Fishery Officer - FAO

The Regional Office for Africa (RAF) is responsible for leading FAO’s response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO’s priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and, in collaboration with departments and divisions at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO’s strategic response to regional priorities. RAF also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities in the Organization’s Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. RAF develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs). The Regional Office supports regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region.
The European Commission is funding the project entitled PESCAO for Improved Regional Fisheries Governance in Western Africa. The project’s headquarters are based at RAF in Ghana, which is also the seat of the Secretariat of the Fishery Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea, an important stakeholder in the project and responsible for fisheries management advice in the Gulf of Guinea. The project has a close collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Secretariat in Abuja, Nigeria.

Reporting Lines

The Fishery Officer reports to the Senior Fishery Officer in consultation with the Lead Technical Officer (LTO).

Technical Focus

Implementation of policies and programmes of work aimed at maximizing the positive impacts of fisheries on countries’ economic, social and environmental priorities, including food security and nutrition, and that are in line with FAO’s common vision on sustainable food and agriculture, FAO’s Strategic Objectives, the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and associated technical guidelines in order to achieve improved regional fisheries governance in Western Africa.

Key Results

Research, technical analysis, and project related services to support the delivery of programme projects, products and services.

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Key Functions

• Researches and analyses technical, social, economic, environmental, institutional and technology related information, data and statistics and/or related policy issues to support the delivery of programme projects, products and services;
• Produces a variety of technical information, data, statistics and reports as well as input for technical documents and web pages;
• Provides technical support/analysis to various assessments, studies and initiatives and provides technical backstopping to field projects;
• Collaborates in the development of improved/updated tools, systems, processes and databases;
• Participates in multidisciplinary teams, and/or leads working groups/teams, collaborates with other departments and agencies on work groups and committees and promotes best practices;
• Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development activities within member countries such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials, online tools;
• Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at international meetings and conferences and influences partners in stakeholder consultations;
• Supports resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate Strategy.

Specific Functions

• Provides scientific and technical advice and backstopping to the project team;
• Reviews the needs analysis of participating countries, initially undertaken during the design phase to identify priority themes to be addressed;
• Contributes to the development of terms of reference, letters of agreement, work plans where applicable;
• Provides technical inputs to the preparation of regional workshops, training materials and publications;
• Prepares progress and final mission/terminal reports to the Project Coordination Unit and Project Steering Committee based on close consultations with all relevant partners;

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in economics, fisheries economics or marine affairs with specialization in fisheries management and/or governance or a field related to fisheries socio-economics;
• Five years of relevant experience in fisheries or aquaculture governance and/or fisheries or aquaculture management and policy including related project experience in various countries;
• Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese and Russian.

Competencies

• Results Focus
• Team Work
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable;
• Extent and relevance of experience and knowledge in planning and supervising work related to fisheries governance;
• Extent and relevance of experience in providing technical advice on fisheries management;
• Depth of familiarity with fisheries sector in developing countries (in particular in Africa), and experience with national fisheries departments;
• Extent and relevance of experience in the analysis and formulation of management measures for sustainability improvement in the fisheries sector;
• Demonstrated ability to analyse complex fisheries exploitation issues from a sustainability point of view;
• Working knowledge of English and French is considered a strong asset.