Back Fisheries Management and Assessment Specialist

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 fishery 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 the most vulnerable and threatened species and habitats; management of responsible fisheries and aquaculture in accordance with 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 Assessment and Management Team (NFIFM) is responsible for all programmes and activities related to Assessment and Management of fisheries and conservation of fishery resources, including all aspects of Fisheries Management and Assessment related to the social, economic and ecological dimensions in the framework of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries. The Team: 1) provides information, advice and technical assistance to FAO Members and Regional Fisheries Bodies and Arrangements on Fisheries Management and Assessment globally, covering all its technical areas of work; 2) promotes and supports the development, dissemination and adoption of tools, methods and approaches to facilitate the management, monitoring and assessment of fisheries; 3) monitors the global status and trends of fish stocks and fisheries; 4) supports the monitoring of the relevant SDG indicators; 5) supports and promotes cooperation and coordination with other institutions and programmes concerned with responsible fisheries; and 6) provides technical advice and information on the availability and role of processes and tools for fisheries governance and management in ocean governance and relevant multi-lateral environmental agreements.

Purpose of the call for expression of interest

International consultants and PSAs represent an important source of expertise for FAO, making their specialist contributions towards the achievement of the Organization’s strategic objectives indispensable. For FAO to be able to attract and employ the best possible experts in the wide range of technical areas of its mandate, a competitive selection process has been introduced. This process is intended to create a pool of candidates which can be called upon when their expertise is required, ensuring a transparent and rigorous selection process.

The purpose of this call is to attract global talent for Consultant and Personal Services assignments that may provide support and/or leadership to fisheries projects and technical support processes in the Fisheries Assessment and Management area. The assignment may be home-based or located at the FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, or other locations depending on the requirements, with potential travel for field missions. Suitably-qualified experts will be included in a roster of qualified experts that will be used to identify candidates for relevant short-term assignments with NFIFM. The assignments can range in duration from a few days or weeks to a maximum of 11 months (on a when-actually-employed basis).

Reporting Lines

The Consultants/PSA Subscribers will work under the overall supervision of the Team Leader, Assessment and Management Team, and the direct supervision of a relevant Officer of the Team.

Technical Focus

The Consultant or PSA Subscriber will work as part of a closely collaborating team to conduct activities, research, analyses and development on issues related to the assessment and management of marine and/or inland fisheries in the social, economic and/or ecological dimensions of fisheries assessment of fish stocks and project management. This work may require some specialization in the one or more of the following areas of NFIFM work:

•                   Monitoring and assessment of fisheries and fish stocks, including the design and conduct of scientific research surveys and monitoring programmes;

•                   Collection, management and analysis of data for monitoring and assessment of the social, economic and ecological dimensions of fisheries, or of the health of fish stocks and ecosystems;

•                   Fisheries management, including the association with the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF), tools like rights-based approaches, and area-based management measures and other;

•                   Fisheries research, covering all three dimensions (Ecological/Biological, Social, Economic) of fisheries;

•                   Contribution of area-based fisheries management measures and other sustainable use practices in non-fisheries specific arenas (e.g., Convention on Biological Diversity);

•                   Capacity Development (CD), including development or delivery of trainings, courses and educational materials as well as provision of advice on institutional capacity;

•                   Management and operation of projects/Programmes;

•                   Communications and information/knowledge management.

Tasks and responsibilities

The tasks and responsibilities of each selected Consultant will be defined in the Terms of Reference for the specific assignment. In general, assigned tasks and responsibilities will normally include one or more of the following elements depending on the assignment and the expertise of the Consultant:

•                   Formulate Projects in accordance with FAO’s strategic framework and the FAO project cycle;

•                   Coordinate, implement and manage assigned programmes/projects and/or project component and activities in accordance with FAO rules, procedures and systems, and donors requirements;

•                   Organize and participate in field missions and other events in support of the delivery of NFI’s programme of work, including for consultation, training, capacity building and technical assistance to beneficiaries of FAO support programmes and projects;

•                   Lead or contribute to relevant studies, publications and analyses, knowledge products and dissemination materials related to NFI’s areas of work, including the development and implementation of guidelines, guidance, tools, capacity development and training materials, or similar products;

•                   Contribute to NFI’s work related to resource mobilization, monitoring of implementation of activities and projects, and organization of international meetings;

•                   Lead or contribute to the development of technical tools in support of fisheries management and assessment, or of the assessment of fish stocks or aquatic systems;

•                   Collect, manage, collate and analyse data related to fisheries management and assessment, assessment of fish stocks or aquatic system, or assessment of different management measures on non-fisheries processes and of the status of fish stocks;

•                   Collaborate within NFI’s remit with the various Teams and whenever required other Divisions, including providing assistance to countries and partners in responding to emergencies involving the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

•                   Collaborate with relevant UN agencies, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organisations, in areas of mutual interest;

•                   Represent NFI in internal and external meetings, in particular those related to the development and implementation of NFI-led programmes/projects (only for consultants);

•                   Any other duty related to NFI’s areas of work and to specific assignments.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•             University degree (for Consultants) / Relevant educational background (for PSA) in fisheries, economics, biological sciences, oceanography and limnology, development, communications, information management/technology, data or computer science, management/business administration or other field relevant to NFIFM work.

•             Relevant experience in the field of management and assessment of fisheries or assessment of fish stocks/aquatic systems, or in other areas related to support to NFIFM work: minimum 1 year of experience for category C; minimum 5 years’ experience for category B; 12 years (for COF) and 15 years’ (for PSA) for category A. 

•             Working knowledge (level C) of either English, French or Spanish is required. Limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian (for Consultants). Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish for PSAs.

FAO Core 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, particularly in the field is desired.
  • Relevant experience on or knowledge of provision of scientific support and advice to national, regional and international fisheries management and research institutions, as well as conservation organizations, in both developed and developing countries.
  • Relevant experience in planning and implementation of research and/or development programmes in fisheries and/or aquaculture or aquatic environmental management with special emphasis on fisheries management and assessment
  • Relevant experience in training and capacity development
  • Adequate level of knowledge of current global issues, as well as trends, constraints, and research needs related to fisheries management and assessment, or assessment of fish stocks and aquatic systems, in marine and inland systems;
  • Relevant experience in the analysis and assessment of fisheries for management advice in the context of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries, including the use of rights-based approaches, and area-based fisheries management tools.
  • Familiarity with resource mobilization processes, including experience in negotiations with other international organisations;
  • Familiarity and experience with policies, mechanisms and requirements of the UN system and donors’ community;
  • Relevant experience in providing programmatic support services such as in communication, information/knowledge management, information and communication technologies or other relevant technical support areas.
  • Ability to effectively use standard office software, such as MS Office (Windows, Word, Outlook, Excel, Power Point).

     

    Selection Criteria

    • Extent and relevance of experience in one or more of the main areas of work of NFIFM;