Terms of Reference (ToR)

Position: Temporary Research Assistant - Baseline Data

This position targets collation and consolidation of baseline data available via technical reports, documents, maps, data-base and online from 2010 to 2012, as well acquiring reports (consultation/workshop, trip reports, monitoring surveys, baseline data gathering etc.,) from project managers. The retrieved data will serve as baselines to determine conservation impacts. The position holder will work closely with the M& E Officer, Conservation Director and Managers supervising consultancy contracts (Project Managers and SMT)

Duration:6 weeks

Purpose of the research – The result of the research will form the basis to determine conservation impacts achieved from the implementation of the FY13 & 14 Strategic plan in place for WWFSPPO. The position will undertake the following tasks:

Major responsibilities:

  1. Work with the M&E Officer on the information needed and to confirm what this is from FY 13 APMS; develop a list of reports to be acquired in hard and e-copy and stored in a designated place which will be determined by the Rep.,M&E Officer and IT Officer. The list should include the baseline information that is needed
  2. Consult and dialogue with the SPPO conservation team on the required information
  3. Consult and dialogue with key WWFSPPO partners to retrieve required data (Department of Fisheries, Forest & Agriculture, Institute of Applied Science & Fiji locally managed marine areas secretariat)
  4. Develop database to centralise baseline information
  5. Liaise with monitoring & evaluation officer on updates and progress of the required work
  6. Submit & present database

Qualification Requirement:

  1. A Bachelor’s Degree and current undergraduate student with a science or conservation related background
  2. Knowledge and experience in data collection, entry , data analysis, Library and Internet/Website research
  3. Excellent computer skills
  4. Ability to communicate in both Fijian and English
  5. Good drafting ability and communication skills
  6. Good organizational and inter-personal skills
  7. Multi-tasking skills, ability to work under pressure
  8. Good social skills and ability to work as a team member

Outlined activities:

Part A. Acquire data on the followings:

  1. National budgets on Natural Resource Management (NRM) from the Department of Fisheries, Forest & Agriculture over the years of 2011, 2012 (reference: national budget)
  2. Amount of secured funding for Ecosystem based management (EBM) & Community based natural resource management (CBNRM) in Melanesia (Fiji, PNG, Solomons, & Vanuatu) for 2011 & 2012
  3. Coverage and size of marine managed areas (MMAs) &/or locally managed marine areas in Fiji (trend from 2008 – 2012)
  4. % of inshore marine areas that are protected under the national network of protected areas in Fiji, PNG, Solomons & Vanuatu
  5. Enlist all non-government organisations (ngos) that have MMAs project
  6. % of SPPO MMA coverage in the Fiji Island Marine Ecoregion (FIME) from 2008 – 2012
  7. Population of all villages under WWFSPPO sites (including Macuata and Sawaieke in Gau); acquire specific data on # of women, children, youth groups, disabilities, elderly and men. Average income earnings per household, enlist types of micro businesses in the village, # of fibres/boat per village, # of water tanks per village, # of students, drop outs or school leavers.

Part B. Acquire technical reports from the SPPO conservation team

Reports (years 2010, 2011 & 2012) / Conservation team
  1. All the WWF Austria – Sawaieke project and technical reports and products (Terrestrial, Freshwater and Marine biological, socio economic & workshops or consultations reports)
/ Acting SCRUM Co-ordinator/Policy Officer
  1. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) report for 2011
/ Acting SCRUM Co-ordinator/Policy Officer
  1. All the AUSAID project(Ba & Macuata) – building resilience project and technical reports , Atlas - maps and communication products (Terrestrial, Freshwater and Marine biological & workshops or consultations reports)
/ National Project Co-ordinator (AusAid BR & CCA Project)
  1. Summary report on the level of illegal fishing and legal process undertaken along the Qoliqoli Cokovata in Macuata
/ Community Liaison Officer and Sustainable Land-use & Livelihoods Officer
  1. All the reports produced by SCRUM team on the work in Macuata; alternative livelihood report – revolving fund, capacity building programmes, MMAs reconfiguration, consultation and planning workshops reports, QCMC self audit report,
/ Acting SCRUM Co-ordinator/Policy Officer and Community Liaison Officer
  1. By-catch and observe report
/ Fisheries Policy Officer
  1. All marine species technical report
-Dau ni Vonu reports / Marine Species Project Co-ordinator

Part C: Expected Outcomes and timeframe

Expected Outcomes / Timeframe
  1. Database of all baselines data & trends (FY10 till to date) as in Part A
/ 3 weeks (09-27 September)
  1. Listings of all non-government organisations (ngos) working on MMAs and NRM in general in Fiji
-Provide a brief description of the what each ngos field of expertise or focus on MMAs and NRM, duration of work on MMAs & NRMs, major successes achieved / 1 week (30 September – 04 October)
  1. - Index of all reports collated from the conservation team as in Part B
-All reports to be saved in a folder and a copy to be printed and filed / 2 weeks (07-18 October)
  1. Present findings, lessons learnt and challenges from data collation and consultation with team (present to conservation director, M&E, HR manager and Rep)
/ 1 day (21 October)