Expression of Interest for Pre-Feasibility Assessment for Commercial Mariculture Development in Yemen Objective of the Assignment The objective of this assignment is to conduct a pre-feasibility assessment of mariculture development in Yemen in order to determine whether the country possesses the environmental, technical, logistical, and commercial conditions required to support potential private sector investment in mariculture. The assessment aims to determine: Whether Yemens coastal waters, together with the development of onshore mariculture systems, can support commercially viable, private-sector-led mariculture operations at scale. Official Use Only Whether the infrastructure, logistics, and production inputs required for commercial mariculture operations are available or can realistically be developed under current operating conditions. Assessing whether mariculture production in Yemen can compete on supply reliability, price, quality, and economic viability in domestic and regional seafood markets, particularly in GCC export markets. The findings will inform a go/no-go decision on whether Yemen presents a credible opportunity for private-sector-led mariculture development and whether to proceed to a full investment-grade feasibility study. C. Geographic Scope The assessment will focus exclusively on coastal areas, including estuaries, under the control of the internationally recognized Government of Yemen, including sections of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden coastlines. Activities may include desk-based technical and market analysis, GIS-based spatial screening of coastal areas, consultations with relevant stakeholders, and limited field verification where security conditions permit. Areas outside government control will be excluded from the study. D. Scope of Work I. Mariculture Sector Context and Competitiveness: Provide a high-level assessment of Yemens potential position within the regional mariculture industry including environmental conditions, geographic proximity to market accessibility, and potential competitive advantages and constraints. II. Coastal Resource and Site Screening: Conduct preliminary assessment of Yemens coastal resources including water temperature, salinity, hydrodynamics, and bathymetry. Use GIS screening to identify coastal areas potentially suitable for mariculture development. III. Species and Production System Assessment: Identify marine species and farming systems suitable for mariculture development in Yemen. Assess the suitability of seaweed and mariculture species such as tilapia, shrimp, barramundi, cobia, grouper, and snapper under Yemens conditions. IV. Market Demand and Trade Opportunities: Assess domestic seafood consumption, import substitution opportunities, export market potential (particularly GCC), and price benchmarks for candidate species. V. Input Supply Chains and Production Requirements: Assess broodstock availability, hatchery and fingerling supply options, feed ingredients including use of byproducts of fishing industry, live feed requirements, feed supply, freshwater availability for hatchery and processing operations, mariculture equipment availability, and access to technical services. The assessment should clearly distinguish between inputs that would need to be imported and those that could be sourced or produced locally. Official Use Only VI. Infrastructure and Logistics Assessment: Evaluate potential sites for port infrastructure, cold chain and seafood processing capacity, transportation networks, and electricity and water supply availability, with an assessment of mediumterm rehabilitation needs of existing infrastructure and longterm infrastructure investments required to support sector growth, resilience, and private sector participation. VII. Fish Health and Biosecurity: Screening of availability of veterinary services, main disease risks according to recommended species and disease surveillance systems. VIII. Environmental and Social Risk Screening: Conduct high-level screening of marine ecosystems, fisheries interactions, environmental risks, and social impacts on coastal communities. IX. Production Economics and Financial Assessment: Develop indicative production models including capital expenditure, operating costs, economy of scale required to be competitive, yield assumptions, key cost drivers, and basic scenario analysis. X. Regulatory and Institutional Framework: Review licensing frameworks, environmental permitting processes, investment regulations, and institutional responsibilities relevant to mariculture development. XI. Private Sector Interest Assessment: Conduct a preliminary assessment of potential private sector interest in mariculture development in Yemen, including identification of relevant investor and operator profiles, limited consultations with industry stakeholders where feasible, and identification of key barriers affecting private sector participation. E. Methodology The assignment will follow a structured prefeasibility approach combining technical, market, and financial analysis to assess the potential for commercial mariculture development in Yemen. The methodology should include: Desk-based technical and market analysis, including review of existing studies and sector data, including relevant methodological insights from the Djibouti Mariculture Prefeasibility Study where applicable. GIS-based spatial screening of Yemens coastal zones to assess environmental suitability for mariculture development, including analysis of bathymetry, hydrodynamic conditions, proximity to infrastructure, and environmental constraints. Stakeholder consultations with relevant government authorities, private sector actors, fisheries stakeholders, and sector experts to validate technical assumptions, operational constraints, and potential investment barriers. Targeted field verification, where security conditions permit, to assess coastal site conditions, infrastructure availability, and logistical feasibility. Economic and financial analysis, including development of indicative production models and scenario-based assessment of commercial viability. F. Deliverables Official Use Only a) Inception Report: The inception report will be submitted shortly after contract signature and will confirm the consultants understanding of the assignment and the proposed approach to implementation. The report should include: Detailed methodology: A clear description of the analytical approach the consultant will apply to carry out the study, including environmental screening, site assessment, market analysis, and economic modelling. Work plan and timeline: A detailed implementation schedule outlining key activities, milestones, and responsibilities throughout the duration of the assignment. Data collection approach: A description of the datasets, information sources, and stakeholder consultations that will be used to support the analysis, including technical, environmental, infrastructure, and market data. The inception report will be reviewed by IFC prior to commencement of the main analytical work. b) Technical Assessment Report: This report will present the results of the technical screening and sector assessment components of the study. The report should include: Coastal resource and site screening results. Assessment of candidate species and production systems suitable for Yemen. Preliminary evaluation of infrastructure, logistics, and input supply chains required for commercial mariculture operations. c) Market and Economic Assessment Report: This report will present the commercial and economic analysis undertaken as part of the study. The report should include: Assessment of domestic seafood demand and potential export opportunities. Price benchmarks for candidate species and relevant market trends. Indicative production economics, including key cost drivers and scenario analysis. Preliminary assessment of potential private sector interest in mariculture development in Yemen, including identification of relevant investor profiles and key barriers affecting private sector participation. d) Final Pre-Feasibility Report The final report will integrate findings from all analytical components of the assignment and provide a consolidated assessment of the potential for mariculture development in Yemen. The report should include: Integrated analysis of environmental, technical, market, and regulatory conditions. Official Use Only Assessment of commercial viability, private sector investment potential, and key operational risks. Identification of major constraints affecting potential sector development. A recommendation on whether Yemen should proceed to a full investment-grade feasibility study. The final deliverable should be complemented by an executive summary and an appendix detailing (i) the stakeholders consulted, (ii) any data collected, and (iii) references of external documents used. Deliverables must be written in English and the final deliverable must be written in English with an executive summary in English. The deliverables shall be approved by the IFC team in line with the acceptance criteria to be considered completed and payment made. The consultant is solely responsible for the quality and timely completion of all tasks and deliverables defined by these Terms of Reference. On a bi-weekly basis, the Firm will report on the progress of the study, in the form of a note describing activities achieved, activities pending, and possible challenges faced during the elapsed time period. The consultant must be available to answer questions that arise within one month after deliverables are provided with regards to data collection and observations. The consultant may be required to make presentations at workshops/conferences organized by the World Bank Group. IFC will require up to seven business days to review any draft mater Tender Link : https://wbgeprocure-rfxnow.worldbank.org/rfxnow/public/advertisement/6833/view.html
