Consultancy for the Design and Implementation Framework of a Marine Megafauna Drone Monitoring - TOR
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Terms of Reference - Consultancy for the Design and Implementation Framework of a Marine Megafauna Drone Monitoring Programme Along the Kenyan Coast
Experience Level:
Senior level
Experience Length:
10 years
Language Requirement:
English
Working Hours:
Contract - 8 to 5
Applicant Location:
Kenya
Job descriptions & requirements
Terms of Reference
Consultancy for the Design and Implementation Framework of a Marine Megafauna Drone Monitoring Programme Along the Kenyan Coast
1. Background
Kenya's coastline extends approximately 536 km from the Tanzania border in the south to the Somalia border in the north and supports some of the most ecologically important marine and coastal ecosystems in the Western Indian Ocean region. These ecosystems, including coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves, estuaries, lagoons, and offshore banks, provide critical habitats for marine megafauna such as sea turtles, dolphins, whales, dugongs, whale sharks, and other large marine vertebrates.
Despite the ecological and socio-economic significance of these species, information on their abundance, distribution, habitat use, migratory patterns, and conservation status remains fragmented. Existing monitoring approaches, including vessel-based surveys, aerial observations, satellite telemetry, citizen science reporting, and localized research initiatives, often face challenges related to cost, limited spatial coverage, observer bias, and inconsistent long-term monitoring.
Recent advances in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology have demonstrated significant potential for enhancing marine biodiversity monitoring through the collection of high-resolution, repeatable, and cost-effective ecological data. Drone-based monitoring offers a valuable opportunity to establish a standardized coastal observation system capable of generating long-term datasets on marine megafauna, habitats, and threats.
To support evidence-based marine conservation, marine spatial planning, climate adaptation, fisheries management, and Blue Economy development, a consultancy is required to develop a comprehensive framework and operational strategy for a Marine
Megafauna Drone Monitoring Programme focused initially on Kilifi and Lamu Counties, with scalability across the Kenyan coast.
2. Purpose of the Consultancy
The purpose of this consultancy is to develop a scientifically robust and operationally feasible drone-based marine megafauna monitoring programme that will establish standardized methodologies, monitoring sites, data management systems, and implementation protocols for long-term monitoring of marine biodiversity, habitats, and threats along the Kenyan coast.
3. Objectives
General Objective
Develop a comprehensive framework for establishing Kenya's first coast-wide drone-based marine megafauna monitoring network.
Specific Objectives
1. Assess the current status of marine megafauna monitoring activities along the Kenyan coast and identify permanent drone monitoring sites within key ecological zones, including Kilifi and Lamu Counties.
2. Develop standardized drone survey protocols for monitoring marine megafauna and associated habitats and design a long-term monitoring framework for biodiversity, habitat condition, and human-induced threats.
3. Develop a citizen science integration framework linking community observations with drone verification systems and establish data management, storage, analysis, and reporting procedures.
4. Provide recommendations on drone equipment, operational requirements, staffing needs, regulatory compliance, and training needs; and develop an implementation roadmap and budget for operationalizing the programme.
4. Scope of Work
The consultant shall undertake, but not be limited to, the following tasks:
Task 1: Inception, Literature Review and Situational Analysis
• Review existing marine megafauna monitoring programmes, datasets, and published literature relevant to the Kenyan coast.
• Assess current monitoring approaches, strengths, gaps, and opportunities.
• Identify priority species, habitats, and conservation concerns suitable for dronebased monitoring.
• Review national UAV regulations, permitting requirements, and safety considerations.
• Prepare a survey implementation plan, including risk assessment and stakeholder engagement strategy.
Output: Inception Report and Situational Analysis Report.
Task 2: Design of the Marine Megafauna Monitoring Network
Identify and prioritize long-term monitoring sites in Kilifi and Lamu Counties and, where feasible, across other key coastal areas.
Develop site selection criteria based on ecological importance, accessibility, conservation value, and stakeholder priorities.
Establish monitoring stations covering:
• Sea turtle nesting beaches.
• Seagrass meadows.
• Dolphin and cetacean aggregation areas.
• Marine Protected Areas.
• Estuarine and mangrove systems.
• Coastal development hotspots.
• Known migratory corridors.
Develop monitoring schedules and sampling frequency.
Output: Monitoring Network Design Report and GIS database of proposed monitoring sites.
Task 3: Drone Survey Implementation and Baseline Data Collection
The consultant shall undertake drone-based surveys at selected monitoring sites to establish baseline ecological datasets.
Activities shall include:
• Obtaining all relevant regulatory approvals and flight permissions.
• Conducting drone surveys using approved UAV platforms.
• Collecting geo-referenced imagery and video data.
• Recording environmental conditions during surveys.
• Mapping marine megafauna sightings and group characteristics.
• Documenting habitat conditions and anthropogenic pressures.
• Maintaining survey logs and metadata records.
Data collected should include, where possible:
• Species occurrence and distribution.
• Relative abundance and density estimates.
• Group size and composition.
• Behavioural observations.
• Habitat use and associations.
• Human-wildlife interactions.
• Habitat condition indicators.
• Evidence of threats such as fishing activities, marine litter, vessel traffic, and coastal development.
Output: Baseline Drone Survey Dataset and Survey Report.
Task 4: Analysis of Drone Survey Data
Process and analyze imagery and video collected during drone surveys.
• Identify species observed.
• Produce spatial distribution maps.
• Assess habitat associations and biodiversity hotspots.
• Analyse observed threats and pressures.
• Establish baseline indicators that can be used for future monitoring.
Output: Baseline Marine Megafauna Assessment Report; GIS layers and maps and Georeferenced photo and video archive.
Task 5: Development of Standardized Drone Monitoring Protocols
Using lessons learned during field implementation, the consultant shall develop standardized protocols covering:
• Flight planning and deployment
• Survey design and sampling methods.
• Species identification.
• Habitat mapping.
• Data quality assurance and quality control.
• Data storage and archiving.
• Health and safety procedures.
• Wildlife disturbance mitigation measures.
• Reporting standards.
Output: Drone Monitoring Operations Manual.
Task 6: Biodiversity, Habitat and Threat Monitoring Frameworks
The consultant shall develop long-term monitoring methodologies for:
Biodiversity Monitoring
• Sea turtles.
• Dolphins.
• Whales and other cetaceans.
• Dugongs.
• Whale sharks.
• Rays and other priority marine species.
Habitat Monitoring
• Seagrass ecosystems.
• Coral reefs.
• Mangrove habitats.
• Estuarine systems.
• Shoreline change.
Threat Monitoring
• Fisheries interactions.
• Marine pollution and debris.
• Vessel activity.
• Coastal development impacts.
• Habitat degradation.
• Mortality and stranding events.
Output: Integrated Monitoring Framework.
Task 7: Citizen Science Integration and Capacity Building
This will involve development of mechanisms for integrating citizen-reported sightings with drone surveys; conduct stakeholder consultations and train selected local partners and community representatives in:
• Marine megafauna monitoring.
• Drone survey planning.
• Data collection procedures.
• Species identification.
• Data reporting.
Stakeholders will include:
• IFAW ocean guardians
• Beach Management Units (BMUs).
• Community conservation groups.
• Marine Protected Area staff.
• Tourism operators.
• Local NGOs.
Output: Citizen Science and Capacity Building Strategy and Training Report.
Task 8: Data Management System Development
The consultant shall develop:
• Standardized databases.
• Spatial data management systems.
• Image and video archiving systems.
• Metadata standards.
• Data-sharing protocols.
• Reporting templates.
• Dashboard specifications for future monitoring.
Output: Data Management Framework and Database Structure.
Task 9: Implementation Roadmap and Sustainability Plan
The consultant shall prepare a costed roadmap outlining:
• Institutional arrangements.
• Equipment requirements.
• Staffing needs.
• Survey frequency.
• Annual operational costs.
• Long-term financing options.
• Potential partnerships.
• Scale-up opportunities for coast-wide implementation.
Output: Costed Five-Year Implementation Plan.
5. Expected Deliverables
Deliverable 1: Inception Report
This will include:
• Detailed methodology.
• Workplan.
• Stakeholder engagement plan.
• Timeline.
Deliverable 2: Situational Analysis Report
• Review of existing monitoring efforts.
• Gap analysis.
• Regulatory assessment.
• Recommendations.
Deliverable 3: Marine Megafauna Drone Monitoring Framework
• Monitoring network design.
• Site selection criteria.
• Standardized survey protocols.
• Biodiversity monitoring methodologies.
• Habitat monitoring methodologies.
• Threat assessment methodologies.
Deliverable 4: Citizen Science and Data Management Framework
• Community engagement strategy.
• Data management system.
• Data governance protocols.
• Reporting templates.
Deliverable 5: Final Programme Design and Implementation Strategy
• Monitoring framework.
• Operational manual.
• Costed implementation plan.
• Capacity-building plan.
• Sustainability strategy.
Deliverable 6: Baseline Survey Report and Dataset
• Drone flight records.
• Species observation database.
• GIS shapefiles and maps.
• Habitat maps.
• Threat assessment maps.
• Annotated imagery and videos.
• Baseline indicators for future monitoring.
Deliverable 7: Final Presentation
Presentation of findings and recommendations to project stakeholders.
6. Expected Outcomes
The consultancy will contribute to:
• Establishment of a standardized long-term marine megafauna monitoring network.
• Improved understanding of marine megafauna distribution and habitat use.
• Enhanced protection of critical habitats and migratory corridors.
• Improved monitoring of cetaceans, sea turtles, dugongs, and other marine megafauna.
• Strengthened monitoring of ecosystem health and habitat change.
• Improved detection of threats and human-wildlife interactions.
• Strengthened citizen science and community participation in marine conservation.
• Enhanced evidence base for marine spatial planning and coastal governance.
7. Duration of the Assignment
The consultancy is expected to be completed within 12-16 weeks from the date of contract signature.
8. Consultant Qualifications
The consultant or consulting team should demonstrate:
• At least 10 years of experience in marine megafauna monitoring.
• Demonstrated experience in UAV/drone applications for ecological monitoring.
• Experience designing long-term biodiversity monitoring programmes.
• Strong understanding of marine megafauna ecology in the Western Indian Ocean region.
Additional Expertise (desirable)
• Remote sensing and GIS specialist.
• Drone operations specialist.
• Marine spatial planning expert.
• Data management and biodiversity informatics specialist.
• Community-based conservation specialist.
9. Reporting and Supervision
The consultant will report to the Project Manager and work closely with relevant government agencies, research institutions, conservation organizations, Beach Management Units (BMUs), and community stakeholders.
10. Application Requirements
Interested consultants shall submit:
Technical proposal outlining methodology and approach.
Financial proposal.
Detailed CV(s) of key personnel.
Evidence of similar assignments undertaken.
At least two professional references.
11. High-Level Impact
The consultancy will lay the foundation for Kenya's first coast-wide marine biodiversity observation system, generating long-term ecological datasets on marine megafauna, habitats, and threats. The programme is expected to strengthen biodiversity conservation, marine spatial planning, climate adaptation, sustainable Blue Economy development, and national reporting obligations under global biodiversity and migratory species conservation frameworks.
12. How to Apply
• Please forward all the application requirements above to supplierea@ifaw.org
• Deadline for receiving applications is close of business Monday 28th September 2026
• Format of application – Single PDF File
• Subject of application email should read: Megafauna Drone Surveys
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