Fisheries Officer (Fisheries Management)

The Fisheries Division (NFI) is responsible for FAO's activities related to the management and conservation of the living aquatic resources used by fisheries and aquaculture, including the biodiversity and ecosystem maintenance, with particular emphasis on most vulnerable and threatened species and habitats; management of responsible fisheries and aquaculture in accordance with modern management standards and best practices; development of fisheries technology, with due regard to the protection of the environment, food security and the well-being of fishing communities, including the safety of fishers and fishing vessels.

The Marine and Inland Fisheries Branch (NFIF) of NFI executes the EAF-Nansen Programme. The EAF-Nansen Programme 'Support to the implementation of the ecosystem approach to fisheries management considering climate and pollution impacts' became operational in May 2017 with the overall objective\: 'Sustainable fisheries improve food and nutrition security for people in partner countries'. The Programme runs for an initial five-year period and supports 30 countries in Africa and 5 countries in the Bay of Bengal To achieve its objective, the Programme works toward three outcomes. Outcome 1\: Fishery research institutions provide relevant and timely scientific advice for management. Outcome 2\: Fisheries management institutions manage fisheries according to the EAF principles. Outcome 3\: Fisheries research and management institutions have appropriate human and organizational capacity to manage fisheries sustainably.The Fisheries Officer (Fisheries management) will mainly provide technical assistance to support the implementation activities related to fisheries management under all 3 outcomes.

The post is located in the Marine and Inland Fisheries Branch of the Marine and Inland Fisheries Branch, specifically at the Programme Coordination Unit of the EAF-Nansen Programme, based in Rome, and involves frequent travels.

The Fisheries Officer (Fisheries Management) reports to the Senior Fisheries Officer, EAF-Nansen Programme Coordinator under the overall guidance of the Senior Fishery Officer, Project Budget Holder and Head, the Marine and Inland Fisheries Branch.

Fisheries Management, Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries.

Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support the planning, development and implementation of Departmental/Division programmes, projects, products and services in accordance with Departmental/Division objectives and FAO’s Strategic Objectives.

• Plans and leads components of multi-disciplinary teams, leads and/or participates on Organization-wide, cross-departmental committees, project teams, and working groups and/or provides specialized expertise on technical networks and/or international technical policy and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies;

• Develops technical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks, and related methodologies, tools, systems and databases etc. to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of programmes of work, projects, products and/or services;

• Designs and conducts research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovative approaches and strategies, new tools, technologies, technical reports/publications, and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical/policy/ specialist/advice and expertise;

• Responds to country requests for technical and policy assistance, provides technical advice, assistance and solutions to decentralized offices and provides technical backstopping to field projects;

• Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality / effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within member countries such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials, online tools;

• Promotes international cooperation/advocates best practices, increased policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international/intergovernmental meetings;

• Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO’s Corporate strategy.

• Provides technical and coordination assistance to the implementation of activities related to fisheries management under all outcomes, including the field projects, and fisheries management related capacity development activities under Outcome 3 including on the ecosystem approach to fisheries;

• Supports the preparation, coordination and implementation of the fisheries management-related activities of the Programme, working closely with FAO and Programme staff, national Focal Points and other national and regional partners;

• Leads reviews of existing fisheries management systems, including institutional aspects and consultative processes, in selected participating countries and regions;

• Contributes, in close collaboration with other FAO and Programme staff, and national and regional entities, to the identification, preparation and implementation of national and regional projects on fisheries management and the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries,

• Coordinates, in close collaboration with other Project and FAO staff, the preparation, execution and reporting of the activities on his/her area of expertise, and provides technical support to national and regional partners for their implementation, ensuring timely conduct and delivery of agreed tasks;

• Oversees, leads or executes the preparation of technical reports, briefs, case studies and technical papers as well as progress reports on his/her area of expertise, and contributes to the preparation of annual work plans, the six-monthly progress reports and Terminal Report of the Programme and communication briefs;

• Liaises with other team members and national and regional partners to ensure harmonized approaches between the different activities and other projects;

• Organizes and provides technical inputs to science-management/policy discussions, and leads the production of the corresponding reports, in selected countries and regions, as identified in the work plan;

• Provides technical support to the implementation and reporting on the EAF-Implementation Monitoring Tool, the Practical Tool for legislating for EAF and other similar management-related tools, and supports national and regional trainings on the tools in partner countries;

• Organizes, leads and supports the development and delivery of activities for developing the capacity of partner fisheries institutions for fisheries management;

• Supports the development and delivery of training courses and training materials on fisheries management and shared stocks, and organizes and contributes to the conduct of regional or national training initiatives;

• Contributes to the identification of, and provides technical supervision and assistance to consultants on fisheries management-related tasks, and ensures the follow up of the outcomes/recommendations with participating countries, in particular as regards their incorporation into fisheries management processes;

• Supports the Programme coordinator to ensure that technical activities implemented within the Programme are consistent with the Programme Results Framework indicators and results-based management target.

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• Advanced University degree in fisheries, fisheries management, marine affairs, natural resource management, economics, public management or maritime law, or related fields;

• Seven years of relevant experience in fisheries management, governance and/or policy

• Working knowledge of English or French (level C), and limited knowledge of the other (level B).

• Results Focus

• Teamwork

• Communication

• Building effective relationships

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable;

• Extent and relevance of experience in or knowledge of the analysis of fisheries data and information for fisheries management and policy advice;

• Extent and relevance of experience in or knowledge of fisheries management, including the ecosystem approach to fisheries, the development and implementation of fisheries management plans, the fisheries management cycle and application of participatory approaches;

• Extent and relevance of experience in fisheries management at national, regional and/or international level including experience in developing countries and in particular in Africa;

• Extent and relevance of experience in providing technical support and advice on fisheries management to national, regional or global fisheries management and research institutions;

• Demonstrated ability in the preparation, editing, and revision of technical documents and presentation, speeches, reports in English and French;

• Working knowledge of both English and French is a strong asset.