Terms of Reference

Activity         :   Fisheries Value Chain Analysis and Cold Chain Improvement Feasibility to Support Enterprise Development for Fisheries Management Body

Duration       :   18 months

Location       :   Southeast Sulawesi (Kulisusu Utara of North Buton District, Lasalimu of Buton District, and Liana Banggai of Central Buton District)

1. Background

Rare is a fast-growing international conservation organization already making strides towards promoting widespread sustainable fishing practices in multiple countries. One of the countries is Indonesia with the goal of improving nearshore fisheries. Most of the small-scale fisheries in Indonesia are inherently local: fishers from coastal communities’ fish their near-shore waters and sell their catch in the local market. These fisheries are anchors to the local economy – a key part of the social and cultural fabric of the archipelago and essential to the nation’s food security. To ensure sustainable coastal fisheries, effective management must focus at the same level as the activity: locally. But, devolution of fisheries management authority from the Indonesian national government to the district level and the subsequent re-absorption to the provincial level has left critical gaps in effective fisheries governance across coastal communities.

Since 2014, Rare in Indonesia has used behavior-centered design to build a community’s agency and capacity to address coastal fishing challenges and adopt more responsible fishing behaviors through Rare’s flagship Fish Forever Program. To develop this agency and capacity, we have created a suite of tools that enables fisheries data collection, fisheries management body development, fisher goal-setting and management plan development, and a process for Managed Access + Reserve (MA+R) implementation. Central to the Fish Forever model is the proven “TURF-R” system (Territorial Use Rights for Fishing+ Reserve). This model combines spatial property rights for fishing areas with marine reserves (or No Take Zones – NTZs), protecting key habitats where fish stocks can rebuild. As fish populations recover in these reserves, a spillover effect can improve catch in the adjacent fishing zones.

To catalyze a country-level movement that promotes change and drive systemic change in marine conservation and fisheries management regimes, Rare aims to broaden and sustain its efforts through innovative financing mechanisms. In 2024, Rare issued the world’s first Small-Scale Fisheries Impact Bond, an outcome-based financing instrument designed to pay for conservation success. Financing is mobilized to Fish Forever’s proven implementation mechanism, with independently verified outcomes triggering payments. One of the key outcomes supported by this mechanism is the establishment of a business unit under the Fisheries Management Body (FMB), which is designed as a revenue stream to ensure that community conservation measures can be sustainably financed and effectively implemented over time. By embedding a viable business function within the FMB, this approach strengthens community-based conservation, enabling the long-term sustainability of MA+R areas, and reinforcing lasting behavior change among fishing communities.

To ensure that such business units are viable, context-aligned, and responsive of local market realities, there is a need for an integrated fisheries value chain analysis and enterprise feasibility assessment at the site level. While gaps in cold chain systems (such as limited access to ice, storage, and temperature-controlled transport) are widely recognized as key constraints affecting fish quality, post-harvest losses, and fisher incomes, the assessment will adopt a broader, evidence-based approach. This includes examining the full fisheries value chain, from catch and post-harvest handling to market access and pricing dynamics, in order to identify the most feasible and impactful enterprise opportunities.

These opportunities may include cold chain-related enterprises with particular consideration given to ice production and distribution, sustainable fishing gear supply, and other fisheries-support services that directly strengthen fisher livelihoods and fisheries management outcomes; and, where relevant, other complementary or alternative business models that respond to local demand, resource conditions, and community capacities. By grounding enterprise development in a comprehensive understanding of both system constraints and market opportunities, this approach ensures that FMB-led businesses are economically viable, socially adopted, and supportive of sustainable fishing practices. Ultimately, this strengthens the role of the FMB not only as a governance body but also as a driver of sustainable livelihoods, reinforcing the long-term effectiveness of community-based fisheries management.

1. Project Overview

The consultant will conduct the value chain analysis and cold chain improvement feasibility, prior to supporting the establishment of microenterprises for small-scale fisheries under the Fisheries Management Body (FMB) – which is part of an outcome metrics financed through the first Small-Scale Fisheries Impact Bond. At least a value chain analysis and cold chain improvement feasibility study across the three sites must be delivered, and one microenterprise must be established and assisted in each of the three sites across Southeast Sulawesi province: Kulisusu Utara of North Buton District, Lasalimu of Buton District, and Liana Banggai of Central Buton District. The assignment will be implemented in an eighteen-month period and will cover the full cycle from assessment, business identification, to early-stage business establishment.

Impact Bond sites in Buton, Central Buton, dan North Buton Districts

About the FMB and microbusiness

The FMB is a community-based organization established to serve as the locally led governance body responsible for fisheries management under the community-led fisheries management approach. In all three Impact Bond sites, the FMBs are currently in the formation stage and are expected to be formally established by mid-2026. Once established, each FMB will consist of four core divisions: surveillance, community outreach, monitoring, and financial inclusion, reflecting its primary functions in fisheries management and community engagement.

In line with its organizational mandate, the FMB may establish income-generating business units as part of its efforts to support the sustainability of community-based fisheries management. These business units will operate directly under the FMB as organizational units, rather than as part of a specific division. The primary objective of establishing FMB-linked microenterprises is to generate revenue streams that contribute to the long-term sustainability of  fisheries management activities. Net profits generated from these businesses will be reinvested into the FMB to support operational costs, while a portion potentially allocated for business growth and expansion in accordance with organizational policies.

The core objective of the role is to assess the feasibility and market potential of FMB-linked microenterprises and to support their structured establishment in alignment with deliverables. This includes developing implementation framework, conducting comprehensive market and feasibility assessment, identifying viable fisheries-based business opportunities (including enterprises related to fishery and cold chain support systems), and producing business options briefs with clear recommendations.

The consultant will further develop, business plans for selected priority enterprises, including cost projections and basic financial model, and prepare an enterprise establishment roadmap outlining step-by-step setup strategies. The assignment also includes supporting the initial establishment of at least one selected business model per site,  developing preliminary standard operating procedures (SOPs), and setting up basic financial recording system and simple business management dashboard. Where applicable, the consultant will facilitate or support for initial legal registration processes to ensure compliance with the relevant regulatory requirements and readiness for formal operation.

The consultant will work under the coordination of the Rare Indonesia Program Implementation Manager for Southeast Sulawesi and the Indonesia Innovative Finance Manager, and will collaborate closely with Rare’s field implementation teams, technical support staff, and community stakeholders, including the FMB.

1. Essential Functions

Working in collaboration with Rare teams to plan, implement, monitor, and report the progress to ensure all deliverables are met with Rare’s quality standards, this position will serve the following functions:

1. Fisheries Value Chain and Cold Chain Analysis

• Conduct an end-to-end fisheries value chain analysis, including mapping of actors, product flows, pricing structures, and value distribution from catch to end markets
• Assess post-harvest practices and systems, including handling, storage, transportation, and existing cold chain infrastructure and service availability
• Identify key inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and loss points (e.g., spoilage, quality degradation, limited market access)
• Perform market analysis to assess demand, buyer preferences, competition, and growth opportunities relevant to potential FMB-linked microenterprises
• Evaluate supply-demand dynamics, including seasonality, species variation, and price fluctuations

2. Enterprise Feasibility Assessment

• Evaluate the technical, financial, and operational feasibility of identified business opportunities, including cold chain–related and alternative enterprise models
• Conduct cost-benefit and risk analysis, including sensitivity to market, operational, and environmental factors
• Assess infrastructure readiness, resource availability, and local capacity to support enterprise implementation

3. Business identification and design

• Identify and assess potential microenterprise options aligned with FMB priorities, conservation objectives, and local market needs
• Ensure a balanced portfolio of options, including:
• Cold chain-related enterprises (e.g., ice, storage, logistics) for core business;
• Complementary or alternative businesses based on local feasibility (where relevant: recommend up to three viable business models and enterprise structures for implementation.)

4. Business planning and financial projections

• Develop detailed business plans for the core business and the chosen complementary or alternative microenterprise options, including initial cost projections and basic financial models for each feasible option.
• Prepare initial cost structures, revenue models, and basic financial projections for each feasible option
• Outline operational models, including staffing, supply chains, and key partnerships

5. Establishment strategy and early setup

• Develop timelines and step-by-step strategies or requirements for microenterprise establishment
• Initial establishment of at least one selected business model, with active involvement of FMB
• Draft preliminary standard operating procedures (SOPs) to support initial operations.

6. Legal and regulatory preparation

• Identify applicable legal and regulatory requirements for enterprise establishment under the FMB.
• Support preliminary processes for legal registration of selected and developed microenterprises.

7. Post-Establishment Business Assistance

• Provide hands-on technical assistance and mentorship to the FMB during the initial operation of the selected enterprise(s)
• Support day-to-day implementation, including:
  • Operational troubleshooting
  • Financial tracking and basic bookkeeping
  • Supply chain and customer management
• Strengthen FMB capacity in business management, governance, and decision-making
• Monitor early business performance and provide adaptive recommendations to improve viability
• Support refinement of standard operating procedures (SOPs) based on real operational experience
• Document key lessons learned and operational insights to inform future scale-up

8. Coordination and stakeholder engagement

• Work in close coordination with Rare Indonesia program, Innovative Finance department, and field implementation teams
• Engage actively with FMB members, fishers, market actors, and community stakeholders throughout the assessment and establishment process

9. Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) integration

• Ensure GEDSI considerations are integrated throughout the value chain analysis, business assessment, and enterprise development process
• Identify opportunities to enhance inclusive participation and equitable benefit-sharing

1. Deliverables

1. Selection and Appointment

Prospective consultants—whether individuals, teams, or firms—are required to submit a project proposal comprising of the proposed approach, team composition (attaching personnel’s curriculum vitae), bid price, along with a portfolio demonstrating relevant experience in implementing similar projects. As part of the selection and appointment process, an interview will be conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the consultant’s portfolio, as well as an overview of the proposed implementation framework to achieve the deliverables outlined in this terms of reference.

Please note that the proposed budget must cover professional fees, accommodation, and travel costs related to the implementation of the project. The consultant may be based in Kendari or in another location in close proximity to the project site, including for temporary extended stays for the project deliverables and implementation. This will enable better coordination with the Rare team in Kendari. Any costs incurred for the development of the FMB business—excluding consultant fees—will be the responsibility of Rare, subject to approval from the designated technical director and Rare’s budget owner.

How to Apply

Interested consultants, whether individuals, teams, or firms, are invited to submit a project proposal that includes the proposed approach and methodology, team composition with curriculum vitae of key personnel, bid price, and a portfolio demonstrating relevant experience in implementing similar projects. Applications must be submitted no later than July 15, 2026, to Ratna Kania at recruitmentindonesia@rare.org. Please use the consultancy title “Fisheries Value Chain Analysis and Cold Chain Improvement Feasibility to Support Enterprise Development for Fisheries Management Body” as the subject line of the email.