Senior Fishery Officer (Liaison/COFI)

1H051H05

• 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.

Organizational Setting

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.

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 post is located in the Fisheries Global and Regional Processes team (NFIFP) of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines
The Senior Fisheries Officer (Liaison/COFI) will work under the direct supervision of the Senior Fishery Officer/Team leader, NFIFP and under the overall guidance of the Director, NFI.

Technical Focus
Under the overall guidance of the Director, NFI, and the direct supervision of the Senior Fishery Officer/Team leader, NFIFP, the Senior Fisheries Officer (Liaison/COFI) will lead all aspects related to the coordination and operationalization of meetings of the Committee of Fisheries (COFI), coordinate the work of the technical secretaries of COFI Sub-Committees to ensure consistency and complementarity, coordinate NFI's inputs to FAO Statutory Bodies, and liaise with FAO Decentralized Offices in relation to global and regional agreements to promote global fisheries and aquaculture management and governance policies.

Key Results
Leadership and technical policy expertise for the planning, development and implementation of Divisional programmes of work, projects, products, services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions
• Plans, manages or leads highly specialized or multidisciplinary teams, leads, coordinates, and/or participates in Organization-wide, cross-divisional committees, project teams and working groups, and/or provides technical leadership/secretariat services on technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies.
• Analyses global and country specific requirements and relevant technical issues to provide critical inputs into the FAO Strategic Framework, Programme of Work, work plans and the supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies.
• Implements and monitors programmes of work involving the development of the approach, evidence-based strategies and related tools, methodologies and the supporting system/database, monitoring and reporting frameworks.
• Conducts, designs and oversees research and analysis activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovation, technical reports, publications and/or ongoing programme development as well as the provision of technical and/or policy advisory services.
• Provides technical and policy advice to Members and technical support to Decentralized Offices in the development and implementation of their programmes.
• Leads and/or collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities with Members, such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events, including preparation of related information, learning and on-line tools.
• Represents the Organization at international meetings and conferences, identifies and implements strategic partnerships, advocates best practices and increased policy dialogue and develops and negotiates effective working relationships/consensus and agreements with international and national stakeholders.
• Leads and/or participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate Strategy.

Specific Functions
• Acts as Secretary to the Committee on Fisheries (COFI), including the organization of the regular sessions of COFI, intersessional COFI Bureau meetings and related activities.
• Monitors the implementation of COFI's programme of work.
• Coordinates, in liaison with Divisional teams, all inputs to relevant working documents of FAO's Statutory Bodies (Conference, Council, FAO Regional Conferences); reports on COFI outcomes at meetings of these bodies and ensures appropriate follow-up action is taken on decisions and recommendations made and monitor progress.
• Coordinates NFI's inputs to international fishery and aquaculture related conferences or consultations in cooperation with relevant teams.
• Coordinates NFI's inputs to fisheries and aquaculture related United Nations processes, consultations and reporting, in collaboration with relevant Divisional teams.
• Manages and updates the electronic questionnaire on the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (the Code) and related instruments, oversees the analyses of the responses, produces a progress report for COFI and develops strategies for promoting the Code and disseminating information on its implementation.
• Promotes COFI at the international, regional and national level and develops strategies to mobilize resources to support COFI's programme of work and that of its Sub-Committees.
• Collaborates with the Secretaries of the COFI Sub-Committees to ensure alignment in the respective programs of work with that of COFI.
• Liaises with the Secretariats of the Regional Fisheries Bodies to promote global fisheries and aquaculture management and governance policies and contribute to regional initiatives that support the management of sustainable fisheries, aquaculture and conservation of aquatic environments.
• Liaises with FAO Decentralized Offices and Secretaries of the Regional Fishery Bodies established within the FAO Strategic Framework in order to facilitate appropriate support to activities as well as efficient cooperation in the implementation of the respective programmes of work.
• Coordinates the liaison between FAO and the Regional Fisheries Bodies, regional economic groups, international non-governmental organizations and other international institutions and agencies concerned with specific aspects of fisheries, aquaculture and marine affairs.
• Contributes to information and awareness raising products (including for policy briefs, flagship publications, key messages, talking points, presentations, opinion pieces, and social media) to highlight FAO priorities and achievements in work related to promoting global and regional coordination, international collaboration, implementation of the Code and action on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.
• Performs other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree with relevance for fisheries or aquaculture such as biological science, political science, international relations, law, economics, marine affairs.
• Ten years of relevant experience in the field of international fisheries and aquaculture or related fields.
• 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
• Leading, Engaging and Empowering
• Communication
• Partnering and Advocating
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
• Strategic Thinking

Technical/Functional Skills
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions.
• Extent of experience of leadership, project coordination and management, and collaboration with national and/or regional authorities.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the field of international fisheries and/or aquaculture affairs, development of technical standards and international instruments contributing to the implementation of the Code.
• Relevance of academic background.
• Depth of knowledge of issues related to capture fisheries and/or aquaculture.
• Demonstrate capacity and experience in the organization and conduction of international meetings, and in the production of oversight type reports.
• Extent of oral and written communication and negotiation skills.
• Extent and relevance of experience in establishing and maintaining partnerships with the United Nations (UN) agencies, other inter-governmental organizations, international non-governmental organizations, as well as donors and government institutions and agencies.