: WWF Thailand
: Nonprofits / องค์กรไม่แสวงหาผลกำไร
: 83
: 8 October 2025
24 October 2025
Supervised by: Eknarin Ariyavongvivat
Duration: 1 November 2025 – 15 March 2026
Budget: 500,000 THB
1. Background of consultancy assignment
Dugong (Dugong dugon), a globally vulnerable marine mammal, relies exclusively on seagrass meadows as its main food source. Thailand, especially the Andaman Sea, hosts one of the most significant dugong populations in the region. However, widespread degradation of seagrass ecosystems—driven by sedimentation, coastal development, pollution, climate change, and fishing pressure—has severely reduced dugong habitat, resulting in increased mortality and population decline.
National surveys and recent assessments highlight an alarming trend: dugong strandings and deaths, largely linked to food shortages caused by seagrass loss, have increased in recent years. At the same time, seagrass beds in key areas such as Trang Province have been degraded by sedimentation, habitat conversion, and overgrazing by marine herbivores. This ecological crisis underscores the urgent need for updated, community-informed data to guide conservation action.
The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) has adopted a National Dugong Conservation Plan and national seagrass conservation strategies, which emphasize the importance of strengthening knowledge and local participation in protecting dugong habitats. To support these national efforts, WWF Thailand is commissioning a community-based dugong and seagrass survey across 100 coastal communities in the Andaman provinces. The survey will combine local ecological knowledge (LEK) with field validation to provide baseline information on dugong presence, seagrass distribution and status, threats, and community perceptions.
The findings will not only contribute to DMCR’s national conservation planning but also help shape evidence-based measures and foster stronger community participation in dugong and seagrass protection.
2. Objective of the consultancy
The consultant will:
3. Scope of work/ Major responsibility
The consultant shall:
3.1 Review and adapt the standard questionnaire and field handbook for local application.
3.2 Conduct a training workshop (approx. 20 enumerators) to ensure consistent use of survey tools, ethical considerations, and field safety protocols.
3.3 Coordinate with local authorities and communities to identify and confirm 100 target communities (from a longlist of 147 communities).
3.4 Implement community-level data collection through at least 10 interviews per community (balanced gender representation) using standardized questionnaires.
3.5 Compile and analyze survey data, including mapping dugong sightings, seagrass beds, threats, and local conservation practices.
3.6 Facilitate validation workshops at provincial and regional levels to cross-check data with community representatives and stakeholders. WWF will cover the cost on the Provincial & Andaman-wide validation workshops.
3.7 Draft and finalize the Survey Report (community, provincial, and Andaman summaries) including:
4. Activities and deliverables
|
No |
Activity |
Deliverable |
Timeframe |
|
1 |
Inception and consultation with WWF |
- Inception report (plan, methodology, tools) |
Within 2 weeks after contract signing |
|
2 |
Training of enumerators (approx. 20 persons) |
- Training curriculum & report |
Month 1 |
|
3 |
Community selection and coordination |
- Confirmed list of 100 communities |
Month 1 |
|
4 |
Field data collection (100 communities, 1,000 respondents) |
- Raw datasets & field notes |
Month 1–2 |
|
5 |
Data entry, cleaning, and analysis |
- Community-level profiles & georeferenced maps |
Month 2–3 |
|
6 |
Provincial & Andaman-wide validation workshops |
- Workshop reports |
Month 3 |
|
7 |
Final reporting |
- Draft and Final Survey Report (English & Thai) with recommendations |
By 15 March 2026 |
5. Required Profile
The consultant/team must have:
6. Budget
The total consultancy budget is 500,000 THB (five hundred thousand baht), inclusive of professional fees, field travel, accommodation, workshops, and reporting. WWF will cover the cost on the Provincial & Andaman-wide validation workshops. Payment will be disbursed in three tranches:
7. Duration
The consultancy shall commence upon contract signing and must be completed by 15 March 2025.
Deadline for submission: 24 October 2025
Submission contract: Proposals should be submitted in Thai or English language by email to: eknarina@wwf.or.th
Questions regarding the assignment can be addressed to Mr. Eknarin Ariyavongvivat, WWF Thailand, under the same email.
