Fisheries Specialist and Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) Project Coordinator

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FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

Qualified female applicants are encouraged to apply.

People with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

For more than four decades, FAO has been working with the Government of the Philippines, civil society, community-based organizations and the private sector to address challenges in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector. Joint efforts have included increasing sustainability in agricultural production, promoting value-adding practices, improving post-harvest management, enhancing productivity and increasing the resilience of agriculture-based livelihoods to natural disasters, climatic hazards and armed conflict.

The Fisheries Specialist and SSF Project Coordinator will be under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative ad interim, supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme), day to day guidance of the Food Security and Nutrition Specialist, and collaboration with other FAO staff and consultants as required.

In 2014, the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) endorsed the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) and FAO now provides support to their implementation through a Fisheries and Aquaculture Department (FIAP) based SSF Umbrella Programme including the global project “Creating an enabling environment for securing sustainable small-scale fisheries (GCP/GLO/965/SWE)”. The project consists of four interlinked components\: i) Raising awareness\: Knowledge products and outreach, ii) Strengthening the science-policy interface\: sharing of knowledge and supporting policy reform; iii) Empowering stakeholders\: capacity development and institutional strengthening; and iv) Supporting implementation\: collaboration, monitoring and project management. As part of its activities at the national level, the project supports ten countries - among which the Philippines is one – to use participatory approaches to plan and implement priority activities within the framework of the SSF Guidelines.

Tasks and responsibilities

To start an SSF Guidelines process in the Philippines, a first step is to prepare a framework for this process, create awareness on the SSF Guidelines and carry out key training elements. The Fisheries Project and SSF Project Coordinator will be recruited to carry out a project covering these tasks.

The Fisheries Specialist and SSF Project Coordinator will take the lead in designing a framework for the implementation of the SSF Guidelines. The consultant will advocate for its inclusion in the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ (BFAR) Comprehensive National Fisheries Industry and Development Plan (CNFIDP) and use as reference the existing draft guidance material. (to be provided by FAO separately). More specifically, the incumbent will carry out the following tasks\:

1. Prepare a detailed work plan to implement the project;

2. Coordinate and liaise closely with national and regional offices of BFAR, relevant government agencies, development partners, NGOs, and other stakeholders on the project activities identified jointly by FAO and BFAR;

3. Coordinate with other projects being implemented by FAO to ensure synergies and broader impact;

4. Identify other projects and initiatives on small-scale fisheries that may be relevant to this project and collaborate with them, as appropriate;

5. Design and carry out a process for mapping existing small-scale fisheries organizations and identifying their capacities as organized groups to advocate for the SSF Guidelines;

6. Design the baseline assessment in coordination with FSN Specialist on small-scale fisheries and their contribution to food security and nutrition status which will be carried out by a Service Provider;

7. In coordination with the FSN Specialist, design the Inception Workshop, trainings and other capacity development activities (as foreseen in the project document), stakeholder consultations relevant to target groups such as the local officials and fisherfolks, and carry this out;

8. In coordination with the Parliamentarian Specialist, provide inputs into the review of the SSF Guidelines and how this will complement the existing Fisheries Code and other relevant policies;

9. In coordination with the FAOPH Programme Unit, take the lead in terms of designing the specific activities in a participatory process consulting small-scale fisheries representatives that will incorporate the SSF guidelines relevant to good governance, social protection, disaster risk reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, Food Security and Nutrition;

10. Design the project interventions for the fisherfolks as well as the Sustainability Plan based on the available resources of the LGUs or how these interventions can be institutionalized;

11. Document all the activities undertaken and provide recommendations in the form of a SSF Guidelines implementation framework including proposed activities and a monitoring and evaluation plan;

12. Develop a concept note and project document for possible funding for implementing the proposed activities and that will complement or scale-up the SSF guidelines activities already implemented though this project;

13. Participate, on behalf of FAO, in relevant meetings and activities organized by other partners in relation to thematic areas related to FAO mandate, such as fisheries and food security, among others;

14. Perform any other tasks needed for effective implementation of this project as appropriate;

15. Prepare and submit an end of assignment report.

16. Perform other tasks that may be assigned by the FAO Representative and the FSN Specialist.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

• University Degree in Fisheries or other fields related to fisheries.

• At least nine (9) years of relevant experience in managing similar projects and familiarity with Government’s initiatives and laws or policies on fisheries

• Working knowledge (Level C) of English

• A National of the Philippines