Consultancy for the Design and Implementation Framework of a Marine Megafauna Drone Monitoring - TOR

Terms of Reference - Consultancy for the Design and Implementation Framework of a Marine Megafauna Drone Monitoring Programme Along the Kenyan Coast 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 shapefi

• Terms of Reference - Consultancy for the Design and Implementation Framework of a Marine Megafauna Drone Monitoring Programme Along the Kenyan Coast • Terms of Reference Consultancy for the Design and Implementation Framework of a Marine Megafauna Drone Monitoring Programme Along the Kenyan Coast • Objectives General Objective Develop a comprehensive framework for establishing Kenya's first coast-wide drone-based marine megafauna monitoring network. Specific Objectives • 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. • 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. • Develop a citizen science integration framework linking community observations with drone verification systems and establish data management, storage, analysis, and reporting procedures. • 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. • 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. • Sea turtle nesting beaches. • Dolphin and cetacean aggregation areas. • Marine Protected Areas.