jointly by:

• Marine Parks and Reserves Unit
• Local Government Authorities
• Relevant fisheries institutions

The consultant will work closely with site-level management authorities and relevant stakeholders throughout implementation.

Application procedure

Interested individual consultants or consultancy firms must submit the following:

• Technical proposal outlining methodology and work plan.
• Financial proposal with detailed budget indicating consultancy fees and reimbursable costs.
• Curriculum Vitae of key personnel.
• At least three relevant references.
• Samples of similar assignments undertaken.

How to apply

Step 1: Acquire tender documents

Obtain the relevant tender documents.

Step 2: Review requirements

Thoroughly read the tender specifications, terms, and conditions.

Step 3: Prepare proposal

Prepare the proposal as guided, ensuring that all required information is included.

Step 4: Submit proposal

Submit the completed proposal by May 31, 2026 via email to:

tenders.tz@iucn.org