Objectives:
In close collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) and other relevant national stakeholders, as well as together with a parallel GIS-consultant who will compile spatial information, and in consultation with ESCAP, the objectives of the consultancy are to:
Policy and data scoping
1. In collaboration with partner institution, review existing national policy priorities, existing and missing statistics pertaining to the targeted ecosystem and study objectives decided during the first stakeholder meeting.
2. If possible, participate in the first stakeholder meeting hold in November 2022.
3. Write a scoping report and present to MNRE.
Data for creation of selected ocean account(s)
1. In close collaboration with related stakeholders and the GIS consultant, evaluate, select and compile national and global data (spatial and non-spatial) for the creation of targeted ocean ecosystem account(s) in Samoa, with focus on Vaiusu Bay.
2. In close collaboration with GIS consultant, and in consultation with MNRE and ESCAP evaluate and select characteristics, models, baselines etc to include in the accounts, depending on policy priorities, data availability/quality of data, time frame etc. Guidance and inspiration on Ocean accounts can be found in GOAP Technical Guidelines on Ocean Account , related SEEA manuals and from similar projects in for example Fiji and Indonesia .
3. In collaboration with the GIS consultant, process and classify selected data to fit SEEA structures.
4. Design and develop priority ecosystem accounts from compiled and processed data in accordance with GOAP Technical Guidelines on Ocean Account and related SEEA manuals etc.
5. Analyse, summarize and document findings.
6. Engage with the GIS consultant, ESCAP and related stakeholder on a regular basis to determine which of the selected datasets/models should be prioritized, modelled, and output to be produced.
Information collection on the impacts of Climate Change in Vaiusu Bay
1. The consultant will conduct fieldwork in coastal communities around Vaiusu Bay to collect inputs from local residents to support the assessment of the impacts of climate change on selected marine/coastal ecosystems and livelihoods. Such impacts may include sea-level rise, impacts on income and economic activities due to changes in climate or ecosystem services (such as fisheries), damages and internal displacements or migration triggered by extreme weather events, etc. This fieldwork may rely on qualitative information and non-statistically representative quantitative information collected from locals via interviews, in situ observations, reports, feedback from local organizations, civil society and any relevant stakeholders.
2. The consultant will work closely with a GIS expert who will conduct satellite research to assess sea-level rise in Samoa, with focus on Vaiusu Bay. The findings produced by the GIS consultant must be integrated into the final assessment.
3. The exercise will produce discovery which shall be organized in a systematic manner. Additionally, the consultant will conduct desk research to develop a broader analysis on the impacts of climate change in Samoa. The assessment of all data, including results will lead to the production of a "final assessment", which must include all findings and recommendations. These comprehensive recommendations shall support the design and implementation of climate adaptation programmes and initiatives to tackle climate change.
Report writing and presentation
1. Prepare preliminary findings of the study and present to Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and ESCAP.
2. Write a final report on Vaiusu Bay's ecosystem accounts and climate change, in collaboration with GIS consultant, outlining results and challenges, steps undertaken, methods, needed improvements, taking into account to feedback from MNRE and ESCAP.
3. Develop a powerpoint presentation to be delivered during a national Workshop
4. Present finding during a national workshop.
Expected results:

• Pilot account for selected ocean accounts, including related maps and statistics.
• An assessment climate change impact on selected coastal communities.

Expected Deliverables:
a) A draft outline of approaches to be used and a project work plan (by December 2022);
b) Agreement with ESCAP on the work plan and expected outputs (by December 2022);
c) A scoping report outlining the findings from scoping activities (by March 2023);
d) Outline of methodology for the data collection and compilation (by March 2023);
e) Collected, processed and compiled selected data (by July 2023);
f) A draft report with preliminary finding and on methods used (by August 2023);
g) Programme, presentation and other materials for national stakeholder consultation (by September 2023);
h) All data used and collected during the study, annotated with relevant methods and metadata for archiving electronically (by September 2023).
i) Present preliminary finding and discuss feedback at national stakeholder consultation (by October 2023)
j) Final report, including findings, maps and data from GIS consultant, reflecting feedback from national stakeholders and ESCAP (by November 2023).