The primary objective of this consultancy is to design and deliver targeted law enforcement training programs to strengthen the capacity of Protected Area (PA) management bodies, LGUs, and community-based enforcement groups in implementing environmental and fisheries laws across selected ASEAN ENMAPS sites in the Philippines.
The conduct of law enforcement training is a critical intervention to strengthen Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) systems, improve rule enforcement, and ultimately secure ecological and fisheries outcomes. Trainings shall be tailored to the governance, operational context, and priorities of each site, recognizing the varying needs and gaps at the local level:
- Agoo–Damortis Protected Landscape and Seascape (ADPLS): Enforcement is constrained by the absence of a coherent operational framework; hence the focus on strategic patrol planning, paralegal capacity, and mobilization of Bantay-Dagat to improve structured enforcement and community participation
- Bani–Bolinao–Burgos-Infanta-Dasol-Agno (BBBIDA) Marine Protected Area Network: With multiple LGUs and high fishing pressure, the key gap lies in consistent application of fisheries laws, necessitating focused training on legal provisions, apprehension procedures, and case documentation.
- Ticao–Burias Pass Protected Seascape (TBPPS): Governance fragmentation across municipalities requires harmonization of legal instruments, thus the emphasis on training and mentoring toward the formulation of a unified environmental and fisheries code.
- Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary (TIWS): Given its transboundary and biodiversity significance, enforcement requires multi-layered capacity building, including paralegal training, wildlife enforcement, and deputization of Wildlife Enforcement Officers (WEOs), aligned with both national laws and international conservation commitments.
Scope of Work
The Firm is expected to undertake the following:
- Training Design and Program Development
- Conduct a rapid capacity needs assessment per site;
- Develop cross-cutting and site-specific training modules aligned with:
- National laws (Fisheries Code, Wildlife Act, NIPAS/ENIPAS, etc.)
- Environmental Law Enforcement Manual of Operations (ELEMO)
- Local ordinances and governance structures;
- Integrate practical enforcement components, including:
- Apprehension procedures
- Evidence handling and documentation
- Case filing and prosecution
- Inter-agency coordination
- Prepare or update an existing operational manual that can be utilized by the trainees;
- Ensure alignment with UNDP SES, gender equality, and stakeholder inclusion.
- Delivery of Site-Specific Training Programs
ADPLS: Facilitate development of a Strategic Patrol Plan and Conduct:
- Paralegal training
- Deputization processes
- Bantay-Dagat mobilization workshops
BBBIDA: Conduct training on fisheries laws, including:
- Legal provisions
- Enforcement protocols
- Case documentation
TBPPS: Provide training and mentoring on:
- Development of a unified environmental and fisheries code
- Legal harmonization across LGUs
TIWS: Conduct comprehensive training including:
- Paralegal training
- Wildlife law enforcement
- Environmental laws
- Training and support for Wildlife Enforcement Officers (WEOs)
The Consultancy Firm is expected to deliver trainings to at least 300 participants across project sites on community-based monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS), IUU fishing threat reduction, and the prevention of destructive fishing activities.
- Stakeholder Engagement and Institutional Strengthening
- Facilitate participation of:
- PAMB members
- LGUs
- Enforcement units
- Bantay Dagat and community representatives
- Promote co-management and community-based enforcement approaches;
- Strengthen coordination between national agencies and local enforcement bodies.
- Documentation and Knowledge Products
- Document all training activities, including:
- Training modules and materials
- Attendance (sex-disaggregated)
- Key insights and recommendations
- Develop guide or toolkits for sustained use by site-level enforcement teams.
Qualifications
The Lead Consultant from the Firm should possess the following:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Fisheries, Marine Science, Environmental Law/ Management, Marine Policy, Public Administration, or related fields.
- At least 12 years of experience in fisheries law enforcement, natural resource governance, coastal and marine management, or related fields.
- Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering capacity building or training programs on fisheries, environmental laws, or enforcement systems.
- Strong familiarity with Philippine fisheries, environmental laws, and coastal governance frameworks, including MCS systems and community-based enforcement mechanisms.
- Strong communication, facilitation, coordination, and technical report writing skills.
Interested firms may obtain further information from the ACB Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Secretariat and may download the Terms of Reference and the Consultant’s Pre-Qualification Form on the ACB website.
Applicants should prepare the following and send all to acb-bac@aseanbiodiversity.org:
- Letter of Intent of no more than two pages addressed to the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) through the BAC Secretariat, elaborating how their qualifications and experiences make them qualified for the position Consultancy Firm – Fisheries Law Enforcement Trainer and Training on Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) should be indicated in the aforesaid letter;
- Accomplished Consultant’s Pre-qualification Form.
Deadline for submission of completed application is on 19 August 2026 Only applications with complete documentary requirements will be processed. Applications received beyond this date will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be given due notice.
