National Project Coordinator, NPC (Fisheries Specialist)

FAO Bangladesh assists the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh (GoB) to formulate policies, programmes and projects to address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition, develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and utilize environmental and natural resources in a sustainable way. It contributes to the development of FAO’s field programme projects in the country and implements them in the sectors of food security, agriculture and rural development.

The Department of Fisheries (DoF) and the FAO Bangladesh is going to implement a Global Environmental Facility’s (GEFs) least developed countries fund (LDCF) project entitled, Community-based Climate Resilient Fisheries and Aquaculture Development in Bangladesh (GCP/BGD/055/LDF). The Project will attempt to remove key barriers to effective adaptation to climate change in the fishery and aquaculture sector by integrating climate resilience in its policy reform and enhance resiliency of the fishery sector through capacity development of the fishery officials and the communities depending on fisheries.

The poor and smallholders in the project areas will benefit from project interventions both socially and financially, including capacity development to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and variability. The coastal and inland aquatic ecosystems of this project (covering an area of about 4,790 km2) will be under climate resilient plans and management practices. The long-term sustainability of the project will be promoted by adoption of strategy that promotes up scaling and replication of climate resilient adaptations across Bangladesh, and capacity strengthening of DoFs, partner organizations and local communities on climate change implications and resilient adaptation options.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall managerial, administrative leadership of the FAO Representative in Bangladesh and Budget Holder of the project, technical supervision of LTO and direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme), National Operations Officer, the incumbent will be responsible for leading the national team and overall coordination and activities leading to the implementation of the project activities.

The Project will address contradictions and gaps in the policy framework with the view to harmonize aquaculture and fisheries related issues, and enhance resilience of the sub-sector through national capacity development and incorporation of adaptation priorities to cope with climate change. It will strengthen awareness and knowledge of local fishers and fish farmer’s communities, and enhance local adaptive capacity through transfer and adoption of appropriate site-specific climate resilient fisheries and aquaculture intervention technologies and approaches, which will be underpinned by effective knowledge management (e.g. use of ICT-based climate and disaster information services) ensuring wider dissemination of best practices and lessons learned.

• Advice and support the FAOR and the International Team Leader as a fisheries technical expert to ensure smooth implementation progress of the programme;
• Assume general oversight and management responsibilities for the implementation of the Project as well as lead the PMTSU at FAO; ensure all PMTSU staff and all consultants fully understand their role and their tasks, and support them in their work;
• Be responsible to the Project Steering Committee (PSC) and will develop and maintain close liaison with PIU at DoF, MoFL and other government ministries/agencies, FAO-GEF, NGOs, civil society, international organizations, stakeholders and implementing partners of the project to maximize Government engagement and ownership in all programme related issues and activities to ensure fast programme delivery, and sustainability of programme outputs;
• Implement the decisions of the PSC and seek for the best issues for further development of the project;
• Design consultation and dissemination process for the full project phase; lead the organization in stakeholder consultations and interactions;
• Oversee day-to-day implementation of the project in line with the work plans ensuring resources are employed efficiently and effectively; assure quality of project activities and project outputs; monitor and supervise the work of the consultants as far as possible, ensure timely and responsive delivery of contracted outputs; supervise and lead the project team in discharging their duties at optimum level;
• Support the international and national experts in achieving their scheduled tasks including monitoring and evaluation aspects;
• Assist in finalizing ToRs for all national/ international experts, identify profiles and qualifications of the candidates, participate in the process of selecting & fielding international and national consultants to work on the programme;
• Prepare Annual Work Plan in consultation with the PD and national team, participate in the PSC meetings and articulate programme issues and progress, get approval of AWP through consultation and PSC; identify consultants to undertake national level assignments in accordance with the approved AWP;
• Provide assistance and support, to international staffs/ consultants/ missions visiting or engaged in assignments of the project, including preparing itineraries, appointments and assisting with travel and other logistical arrangements;
• Organize regular planning and communication events, starting with inception mission and inception workshop;
• In consultation with the FAO management, DoF and other stakes determine dates, agendas, budgets and participation of Monthly meetings, workshops/ Seminars/ Consultation Meetings, etc., and upon approval organize and facilitate those; compile minutes, synthesize and prepare materials for consideration by the PMU;
• Act as key person to get all Reports prepared by the respective consultants/ persons; edit progress reports and all monitoring, technical, and implementation reports.
• Act as the Chief Editor of the Training Manual formulation & publication Committee;
• Assist in developing overall plans for training/ capacity building programmes under each component of the programme and reviewing and finalization of project’s total Results-based Work plan;
• Ensure adequate communication of national activities to all stakeholders, including government, private sector and NGOs; invite and encourage the participation of non-co-financing stakeholders, particularly local groups, in national activities and consultations when appropriate.
• Represent the project in relevant meetings and conferences seeking to facilitate coordination and integration where appropriate beneficial to the achievement of the Project’s objectives;
• Establish working relations with appropriate national and regional agencies and groups to ensure effective implementation of project supported activities at the national and regional level;
• Oversee preparation and implementation of M&E framework, preparation and implementation of Project communication and knowledge management frameworks;
• Liaise with government agencies and regularly advocate on behalf of the Project; Coordinate project interventions with other ongoing activities, especially those of co-financers and other GEF projects; Regularly promote the project, its outputs and findings on a national, and where appropriate, regional stage.
• Submit an End of Assignment (EoA) Report comprising all aspects as mentioned above at the end of the assignment.
• Undertake any other responsibility as may be assigned by the PSC/ government authority/ FAO.

• M. Sc. in Fisheries Science/ Natural resources management/ Environmental Science; preferably a PhD. or equivalent in Fisheries Science;
• 15 years of experience in fisheries sector with wide ideas of inland and coastal/ marine fisheries, aquaculture, fisheries and environment related policies, strategies and acts, international/regional conventions, treaties, plan of actions and strategies will be preferred;
• Have a record of accomplishment of publications (book, book chapters, peer-reviewed scientific papers, Proceedings, technical reports and articles, etc.) on fisheries, wetlands, climate change, and environmental impacts reflecting compiling, reasoning and writing skills;
• Adopt new ideas and commitment to participatory and bottom-up approaches; Demonstrated ability to communicate, including advocating to government agencies and ability to manage, including project management, office management;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and well computer literate.
• National of Bangladesh.

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Demonstrated ability and proven capacity to lead a multidisciplinary fisheries team and establish working relationships with medium to high-level government and non-government representatives;
• Proven capacity in editing and preparing technical and financial reports, training manuals, extension materials of fisheries project;
• Ability to work under pressure and to assist the project team with any urgent services.
• Adaptable to multicultural and multidisciplinary team of experts and willing to undertake intensive field works in the coastal/wetland areas of Bangladesh.