Liaison and Meetings Officer (Fisheries and Aquaculture)

1A041A04

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Organizational Setting
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) is responsible for the economic, social, institutional, governance and policy aspects of FAO's activities related to fisheries and aquaculture and their development, with particular emphasis on human well-being, food security and poverty reduction; post-harvest utilization, marketing and trade with due regard to the protection of the environment, food security and the well-being of fishing communities; collection, compilation, validation, trend analysis and dissemination of the best available and up-to-date fishery statistics and for the syndication of the FAO information on all aspects of world fisheries and aquaculture. The Division is also 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 position is located in the Divisional Support and Project Cycle Unit (DSPCU) within the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines
The Liaison and Meetings Officer (Fisheries and Aquaculture) reports to a Senior Fishery Officer under the overall guidance of the Director and Deputy Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) and the Secretary of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI).

Technical Focus
The Liaison and Meetings Officer (Fisheries and Aquaculture) provides planning, implementation and logistical coordination of events, meetings and other related activities that are organized or co-organized by the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, including liaison with FAO conferences services and national representations to FAO.

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

Key Functions
• Provide organizational and operational support to the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) and Sub-Committees meetings, including meeting of their Bureau and others as required.
• Provide organizational and operational support to prepare and maintain a calendar of NFI meetings, including ensuring proper clearance procedures are completed.
• Maintain a calendar of external events of interest to NFI and provide support to DSPCU team in their engagement with these, as required.

Specific Functions
• Work directly with the Secretary of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI), and the Secretaries of the COFI Sub-Committees, on all the organizational, logistical and protocol aspects of their sessions.
• Provide advice on the rules of procedure and provide organizational support to hybrid meetings of the COFI and Sub-Committees’ Bureau, as well as other related COFI meetings.
• In coordination with the NFI leadership, develop a logistics and protocol plan to carry out high level events under the auspices of the division.
• Contribute, and in some cases lead, reports and outcomes documents of the COFI, in coordination with the Secretary.
• Maintain and manage the NFI meetings E-hub workspace.
• Maintain and manage the NFI digital meetings calendar application, liaising with meeting organizers in the NFI teams, and managing the process of clearance as appropriate, in coordination with the NFI front office.
• Prepare and issue on bi-monthly basis the NFI Digest, a newsletter on all fisheries and aquaculture related activities, meetings and events for both internal and external dissemination.
• Provide guidance on sessions of the FAO Governing Bodies concerning the involvement of the division.
• Regularly brief senior management on the status of current and potential fisheries-related external meetings and international events of possible interest.
• Regularly issue and draft updates on meetings and other Governing Bodies related policy guidelines for all NFI teams.
• Liaise with the various Fisheries regional officers to ensure smooth coordination of the FAO Regional Fisheries Statutory Bodies meetings.
• Compile, monitor, and update the annual Fisheries Meetings Calendar and the biennial Fisheries Governing Bodies meetings calendar for each Programme and Work and Budget biennium;
• Perform other relevant duties as required.
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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in business or public administration, conference management, political science, international relations, social sciences or related area.
• Five years of relevant experience in meetings' organization, planning, liaison with national and international bodies, with preference for experience in a UN context.
• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building effective relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work.
• Extent and relevance of experience and knowledge in planning, monitoring and carrying out high level meetings.
• Extent and relevance of experience in providing technical support to plan, prioritize and monitor calendars of meetings in particular in the area of fisheries and aquaculture.
• Depth of familiarity of the context in which fisheries and aquaculture operate in developing countries.
• Extent and relevance of experience in an in international setting in particular the UN system is considered a string asset.
• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of another FAO official language is desirable.
• Ability to analyse complex organizational issues and work as a team to find solutions.