Back Investment Officer (Fisheries and Aquaculture)

Organizational Setting

The FAO Investment Centre (CFI) provides investment and finance solutions that lead to more efficient, sustainable, inclusive and resilient agrifood systems. Working in over 120 countries, the Centre provides a full suite of investment and finance support to FAO Members. It partners with governments, international and national financing institutions, the private sector and farmers, research institutions and academia to improve the quality and quantity of agrifood investment.

The Centre's four main areas of work include: support to strategic investment planning and policy, public investment, private investment, and innovative finance. These are complemented by the knowledge for investment and capacity development for investment programmes that serve to share knowledge, learn and build capacities at country level. For additional information on the FAO Investment Centre, its activities, partners and the organizational structure please visit the following link.

The post is located in the East and Southern Africa Service (CFIA) of the FAO Investment Centre at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines
The Investment Officer (Fisheries and Aquaculture) reports to the Chief, East and Southern Africa Service (CFIA) of the FAO Investment Centre (CFI).

Technical Focus

Provide analytical and technical support on fisheries and aquaculture development and management, in close collaboration with the relevant public and private sector stakeholders for the formulation, implementation support and evaluation of investment policies, strategies, programmes and projects in fisheries and aquaculture.

Key Results

Delivering investment and finance support solutions through the provision of technical expertise/assistance and support to capacity development, in collaboration with country stakeholders and cooperating partners, to achieve impact at scale in the transformation of agrifood systems in the scope of the FAO Strategic Framework and in line with the framework of the FAO Blue Transformation Roadmap.

Key Functions

• Participates in, and eventually leads, multidisciplinary teams to assist governments in the identification and preparation of investment and finance support initiatives in the fields of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resources management and agro-processing, and participates in pre-appraisal and appraisal missions.
• Participates in, and eventually leads, multidisciplinary teams for the implementation support and the preparation of final evaluation of investment and finance support solutions.
• Provides technical expertise for the preparation of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resources management and agro-processing studies and strategies, in the formulation of national sector and/or sub-sector investment plans and programmes.
• Supports the development of inclusive and sustainable food systems involving producers, their organizations, other private sector actors, and civil society organizations and governments.
• Formulates and delivers capacity development strategies and activities in the areas of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resources management and agro-processing investment support to government staff, non-state actors and private sector organizations.
• Prepares documents in accordance with FAO, governments and financing partners' requirements.
• Provides support in task organization, selection of consultants, preparation of terms of reference and in ensuring the quality of outputs.
• Promotes international cooperation and collaboration leading to new investment opportunities and cooperative agreements, advocates best practices and effective policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international meetings.
• Establishes, promotes and maintains relationships with relevant Strategic Programmes, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division and Decentralized Offices in order to ensure best synergies between investment, policy and innovation work in support to Members.
• Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.
• Provides guidance and advice to junior staff.

   

  Specific Functions

  • Contributes to developing inclusive and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture activities involving producers, their organizations, other private sector actors, civil society organizations and governments.
  • Promotes cooperation and collaboration leading to new investment opportunities, advocates best practices and effective sector dialogue in line with the FAO Blue Transformation Roadmap.
  • Assesses and advises on constraints and opportunities for public and private sector investment at all levels of sustainable aquatic foods value chains.
  • Engages with private sector stakeholders and related platforms, including downstream value chain players, such as small and medium enterprises, cooperatives, associations and fisherfolk organizations, to strengthen and validate recommended investment and policy options.
  • Contributes to developing knowledge products, including analytical work and practical tools, related to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture development and related capacity development initiatives.
  • Assesses and supports the development of public-private partnerships and platforms to promote an enabling environment for investment along fisheries and aquaculture value chains.
  • Supports the collaboration with the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division and Fishery Officers in Decentralized Offices in project development and implementation, including developing knowledge products.

     

    CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

     

    Minimum Requirements

    • Advanced university degree in fisheries, aquaculture, aquatic food sciences, marine biology or a closely related field.
    • Seven years of relevant experience in the fields of fisheries, aquaculture, and/or their management, including experience in the formulation and/or implementation of investment operations in sustainable aquatic foods value chains in developing countries.
    • Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency- 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, particularly in field positions.
        • Extent and relevance of experience in technical fields related to sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, and aquatic food value chains.
        • Extent and relevance of experience in participating in, and possibly leading, multidisciplinary teams for the preparation of strategies and sector studies as well as formulation, implementation support, or evaluation of investment and finance support solutions or provision of technical assistance to fisheries, aquaculture, and aquatic value chain development.
        • Extent and relevance of experience in investment design, implementation support and evaluation procedures of FAO's main development partners, in particular the World Bank (WB), the African Development Bank (AfDB) the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the European Union (EU) and other development partners and international financial institutions (IFIs).
        • Demonstrated experience interacting with government officials, the private sector, farmers' organizations, development partners, and other local stakeholders.
        • Knowledge of the context, as well as partners and institutions, of the specific subregion would be an asset.
        • Demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in English.