Call for Proposals for the provision of consultancy services to support the preparation of National Action Plans for the implementation of the Regional Strategy for Prevention of and Response to Marine Pollution from Ships (2016-2021) – 16/03/2016

    The Nineteenth Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (“the Barcelona Convention”) and its Protocols, which was held in Athens, Greece from 9 to 12 February 2016, adopted Decision IG.22/4 related to the Regional Strategy for Prevention of and Response to Marine Pollution from Ships (2016-2021), hereinafter referred to as the Regional Strategy (2016-2021) (UNEP(DEPI)/MED IG.22/28), which is presented in the Appendix to the below Terms of Reference.

    Bearing in mind the legal, financial and institutional framework of the Barcelona system, including in particular the provisions of the Protocol concerning Cooperation in Preventing Pollution from Ships and, in Cases of Emergency, Combating Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea (“the 2002 Prevention and Emergency Protocol”), the mandate of the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC) as the Regional Activity Centre charged with the implementation of the said Protocol, as well as the present and expected future scenarios characterising the maritime industry and the Mediterranean region, the general objectives of the Regional Strategy (2016-2021) are threefold, namely:

    1. prevention of pollution from ships;
    2. prevention of maritime accidents; and
    3. preparation for response to major pollution incidents.

    The full implementation of the Regional Strategy (2016-2021) should be a measure of the effectiveness of a maritime administration, amongst others.  A well-structured and specific National Action Plan (NAP) clearly defining the procedures and required actions that will help each country to implement the Regional Strategy (2016-2021) will ensure, or at least facilitate, the attaining of the aims and objectives of the Regional Strategy (2016-2021) with the support of REMPEC.

    Such initiative would also facilitate the linking of the NAP with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) efforts concerning the definition of IMO instruments compliance gaps, inter alia the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS), including the IMO Instruments Implementation Code (III Code), IMO’s plans to assist developing countries with the preparation of national maritime policies focusing on IMO related issues, and, ultimately, to define a plan of action to fill the identified gaps.

    In other words, the NAPs would provide a useful tool to assess progress in individual countries and guide them in their implementation efforts in a tailored manner, including the carrying out of a national assessment and the definition of the remedial action that may be deemed necessary.

    The Nineteenth Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols agreed to support the preparation of NAPs according to a common template including national assessment in the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) Programme of Work and Budget 2016-2017.

    To support REMPEC in carrying out this activity, which is financed by the Mediterranean Trust Fund (MTF) and the IMO Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP), proposals for the provision of consultancy services to support the preparation of National Action Plans for the implementation of the Regional Strategy for Prevention of and Response to Marine Pollution from Ships (2016-2021) had to be sent to Ms Karen Tanti (temporary.secretary@rempec.org) not later than five (5) p.m. (Malta local time) on Tuesday, 12 April 2016 and had to include:

    1. a technical proposal detailing the work plan (as described in the below Terms of Reference);
    2. a copy of your Curriculum Vitae; and
    3. a quote for the completion of the duties detailed in the below Terms of Reference, including travel and subsistence costs to attend the Regional Expert Meeting in Spain.

    Questions about the Terms of Reference had to be sent to Ms Karen Tanti (temporary.secretary@rempec.org).  Questions and Answers (Q&A) related to this Call for Proposals will be published on REMPEC’s website.