National Post-harvest Tuna Processing Technician

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands (FAO SAP), operating under the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP), supports Pacific Island Countries in developing and implementing programmes and projects related to sustainable agriculture, fisheries, food security, nutrition, natural resources management and resilient rural and coastal livelihoods.
The Resilient Islands, Resilient Communities Project – GCP/KIR/009/GFF, financed by the Global Environment Facility, supports biodiversity conservation, sustainable land and natural resources management, and the development of resilient and sustainable livelihoods in Kiribati.
The project contributes to the development of complementary livelihood opportunities linked to the sustainable use of island resources and supports relevant objectives of Kiribati’s national fisheries policies, particularly those related to food security, employment and sustainable livelihoods.
The assignment will also build on activities implemented under the Sustainable Fish Value Chains for Small Island Developing States initiative, particularly the work undertaken with the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources to strengthen the tuna value chain in Kiribati.
Under this assignment, the National Post-harvest Tuna Processing Technician will provide day-to-day technical, coordination and operational support for post-harvest tuna processing and value-chain activities in Tarawa, Makin and Nikunau. The Technician will support training, food-safety practices, development and marketing of value-added tuna products, completion and operation of tuna micro-canning facilities, and livelihood activities involving women, youth, fish vendors and community groups.
The Technician will also support coordination with the Coastal Fisheries Division, local communities, project personnel and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that planned activities are implemented in a timely and practical manner.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Subregional Coordinator for the Pacific Islands and the direct supervision of the SAP Programme Officer, the National Post-harvest Tuna Processing Technician will perform the tasks outlined below.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day technical and implementation support for post-harvest tuna processing and value-chain activities under GCP/KIR/009/GFF.
• Support the Coastal Fisheries Division and project team in identifying, developing and implementing safe and sustainable livelihood opportunities linked to the tuna value chain.
• Support activities aimed at improving fish hygiene, food safety, handling, storage, processing and marketing of tuna and tuna products.
• Assist with the introduction and use of fish-hygiene trolleys for roadside fish vendors and support the promotion of products such as sliced tuna, tuna loins, sashimi-grade cuts and lower-cost tuna offcuts.
• Support completion of training activities involving the Retort Gas Analyzer at the Ecofarm facility in Temaiku.
• Assist the Coastal Fisheries Division with the completion, commissioning, operation and sustainability of the tuna micro-canning centres in Makin and Nikunau.
• Support coordination of equipment, supplies, procurement, logistics, training arrangements and other operational requirements necessary for the effective functioning of the micro-canning centres.
• Provide practical support in the use of portable fish-smoking and tuna-cooking equipment and assist with the production and promotion of value-added products such as smoked tuna, tuna sausages, tuna samosas, tuna burgers and other locally appropriate products.
• Support the development, testing, production, packaging and marketing of value-added tuna products from facilities in Tarawa, Makin and Nikunau.
• Provide day-to-day practical guidance to project participants and government personnel on processing techniques, equipment use, food safety, hygiene, quality control, storage and handling requirements.
• Support the planning and delivery of technical training activities for Coastal Fisheries Division personnel, women’s groups, youth groups, fish vendors, small businesses and other project beneficiaries.
• Coordinate local arrangements for trainings, workshops, meetings, demonstrations and other project events, including venues, transportation, accommodation, catering, equipment and participant communication.
• Support the preparation of training materials, participant lists, activity schedules, attendance records, consultation notes and training reports.
• Support women’s and youth participation in the tuna value chain, including through engagement with fish vendors, processors, small enterprises and community groups.
• Assist interested women’s and youth groups in formalizing common-interest groups or other appropriate community or business arrangements.
• Support financial-literacy and basic business-management activities for project-supported groups, in coordination with relevant technical experts and partners.
• Provide targeted technical support to selected women’s groups and youth groups engaged in tuna processing and marketing activities.
• Assist the Senior Aquatic Value Chain Expert and relevant project personnel in collecting information and providing practical inputs for business plans and sustainability arrangements for the Ecofarm and other supported facilities.
• Liaise regularly with the Coastal Fisheries Division, project personnel, local authorities, community representatives, suppliers and service providers to ensure timely implementation of activities.
• Provide operational and administrative support to project implementation, including follow-up on procurement, logistics, travel, workshops, training activities and delivery of supplies and equipment.
• Monitor progress against agreed workplans and promptly inform the supervisor and project team of implementation delays, equipment problems, food-safety concerns or other risks.
• Support field visits and project missions to Tarawa, Makin, Nikunau and other project locations, as required.
• Collect and compile information, photographs, participant feedback and practical examples for project reporting, communication and knowledge-management purposes.
• Contribute to project progress reports, activity reports, terminal reports, mission reports and other relevant documentation.
• Prepare monthly progress reports summarizing activities undertaken, results achieved, challenges, follow-up actions and planned activities.
• Prepare an end-of-assignment report summarizing results, lessons learned, pending activities and recommendations for the continued operation and sustainability of supported tuna-processing initiatives.
• Perform any other related duties required for the effective implementation of the project.

FAO Standards and guidelines:

• Liaison with OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, aligned messaging, and appropriate review and clearance processes.
• All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:
FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en
FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia
Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044en
FAOSTYLE https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081en
FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm
FAO Names of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en
Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff).
• Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Completion of technical or vocational training in fisheries, fish processing, food processing, food safety, agriculture, mechanics, business development or another relevant field would be an advantage.
• At least three years of relevant practical experience in one or more of the following areas: fish handling, fish processing, food production, food safety, fisheries value-chain development, community livelihoods, technical training, small-business support or project implementation.
o Practical experience working with fish-processing equipment, food-production facilities, small-scale processing businesses, fish vendors or community livelihood activities would be an advantage.
• Working knowledge of English.
• Knowledge of the Kiribati language is required.
• The candidate must be a national of Kiribati

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Practical knowledge of post-harvest fish handling, processing, preservation and storage.
• Understanding of basic food-safety, sanitation, hygiene and quality-control requirements for fish and seafood products.
• Ability to operate, maintain or support the use of small-scale fish-processing equipment.
• Experience in the preparation of value-added fish products such as smoked fish, cooked fish products, sausages, burgers, samosas, canned products or similar products would be an advantage.
• Experience supporting technical demonstrations, practical training, community workshops or capacity-building activities.
• Ability to explain technical processes clearly to government staff, fish vendors, women’s groups, youth groups and community participants.
• Ability to coordinate local logistics, equipment, transport, training arrangements and project activities.
• Basic administrative, record-keeping and reporting skills.
• Ability to prepare clear activity summaries and monthly progress reports in English.
• Ability to identify practical implementation problems and propose appropriate solutions.
• Ability to work effectively with government counterparts, project personnel, community groups, women, youth and private-sector stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, tact and ability to maintain effective working relationships.
• Experience working with the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, the Coastal Fisheries Division or fisheries-related programmes in Kiribati would be an advantage.
• Familiarity with the fisheries sector, tuna value chains, fish marketing and community livelihoods in Kiribati would be an advantage.
• Experience supporting women’s and youth economic empowerment or small community enterprises would be an advantage.
• Ability to work independently, organize competing tasks and meet agreed deadlines.
• Ability and willingness to travel within Kiribati, including to Makin, Nikunau and other project islands, as required.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION