The Hanns Seidel Stiftung, Regional Office Amman, seeks to employ a
Short-term Consultant for Reviewing and Updating the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Action Plan for Aqaba
1. Background and Context
The coastal zone of Aqaba plays a vital role in Jordan’s economic, environmental, and social development. It is home to rich marine biodiversity, including coral reefs and seagrass beds, and supports key sectors such as tourism, transport, fisheries, and port operations. However, due to increasing development pressures, climate change, and user conflicts, there is a growing need for an integrated approach to planning and managing the coastal zone to ensure its sustainability and resilience.
In 2016, a National Guideline for Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) was developed for Jordan, followed by the preparation of an Operational ICZM Plan for Aqaba in 2018. These efforts were part of broader strategy of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) to implement sustainable and coordinated coastal management.
Since 2018, several significant developments have occurred that directly impact the coastal governance framework in Aqaba:
The establishment of the Aqaba Marine Reserve in late 2020, which introduced new conservation and spatial use requirements.
The enactment of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Regulation in 2024 by the Government of Jordan.
The launch of the ASEZA Strategic Plan (2024–2028), which includes updated priorities for economic development, environmental protection, and stakeholder engagement.
Given these new regulatory and institutional frameworks, there is an urgent need to review, revise, and update the existing ICZM Plan for Aqaba to align it with the 2024 regulation, reflect recent developments, and support effective coastal zone governance and ecosystem resilience.
The Hanns Seidel Stiftung is one of the political foundations of the Federal Republic of Germany. Working on questions of environment and political development in Jordan since 1996, ASEZA and HSS signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2021 to strengthen laws and regulations pertaining to the protection of marine habitats through inclusive and sustainable processes applying a multi-stakeholder process.
2. Objective of the Assignment
To engage an experienced consultant to review and update the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Action Plan for Aqaba, ensuring it is fully aligned with the 2024 ICZM Regulation, incorporates recent developments, and provides a clear and practical roadmap for coordinated action by relevant stakeholders from 2025 to 2030.
3. Scope of Work and Key Responsibilities
- Conduct a desk review of all relevant documentation including the 2016 National ICZM Guideline, the 2018 ICZM Plan for Aqaba, the 2024 ICZM Regulation, the ASEZA Strategic Plan (2024–2028), the marine reserve documentation, and any sectoral strategies affecting the coastal zone (e.g., tourism, ports, fisheries, infrastructure).
- Analyze the coherence and alignment between these documents and identify legal, institutional, and technical gaps that may hinder integrated coastal zone management.
- Develop a baseline assessment of current environmental conditions in the coastal zone, with emphasis on spatial pressures, land and sea use conflicts, biodiversity status, and anthropogenic impacts.
- Identify key changes and developments in the coastal area since 2018, including environmental trends, regulatory updates, and relevant coastal and marine projects.
- Map out institutional roles, mandates, and coordination mechanisms relevant to coastal governance in Aqaba, and assess institutional readiness to implement ICZM principles.
- Design and implement a stakeholder consultation strategy to gather inputs from national institutions, ASEZA, marine and coastal users (tourism operators, port authorities, fishing associations), NGOs, academia, and local communities.
- Facilitate stakeholder interviews, focus group discussions, and/or workshops to capture local knowledge, priorities, and challenges related to coastal use and conservation.
- Prepare an updated ICZM Action Plan that clearly outlines strategic goals, spatial planning elements (e.g., zoning of uses and conservation areas), and thematic programs (e.g., pollution control, habitat protection, sustainable tourism).
- Develop a detailed 5-year action plan (2025–2030) that includes specific activities, responsible parties, implementation timelines, estimated costs, and funding opportunities.
- Propose a governance model for ICZM implementation in Aqaba that ensures inter-agency coordination, transparency, and accountability, in line with the 2024 Regulation.
- Design a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework to track progress in ICZM implementation using indicators for environmental, institutional, and socioeconomic performance.
- Lead a validation workshop to present the draft ICZM Action Plan and incorporate feedback from key stakeholders.
- Finalize the updated ICZM Action Plan and prepare a policy brief summarizing key findings, strategies, and recommendations for high-level decision-makers.
4. Expected Deliverables
Inception Report: methodology and work plan.
Situation Analysis Report.
Draft Updated ICZM Action Plan.
Workshop Report with feedback summary.
Final ICZM Action Plan (2025–2030).
Presentation and policy briefing materials.
5. Duration of Assignment
The consultancy will be conducted over a period of 3 months (12 weeks), including desk work, field consultations, document preparation and validation workshop.
6. Required Qualifications and Experience
Advanced degree in environmental management, coastal planning, marine policy, or related field.
Minimum 10 years of relevant professional experience.
Proven experience in ICZM or coastal/marine planning.
Familiarity with Jordanian and regional coastal governance contexts.
Proven experience in national and international biodiversity action plans & strategies
Strong consultation, synthesis, and reporting skills.
Fluency in English and Arabic.
7. Institutional Arrangement and Reporting
The consultant will report to the contracting authority and a designated steering committee. All deliverables must be provided in English and Arabic, in both editable and final formats.
8. Deadline for Submission *NEW DEADLINE*
Interested individuals/experts are requested to submit their technical and financial proposals as separate pdf files by email to the Hanns Seidel Stiftung’s Regional Office by July 23, 2025. Any additional information may be obtained from the below contact details. The consultancy is expected to start in August 2025.
*Please note that the deadlines has been extended until Sunday, August 10, 2025.*
9. Contact
Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung
Regional Office Jordan, Syria, Lebanon
Amman, Jordan
Email: Amman@hss.de
Tel: +962 6 569 0043