NB: terms of reference of this assignment are also available for PDF download at the bottom of this page.

Objectives of the assignment 

The assignment aims to provide technical and methodological support for the preparation, delivery and capitalisation of the IORA Phase II project’s marine debris activities, in order to strengthen knowledge, monitoring capacities and exchanges among member states, as well as awareness among IORA Secretariat staff.  It is important to note that this assignment involves travel to the beneficiary country and to one of the 23 IORA member states (location of the activities).

The specific objectives are as follows:

• Support the preparation of the 3.5-day regional workshop, by conducting a literature review and developing the content, materials and exercises.
• Contribute to facilitating the workshop and formalise its results, through a report setting out the main lessons learned, prioritised recommendations and proposed next steps towards harmonised marine debris monitoring.
• Ensure the technical and pedagogical preparation of three webinars, by drafting the content and mobilising technical partners to contribute to their preparation and delivery.
• Prepare and support a half-day awareness visit for IORA staff, to illustrate concretely the challenges of marine debris and the links between waste management, prevention and marine pollution.
• Produce summaries, to share the knowledge gained and identify follow-up to the activities.
• Deliver analytical outputs (country profiles, summary sheets) and update ongoing studies (the diagnostic and the stakeholder mapping).
• Promote IORA activities on international observance days.
• Lead institutional dialogue on this theme within IORA with the Directorate.

Expected services

1. Workshop 

Scoping and literature review

• Take part in a kick-off meeting with Expertise France to clarify the expected results, schedule, responsibilities, available resources and validation procedures.
• Review the concept note, the IORA strategic framework, and the reports and materials from previous activities.
• Propose a methodology note setting out the approach, the provisional programme, the contributions required, implementation risks and the work plan.

Literature review 

• Identify and analyse the reports, publications, protocols, documented datasets and institutional resources available on marine debris monitoring in IORA member states. Preparation will rely exclusively on a literature review, with no prior questionnaire or interviews with participants.
• Review, to the extent the documents allow, existing systems, monitored environments, protocols, frequencies, stakeholders, data, quality requirements and capacity needs that are already documented.
• Consolidate the information, drawing on documents already produced by IORA and information shared by member states, in a comparative matrix indicating the source and date for each entry. Specify the countries and systems covered, the missing information and the limits to comparability. 
• Prepare a summary of documented practices and needs and select, together with Expertise France, cases useful for discussion. The preliminary findings will be discussed during the workshop; needs expressed during the sessions will be distinguished from those identified in the documentation.
• Propose a list of speakers and prepare briefs specifying the objective, duration and expected outcome of each contribution.

Design of the programme and materials

Based on the agenda prepared by the current expert and validated by the Directorate, the service provider will refine the material already proposed for each session, including the learning or production objective, duration, facilitation method, prospective speakers, materials and expected outcome. The programme will be built around the following themes:

• National practices and shared diagnostic: existing systems, available data, obstacles to comparison and priority needs.
• Monitoring methods: beach litter, floating debris, seabed and microplastics, with a presentation proportionate to capacities and challenges. Distinguish an accessible baseline for monitoring from approaches requiring specialised equipment or skills.
• Harmonisation: site selection, waste categories, units of measurement, frequency, metadata, traceability and quality assurance. Document the differences between methods rather than assuming that datasets are directly comparable.
• Data management and sharing: formats, institutional responsibilities, access conditions, interoperability and alignment with IMDOS and other relevant tools. Demonstrations will depend on the availability of speakers and the necessary access.
• Complementary tools: citizen science, ship-based observation, remote sensing, artificial intelligence and modelling; clarify their usefulness, limitations and validation requirements.
• Organisation of monitoring systems: coordination among administrations, research bodies and field stakeholders; sustainability of monitoring, resource needs and linkage between national and regional scales.
• Cooperation and financing: peer exchanges, pilot actions, training, partnerships and documented funding options, without presuming the commitment of the organisations concerned.

The materials will include technical presentations, exercise sheets and datasets that can be used for pedagogical purposes. The technical material will be submitted to EF and IORA for validation. Where changes are needed, the service provider will be responsible for incorporating IORA’s input in order to obtain final validation from the Directorate. At the end of the workshop, reporting templates, a framework for recommendations and a roadmap matrix are expected. 

The service provider must ensure the coordination of moderators and facilitators by providing them with a set of guiding questions for the discussions.  The provider will coordinate technical meetings with the host country, in support of the project manager. The provider will prepare minutes in English after each coordination meeting.

Preparation of the technical visit or demonstration

In liaison with Expertise France, IORA and the host country, the service provider will define the pedagogical objective of the visit, the site selection criteria, the observations to be made and the debriefing questions. The provider will specify the equipment, authorisation and technical supervision needs, as well as the precautions required for the planned exercise.

A practical monitoring activity will be proposed only if the site, authorisations and implementation conditions allow it. A fallback solution will be prepared in case the site is unavailable.

Facilitation and support during the workshop

• Take part in the final briefing with the organisers and speakers; adjust the running order and materials to the confirmed contributions.
• Prepare the moderators and facilitators by briefing them before each session.
• Facilitate the exercises and working groups; encourage the participation of countries with different capacities and concrete peer-to-peer exchanges.
• Organise a daily feedback session, collect proposals and document points of divergence.
• The service provider remains responsible for the technical summary and the report; the reporting arrangements must be agreed before the workshop.

Report and recommendations

The service provider will draft a detailed analytical report in English. The report must draw on the discussions and outputs of the workshop, going beyond a chronological record of the proceedings.

• An executive summary of 2 to 3 pages presenting the main results, priority recommendations and next steps.
• A summary of the discussions in each session: the key points raised during the presentations and discussions.
• The technical options discussed: parameters and indicators, methods, frequency, minimum quality requirements, data management and sharing; specify the trade-offs that remain to be settled.
• The lessons learned from the exercises and the visit, the evaluation results and additional training needs.
• Prioritised recommendations, distinguishing the national and regional levels, actions that can be implemented quickly and those requiring further study or additional resources, and distinguishing what falls within IORA’s mandate.
• A proposal of elements and components for developing a roadmap specifying, for each action, its objective, indicative deadline, prerequisites, resource needs, funding options and a monitoring indicator.
• Opportunities for alignment with existing initiatives, avoiding the creation of redundant mechanisms.
• Mechanisms that IORA could set in motion as facilitator and coordinator for the region.
• Useful annexes: summary of national contributions, group outputs, recommendations matrix, materials and references.

The report will clearly distinguish the service provider’s proposals, the options discussed, the points on which convergence was reached and the commitments explicitly made. No institutional commitment or regional consensus may be inferred solely from the proceedings of the workshop.

2. Management of the preparation of three webinars

The service provider will take charge of the technical and pedagogical preparation of a series of three webinars for member states. The provider will propose the themes, objectives and formats, identify the speakers and coordinate their contributions. The provider will prepare the necessary materials, facilitate or moderate the sessions and draft a summary of each webinar presenting the lessons learned and proposed follow-up. The themes and schedule will be agreed with Expertise France and the IORA Secretariat.

3. Preparation of an awareness visit for IORA staff

The service provider will prepare a half-day visit for IORA Secretariat staff, in order to promote a better understanding of the challenges of marine debris and the links between waste management, prevention and marine pollution. The provider will propose a suitable site, contact the host organisation and develop the running order and the awareness materials. The provider will ensure the pedagogical support of the visit and a debriefing session. 

4. Development of analytical outputs

The service provider will finalise the analytical reports in accordance with the methodology developed by IORA. The country profiles will be completed and sent to member states in order to collect their contributions and comments. The provider will incorporate the feedback and prepare the final versions of the outputs, which will be submitted to Expertise France and IORA for validation.

The mapping of stakeholders and of the main marine litter issues in the region will also be updated. 

The service provider will work closely with the team’s graphic design expert to facilitate the layout, visualisation and popularisation of the results and outputs produced.

5. Promotion of project activities

On international observance days, the service provider will prepare communication material (article + photos) for publication on IORA’s social media. The provider may be asked to take part in meetings or events in France on marine debris topics in order to support the headquarters team. The provider will work in collaboration with the project team’s communication expert and IORA’s communication expert.

6. Capitalisation of knowledge

The service provider will prepare a handover to transfer the methodology for updating the tools developed by the project to the Directorate’s programme officer. The provider will draft an explanatory note and a final activity report (20 to 30 pages) and may take part in the capitalisation workshop.

7. Coordination within the EF team and with the DBE

The service provider will attend all weekly team meetings to share the latest information and progress on their work.  The provider will propose fortnightly one-hour meetings with the DBE Directorates and will produce post-meeting minutes detailing the decisions taken, an indicative timeline and responsibilities. 

Expected deliverables

All deliverables will be submitted in English, in editable formats, and subject to validation by Expertise France.

Expertise France will centralise the partners’ comments and send back consolidated feedback, with a target of five working days for each review. Deliverables will include an initial version and a revision based on these comments. Any delay in providing information or feedback will result in an agreed adjustment of the schedule.

Technical acceptance will be based on coverage of the objectives, the reliability of references, the consistency between findings and recommendations, the operational nature of the roadmap and the submission of all editable files. Expertise France will carry out acceptance of the deliverables in accordance with the terms of the CPS (special specifications), after consulting the IORA Secretariat where necessary.

Workload and implementation arrangements

Preparation and drafting will be carried out remotely. Two missions are planned. Coverage of flights, accommodation and transfers will be specified in the CPS; these expenses must be distinguished from fees in order to avoid any double coverage.

Any change to the contractual volume or addition of services will require the prior agreement of Expertise France. The schedule must remain compatible with the project implementation period.