The aquaculture sector in Liberia is a nascent industry that remains at an early stage of development, with an estimated production of approximately 2,000 tons cultivated over 113.9 hectares of fish farms (National aquaculture survey, 2023). The sector is predominantly composed of smallholder farmers and is currently constrained by low productivity, limited access to quality inputs, and the high cost of feed and other essential production materials.

Despite these challenges, aquaculture presents significant potential to contribute to food security, income generation, and economic diversification in Liberia. In response to the growing local demand for fish and the need to transform aquaculture into a viable revenue-generating sector, the PSD Liberia project aims to boost the value chain. The project intends to provide targeted support to improve fish farming practices, market access, entrepreneurship skills and financial literacy to promote revenue generation and job creations along the value chain.

Historically, aquaculture training has focused primarily on the technical aspects of establishing fish farms, contributing to food security and diversification within existing production systems. 

However, in line with the ARREST agenda, the strategic focus is shifting toward commercial and intensive aquaculture models that are market-driven, competitive, and financially sustainable.

In this context, strengthening the business and entrepreneurial capacities of recruited technicians is essential with regard to understanding the socio-economic structure of the sector. The proposed Training of Trainers (ToT) will therefore focus on key components of practical capacity building for the reproduction and semi-intensive culture of Tilapia, African Catfish and Bonny tongue. Core topics will include broodstock selection and management, breeding techniques, culture, feeding strategies, water quality management, stocking density, pond and tank preparation for grow-out, as well as harvesting and basic health management practices.

This approach will ensure that extension trainers are technically proficient across the full production cycle, from reproduction to grow-out, and able to effectively support aquaculture actors in establishing productive, efficient, and well-managed fish farming systems.

The Seeds4Liberia project, funded by the European Union and implemented by AfricaRice in collaboration with WorldFish and national partners, serves as the overarching platform for strengthening seed and aquaculture systems in Liberia. It provides coordination and technical guidance for breeding and seed system development, including aquaculture seed (fry and fingerling) production, and ensures alignment and complementarity among implementing partners and training interventions.

Within this coordination framework, the Training of Trainers programme will be implemented in close alignment withSeeds4Liberia (WorldFish) technical guidance to ensure consistency in training content, avoid duplication, and strengthen synergies across institutional actors.

To support the implementation of this capacity-building programme, a qualified consultantwill be recruited to deliver a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme aimed at strengthening the technical capacities of aquaculture stakeholders in fish reproduction and semi-intensive culture systems.

To support the implementation of this capacity-building programme, Expertise France seeks to recruit a qualified consultant to deliver a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme aimed at strengthening the technical capacities of aquaculture stakeholders in fish reproduction and semi-intensive culture systems.

The training will specifically aim to:
• Strengthen technical knowledge and practical skills in broodstock management, reproduction, hatchery operations, and semi-intensive  culture systems;
• Enhance the ability of participants to manage production cycles, including feeding, water quality control, and pond/tank management;
• Build the capacity of trainers to design and deliver structured, high-quality training on fish reproduction and semi-intensive aquaculture systems.

The ToT programme is intended to strengthen existing aquaculture support by equipping trainers with essential technical skills across the production cycle, enabling them to support the development of sustainable and productive aquaculture systems.

Objectives of the training:
This training program aims to equip facilitators with the knowledge, practical skills, tools and competencies required to:

1.     Strengthen the technical capacities of aquaculture extension trainers and stakeholders in the reproduction and semi-intensive culture of African Catfish and Bonny tongue.

2.     Build practical skills across the full production cycle, including broodstock selection breeding techniques (natural and induced), hatchery construction, operations, and management, and indoor and outdoor culture  

3.      Improve competencies in pond construction, farm design, water quality management, feed production and management, diseases management and different types of culture based on stocking densities, and other factor 

4.     Introduce practical techniques to avoid genetic inbreeding, including broodstock rotation, proper record keeping, controlled mating systems, and periodic introduction of new genetic material.

5.     Improve competencies/capabilities in organizing and facilitating training, focus group discussion and workshop for different stakeholders in different situations. 

6.     Ensure trainers are able to effectively deliver structured, practical, and high-quality training to aquaculture stakeholders

Specific Objectives:
The Training of Trainers (ToT) programme should reach following specific objectives to strengthen the business, entrepreneurial, financial, and training capacities of aquaculture stakeholders.

1.     Broodstock management: Skills in broodstock selection, conditioning, and management for Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus), and Bonny Tongue (Heterotis niloticus).

2.     Breeding and hatchery operation: Build competencies in breeding techniques (natural and induced), hatchery construction, operations, and management. 

3.     Nursery management: Improve practical skills in fry nursing, feeding protocols, water quality management and growth monitoring.

4.     Indoor and Outdoor culture: Enhance knowledge of fish culture in different environment like indoor (tank) and outdoor (pond, rice field) considering stocking density, natural food, water availability and quality of feed. 

5.     Local fish feed development: Build technical teams competencies in feed formulation and production based on locally available ingredients with assistance of WorldFish.  

6.     Genetic Quality control: Introduce and apply practical measures to reduce genetic inbreeding, including broodstock rotation, record keeping, controlled mating systems, and periodic genetic refreshment. 

7.     Training delivery: Enable participants to effectively transfer acquired knowledge and skills to fish farmers through structured and practical training approaches.

Scope of work
The selected consultant will be responsible for the design, preparation and delivery of a comprehensive Training of Trainers programme covering all seven modules outlined above. The programme will be delivered over five (05) days and will target aquaculture extension officers, technicians and other relevant stakeholders identified by the PSD Liberia project team and the national Partners (NaFAA).

Training Design and Preparation
The Seeds4Liberia project, funded by the European Union and implemented by AfricaRice with WorldFish and national partners, supports the strengthening of seed and aquaculture systems in Liberia. It serves as the predecessor framework for breeding and seed system development, including aquaculture seed (fingerling) production and dissemination. Training design and preparation will be undertaken in a coordinated manner among implementing partners to ensure harmonized curricula, training materials, and methodologies across all targeted fish species.

The consultant will work collaboratively with the client and relevant stakeholders including WorldFish to co-design and prepare the training materials, tools, and resources required for the effective delivery of the programme.

This includes identification and assessment of the training facility (preferably a private farm, hatchery or research center), facilitator guides, participant handbooks, session plans, technical case studies, practical exercises, and assessment tools.

The consultant will also support the project team in identifying suitable training sites for practical sessions and in preparing a comprehensive list of materials and equipment required for the successful implementation of the training.

All materials must be contextualised to the Liberian aquaculture sector and reflect real production scenarios related to the reproduction and semi-intensive culture Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus), and Bonny Tongue (Heterotis niloticus). 

Materials must also be gender-sensitive, youth-friendly, and accessible to persons with disabilities.

Training Delivery
The consultant will deliver a 15-day ToT programme using a blended and participatory methodology, with at least 80% of the training dedicated to hands-on practical exercises.  

The training will apply a range of approaches to ensure active engagement, knowledge retention, and practical application. These will include theoretical inputs, practical exercises, hatchery and pond management simulations, field-based demonstrations where possible, real-life aquaculture case analysis, role play and scenario-based learning, digital demonstrations, microteaching sessions, group work, and peer feedback.

This approach will ensure that participants not only understand the technical concepts but are also able to apply them directly in aquaculture production systems and effectively cascade the training to fish farmers and other stakeholders.  

Within this framework, WorldFish will be responsible for delivering training and technical support on Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) broodstock and hatchery management, in line with its institutional mandate in aquaculture research and capacity development. The Consultant will be responsible for delivering training and technical support on African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and Bonny Tongue (Heterotis niloticus), covering broodstock management, breeding, hatchery operations, and related production systems.

This arrangement ensures a clear and complementary division of responsibilities in training delivery, aligned with the respective institutional mandates and technical expertise of the implementing partners.

Assessment and Evaluation
The consultant will design and administer pre- and post-training assessments to measure knowledge gain and competency development among participants. A training evaluation framework will be developed to assess the quality, relevance and effectiveness of the programme. The findings will be documented and shared with the Private Sector Project in the final report.

Reporting
The consultant will submit the following deliverables:

• An inception in form of a presentation outlining the training design, methodology, work plan and timeline, to be submitted no later than ten working days after contract signature.
• A complete set of training materials, including facilitator guides, participant handbooks and all supporting tools, to be submitted at least five working days before the start of the training.
• A final training report documenting the training process, attendance, key findings from the assessment, lessons learned and recommendations, to be submitted no later than ten working days after the completion of the training.