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The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) is seeking a consultant to develop Regional Principles and Toolkits for Responsible and Safe Seaweed Aquaculture under the Global Environment Facility-funded project, Blue Horizon: Ocean Relief through Seaweed Aquaculture. The position was posted on May 14, 2026, and will run from July 2026 to June 2027 as a short-term consultancy.

SEAFDEC, an autonomous intergovernmental body established in 1967 with 11 member countries, is implementing the Blue Horizon project in collaboration with WWF GEF Agency. The initiative, running from July 1, 2024, to December 31, 2028, aims to establish sustainable seaweed value chains that provide ecosystem services and socio-economic benefits across Southeast Asia. The Project Management Unit is hosted at the SEAFDEC Secretariat in Bangkok, working closely with the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department and national partners in the Philippines and Viet Nam.

The consultancy falls under Component 1 of the project, which focuses on strengthening regional approaches and capacity for seaweed value chains. A key output is the development of Southeast Asia Regional Principles for Responsible and Safe Seaweed Aquaculture, aligned with the Global Seaweed Coalition and other international frameworks. These principles will address environmental sustainability, food safety, occupational health and safety, and socio-economic considerations, including gender mainstreaming and social inclusion.

The consultant will lead drafting and consultation processes, conduct desk reviews and benchmarking of international standards, identify regional gaps and risks, and facilitate stakeholder engagement. The resulting principles will be non-prescriptive and adaptable to national contexts, serving as guidance for national standards, codes of practice, and training materials. The work will integrate elements from related project outputs, including a regional guide and training modules.

Deliverables include an inception report, draft and revised principles, a toolkit for applying the principles, and final documents for submission to the SEAFDEC Governing Council. The consultancy comprises 33 working days, with payments tied to milestone deliverables.

Candidates must have at least 10 years of experience in aquaculture, fisheries safety, environmental management, or related fields, along with demonstrated expertise in developing standards or safety frameworks. Applications, including a CV, technical and financial proposals, and work samples, must be submitted in English by May 24, 2026.

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